Santa claus, a contraction for saint nicholas, was born in the 3rd century, perhaps in a. Nicholas is supposed to have lived in the stories of santa claus and the north pole. The real story of santa claus begins with saint nicholas 270 343 ad, who was born in the village of patara, an area which was once greek but is now part of turkey. Discover increasingly about the historical backdrop of. The story on the next page, yes, virginia, there is a santa claus, provides an answer. There is a santa claus university that teaches professional santa claus skills like toy knowledge, poses, and how to avoid a lawsuit.
The ancient origins of santa claus ancient origins. In 1961, a little girl wrote a letter to jfk asking if santa claus was okay during the soviets nuclear testing at the north pole. Early in the book, the author recounts the traditional stories about saint nicholas and his morphing into the santa claus the entire world knows today. The main part of this guide consists of links to other sites, with some commentary describing the contents and quality of these sites. Here is the full history and facts of the modern day santa.
Before that, santa was commonly know as green, the same colour as the elves who work for him. Santa s faithful reindeers in the tales of santa claus that we often hear, most of them will tell us about him and his reindeer. List of christmas stories and santa claus stories for download in pdf format. Includes information about the evolution of the giftgiving santa claus. Dec 23, 2015 the legend of the modernday santa claus started near a town called myra in what is now turkey back in 280 a. He has published works on topics ranging from renaissance monarchy and bloody mary to the. The man who colored santa norman rockwell, a famous artist, was the man who changed santa s colour. The legend of santa claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named st. Two writers in american literature helped make santa claus an american tradition. History of santa claus photo gallery when is santa tom available. Nicholas, who was a bishop and lived in the fourth century ad in a place called myra in asia minor, which is now known as turkey.
The legends of santa shows how todays image of father christmas is a culmination of centuries of history and legend. The children ran to the door and shouted, santa claus. Frankly, most of the book has nothing whatsoever to do with santa claus but dwells upon anecdotal stories of these wild men as the true origin of santa claus. Santa claus, also known as saint nicholas, father christmas, kris kringle, or simply santa, is a historical, legendary and mythical figure who, in western cultures, is described as bringing gifts on christmas eve or christmas day, or on his feast day, december 6. Despite being quite young i earned a reputation for kindliness and wisdom. 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, 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. The name was accepted by the united states post office department. In 1832, clement moore wrote a poem called a visit from saint nicholas.
The mystery and history of santa claus grabon blog. 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. Nicholas was first used in the american press in 1773. A magnificently illustrated fable explains how nicholas cl. Santa claus, saint, myth and legend introduction the legend of santa claus has delighted the hearts of millions of children for generations. The origin of this figure dates back to the third and fourth centuries, especially to the figure of. 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.
The answer to the question that what is the true story of santa claus is all evident from the above mentioned excerpt of the blog. He became bishop of myra soon after returning to lycia. The town was santa fe and was laid out in 1846 by thomas m. Welcome to the history of santa claus and father christmas. Return to sender santa claus became a popular figure in the united states. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Every year, this great figure brings a wonderful and special gift to each and every deserving girl and boy. Much debate revolves around the positive and negative aspects involved in the traditional use of the legend on young children. He was renowned for his good deeds and devotion to children, and was also. This poem contributed greatly to the legend of santa in north america.
Santa claus has become one of the most recognizable folklore figures worldwide, and is one of the most iconic elements of this holiday season. The santa claus, indiana, post office was established on may 21, 1856. What happens when a child asks if there is indeed a santa claus. As a christian priest, i later became a bishop and traveled. Nicholas used his entire inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. The elves of the north pole become obligated to grant his wish, facing great. The mispronunciation stuck making sinterklaas into santa claus. But if you see something that doesnt look right, click here to contact us. The santa claus story is amazing in that it has remained a part of our winter celebration over the centuries.
Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished. First reports of the avatar of santa could be traced to the 18 th century, and dutch settlers in america. The legend may have its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of saint nicholas. The decision of what to name the town became clear. 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. The basis for the christianera santa claus is bishop nicholas of myra in lycia now turkey, who died in 345 or 352. Today, he is thought of primarily as the buoyant man dressed in red, however his story extends the distance back to the third century. A child learns that santa claus is really saint nicholas, a bishop who lived long ago and taught people about jesus. The full story no one never really has santa claus figured out. Santa claus, legendary figure who is the traditional patron of christmas in the united states and other countries, bringing gifts to children. Early settlement of the area to become know as santa claus began in the early 1800s. Santa claus history santa claus christmas official. Clement clark moore published a poem called a visit from st nicholas or twas the night before christmas, where he mentioned about santa claus and his 9 reindeer. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading history of santa claus book 1 santa through the years.
A brief history of santa claus with photos historyextra. He was imprisoned during the roman emperor diocletians persecution of christians but. Santa s group of flying reindeer pulls his sleigh to help him deliver gifts on christmas eve. 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. 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. A biography and the world encyclopedia of christmas, and the coauthor of europe in the sixteenth century. When jesus christ comes, he will bring gifts with him revelation 22. Santa claus wasnt always chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. In washington irvings satirical story history of new york1809, sinterklaas was americanized into santa claus. If you are interested to know about the origin of santa then you have to peep into the history of st.
He was born to wealthy parents, who died in an epidemic while nicholas was still young. The modern image of santa claus has been refined again and again. A greek christian, n icholas was bishop of myra, an area in prese nt day turkey. On 23 december 1951, the catholic clergy at dijon organised an execution of santa claus. Moore, in 1822, is thought to have created the closest santa claus biography to date, from what he was actually like, with the creation of the red suit, big belly, and jollybearded man, and where st. The santa claus we know today wasnt always a sleigh riding giftgiving jolly man in a red suit. The idea of santa claus embodies the very spirit of christmas itself. Traditionally speaking, saint nicholas was born in the ancient lycian seaport city of patara, and, when young, he traveled to palestine and egypt.
Here is a look at the history of santa claus over the centuries, the meaning behind the man, and how his image has been portrayed in art. I was born in 280 ad as nicholas of patara, a city of lycia, in asia minor. The history of santa claus lancaster inn and suites. Rockwell made santa red in order to make him the mascot for cocacola. His origins date back to a 4th century greek saint. History of santa claus book 1 santa through the years. Rudolph rudolph was added as the ninth reindeer in 1939 in a poem by robert l. Dasher, dancer, prancer, vixen, comet, cupid, donner sometimes. Dec 23, 2015 santa claus represented an oldfashioned christmas, a ritual so old that it was, in essence, beyond history, nissenbaum notes. Santa claus facts 30 interesting facts about santa claus.
The popularity of the image spawned urban legends that santa claus was in fact invented by cocacola. The elves of the north pole become obligated to grant his wish, facing great obstacles. Free christmas stories in pdf format mobileread forums. Saint nicholas of myra is the primary inspiration for the christian figure of santa claus. 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. Satire first sent santa down a chimney in his satiric 1809 book a history of new york, washington irving did away with the characterization of santa claus as a lanky bishop, says whipps. The man who colored santa norman rockwell, a famous artist, was the man who changed santas colour. 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 untold history of santa claus funny story joke.
As early as 1773 the name appeared in the american press as st. Before he set up shop in the north pole, santa worked out of spain. The 19th century santa was often shown wearing outfits of different colors. The history of santa claus who is father christmas. Nicholas traveled the countryside giving his wealth to the poor and sick. It is believed that nicholas was born sometime around 280 a. He became a bishop in greece and gained distinction in the councils of the church, being especially famed for unexpected gifts, and later associated with the giving of presents during the season at the end of the year. The gifts santa claus delivers, gifts of hope and joy, bring the joy of giving to all the children of the world. Nicholas has its own history and each has its own reason for giving children gifts every year during the holiday season.
Both live in the north it is a known fact that santa claus lives in the north pole. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. A waning interest in santa claus is the ideal time to transition from the lore of santa claus, and explained that saint nicholas was, in fact, a real person from long ago. The angloamerican santa claus or father christmas has come to dominate the modern christmas. Author washington irving called santa the patron saint of new york in his 1809 history of the city. Claus, elves who build his toys, and reindeer who pull his sleigh through the sky father christmas, the nordic version, is said to. Nikolaos of myra modern turkey, better known as saint nicholas, was born in the fourth century, was orphaned as a teen and left quite a bit of money from his parents. The history of santa claus can be traced to a monk named st.
Santa claus saint nicholas christmas story this is a free audio recording of the story of santa claus source unknown. He returns to europe, bringing some items along with him from the north pole. The history of santa claus and his many faces historic mysteries. At christmas time, he checks his list to see who has been good. When santa claus appears on christmas eve, he will be bringing gifts with him. 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. Nickno matter the name, everyone knows the story of this plump, jolly, bringer of gifts. Santa claus or father christmas, commonly associated with christmas, is a historical, fictional person who is mostly shown as a big and cheerful whitebearded man wearing a red suit with white trim.
Download this free vector about santa claus and reindeer, and discover more than 6 million professional graphic resources on freepik. And the history of where santa claus came from is actually pretty interesting. The man we know as santa claus has a history all his own. Images of santa claus were further popularised through haddon sundbloms depiction of him for the cocacola companys christmas advertising in the 1930s. He was a 4thcentury greek christian bishop of myra now demre in lycia, a province of the byzantine anatolia, now in turkey. 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. It is more commonly known by its first verse twas the night before christmas. The truth behind santa claus according to our knowledge and research is mentioned above and rest is still a mystery. 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. There are a number of opinions and an unending debate over the same. This website offers a guide to resources available online that deal with the origins, evolution and lore of santa claus and father christmas. In this book irving described santa as a jolly man who rode in a wagon pulled by horses. The real saint nicholas christian history christianity today.
His fur trimmed red outfit and bushy white beard is iconic, but good ol st. Nov 29, 2012 the history of santa claus a name obviously derived from the much older sinterklaas is much more than his belly and stature. 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. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. It was 1920s when the image of santa claus became standardized to portray a bearded, overweight, jolly man dressed in a red suit with a white trim. December 4 is santas list day the list that decides if youve been good, naughty or nice. Readers outside the united states should check their own countries laws to be certain they can legally download this. Eventually, santa claus developed into a uniquely american character. December 24, 2019 december 24, 2019 community, seasonal. It is believed that nicholas was born sometime around.
Read how it has changed over the years and the factors that have affected it to make it the santa we know and love today. Washington irving was the first to include santa claus in his book, diedrich knickbockers history of new york. 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. In this special new christmas episode of laughing historically, we get to the bottom of the origins of santa claus and its stranger than you ever imagined. The history of santa claus and christmas from 280 b. With edward asner, jim cummings, tim curry, miko hughes. Introduce santa claus to your child today in these 12 ways.