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We all now the jolly old guy who lives at the North Pole with a
bunch of hard working elves--right? I mean Christmas just wouldn’t be
Christmas without him! But just how did this jolly old character come
to be? Why does he wear a red suit and fly around with eight reindeer?
How did he come to live in the North pole with all those elves?
Our
beloved Santa Claus is a jolly old man indeed. His origins began
centuries ago as a saint known as St. Nicholas in an area known today
as Turkey. Saint Nicholas was a very old, much loved and generous
saint. Legend has it that he gave bags of gold to three daughters of a
destitute nobleman. Lacking any money or property for a dowry, the
nobleman had intended to sell his daughters into prostitution or
slavery. St Nicholas rescued them by throwing bags of gold through the
window so each had a proper dowry. Stories of St. Nicholas’s good
deeds multiplied. Over time, he became known as a protector and rescuer
of children, parents, sailors and many others. By the time of the
Renaissance, he had become the favorite saint of nearly everyone. Though
popular for centuries, St. Nicholas had no real history in Colonial
America. However, during the Revolution, Dutch families, who had
settled in New York City, began meeting annually on December 23 to
celebrate the St. Nicholas on the anniversary of his death. St Nicholas
celebrations and stories, as told by Dutch immigrants, helped to
increased his recognition. In 1809 Washington Irving’s History of
New York, introduced St. Nicholas to a National audience. The book
introduced St. Nicholas as a “friend to children" however, the
description of him had little resemblance to the Santa Claus we know
today. In 1822, Clarence Clarke Moore, a literature teacher of Dutch
ancestry, wrote a poem for his children titled “An Account of a Visit
from St. Nicholas." In his poem St. Nicholas acquired a new appearance
and a bright new personality. We know this poem today as “Twas the
Night Before Christmas." Moore was said to have modeled the new St.
Nicholas after a “portly rubicund Dutchman" who lived near his father’s
home in New York. Moore’s poem was written as entertainment for
his children only but the next year the poem was reprinted in a paper
in New York with the title of “A Visit from St. Nicholas." It was said
to have been submitted to the paper by a guest of the Moore family who
visited during the Christmas season. Eventually, Moore published a
collection of his poems, including “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1844.
The poem was repeated sporadically throughout the Nation in various
newspapers and publications during the Holiday season thus increasing
the popularity of St. Nicholas. Over time, Moore’s poem was
illustrated and various versions of St. Nicholas attire emerged. The
early drawings of St. Nicholas had no real resemblance to the Santa
Claus we know today. Early St. Nicholas was often drawn with toys in
one hand and a “switch" in the other. Toys for the good children and a
threat of the switch for bad children. This depiction is related to the
German version of St Nicholas known as Belsnickel. This version of St
Nicholas likely derived from the large numbers of German settlers in
New York and Pennsylvania areas. By the beginning of the Civil
War, Belsnickel had faded and a likeness more closely resembling modern
Santa Clause begin to take shape. In 1842 a book, published in
Philadelphia, titled Kris Kringle’s Christmas Tree, a holiday present for boys and girls
included this updated illustration of Santa Claus. His actions were
modeled after Moore’s poem except he put gifts on the branches of the
Christmas tree and not in stockings. Today Santa Claus, with his
red fur lined suit, sack full of toys and flying reindeer are as
central to the American Christmas as gift-giving. His actions set into
the motion the excitement of Christmas eve and Christmas morning. He is
a folk hero who provides children joy and wonderment of the season
though his often told stories. As a successful factory owner, philanthropist, and quasi-religious
figure, Santa represents the wistful yearnings of a newer nation who
embraces its wealth while still searching for spiritual meaning. Yes,
Santa "sells" and his character has helped merchants sell their
Christmas goods for centuries. For many he represents all that is wrong
with the holiday season. For others he embodies kindness and good-will
that best characterizes the meaning of the season. No matter where you fall in your opinion
of St. Nichols, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus or whatever you
call him. There’s no denying that for American children there is no
bigger delight than the wonder of his story and the joy of his
character. No holiday is complete without Santa, family, Christmas traditions and Christmas party games!
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