The modern figure was derived from the dutch figure of. Early representations of the giftgiver from church history and folklore, notably st nicholas, merged with the english character. Washington irving wrote a book titled the history of new york, and in it, he called st. A big, fat guy in a red suit with a fluffy white beard. Santa claus himself is of course much older, deriving from the historical figure of st. The mispronunciation stuck making sinterklaas into santa claus. He actually did go by the name of nicholas, his greek name when he was a monk in the early christian church around what is today myra, turkey. This effort of luthers to move away from the santa claus tradition inadvertently veered right toward it. It got me thinking about that the jolly old elf has been around alot longer than most major religions, countries and nations today. Nicholas eve in english in the netherlands, aruba, and curacao. It is believed that nicholas was born sometime around 280 a. Origins of santa claus article about origins of santa claus. An introduction santa claus, legendary bringer of gifts at christmas. However, santa claus origin is surprisingly different from his widely known persona today.
He lived in the 300s and became famous for his great acts of charity. Origins of santa claus article about origins of santa. Includes pictures includes contemporary accounts includes online reso. Webster and thomas nast, santa claus and his works. Dec 24, 2014 the real story of santa claus begins with saint nicholas 270 343 ad, who was born in the village of patara, an area which was once greek but is now part of turkey. To celebrate, we tell you about the secret origins of santa claus. Each year, the destination attracts more visitors who are provided an evergrowing number of services. Father christmas is the traditional english name for the personification of christmas. Swart pete is the companion of saint nicholas dutch. Early in the book, the author recounts the traditional stories about saint nicholas and his morphing into the santa claus the entire world knows today. His popular image is based on traditions associated with saint nicholas, a 4thcentury christian saint. Two species, amanita muscaria and amanita pantherina, contain muscimol and.
Unknown to the people on earth, santa claus was given being because of humanitys belief in the deeds of three different characters in history. It is the history of the jolly, bearded man, with references to past incarnations of the character more likely directly related to black pete the servant of st. Dec 21, 2018 in fact, many credit nast with the idea of santa having a toy workshop. It is believed that nicholas was born sometime around. Born in modernday turkey, nicholas was neither fat nor jolly. In 1863, during the civil war, political cartoonist thomas nast began a series of annual blackandwhite drawings in harpers weekly, based on the descriptions found in the poem and. The modern figure was derived from the dutch figure of sinterklaas. Did you ever wonder who the original santa claus was and how he evolved into the jolly, north pole dweller we know and love today. Portrait of saint nicholas bigstockphoto, santa claus with tree and sack public domain, and a modern depiction of santa claus. Santa claus is everywhere, and although hes traditionally associated with the christmas holiday, his origins can be traced back to a blend of an early christian bishop and later saint and a norse deity. Other artists and writers continued the change to an elflike st. Santa claus, also known as father christmas, saint nicholas, saint nick, kris kringle, or simply santa, is an imaginary figure originating in western christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of wellbehaved children on the night of christmas eve 24 december or during the early morning hours of christmas day 25 december. Santa claus is a legendary figure who is said to bring gifts to the homes of wellbehaved children on christmas.
Nicholas, sancte claus, or santa claus, unlike the stately european bishop. Origins of the christmas tree, santa claus and other. The history of santa claus dates some 1,700 years ago to a bishop named st. Nickno matter the name, everyone knows the story of this plump, jolly, bringer of gifts. Dec 25, 2018 other historians were unaware of a connection between santa and shamans or magic mushrooms, including stephen nissenbaum, who wrote a book about the origins of christmas traditions, and penne restad, of the university of texas at austin, both of whom were contacted by livescience.
Dec 24, 2017 norman rockwell, santa with elves, 1922 santas elves are the result of the combination of a number of traditions. In this book irving described santa as a jolly man who rode in a wagon pulled by horses. Father christmas fills the role in many european countries. The title of the book really indicates exactly what the book is about. This christmas tell your children the real santa claus story. It was around half a century ago that santa claus started. Amanita is a genus of mushroom native to temperate regions of europe and north america, as far south as florida and as far north as siberia in eastern russia erowid 2007. He is the most magical, mighty and loyal friend of all the children of the world. Santa claus came to the new world in the 1821 thanks to the first lithographed book in the u. We also breakdown what abilties santa has in the comic books, whether or not he is a. Yes, there is a santa claus and this provocative book will tell you who he really is.
In fact, many credit nast with the idea of santa having a toy workshop. It analyzes how ancient myths from countries as diverse as britain, russia, scandinavia, spain and africa were adapted, sanitized and commercialized in modern times by america. Santa claus also known as saint nicholas, father christmas, kris kringle and simply santa, is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of christmas eve, december 24. Travel back in time to view santa s pagan origins and his fascinating connections to the horned shaman, the greek god pan, the norse god wodan, and robin hood. Santas little helper, krampus and knecht ruprecht considering santa you cannot miss his alter ego, who has followed him like a dark shadow since ancient times. There is a devil, called percht, bartl, krampus, knecht ruprecht, or rotsohler, accompanying santa claus in the european alps. Nicholas of myra but with attributes added from several european christmas traditions, particularly the english father christmas and the dutch sinterklaas. Today santa claus village is a travel destination in rovaniemi, finland that has become a significant international centre for tourism. Cc0 the article this christmas tell your children the real santa claus story by lisa bitel was originally published on the conversation and has been republished under a creative commons license. The origins and evolution of saint nicholas, spanning 50, 000. Dec 23, 2015 to celebrate, we tell you about the secret origins of santa claus. Dec 12, 2017 the origins of christmas, and santa claus, branch off into different beliefs and areas siberian shamanism and the amanita muscaria being a branch on the christmas tree, if you will, among different branches including the christian st.
Moores saint nicholas smoked a pipe, navigated an airborne sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer, and made his entrance via the chimney. The ancient origins of santa claus ancient origins. Once the yule season rolls around, you cant shake a sprig of mistletoe without seeing images of a chubby man in a red suit. The zwarte piet character is part of the annual feast of st. The amanita genus is one of the most widespread in the world, with species that range from edible to deadly poisonous. As with many things in our culture, santa has his beginnings in a christian past. In 1833, a visit from saint nicholas introduced santa claus for the first time as a kind, plump, jolly caucasian elf greeting readers with his twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks, and dimples. Norman rockwell, santa with elves, 1922 santas elves are the result of the combination of a number of traditions. Santa wanted to safeguard the tranquility of his secret hiding place and came up with a superb idea that also allowed him to meet people who love christmas and his many friends who come to greet him. These three people, whom belief in together created the true magical being of santa claus, are who the people of earth think santa claus. A negro santa claus went down a chimney head first and landed on the fire, a 1901 news report, from bloomfield, new jersey, read.
Santa claus information gender male show information first appearance the life and adventures of santa claus santa claus is an iconic immortal hero of the holiday season. Washington irving was the first to include santa claus in his book, diedrich knickbockers history of new york. Dec 15, 2009 1 santa is an icon in modern culture, and his image is used to sell everything from soda to sports cars. Today we take a look at the comic book origins kinda, but mostly the adventures of santa claus in comics. All americans are familiar with the icon of christmas, but what about the myth behind the north pole native. The origins of christmas, and santa claus, branch off into different beliefs and areas siberian shamanism and the amanita muscaria being a branch on the christmas tree, if you will, among different branches including the christian st. The real man behind santa claus and the books that made him. Nicholas, paganism, nordic mythology, anglosaxon tradition, roman festivities, and so on and so forth, all. The american santa claus represents only the tip of a very ancient iceberg. Travel back in time to view santas pagan origins and his fascinating connections to the horned shaman, the greek god pan, the norse god wodan, and robin hood. The legend of santa claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named st. This christmas tell your children the real santa claus.
Nicholas that is celebrated on the evening of 5 december sinterklaasavond, which is known as st. Santa clausotherwise known as saint nicholas or kris kringle has. Though the modern santa claus is associated with a world of fantasy, the. This is when presents and sweets are traditionally distributed to children. Nicholas used his entire inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. Dec 25, 2018 santa claus wasnt always chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. Washington irvings 1809 book knickerbockers history of new york. Learn how we are influenced by this ancient myth everyday. What are the origins of the modern day santa claus. Dec, 2018 portrait of saint nicholas bigstockphoto, santa claus with tree and sack public domain, and a modern depiction of santa claus. Dec 17, 2018 it would become santa claus other name, kris kringle. If your looking for a good read on acient origins of santa claus i recommend this book.
The santa claus myth is based largely on the dutch holiday of. The origins of santa claus on the morning of december 25, millions of american children gather with their families around the christmas trees to open gifts left there by santa claus. Two writers in american literature helped make santa claus an american tradition. Little is known of him, but he is traditionally identified as a 4thcentury bishop of myra in asia minor. Lets consider what we can learn from gods word regarding christians and santa clausin light of the true meaning of christmas. The real story of santa claus begins with saint nicholas 270 343 ad, who was born in the village of patara, an area which was once greek but is now part of turkey. Santa claus, legendary figure who is the traditional patron of christmas in the united states and other countries, bringing gifts to children. All americans are familiar with the icon of christmas. Not only is santa claus as you know him a new yorker, he was actually kind of invented at the newyork historical society. Hang your stockings and say your prayers, cause santa claus comes tonight jump in bed, cover up your head, cause santa claus comes tonight so lets give thanks to the lord above cause santa claus comes tonight. The original santa claus story santa claus history pghome. About a hundred years ago, a passerby started spreading the word about ear mountain and the existence of its inhabitants. Santa claus wasnt always chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. Origins towards the end of 2019, acsian theatre produced santa claus.
Dec 09, 2016 a negro santa claus went down a chimney head first and landed on the fire, a 1901 news report, from bloomfield, new jersey, read. Nicholas and kris kringle became santa by michael solow dec 8, 2017 family living, seasons and holidays its easy to think that santa claus has been around forever, with his big belly and red robe and sleigh full of gifts and reindeer. Santas little helpers the origins of the christmas elves. Santa claus is a traditional, secular figure of christmas good cheer who is the best known at least in modern times mascot of christmas, developed in the united states as an amalgam of the story of st. The play explored the life of claus as he ventured through the world and encountered new people in his journey to become the iconic symbol of. It would become santa claus other name, kris kringle. Santa claus, also known as saint nicholas, father christmas, kris kringle and simply santa, is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western. Although now known as a christmas giftbringer, and normally considered to be synonymous with american cultures santa claus which is now known worldwide, he was originally part of an unrelated and much older english folkloric tradition. The santa claus myth is based largely on the dutch. An interesting book discussing the origin and transformation of santa claus. Frankly, most of the book has nothing whatsoever to do with santa claus but dwells upon anecdotal stories of these wild men as the true origin of santa claus. The connection between moores poem, european folklore, and the probable shamanic origins of the santa figure are strengthened when one looks at the illustrations of santa claus that thomas nast created for the poem. Origins, a theatrical adaptation of the book the life and adventures of santa claus written by l.
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