Santa Throughout History
The Origins of Santa Claus
Whether you know him as known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa is a legendary figure. Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red who brings toys to good girls and boys on Christmas Eve, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century, when Saint Nicholas walked the earth and became the patron saint of children.
Where does Santa Live?
Santa Claus is said to live at the North Pole with his wife Mrs Claus, where he spends the year making toys with the help of his elves. There he receives letters from children asking for Christmas gifts. On Christmas Eve he loads his sleigh with toys and flies around the world, drawn by eight reindeer stopping at each child’s house; he slides down the chimney and leaves the gifts, refreshing himself with the milk and cookies left for him by the household’s children. (Source: Santa Claus | History, Legend, & Facts | Britannica)
The many Faces of Santa
Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, often with spectacles wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, red hat with white fur, and black leather belt and boots, carrying a bag full of gifts for children. He is commonly portrayed as laughing in a way that sounds like “ho ho ho”. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children’s books, family Christmas traditions, films, and advertising. (Source: Wikipedia)
Santa Claus has certainly changed faces over the years. As the saying goes, “He had a broad face and a round little belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.” but these days Santa takes on many different forms. You might find him chilling at the beach, serving up gingerbread cookies or fighting fires!
The traditions of Santa
Santa Claus is often depicted as flying from the North Pole on Christmas Eve to deliver toys to well behaved children. He flies on his magic sleigh led by his reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and the most famous reindeer of all, Rudolph. Santa enters each home through the chimney, which is why empty Christmas stockings are hung from the mantel piece to be filled with treats and presents. On Christmas eve many households will leave some carrots out for the reindeers and cookies and milk for Santa. or if he’s lucky, the Australian kids might leave him an icy cold beer!
Santa Claus Around The World
The Santa Claus we know now is not the only St. Nicholas-inspired gift-giver to make an appearance at Christmas time. Christkind or Kris Kringle is believed to deliver presents to well-behaved Swiss and German children. In Scandinavia, a jolly elf named Jultomten is thought to deliver gifts in a sleigh drawn by goats. English legend explains that Father Christmas visits each home on Christmas Eve to fill children’s stockings with holiday treats. Père Noël is responsible for filling the shoes of French children. In Italy, there is a story of a woman called La Befana, a kindly witch who rides a broomstick down the chimneys of Italian homes to deliver toys into the stockings of lucky children. (Source: Santa Claus: Real Origins & Legend | HISTORY)
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