"American Origins: (As sent to me by Brian Dodd) Quote from ENCARTA !

T"e American #ersion of t"e $anta C%aus figure recei#ed its ins&iration and its name from t"e Dutc" %egend of $inter '%aas( broug"t by sett%ers to Ne) *or+ in t"e ,-t" century. As ear%y as ,--/ t"e name a&&eared in t"e American &ress as "$t. A C%aus(" but it )as t"e &o&u%ar aut"or 0as"ington 1r#ing )"o ga#e Americans t"eir first detai%ed information about t"e Dutc" #ersion of $aint Nic"o%as. 1n "is 2istory of Ne) *or+( &ub%is"ed in ,34 under t"e &seudonym Diedric" 'nic+erboc+er( 1r#ing described t"e arri#a% of t"e saint on "orsebac+ (unaccom&anied by B%ac+ 5eter) eac" E#e of $aint Nic"o%as. T"is Dutc"6American $aint Nic+ ac"ie#ed "is fu%%y Americani7ed form in ,38/ in t"e &oem A 9isit :rom $aint Nic"o%as more common%y +no)n as T"e Nig"t Before C"ristmas by )riter C%ement C%ar+e ;oore. ;oore inc%uded suc" detai%s as t"e names of t"e reindeer< $anta C%aus=s %aug"s( )in+s( and nods< and t"e met"od by )"ic" $aint Nic"o%as( referred to as an e%f( returns u& t"e c"imney. (;oore=s &"rase "%ays "is finger aside of "is nose" )as dra)n direct%y from 1r#ing=s ,34 descri&tion.)

T"e American image of i%%ustrator T"omas Nast( issues of 2ar&er=s maga7ine detai%s as $anta=s )or+s"o& and bad c"i%dren of t"e rat"er t"an t"e e%f of i%%ustrations for Coca6Co%a introduced and made t"e t"e $anta C%aus %egend( t"e nint" reindeer( )it" a an ad#ertising )riter for t"e

$anta C%aus )as furt"er e%aborated by )"o de&icted a rotund $anta for C"ristmas from t"e ,3>4s to t"e ,334s. Nast added suc" at t"e Nort" 5o%e and $anta=s %ist of t"e good )or%d. A "uman6si7ed #ersion of $anta C%aus( ;oore=s &oem( )as de&icted in a series of ad#ertisements introduced in , /, t"at red $anta $uits an icon. 1n modern #ersions of on%y "is toy6s"o& )or+ers are e%#es. Rudo%&"( red and s"iny nose( )as in#ented in , / by ;ontgomery 0ard Com&any.

1n %oo+ing for t"e "istorica% roots of $anta C%aus( one must go #ery dee& in t"e &ast. One disco#ers t"at $anta C%aus as )e +no) "im is a combination of many different %egends and myt"ica% creatures. T"e basis for t"e C"ristian6era $anta C%aus is Bis"o& Nic"o%as of $myrna (17mir)( in )"at is no) Tur+ey. Nic"o%as %i#ed in t"e ?t" century A.D. 2e )as #ery ric"( generous( and %o#ing to)ard c"i%dren. Often "e ga#e @oy to &oor c"i%dren by t"ro)ing gifts in t"roug" t"eir )indo)s. T"e Ort"odoA C"urc" %ater raised $t. Nic"o%as( mirac%e )or+er( to a &osition of great esteem. 1t )as in "is "onor t"at Russia=s o%dest c"urc"( for eAam&%e( )as

bui%t. :or its &art( t"e Roman Cat"o%ic C"urc" "onored Nic"o%as as one )"o "e%&ed c"i%dren and t"e &oor. $t. Nic"o%as became t"e &atron saint of c"i%dren and seafarers. 2is name day is December >t". 1n t"e 5rotestant areas of centra% and nort"ern Bermany( $t. Nic"o%as %ater became +no)n as der 0einac"tsmann. 1n Eng%and "e came to be ca%%ed :at"er C"ristmas. $t. Nic"o%as made "is )ay to t"e Cnited $tates )it" Dutc" immigrants( and began to be referred to as $anta C%aus. 1n Nort" American &oetry and i%%ustrations( $anta C%aus( in "is )"ite beard( red @ac+et and &om&om6to&&ed ca&( )ou%d sa%%y fort" on t"e nig"t before C"ristmas in "is s%eig"( &u%%ed by eig"t reindeer( and c%imb do)n c"imneys to %ea#e "is C"ristmas gifts in stoc+ings c"i%dren set out on t"e fire&%ace=s mante%&iece. C"i%dren natura%%y )anted to +no) )"ere $anta C%aus actua%%y came from. 0"ere did "e %i#e )"en "e )asn=t de%i#ering &resentsD T"ose Euestions ga#e rise to t"e %egend t"at $anta C%aus %i#ed at t"e Nort" 5o%e( )"ere "is C"ristmas6gift )or+s"o& )as a%so %ocated. 1n , 8!( since gra7ing reindeer )ou%d not be &ossib%e at t"e Nort" 5o%e( ne)s&a&ers re#ea%ed t"at $anta C%aus in fact %i#ed in :innis" Fa&%and. "Cnc%e ;ar+us"( ;ar+us Rautio( )"o com&ared t"e &o&u%ar "C"i%dren=s "our" on :innis" &ub%ic radio( re#ea%ed t"e great secret for t"e first time in , 8-: $anta C%aus %i#es on Fa&%and=s 'or#atunturi 6 "Ear :e%%" T"e fe%%( )"ic" is situated direct%y on :in%and=s eastern frontier( some)"at resemb%es a "are=s ears 6 )"ic" are in fact $anta C%aus=s ears( )it" )"ic" "e %istens to "ear if t"e )or%d=s c"i%dren are being nice. $anta "as t"e assistance of a busy grou& of e%#es( )"o "a#e Euite t"eir o)n "istory in $candinan#ian %egend. O#er t"e centuries( customs from different &arts of t"e Nort"ern 2emis&"ere t"us came toget"er and created t"e )"o%e )or%d=s $anta C%aus 6 t"e age%ess( time%ess( deat"%ess )"ite6bearded and red suited man )"o gi#es out gifts on C"ristmas and a%)ays returns to 'or#atunturi in :innis" Fa&%and. $ince t"e , !4s( $anta "as "a&&i%y so@ourned at Na&a&iiri( near Ro#aniemi( at times ot"er t"an C"ristmas( to meet c"i%dren and t"e young at "eart. By , 3! "is #isits to Na&a&iiri "ad become so regu%ar t"at "e estab%is"ed "is o)n $anta C%aus Office t"ere rat"er t"an using a modern con#enience %i+e &ro#iding conference ca%% ans)ers from t"e nort" &o%e. 2e comes t"ere e#ery day of t"e year to "ear )"at c"i%dren )ant for C"ristmas and to ta%+ )it" c"i%dren )"o "a#e arri#ed from around t"e )or%d. $anta C%aus 9i%%age is a%so t"e %ocation of $anta=s main 5ost Office( )"ic" recei#es c"i%dren=s %etters from t"e four corners of t"e )or%d.

T"e man )e +no) as $anta C%aus "as a "istory a%% "is o)n. Today( "e is t"oug"t of main%y as t"e @o%%y man in red( but "is story stretc"es a%% t"e )ay bac+ to t"e t"ird century. :ind out more about t"e "istory of $anta C%aus from "is ear%iest origins to t"e s"o&&ing ma%% fa#orite of today.

The Legend of St. Nicholas

T"e %egend of $anta C%aus can be traced bac+ "undreds of years to a mon+ named $t. Nic"o%as. 1t is be%ie#ed t"at Nic"o%as )as born sometime around 834 A.D. in 5atara( near ;yra in modern6 day Tur+ey. ;uc" admired for "is &iety and +indness( $t. Nic"o%as became t"e sub@ect of many %egends. 1t is said t"at "e ga#e a)ay a%% of "is in"erited )ea%t" and tra#e%ed t"e countryside "e%&ing t"e &oor and sic+. One of t"e best +no)n of t"e $t. Nic"o%as stories is t"at "e sa#ed t"ree &oor sisters from being so%d into s%a#ery or &rostitution by t"eir fat"er by &ro#iding t"em )it" a do)ry so t"at t"ey cou%d be married. O#er t"e course of many years( Nic"o%as=s &o&u%arity s&read and "e became +no)n as t"e &rotector of c"i%dren and sai%ors. 2is feast day is ce%ebrated on t"e anni#ersary of "is deat"( December >. T"is )as traditiona%%y considered a %uc+y day to ma+e %arge &urc"ases or to get married. By t"e Renaissance( $t. Nic"o%as )as t"e most &o&u%ar saint in Euro&e. E#en after t"e 5rotestant Reformation( )"en t"e #eneration of saints began to be discouraged( $t. Nic"o%as maintained a &ositi#e re&utation( es&ecia%%y in 2o%%and.

Sinter Klaas Comes to New York

$t. Nic"o%as made "is first inroads into American &o&u%ar cu%ture to)ards t"e end of t"e ,3t" century. 1n December ,--/( and again in ,--?( a Ne) *or+ ne)s&a&er re&orted t"at grou&s of Dutc" fami%ies "ad gat"ered to "onor t"e anni#ersary of "is deat". T"e name $anta C%aus e#o%#ed from Nic+=s Dutc" nic+name( $inter '%aas( a s"ortened form of $int Ni+o%aas (Dutc" for $aint Nic"o%as). 1n ,34?( Go"n 5intard( a member of t"e Ne) *or+ 2istorica% $ociety( distributed )oodcuts of $t. Nic"o%as at t"e society=s annua% meeting. T"e bac+ground of t"e engra#ing contains no)6fami%iar $anta images inc%uding stoc+ings fi%%ed )it" toys and fruit "ung o#er a fire&%ace. 1n ,34 ( 0as"ington 1r#ing "e%&ed to &o&u%ari7e t"e $inter '%aas stories )"en "e referred to $t. Nic"o%as as t"e &atron saint of Ne) *or+ in "is boo+( T"e 2istory of Ne) *or+. As "is &rominence gre)( $inter '%aas )as described as e#eryt"ing from a "rasca%" )it" a b%ue t"ree6cornered "at( red )aistcoat( and ye%%o) stoc+ings to a man )earing a broad6brimmed "at and a ""uge &air of :%emis" trun+ "ose."

Shopping Mall Santas

Bift6gi#ing( main%y centered around c"i%dren( "as been an im&ortant &art of t"e C"ristmas ce%ebration since t"e "o%iday=s re@u#enation in t"e ear%y , t" century. $tores began to ad#ertise C"ristmas s"o&&ing in ,384( and by t"e ,3?4s( ne)s&a&ers )ere creating se&arate sections for "o%iday ad#ertisements( )"ic" often featured images of t"e ne)%y6&o&u%ar $anta C%aus. 1n ,3?,( t"ousands of c"i%dren #isited a 5"i%ade%&"ia s"o& to see a %ife6si7e $anta C%aus mode%. 1t )as on%y a matter of time before stores began to attract c"i%dren( and t"eir &arents( )it" t"e %ure of a &ee+ at a "%i#e" $anta C%aus. 1n t"e ear%y ,3 4s( t"e $a%#ation Army needed money to &ay for t"e free C"ristmas mea%s t"ey &ro#ided to needy fami%ies. T"ey began dressing u& unem&%oyed men in $anta C%aus suits and sending t"em into t"e streets of Ne) *or+ to so%icit donations. T"ose fami%iar $a%#ation Army $antas "a#e been ringing be%%s on t"e street corners of American cities e#er since.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

1n ,388( C%ement C%ar+e ;oore( an E&isco&a% minister( )rote a %ong C"ristmas &oem for "is t"ree daug"ters entit%ed "An Account of a 9isit from $t. Nic"o%as." ;oore=s &oem( )"ic" "e )as initia%%y "esitant to &ub%is" due to t"e fri#o%ous nature of its sub@ect( is %arge%y res&onsib%e for our modern image of $anta C%aus as a "rig"t @o%%y o%d e%f" )it" a &ort%y figure and t"e su&ernatura% abi%ity to ascend a c"imney )it" a mere nod of "is "eadH A%t"oug" some of ;oore=s imagery )as

&robab%y borro)ed from ot"er sources( "is &oem "e%&ed &o&u%ari7e t"e no)6fami%iar image of a $anta C%aus )"o f%e) from "ouse to "ouse on C"ristmas E#eIin "a miniature s%eig"" %ed by eig"t f%ying reindeerI%ea#ing &resents for deser#ing c"i%dren. "An Account of a 9isit from $t. Nic"o%as" created a ne) and immediate%y &o&u%ar American icon. 1n ,33,( &o%itica% cartoonist T"omas Nast dre) on ;oore=s &oem to create t"e first %i+eness t"at matc"es our modern image of $anta C%aus. 2is cartoon( )"ic" a&&eared in 2ar&er=s 0ee+%y( de&icted $anta as a rotund( c"eerfu% man )it" a fu%%( )"ite beard( "o%ding a sac+ %aden )it" toys for %uc+y c"i%dren. 1t is Nast )"o ga#e $anta "is brig"t red suit trimmed )it" )"ite fur( Nort" 5o%e )or+s"o&( e%#es( and "is )ife( ;rs. C%aus.

A Santa ! An! "ther Name

,3t"6century America=s $anta C%aus )as not t"e on%y $t. Nic"o%as6ins&ired gift6gi#er to ma+e an a&&earance at C"ristmastime. $imi%ar figures )ere &o&u%ar a%% o#er t"e )or%d. C"rist+ind or 'ris 'ring%e )as be%ie#ed to de%i#er &resents to )e%%6be"a#ed $)iss and Berman c"i%dren. ;eaning "C"rist c"i%d(" C"rist+ind is an ange%6%i+e figure often accom&anied by $t. Nic"o%as on "is "o%iday missions. 1n $candina#ia( a @o%%y e%f named Gu%tomten )as t"oug"t to de%i#er gifts in a s%eig" dra)n by goats. Eng%is" %egend eA&%ains t"at :at"er C"ristmas #isits eac" "ome on C"ristmas E#e to fi%% c"i%dren=s stoc+ings )it" "o%iday treats. 5ere Noe% is res&onsib%e for fi%%ing t"e s"oes of :renc" c"i%dren. 1n Russia( it is be%ie#ed t"at an e%der%y )oman named Babousc"+a &ur&ose%y ga#e t"e )ise men )rong directions to Bet"%e"em so t"at t"ey cou%dn=t find Gesus. Fater( s"e fe%t remorsefu%( but cou%d not find t"e men to undo t"e damage. To t"is day( on Ganuary !( Babousc"+a #isits Russian c"i%dren %ea#ing gifts at t"eir bedsides in t"e "o&e t"at one of t"em is t"e baby Gesus and s"e )i%% be forgi#en. 1n 1ta%y( a simi%ar story eAists about a )oman ca%%ed Fa Befana( a +ind%y )itc" )"o rides a broomstic+ do)n t"e c"imneys of 1ta%ian "omes to de%i#er toys into t"e stoc+ings of %uc+y c"i%dren.

The Ninth #eindeer

Rudo%&"( "t"e most famous reindeer of a%%(" )as born o#er a "undred years after "is eig"t f%ying counter&arts. T"e red6nosed )onder )as t"e creation of Robert F. ;ay( a co&y)riter at t"e ;ontgomery 0ard de&artment store. 1n , / ( ;ay )rote a C"ristmas6t"emed story6&oem to "e%& bring "o%iday traffic into "is store. Csing a simi%ar r"yme &attern to ;oore=s "=T)as t"e Nig"t Before C"ristmas(" ;ay to%d t"e story of Rudo%&"( a young reindeer )"o )as teased by t"e ot"er deer because of "is %arge( g%o)ing( red nose. But( 0"en C"ristmas E#e turned foggy and $anta )orried t"at "e )ou%dn=t be ab%e to de%i#er gifts t"at nig"t( t"e former outcast sa#ed C"ristmas by %eading t"e s%eig" by t"e %ig"t of "is red nose. Rudo%&"=s messageJt"at gi#en t"e o&&ortunity( a %iabi%ity can be turned into an assetJ&ro#ed &o&u%ar. ;ontgomery 0ard so%d a%most t)o and a "a%f mi%%ion co&ies of t"e story in , / . 0"en it )as reissued in , ?>( t"e boo+ so%d o#er t"ree and "a%f mi%%ion co&ies. $e#era% years %ater( one of ;ay=s friends( Go"nny ;ar+s( )rote a s"ort song based on Rudo%&"=s story (, ? ). 1t )as recorded by Bene Autry and so%d o#er t)o mi%%ion co&ies. $ince t"en( t"e story "as been trans%ated into 8! %anguages and been made into a te%e#ision mo#ie( narrated by Bur% 1#es( )"ic" "as c"armed audiences e#ery year since , >?.