Page 26 - 200712 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2007

26 The History of Santa Claus 26 The History of Santa Claus 10 Best Christmas THE HISTORY OF In North American poetry and 10 Best Christmas THE HISTORY OF Carols of All Time SANTA CLAUS illustrations, Santa Claus, in his white beard, red SANTA CLAUS Carols of All Time jacket and pompom-topped cap, would sally By Michelle Williams forth on the night before Christmas in his sleigh, By Michelle Williams The American version of the Santa pulled by eight reindeer, and climb down Claus figure received its inspiration and its chimneys to leave his gifts in stockings children name from the Dutch legend of Sinter Klaas, set out on the fireplace's mantelpiece. brought by settlers to New York in the 17th Children naturally wanted to know century. where Santa Claus actually came from. Where As early as 1773 the name appeared in did he live when he wasn't delivering presents? the American press as "St. A Claus," but it was Those questions gave rise to the legend that 1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas the popular author Washington Irving who gave Santa Claus lived at the North Pole, where his Christmas-gift workshop was also located. by Judy Garland. This was actually written Americans their first detailed information about In 1925, since grazing reindeer would during WWII. It has been covered many times. the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas. In his not be possible at the North Pole, newspapers My favorite version is the Judy Garland version. History of New York, published in 1809 under revealed that Santa Claus in fact lived in Finnish The original lines "until then we'll muddle the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, Irving Lapland. "Uncle Markus", Markus Rautio, who through somehow" were changed to "hang a described the arrival of the saint on horseback compared the popular "Children's hour" on shining star upon the highest bow." This was a (unaccompanied by Black Peter) each Eve of Finnish public radio, revealed the great secret sad song because during WWII, many people Saint Nicholas. for the first time in 1927: Santa Claus lives on were not coming home for Christmas. They This Dutch-American Saint Nick Lapland's Korvatunturi - "Ear Fell" lightened it up a bit after the war. achieved his fully Americanized form in 1823 in the poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas more The fell, which is situated directly on 2. Happy Holidays by Perry Como. I love this commonly known as The Night Before Finland's eastern frontier, somewhat resembles a hare's ears - which are in fact Santa Claus's song. It's so upbeat. It really puts you in the Christmas by writer Clement Clarke Moore. ears, with which he listens to hear if the world's holiday spirit. Moore included such details as the names of the reindeer; Santa Claus's laughs, winks, and nods; children are being nice. Santa has the assistance 3. White Christmas by Bing Crosby. Until and the method by which Saint Nicholas, of a busy group of elves, who have quite their own history in Scandinanvian legend. Elton John wrote "Goodbye England's Rose" in referred to as an elf, returns up the chimney. Over the centuries, customs from honor of the late Princess Diana, this was the (Moore's phrase "lays his finger aside of his different parts of the Northern Hemisphere thus best selling song ever. It was featured in two nose" was drawn directly from Irving's 1809 came together and created the whole world's films, both starring Bing Crosby. The first was description.) Santa Claus - the ageless, timeless, deathless "Holiday Inn" the second was "White The American image of Santa Claus was white-bearded man who gives out gifts on Christmas." The song was so popular that it further elaborated by illustrator Thomas Nast, Christmas and always returns to Korvatunturi in called for a new film to be made featuring the who depicted a rotund Santa for Christmas Finnish Lapland. song. issues of Harper's magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s. Nast added such details as Santa's Since the 1950s, Santa has happily 4. The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole. No workshop at the North Pole and Santa's list of sojourned at Napapiiri, near Rovaniemi, at times other than Christmas, to meet children one sang this song better than him. No one the good and bad children of the world. A and the young at heart. By 1985 his visits to really sang better than him. And this is an all human-sized version of Santa Claus, rather than Napapiiri had become so regular that he time classic. the elf of Moore's poem, was depicted in a series of illustrations for Coca-Cola established his own Santa Claus Office there. 5. The Hanukah Song by Adam Sandler. The advertisements introduced in 1931. In modern He comes there every day of the year to hear what children want for Christmas and to talk first time I heard this was on Saturday Night versions of the Santa Claus legend, only his toy- with children who have arrived from around the Live. I laughed my head off. Although not a shop workers are elves. Rudolph, the ninth world. Santa Claus Village is also the location Christmas song, it is often played on the reindeer, with a red and shiny nose, was of Santa's main Post Office, which receives Christmas stations. And I still laugh. invented in 1939 by an advertising writer for the children's letters from the four corners of the Montgomery Ward Company. 6. Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt. This again has In looking for the historical roots of world. been covered many times, but nothing beats the Santa Claus, one must go very deep in the past. original. One discovers that Santa Claus as we know him is a combination of many different legends and 7. My Christmas Wish by Barbra Streisand. mythical creatures. Mariah Carey did a cover, not nearly as good. The basis for the Christian-era Santa So did Celene Dion. But no one sings like Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in Barbra. what is now Turkey. Nicholas lived in the 4th century A.D. He was very rich, generous, and 8. Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley. This loving toward children. Often he gave joy to brings back childhood memories. When we poor children by throwing gifts in through their were setting up our Christmas decorations every windows. year, my dad would play the Elvis Christmas The Orthodox Church later raised St. collection. I loved this. Nicholas, miracle worker, to a position of great esteem. It was in his honor that Russia's oldest 9. Happy Christmas by John Lennon and church, for example, was built. For its part, the Yoko Ono. I love John Lennon, so how can I Roman Catholic Church honored Nicholas as not love this song. This will be very appropriate one who helped children and the poor. St. this year. It was written during the time of the Nicholas became the patron saint of children Vietnam War and the subtitle was "war is over if and seafarers. His name day is December 6th. you want it." In the Protestant areas of central and northern Germany, St. Nicholas later became 10. Rocking Around The Christmas Tree by known as der Weinachtsmann. In England he Brenda Lee. I love this song. It is featured in came to be called Father Christmas. St. the film "Home Alone." Again, many covers, Nicholas made his way to the United States with but Brenda's version is the best. Dutch immigrants, and began to be referred to as Santa Claus.