Page 15 - 200912 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2009

15 History of Santa Claus 15 History of Santa Claus Histry of Santa Claus attendant. The next morning, obedient children into Santa Claus. Histry of Santa Claus awoke to find their gifts replaced with sweets In 1808, American author Washington and toys, found their offering untouched , along Irving created a new version of old St. Nick. Santa Claus hasn't always looked like with a rod or a bundle of switched. St. Nicholas' This one rode over the treetops in a horse drawn the jolly old fellow we know today. Like so Day is still observed in many countries, and wagon "dropping gifts down the chimneys of many other American traditions, he's a product gifts are exchanged in honor of the spirit of his favorites." In his satire, Diedrich of the great American melting pot - a blend of brotherhood and charity that he embodied. Knickerbocker's History of New York from the many different cultures and customs. His Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch earliest ancestors date back to pre-Christian THE MAKING OF SANTA CLAUS Dynasty, Irving described Santa as a jolly days, when sky-riding gods ruled the earth. The Dutchman who smoked a long stemmed clay mythological characters Odin, Thor, and Saturn After the Protestant Reformation in the pipe and wore baggy breeches and a broad gave us the basis for many of Santa's distinctive sixteenth century, the feasting and veneration of brimmed hat. Also, the familiar phrase, characteristics. Catholic saints were banned. But people had "...laying his finger beside his nose...," first But the most influential figure in the become accustomed to the annual visit from appeared in Irving's story. shaping of today's generous as loving Santa their gift-giving saint and didn't want to forget That phrase was used again in 1822 in Claus was a real man. St. Nicholas of Myra the purpose of the holiday. So in some the now-classic poem by Dr. Clement Clarke (now Turkey), a fourth century bishop. As a countries, the festivities of St. Nicholas' Day Moore, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," more champion of children and the needy, he was were merged with Christmas celebrations, and commonly know as "The Night Before legendary for his kindness and generosity. although the gift-bearer took on new, non- Christmas." His verse gave an Arctic flavor to religious forms, he still reflected the saints Santa's image when he substituted eight tiny A TRADITION OF BENEVOLENCE generous spirit. reindeer and a sleigh for Irving's horse and In Germany, he appeared as wagon. It is Moore's description of Santa that In a well known story illustrating St, Weihnachtsmann, in England as Father we most often think of today: "He had a broad Nicholas' benevolence, we find two of the basic Christmas, and in France, as Pèrè Noël, who left face, and a little round belly, that shook, when principles of the holiday spirit - giving to others small gifts in the children's shoes. he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly." and helping the less fortunate - as well as the In the areas where St. Nicholas was still Up to this point, Santa's physical tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace. portrayed as the gift-bearer, a host of other appearance and the color of his suit were open According to this legend, there were characters developed to be his assistants. Two of to individual interpretation. Then in 1863, three Italian maidens whose families had fallen his most well-known helpers were Knecht Thomas Nast, a German immigrant, gave us a on hard times. Because their father could not Ruprecht and the Belsnickle. Depending on the visual image of the cheerful giver that was to afford the dowries necessary for them to marry, local tradition, they were either attendants to St. later become widely accepted. he was considering selling one of his daughters Nicholas or gift-bears themselves, but in all When Nast was asked to illustrate into slavery to get dowries for the other two. cases, both were fearsome characters, Moore's charming verse for a book of children's When the good saint heard of the family's brandishing rods and switches. It was not only poems, he gave us a softer, kinder Santa who plight, he went to their home late one night and their dusty to reward good children but also to was still old but appeared less stern than the anonymously tossed three bags of gold down reprove children who were naughty and couldn't ecclesiastical St. Nicholas. He dressed his elfin the chimney. Miraculously, a bag fell into each recite their prayers. figure in red and endowed him with human of the sisters stockings, were hanging by the fire Knecht Ruprecht (meaning Servant characteristics. Most important of all, Nast gave to dry. His kindhearted gift made it possible for Rupert) was also by other names such as Black Santa a home at the North Pole. For twenty- all three sisters to marry. Peter (so called because he delivered the three years, his annual drawings in Harpers A variation of this story is that as each presents down the chimney for St. Nicholas and Weekly magazine allowed Americans to peek girl was ready to wed, St. Nicholas came in the became blackened with soot). into the magical world of Santa Claus and set middle of the night when no one could see him In some places, the images, of Knecht the stage for the shaping of today's merry and tossed a bag of gold through an open Ruprecht and St. Nicholas merged to form Ru gentleman. window into her stocking. The idea of gifts Klaus (meaning Rough Nicholas - so named Artist Haddon Sundblom added the final being delivered through an open window may because of his rugged appearance), Aschen touches to Santa's modern image. Beginning in have begun as a way to explain how Santa Klaus (meaning Ash Nicholas - because he 1931, his billboard and other advertisements for enters homes that have no chimney. carried a sack of ashes as well as a bundle of Coca Cola-Cola featured a portly, grandfatherly switches), and Pelznickle (meaning Furry Santa with human proportions and a ruddy PATRON SAINT Nicholas - referring to his fur clad appearance). complexion. Sunblom's exuberant, twinkle- Not all of St. Nicholas' companions eyed Santa firmly fixed the gift-giver's image in Because of his wisdom and sensitivity, were frightening. In fact, the Christkindl the public mind. many groups claimed St. Nicholas as their (meaning Christ Child) was thought to St. Nicholas' evolution into today's patron saint. Children, orphans, sailors, and accompany him in many countries. Often happy, larger-than-life Santa Claus is a even thieves often prayed to the compassionate portrayed by a fair-haired young girl, this wonderful example of the blending of countless saint for guidance and protection. Entire angelic figure was sometimes the gift-bearer beliefs and practices from around the world. countries, including Russia and Greece, also too. This benevolent figure encompasses all the adopted him as their patron saint, as well as goodness and innocence of childhood. And students and pawnbrokers. SANTA IN AMERICA because goodness is his very essence, in every Throughout his life, St. Nicholas tried to kindness we do, Santa will always be help others while inspiring the to imitate his Immigrants to the New World brought along remembered.[] virtues. Legends of his unselfish giving spread their various beliefs when they crossed the all over Northern Europe, and accounts of his Atlantic. 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On St. Nicholas' speaking children uttered the name so quickly Eve, youngsters would set out food for the saint, that Sinterklaas sounded like Santy Claus. After w w w.xzon exmas lis t.com straw for his horses and schnapps for his years of mispronunciation, the name evolved w w w.xzon exmas lis t.com