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Christmas History
Santa Claus
In Western Culture, the Christmas holiday has become a time to exchange gifts between friends and family. The most popular gift giver though is Santa Claus. As most of you will know Santa is a magical man who fills the world’s children with love and fills their stockings with gifts if they have been nice, and nothing if they have been naughty. Each Christmas Eve children go to sleep with thoughts of gifts & reindeers and when they wake up (usually at a very early hour) they spring out of bed to see what Santa has brought them.
The legend of Santa Claus begins in Turkey in the 300AD’s with Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra. Saint Nicholas was well known for his wisdom and charity, as he gave all his wealth to the poor and needy. After the Bishop died, it is said the Italians appropriated the remains in the 11th century and built a church in his honour. Christian pilgrims came from all over the world to visit the church of St Nicholas. The legend of St Nicholas was perpetuated by these pilgrims when they returned to there homes, however as with all stories- depending on the story teller little changes occur.
In the 12th Century a day of charity and gift giving known as St Nicholas Day was held in parts of Europe. Many countries, including Holland, celebrated this as a religious holiday and gave gifts to their children and the poor people in the towns. When the Dutch colonised America, they brought with them their version of St Nicholas: Sinterklaas, an austere bishop who wore a red bishop's costume and rode on a white horse. The legend of Sinterklaas would eventually grow to become the Santa Claus we know today. The popular image of Santa Claus as we know him was created by cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1863.
As many a child would know that Santa could not possibly make all the presents for all the girls and boys without the help of his Elves, and it throughout all the cultures the Christmas Icon still needs his Helpers (maybe need to put a picture of an elf in here). Santa also needs a method of transport for his long journey. However his method of transport varies within cultures- be it reindeer pulling a sleigh, kangaroo’s pulling a sled, a boat, on foot or any other way he still makes his rounds each year.
In Dutch culture Sinterklaas sails on a ship with a big book of the naughty & nice children. His assistant Black Peter takes away the naughty children whilst the nice children are rewards with gifts and presents.
The German St. Nikolaus has an assistant know as Knecht Ruprecht, they bring gifts of fruit, candy and nuts to those who have been good and leave it in a shoe on your doorstep on December 6th. If you have been naughty you can expect to receive a lump of coal from St. Nikolaus. AT Christmas St Nikolaus carries a sack of presents as well as a large rod. The good children receive gifts and the naughty children receive smacks with the rod. For the German Christmas it is Weihnachtsman who brings the gifts on Christmas Eve. The Italian Christmas Icon is a witch who dresses all in black. La Befana brings present to the good children on the Epiphany, 6th January. In most Spanish and Southern America countries Christmas gifts are brought by the 3 wise men of the bible. The French have Pere Noel (Father Christmas) bringing their Christmas present, whilst the Swiss version is Christkindl or Christ Child. This is possibly where the Americanised word Kris Kringle comes from. The English have Father Christmas and the Scandinavian countries have an elf named julenisse or jeuletomote filling their stockings each year. Australia and America have a similar concept of Santa Claus, the “Jolly Red Man in his sleigh yelling ho ho ho across the world as he delivers gifts based on the naughty or nice list he carries with him In Australia he sometimes swaps his reindeer for White Boomers, dashing through the Australian Sun.
Want to write a letter to Santa?
To send a Christmas letter to Santa at the North Pole click here
See if you have been naughty or nice this year:
http://www.northpole.com/Den/List.asp
Bored? Why not download some colouring in:
http://www.holidays.net/christmas/pix.htm
Need a Laugh: Christmas Jokes
http://www.allthingschristmas.com/northpole/jokes.html
