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History of Santa Claus
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<blockquote data-quote="Opmmur" data-source="post: 63117" data-attributes="member: 13"><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">History of Santa Claus</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The Link with Great Pictures: <span style="color: #00ff00"><a href="http://www.beingsantaclaus.com/history.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #00ff00">Being Santa Claus - Appearances</span></a></span></span></span></p><p><em><span style="font-size: 15px">Source of information 12-24-2012 (Coast to Coast AM)</span></em></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Most everyone can tell you about Santa Claus — the white beard and red suit, flying reindeer and elves at the North Pole, sliding down chimneys and leaving presents while eating cookies and drinking milk.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">But how did all of these details about Santa Claus/Saint Nicholas/Kris Kringle/Father Christmas all come to be? When did children first start believing in him, and were the legends and traditions always as they are now? For that matter, does everyone in the world believe in the same Santa Claus? Let's find out... </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="color: #761c1c"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: #00ff00">Did you know...</span>?</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">A medieval fresco depicting Saint Nicholas from the Boyana Church, near Sofia, Bulgaria</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">St. Nicholas was a real man. Born around the year 280 A.D., St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, a town in what is now Turkey. </span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Legend has it that St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. </span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">It's said that St. Nicholas saved three sisters from being sold into slavery by providing them a dowry so they could be married. </span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">St. Nicholas once tossed gold coins through an open window, and they landed in a stocking drying by the fire. Sound familiar? </span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">1700 years ago, kids would hang stockings or leave their shoes out in hopes that St. Nicholas would visit and give them coins. </span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Bishop Nicholas of Myra died on December 6, 343 AD, and within a century, he was canonized by the Church as Saint Nicholas.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children. He is also the patron saint of sailors who say "May St. Nicholas hold the tiller."</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">After his canonization, Dec. 6 became known as St. Nicholas Day, a celebration of gift-giving throughout the Christian world.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Odin riding atop his 8-legged horse Sleipnir</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">As time went by, St. Nicholas Day merged with the Christmas holiday, since the two holidays occurred so close together.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In some parts of Europe, St. Nicholas merged with the pagan god Odin, celebrated during the Germanic winter holiday of Yule.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">According to legend, Odin would lead a hunting party at Yule, riding across the sky on an 8-legged horse. 8 legs? 8 reindeer?</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Yule tradition had kids fill their boots with carrots, straw, or sugar for Odin's flying horse and leave them by the chimney.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">During Yule, in appreciation for leaving food for his flying horse, Sleipnir, Odin would reward children with gifts and candy.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">There are many visualizations of the Christkindl (Christ Child/Children).</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">St. Nicholas faded during the Protestant Reformation in 16th century Europe. Only the Dutch still celebrated him.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">During the Reformation, Protestants changed the gift-giver to the Christ Child and moved presents from Dec. 6 to Christmas Eve.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In German, the word for Christ Child (the giver of gifts on Christmas Eve) is Christkindl. The name Kris Kringle comes from it.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Protestants and Puritans feared and resisted the revelry of Christmas. In 1659, Massachusetts colony actually banned Christmas!</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Most American colonies celebrated Christmas, but they kept the European tradition of the Christ Child, not Saint Nicholas.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Dutch Sinterklaas and his helper Zwarte Piet</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) brought along the tradition of Sint Nikolaas (St. Nicholas) or Sinterklaas for short.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Dutch Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) has a helper known as Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). They live in Spain (not the North Pole).</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Dutch Sinterklaas is an elderly, serious man with white hair & a long beard. He wears bishop's clothes and carries a staff.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Dutch Sinterklaas rides a grey flying horse over rooftops, dropping presents down the chimneys of well-behaved children.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">After the American Revolution, New Yorkers celebrated their Dutch roots and revived the feast of St Nicholas and his legend.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">One of the early covers of the famous poem "Twas The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Anglicizing of the name "Sinterklaas" appeared by 1773, when a New York City newspaper reported on the Dutch "Santa Claus."</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Santa Claus became prominent in America in 1809 with the publication of author Washington Irving's book "A History of New York."</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Washington Irving's satirical 1809 book "A History of New York" listed Santa Claus as the patron saint of New York.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Santa first became "fat" when author Washington Irving described him as portly and smoking a pipe, instead of as a lanky bishop.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Irving's 1809 "A History of New York" was the first-ever mention of Santa sliding down a chimney (rather than dropping presents).</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In 1822, Clement Clarke Moore wrote a 56-line Christmas poem entitled "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas." A legend began.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Moore wrote his Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for his three daughters. It was first published anonymously in 1823.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">A portion of Thomas Nast's first Santa Claus drawing from 1863 with Santa dressed in the stars and stripes</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Clement Moore was a professor of Oriental & Greek Literature and feared his "silly" Christmas poem might sully his reputation.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The 1822 poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Moore became known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas."</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" marked the first time Santa's eight reindeer were ever mentioned...and given names.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Two reindeer were originally named Dunder & Blixem (old Dutch words for thunder & lightning). They later became Donner & Blitzen.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The wife of Santa Claus is first mentioned in the short story "A Christmas Legend" by James Rees in 1849.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In the 1800s, Santa wore all sorts of things: blue 3-cornered hat, broad-brimmed hat, red waistcoat, and even yellow stockings.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In this drawing by Thomas Nast, Santa is shown, for the first time, looking out at the world from the North Pole.</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In 1863, the cartoonist Thomas Nast began a series of drawings in Harper's Weekly, based on "Twas The Night Before Christmas."</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Thomas Nast's cartoons in Harper's Weekly began defining the look of Santa Claus for Americans: flowing beard and fur garments.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Thomas Nast's first drawing of Santa had him wearing white stars on a blue coat and red and white striped pants--very American.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Around 1869, Santa turned up for the first time in a bright red suit with a white belt in one of Thomas Nast's cartoons.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Thomas Nast was the first to depict Santa Claus working at the North Pole. Nast also was the first person to draw Mrs. Claus.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Although Santa had worn many colors previously, beginning in the late 1800s, it became popular to depict Santa in a red suit.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">An early Christmas card featuring Santa Claus drawn by Louis Prang around 1885.</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Louis Prang is known as the "father of the American Christmas card." He sold them first in England and then in America in 1874.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The first Christmas card showing Santa Claus in a red suit appeared in 1885. It was printed by Louis Prang in Boston.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Katherine Lee Bates' 1889 poem "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride" popularized Mrs. Claus ("Goody" is short for "Goodwife").</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The first department store Santa appeared in 1890 at The Boston Store in Brockton, MA, played by storeowner James Edgar.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In the early 1890s, the Salvation Army began dressing up unemployed New York men in Santa Claus suits to solicit donations.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In 1894, the U.S. Congress officially made Christmas a national holiday. Before that, employees didn't always get the day off.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The cover for the Christmas children's book written by the author of "The Wizard of Oz"</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">"Is There a Santa Claus?" was an editorial in the New York Sun in 1897. The answer: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">"Oz" children's author L. Frank Baum wrote "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" in 1902, exploring Santa's mythical origins.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The U.S. Post Office Santa letter answering effort began in 1912 out of the historic James Farley Post Office in New York.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Coke wasn't the first drink company to use a red & white Santa. White Rock Beverages did it first in 1915 to sell mineral water.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Having a Santa Claus set up to take pictures with children is a ritual that dates back at least to 1918.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">By 1927, Santa as a large, rosy-cheeked, jolly fellow with a white beard, pipe, and wearing a red suit was a common image.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">This 1931 illustration by Haddon Sunblom was the first Coca Cola ad to feature Santa Claus.</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Coca Cola expanded the image of Santa with a far-reaching ad campaign that began in 1931 and ran every Christmas for 35 years.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">For nearly 35 years, Haddon Sundblom painted portraits of Santa Claus for Coca Cola ad campaigns that cemented his modern image.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In 1937, Charles W. Howard, who played Santa Claus himself, established the oldest continuously-run such school in the world.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Rudolph, the famous 9th reindeer with the glowing red nose, first appeared 100 years after his 8 counterparts, in a 1939 poem.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Robert May, a copywriter at the Montgomery Ward department store, wrote the story of Rudolph to help increase holiday traffic.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Montgomery Ward sold almost 2.5 million copies of Rudolph in 1939. Reissued in 1946, the book sold over 3.5 million copies.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The original cover for the book "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In 1949, one of Robert May's friends, Johnny Marks, wrote a short song based on the story of Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The song "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer" was first recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 and sold over two million copies.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The story of Rudolph has been translated into 25 languages and was made into a television movie, narrated by Burl Ives, in 1964.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The tradition of tracking Santa by radar began in 1955 with the printing of wrong number. Read more: <span style="color: #00ff00"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/ydlvgud" target="_blank"><span style="color: #00ff00">http://tinyurl.com/ydlvgud</span></a></span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa website gets nearly 9 million visitors from more than 200 countries and territories globally.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Canada's Post Office has a special postal code for letters to Santa. His address is: Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, H0H 0H0</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In Britain and Australia, Santa Claus is sometimes given sherry and mince pies instead of cookies and milk.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">NORAD has its own Santa tracking website at <span style="color: #00ff00"><a href="http://www.noradsanta.org" target="_blank"><span style="color: #00ff00">http://www.noradsanta.org</span></a></span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In Ireland, it is popular to give Santa Claus either Guinness or milk, along with Christmas pudding or mince pies.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Each Nordic country claims Santa's residence to be within their territory, including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Some countries cite Greenland as the traditional home of Father Christmas, while others use the Lapland Province of Finland.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">On December 23, 2008, Jason Kenney, one of Canada's ministers, formally awarded Canadian citizenship status to Santa Claus.</span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Early images of Father Christmas over the centuries featured him wearing green robes.</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In Kyrgyzstan, a mountain peak was named after Santa Claus, and 2008 was declared a national Year of Santa Claus in that country.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">For centuries, European countries had Father Christmas who didn't necessarily give gifts. Today, he & Santa have all but merged.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Early versions of Father Christmas wore green robes, and he was the inspiration for Charles Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Present.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Father Christmas names — Papa Noel (Spanish), Pére Nöel (French), Papai Noel (Brazil), Pai Nata (Portugal), Babbo Natale (Italy).</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">More Father Christmas names — Christmas Father (India), Kaghand Papik (Armenia), Moș Cräciun (Romania), and Noel Baba (Turkey).</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In Iceland, the 13 Yule Lads play practical jokes and then leave gifts in the shoes of good children. Bad kids get tomatoes.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In Norway, Finland, and Sweden, gnome-like Tomte (or Nisse) give children gifts in person. (Usually parents dress up as Tomte.)</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Many countries still celebrate with the Christ Child (or Christkind), a cherubic blond child who gives gifts but is never seen.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In some countries with German customs, Santa is accompanied by Belsnickel, a stern mountain-man who disciplines children.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In Alpine countries, the beast-like Krampus accompanies St. Nicholas before Christmas, scaring children into being good.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong><em>All around the world, different countries and cultures have their own unique legends of the person or people who give </em></strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><em><strong>gifts at Christmastime.</strong></em></span></p> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In France, Pére Nöel resembles Santa, but instead of using reindeer, he rides a single donkey called Gui (Mistletoe in French).</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In Italy, a kind witch named Befana delivers gifts for good children on Jan. 5 (and gives coal to bad kids). She also sweeps up.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In Slavic countries, gifts are given on New Year's Eve by Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) who rides a traditional horse-drawn sled.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Russian Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) is a white bearded sorcerer who wears red robes and travels with his granddaughter.</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">An Australian Christmas carol by Rolf Harris "Six White Boomers" has Santa using six white kangaroos instead of eight reindeer.</span></li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Opmmur, post: 63117, member: 13"] [SIZE=6][FONT=Arial]History of Santa Claus[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=4][FONT=Arial]The Link with Great Pictures: [COLOR=#00ff00][URL='http://www.beingsantaclaus.com/history.htm'][COLOR=#00ff00]Being Santa Claus - Appearances[/COLOR][/URL][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE] [I][SIZE=4]Source of information 12-24-2012 (Coast to Coast AM)[/SIZE][/I] [SIZE=4][FONT=Times New Roman]Most everyone can tell you about Santa Claus — the white beard and red suit, flying reindeer and elves at the North Pole, sliding down chimneys and leaving presents while eating cookies and drinking milk.[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=4][FONT=Times New Roman]But how did all of these details about Santa Claus/Saint Nicholas/Kris Kringle/Father Christmas all come to be? When did children first start believing in him, and were the legends and traditions always as they are now? For that matter, does everyone in the world believe in the same Santa Claus? Let's find out... [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=5][COLOR=#761c1c][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=#00ff00]Did you know...[/COLOR]?[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman]A medieval fresco depicting Saint Nicholas from the Boyana Church, near Sofia, Bulgaria[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]St. Nicholas was a real man. Born around the year 280 A.D., St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, a town in what is now Turkey. [/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Legend has it that St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. [/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]It's said that St. Nicholas saved three sisters from being sold into slavery by providing them a dowry so they could be married. [/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]St. Nicholas once tossed gold coins through an open window, and they landed in a stocking drying by the fire. Sound familiar? [/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]1700 years ago, kids would hang stockings or leave their shoes out in hopes that St. Nicholas would visit and give them coins. [/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Bishop Nicholas of Myra died on December 6, 343 AD, and within a century, he was canonized by the Church as Saint Nicholas.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children. He is also the patron saint of sailors who say "May St. Nicholas hold the tiller."[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]After his canonization, Dec. 6 became known as St. Nicholas Day, a celebration of gift-giving throughout the Christian world.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]Odin riding atop his 8-legged horse Sleipnir[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]As time went by, St. Nicholas Day merged with the Christmas holiday, since the two holidays occurred so close together.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In some parts of Europe, St. Nicholas merged with the pagan god Odin, celebrated during the Germanic winter holiday of Yule.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]According to legend, Odin would lead a hunting party at Yule, riding across the sky on an 8-legged horse. 8 legs? 8 reindeer?[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Yule tradition had kids fill their boots with carrots, straw, or sugar for Odin's flying horse and leave them by the chimney.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]During Yule, in appreciation for leaving food for his flying horse, Sleipnir, Odin would reward children with gifts and candy.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]There are many visualizations of the Christkindl (Christ Child/Children).[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]St. Nicholas faded during the Protestant Reformation in 16th century Europe. Only the Dutch still celebrated him.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]During the Reformation, Protestants changed the gift-giver to the Christ Child and moved presents from Dec. 6 to Christmas Eve.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In German, the word for Christ Child (the giver of gifts on Christmas Eve) is Christkindl. The name Kris Kringle comes from it.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Protestants and Puritans feared and resisted the revelry of Christmas. In 1659, Massachusetts colony actually banned Christmas![/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Most American colonies celebrated Christmas, but they kept the European tradition of the Christ Child, not Saint Nicholas.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]The Dutch Sinterklaas and his helper Zwarte Piet[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) brought along the tradition of Sint Nikolaas (St. Nicholas) or Sinterklaas for short.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The Dutch Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) has a helper known as Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). They live in Spain (not the North Pole).[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The Dutch Sinterklaas is an elderly, serious man with white hair & a long beard. He wears bishop's clothes and carries a staff.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The Dutch Sinterklaas rides a grey flying horse over rooftops, dropping presents down the chimneys of well-behaved children.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]After the American Revolution, New Yorkers celebrated their Dutch roots and revived the feast of St Nicholas and his legend.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]One of the early covers of the famous poem "Twas The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The Anglicizing of the name "Sinterklaas" appeared by 1773, when a New York City newspaper reported on the Dutch "Santa Claus."[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Santa Claus became prominent in America in 1809 with the publication of author Washington Irving's book "A History of New York."[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Washington Irving's satirical 1809 book "A History of New York" listed Santa Claus as the patron saint of New York.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Santa first became "fat" when author Washington Irving described him as portly and smoking a pipe, instead of as a lanky bishop.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Irving's 1809 "A History of New York" was the first-ever mention of Santa sliding down a chimney (rather than dropping presents).[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In 1822, Clement Clarke Moore wrote a 56-line Christmas poem entitled "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas." A legend began.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Moore wrote his Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for his three daughters. It was first published anonymously in 1823.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]A portion of Thomas Nast's first Santa Claus drawing from 1863 with Santa dressed in the stars and stripes[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Clement Moore was a professor of Oriental & Greek Literature and feared his "silly" Christmas poem might sully his reputation.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The 1822 poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Moore became known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas."[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" marked the first time Santa's eight reindeer were ever mentioned...and given names.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Two reindeer were originally named Dunder & Blixem (old Dutch words for thunder & lightning). They later became Donner & Blitzen.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The wife of Santa Claus is first mentioned in the short story "A Christmas Legend" by James Rees in 1849.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In the 1800s, Santa wore all sorts of things: blue 3-cornered hat, broad-brimmed hat, red waistcoat, and even yellow stockings.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]In this drawing by Thomas Nast, Santa is shown, for the first time, looking out at the world from the North Pole.[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In 1863, the cartoonist Thomas Nast began a series of drawings in Harper's Weekly, based on "Twas The Night Before Christmas."[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Thomas Nast's cartoons in Harper's Weekly began defining the look of Santa Claus for Americans: flowing beard and fur garments.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Thomas Nast's first drawing of Santa had him wearing white stars on a blue coat and red and white striped pants--very American.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Around 1869, Santa turned up for the first time in a bright red suit with a white belt in one of Thomas Nast's cartoons.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Thomas Nast was the first to depict Santa Claus working at the North Pole. Nast also was the first person to draw Mrs. Claus.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Although Santa had worn many colors previously, beginning in the late 1800s, it became popular to depict Santa in a red suit.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]An early Christmas card featuring Santa Claus drawn by Louis Prang around 1885.[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Louis Prang is known as the "father of the American Christmas card." He sold them first in England and then in America in 1874.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The first Christmas card showing Santa Claus in a red suit appeared in 1885. It was printed by Louis Prang in Boston.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Katherine Lee Bates' 1889 poem "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride" popularized Mrs. Claus ("Goody" is short for "Goodwife").[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The first department store Santa appeared in 1890 at The Boston Store in Brockton, MA, played by storeowner James Edgar.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In the early 1890s, the Salvation Army began dressing up unemployed New York men in Santa Claus suits to solicit donations.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In 1894, the U.S. Congress officially made Christmas a national holiday. Before that, employees didn't always get the day off.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]The cover for the Christmas children's book written by the author of "The Wizard of Oz"[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]"Is There a Santa Claus?" was an editorial in the New York Sun in 1897. The answer: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]"Oz" children's author L. Frank Baum wrote "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" in 1902, exploring Santa's mythical origins.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The U.S. Post Office Santa letter answering effort began in 1912 out of the historic James Farley Post Office in New York.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Coke wasn't the first drink company to use a red & white Santa. White Rock Beverages did it first in 1915 to sell mineral water.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Having a Santa Claus set up to take pictures with children is a ritual that dates back at least to 1918.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]By 1927, Santa as a large, rosy-cheeked, jolly fellow with a white beard, pipe, and wearing a red suit was a common image.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]This 1931 illustration by Haddon Sunblom was the first Coca Cola ad to feature Santa Claus.[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Coca Cola expanded the image of Santa with a far-reaching ad campaign that began in 1931 and ran every Christmas for 35 years.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]For nearly 35 years, Haddon Sundblom painted portraits of Santa Claus for Coca Cola ad campaigns that cemented his modern image.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In 1937, Charles W. Howard, who played Santa Claus himself, established the oldest continuously-run such school in the world.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Rudolph, the famous 9th reindeer with the glowing red nose, first appeared 100 years after his 8 counterparts, in a 1939 poem.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Robert May, a copywriter at the Montgomery Ward department store, wrote the story of Rudolph to help increase holiday traffic.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Montgomery Ward sold almost 2.5 million copies of Rudolph in 1939. Reissued in 1946, the book sold over 3.5 million copies.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]The original cover for the book "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In 1949, one of Robert May's friends, Johnny Marks, wrote a short song based on the story of Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The song "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer" was first recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 and sold over two million copies.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The story of Rudolph has been translated into 25 languages and was made into a television movie, narrated by Burl Ives, in 1964.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The tradition of tracking Santa by radar began in 1955 with the printing of wrong number. Read more: [COLOR=#00ff00][URL='http://tinyurl.com/ydlvgud'][COLOR=#00ff00]http://tinyurl.com/ydlvgud[/COLOR][/URL][/COLOR][/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa website gets nearly 9 million visitors from more than 200 countries and territories globally.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Canada's Post Office has a special postal code for letters to Santa. His address is: Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, H0H 0H0[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In Britain and Australia, Santa Claus is sometimes given sherry and mince pies instead of cookies and milk.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]NORAD has its own Santa tracking website at [COLOR=#00ff00][URL='http://www.noradsanta.org'][COLOR=#00ff00]http://www.noradsanta.org[/COLOR][/URL][/COLOR][/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In Ireland, it is popular to give Santa Claus either Guinness or milk, along with Christmas pudding or mince pies.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Each Nordic country claims Santa's residence to be within their territory, including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Some countries cite Greenland as the traditional home of Father Christmas, while others use the Lapland Province of Finland.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]On December 23, 2008, Jason Kenney, one of Canada's ministers, formally awarded Canadian citizenship status to Santa Claus.[/FONT] [/LIST] [FONT=Times New Roman]Early images of Father Christmas over the centuries featured him wearing green robes.[/FONT] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In Kyrgyzstan, a mountain peak was named after Santa Claus, and 2008 was declared a national Year of Santa Claus in that country.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]For centuries, European countries had Father Christmas who didn't necessarily give gifts. Today, he & Santa have all but merged.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Early versions of Father Christmas wore green robes, and he was the inspiration for Charles Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Present.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Father Christmas names — Papa Noel (Spanish), Pére Nöel (French), Papai Noel (Brazil), Pai Nata (Portugal), Babbo Natale (Italy).[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]More Father Christmas names — Christmas Father (India), Kaghand Papik (Armenia), Moș Cräciun (Romania), and Noel Baba (Turkey).[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In Iceland, the 13 Yule Lads play practical jokes and then leave gifts in the shoes of good children. Bad kids get tomatoes.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In Norway, Finland, and Sweden, gnome-like Tomte (or Nisse) give children gifts in person. (Usually parents dress up as Tomte.)[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]Many countries still celebrate with the Christ Child (or Christkind), a cherubic blond child who gives gifts but is never seen.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In some countries with German customs, Santa is accompanied by Belsnickel, a stern mountain-man who disciplines children.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In Alpine countries, the beast-like Krampus accompanies St. Nicholas before Christmas, scaring children into being good.[/FONT] [/LIST] [CENTER] [/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][B][I]All around the world, different countries and cultures have their own unique legends of the person or people who give [/I][/B][/FONT][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][I][B]gifts at Christmastime.[/B][/I][/FONT][/CENTER] [LIST] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In France, Pére Nöel resembles Santa, but instead of using reindeer, he rides a single donkey called Gui (Mistletoe in French).[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In Italy, a kind witch named Befana delivers gifts for good children on Jan. 5 (and gives coal to bad kids). She also sweeps up.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]In Slavic countries, gifts are given on New Year's Eve by Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) who rides a traditional horse-drawn sled.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]The Russian Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) is a white bearded sorcerer who wears red robes and travels with his granddaughter.[/FONT] [*][FONT=Times New Roman]An Australian Christmas carol by Rolf Harris "Six White Boomers" has Santa using six white kangaroos instead of eight reindeer.[/FONT] [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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