History of Santa Claus

He's been called Saint Nicholas or Saint Nick for short, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus or just plain Santa. That's just to name a few names for this legendary character. The legend of Santa started in the 4th century when Saint Nicholas(Saint and Bishop of Myra) began his reputation for being a secret gift-giver. Saint Nicholas would put coins in shoes that people left out for him. This man became the model for the mythological figure we now call Santa Claus.

Father Christmas is another name for Santa. Father Christmas became a symbolic figure in the early 1600's as a cheerful old man. He was not necessarily associated with children nor was he known for bringing gifts, his image was designed to be the bearer of good cheer. Father Christmas' image was used as the Ghost Of Christmas Present character in the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.

The image that we picture in our minds when we think of Santa Claus is largely due to an illustration that was created in 1881 by editorial cartoonist and caricaturist Thomas Nast. That illustration influenced the portrayal of Santa in songs, television shows, and movies. Typically when a person thinks of Santa, they picture a jolly, fat, old man in a red coat and pants that are trimmed with white fur at the collar and cuffs, and who has a white beard, black belt around his waist and black boots.

The original legend of Santa was that he is a man who lives way up north in a land that is constantly covered with snow. America's version is that Santa lives in a house in the North Pole with his wife, Mrs Claus, has many little elves to create the gifts that he brings to children around the world, and uses eight flying reindeer(nine if you count Rudolph) to guide his sleigh through the sky on Christmas Eve night. The flying reindeer myth became popular in 1823 when a poem called A Visit From St. Nicholas was published by an unknown writer. That poem is now called The Night Before Christmas or Twas The Night Before Christmas.

The modern legend of Santa says that Santa Claus knows all of the children in the entire world and that prior to Christmas Eve he compiles a list of naughty children and a list of nice children. The children on the nice list will get presents under the Christmas tree and have their stockings filled with candy and other goodies, while the children on the naughty list will just find a lump of coal in their stocking. The legend also says that Santa will gain access to the inside of a child's house by going down the chimney, and the houses that don't have a chimney, Santa will somehow magically appear right next to the Christmas tree.

Now that Halloween is over, we'll soon see Santa at department stores and shopping malls where children can go sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas and they can get their picture taken with the jolly old fellow. Also children all over the world will start writing letters to Santa asking him to bring whatever it is that they desire most this Christmas and they can drop off their letters at just about any post office in a special drop box. Some letters will be answered either by postal employees or volunteers.

Christmas is known for being the season of giving. There are always many charities that will be selling things for generous donations. Over a hundred years ago, charities started recruiting volunteers to dress up as Santa Claus and stand on sidewalks to collect monetary donations from citizens passing by. The Salvation Army is just one of many charitable organizations that practice this ritual.

Many children try to show their appreciation for Santa Claus by leaving him a little snack to assist him in his long journey through the night. On Christmas Eve children usually leave out milk and cookies for Santa somewhere close to the Christmas tree where he is sure to find it. Sometimes they even include a carrot or a stick of celery for the reindeer.

The legend of Santa has evolved greatly since its origination. Millions of children all around the world believe in it until one day when someone either explains to them that it's not true or they catch their parents filling their stockings on Christmas Eve night instead of the big man in the red suit. But it is always fun to see their faces light up on Christmas morning when they see everything "Santa" has left for them.