Above all, he was the man who invented santa claus, taking a minor central european folk saint, dimly recalled from his german childhood, and turning him into the personification of american. Find out more about the history of santa claus from his earliest origins to the shopping mall santas of today, and discover how two new yorkersclement clark moore and thomas nastwere major. Early representations of the giftgiver from church history and folklore, notably st nicholas, merged with. A biography and the world encyclopedia of christmas, and the coauthor of europe in the sixteenth century. This slowly faded out so that by the beginning of the 20th century the standard image of santa claus was a man in a red suit trimmed with white. Dasher, dancer, prancer, vixen, comet, cupid, donner sometimes. The american version of the santa claus figure received its inspiration and its name from the dutch legend of sinter klaas, brought by settlers to new york in the 17th century. This beloved christmas character is a legendary persona that is utterly revered by children and cherished by all. By about 1200, explained university of manitoba historian gerry bowler, author of santa claus. The ancient origins of santa claus ancient origins. A biography, he became known as a patron of children and magical gift bringer because of two great stories from his life. A claus, in new york gazette, american english, from dialectal dutch sante klaas, from middle dutch sinter niklaas saint nicholas, bishop of asia minor who became a patron saint for children.
December 6 marks saint nicholas day, and i thought id mark the beginning of the christmas season by telling the story of santa claus s namesake. Goodby for a few minutes, till i come down to the world and ring the kitchen doorbell. Children write letters to santa claus and set out milk and cookies on christmas eve as a snack for santa. There have been countless other movies about elves, reindeer, santa claus and his wife but this was the one that first introduced us to all of them on the big screen. Washington irving was the first to include santa claus in his book, diedrich knickbockers history of new york. Return to sender santa claus became a popular figure in the united states. In 1841 a shop in philadelphia featured a santa claus to attract customers, and thousands of children flocked to see the man climbing into and out of a chimney. Although now known as a christmas giftbringer, and normally considered to be synonymous with american cultures santa claus which is now known worldwide, he was originally part of an unrelated and much older english folkloric tradition. The special presents an origin story for santa claus, who is depicted as a man named nicholas claus who wishes to give every child in the world a gift for christmas.
Children all over the world look forward to his visit every december 25th because of all the toys and gifts he brings to all but how did santa claus become associated with christmas. History of santa claus book 1 santa through the years. A brief history of sending a letter to santa dating back more than 150 years, the practice of writing to st. Nast added such details as santa s workshop at the north pole and santa s list of the good and bad children of the world. Includes information about the evolution of the giftgiving santa claus. The definitive history of santa claus the cocacola company. Santa claus, legendary figure who is the traditional patron of christmas in the united states and other countries, bringing gifts to children.
Santa claus, also known as father christmas, saint nicholas, saint nick, kris kringle. It is believed that nicholas was born sometime around 280 a. Church undoubtedly conveyed to her that santa claus is very real. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading history of santa claus book 1 santa through the years. While the celebration is primarily a christian one honoring the birth of jesus, its traditions merge with the. Much debate revolves around the positive and negative aspects involved in the traditional use of the legend on young children. The organization provides financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families. Story of santa claus best learning videos for kids dr. The idea of santa claus embodies the very spirit of christmas itself. The popular north american form santa claus originated as a mispronunciation of dutch sinterklaas, which in turn is a contracted form of sint nicolaas saint nicholas. Thanks to twas the night, santa has the assistance of eight reindeer who pull his sleigh on christmas eve to deliver presents to all the good boys and girls. The history of santa claus begins in the 4th century in turkey, when he was known as saint nicholas. Either the parents of some children dress up as santa, putting on a white beard, red coat, and polished boots with gifts in hands, or the generous people appear as santas on streets and distribute chocolates among the children. The american image of santa claus was further elaborated by illustrator thomas nast, who depicted a rotund santa for christmas issues of harpers magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s.
Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century. The history of santa claus and his many faces historic mysteries. Claus who, in vivid imagination, is seen baking cookies with the help of her house elves in a cozy, dainty kitchen somewhere in their north pole abode. The mispronunciation stuck making sinterklaas into santa claus.
The history of santa claus lancaster inn and suites. Your loving santa claus whom people sometimes call the man in the moon. Here are easytouse pdf files for a fourpage folded brochure, a single sheet. The 19th century santa was often shown wearing outfits of different colors. According to the, the american image of santa claus was further elaborated by illustrator thomas nast, who depicted a rotund santa for christmas issues of harpers magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s. Claus has been imagined as a stout woman, a little on the heavier side, with grey hair and spectacles. Nicholas was a godly man known for his charity and generosity. Santa claus, also known as father christmas, saint nicholas, saint nick, kris kringle, or simply santa, is an imaginary figure originating in western christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of wellbehaved children on the night of christmas eve 24 december or during the early morning hours of christmas day 25 december. Santa claus has a suit that comes in many colors depending on the country. A small train was added and live reindeer were present on special occasions. The modern santa claus grew out of traditions surrounding the historical. Dec 03, 2015 a brief history of sending a letter to santa dating back more than 150 years, the practice of writing to st.
His popular image is based on traditions associated with saint nicholas, a 4thcentury christian saint. He was much renowned for his generosity in giving gifts such as food and clothes to the poor and children. A brief history of sending a letter to santa smithsonian. The american santa claus is generally considered to have been the invention of washington irving and other early nineteenthcentury new yorkers, who wished to create a benign figure that might help calm down riotous christmas celebrations and refocus them on the family.
According to the best estimates, nicholas, was born around ad 280 in patara, in asia minor. Two writers in american literature helped make santa claus an american tradition. Claus glide on candy cane skis in this illustration from the midcentury period. Santa eventually acquired a few friends including another plaster snowman who lived on top of a building a couple doors down from santa. Father christmas fills the role in many european countries. The legend of santa claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named st. The friends of santa claus is a nonprofit organization founded by ted and barbara van thullenar in 1993. A child learns that santa claus is really saint nicholas, a bishop who lived long ago and taught people about jesus.
Santa claus, saint, myth and legend introduction the legend of santa claus has delighted the hearts of millions of children for generations. Disney rolled out the santa clause 2, in which allen looked for a new mrs. The story of befana, the italian santa claus befana, eleonara gianinetto, flikr italy is a historically catholic culture with many holidays, traditions and beliefs coming from biblical and religious roots. Santa and the moon peter barthel kapteyn astronomical institute. Nov 11, 2018 that mark which your good old santa claus s boot made on the marble, what will you say, little sweetheart. Dec 25, 2015 the legend of santa claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named st. A letter from santa claus wikisource, the free online library. Find out more about the history of santa claus with dr.
Church was asked by an 8year old girl if santa claus actually exists. The history of santa claus and christmas from 280 b. On the day of christmas, how anxiously every child waits for the arrival of santa claus, and santa does visit. There are countless variations to the story, depending on what town you live in, but heres the version we observe. The elves of the north pole become obligated to grant his wish, facing great obstacles.
The original santa claus story santa claus history pghome. As early as 1773 the name appeared in the american press as st. The real saint nicholas christian history christianity today. Santas faithful reindeers in the tales of santa claus that we often hear, most of them will tell us about him and his reindeer. It is a sequel to the santa clause 1994 and the second installment in the santa clause film series. Nicholas rose to prominence among the saints because he was the patron of so many groups. The history of santa claus can be traced to a monk named st. Dec 24, 2019 the newspapers gradually began using the images of santa claus to draw people in, and soon santa was being used everywhere to advertise christmas specials. One of the most recognizable faces in all of america or perhaps even the world is that of santa claus. Santas group of flying reindeer pulls his sleigh to help him deliver gifts on christmas eve. The first mention of a wife for santa was in the 1849 short story a. Christmas is celebrated as the birthday of jesus although there is no. The santa clause 2 is a 2002 american christmas comedy film directed by michael lembeck. The basis for the christianera santa claus is bishop nicholas of myra in lycia now turkey, who died in 345 or 352.
He later became bishop of myra in modernday turkey. In 1952, the mc keons perched a 20 tall plaster santa claus atop a building and the rest, as they say, is history. Onepage story for children introduces saint nicholas as the real santa claus. Though the modern santa claus is associated with a world of fantasy, the historical st. The man we know as santa claus has a history all his own. December 6 marks saint nicholas day, and i thought id mark the beginning of the christmas season by telling the story of santa clauss namesake. Nicholas and kris kringle became santa by michael solow dec 8, 2017 family living, seasons and holidays its easy to think that santa claus has been around forever, with his big belly and red robe and sleigh full of gifts and reindeer. The history of santa claus a name obviously derived from the much older sinterklaas is much more than his belly and stature. History of santa claus book 1 santa through the years kindle edition by portman, sandra l download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In the nineteenth century, it seems this image began to merge with that of old. However, the dutch sinterklaas is depicted as being very different from santa claus in many ways. The history of santa claus who is father christmas.
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