For many, Santa Claus personifies Christmas. The mythology surrounding him originates from the true stories of St. Nicholas. Nicholas was born sometime around 280 in Patara Turkey. His name, Santa Claus, comes from the Dutch Feast of Sinterklaas and the Dutch Sint Nikolaas.
Nicholas was a bishop who was distressed by the poverty of his parish. In order to try to alleviate this, he began delivering — secretly and at night — gifts to his parishioners. Before long, he became a legendary figure, and his legend turned into our modern-day Santa.
Word spread of his generosity and soon Christian pilgrims from all over the world came to visit the church of St. Nicholas and carried his legend back to their native lands, melding it within their own cultural smorgasbord of much earlier traditions, such as that of the gift-giving shaman.
But the image of Santa we hold today stems from 1881, when political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on a poem called "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" to create the first likeness that matches our modern image of Santa Claus. Nast's cartoon, which appeared in Harper's Weekly, depicted Santa as a rotund, cheerful man with a full, white beard, holding a sack overloaded with toys for children. Originally cast in green, Nast gave Santa his bright red suit spruced with white fur, North Pole workshop, elves, and his wife, Mrs. Claus. Then, in the 1930s, Coca-Cola, in a bid to move from the adult to the children's consumer market, launched a massive advertising campaign fronted by Santa, and trademarked the colour red that we associate with Santa Claus.
Hope St. Nicholas came looking for you last night. Merry Christmas
Nicholas was a bishop who was distressed by the poverty of his parish. In order to try to alleviate this, he began delivering — secretly and at night — gifts to his parishioners. Before long, he became a legendary figure, and his legend turned into our modern-day Santa.
Word spread of his generosity and soon Christian pilgrims from all over the world came to visit the church of St. Nicholas and carried his legend back to their native lands, melding it within their own cultural smorgasbord of much earlier traditions, such as that of the gift-giving shaman.
But the image of Santa we hold today stems from 1881, when political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on a poem called "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" to create the first likeness that matches our modern image of Santa Claus. Nast's cartoon, which appeared in Harper's Weekly, depicted Santa as a rotund, cheerful man with a full, white beard, holding a sack overloaded with toys for children. Originally cast in green, Nast gave Santa his bright red suit spruced with white fur, North Pole workshop, elves, and his wife, Mrs. Claus. Then, in the 1930s, Coca-Cola, in a bid to move from the adult to the children's consumer market, launched a massive advertising campaign fronted by Santa, and trademarked the colour red that we associate with Santa Claus.
Hope St. Nicholas came looking for you last night. Merry Christmas
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