A baby boy by the name off Nicholas was born to the Greeks in 280 AD. As a kid, Nicholas lived a very wealthy lifestyle due to an early death of his parents. His parents left behind all their fortune for him to live on. Growing up in the 4th century, in a place called Myra (present day Turkey), many were not as fortunate as Nicholas. He held a magnificent reputation, most thought of his as a very humble and kind soul. This was because Nicholas used his wealth to provide for the poor and give secret little presents to the needy, showing his humbleness. This was only the beginning of a long journey evolving into what we know as Santa Claus. One of the most well-known stories of Nicholas shows how the hanging of stockings originated. There was …show more content…
Nicholas was revived through poetry and literature, during the 19th century, and Christmas was displayed as a family oriented holiday. These different types of literature start to shape our modern day image of St. Nicholas, Santa Claus. One of the first books to portray an illustration similar to Santa Claus was entitled “The Children’s Friend.” In this book, St. Nicholas was changed from a religious figure and shown as a man dressed in the fur of the Germanic gift bringers. This new figure brought gifts to good boys and girls in a thin wagon with only one reindeer, but he also disciplines the children who behaved improperly. Within the next year, the image of Santa took on a dramatic …show more content…
Their first ad involving Santa happened in the 1920’s. It was located in The Saturday Evening Post. In 1930, Fred Mizen painted a picture of Santa drinking Coca-Cola in the middle of a crowd. This picture was used in Coca-Cola’s Christmas ads that December of 1930. Later in 1942, Coca-Cola introduced Santa’s wingman, known as Sprite Boy. Sprite Boy took the image of an elf. This image was created before the beverage Sprite came out in the 1960’s. The last impact Coca-Cola made was in animation. They created a television ad for Santa, in 2001. This is only one of many advertisements showing the spotlight on
Dr. Seuss's original fable is a simple story told with a great moral that criticizes the commercialization of Christmas. The original story features an “Ebenezer Scrooge” type creature that lives up the mountains outside "Whoville." The Grinch indulges himself in the annual ritual of spoiling everyone's festivities with a series of nasty pranks. This particular year however he plans to sabotage the holiday season by dressing as Santa Claus, clim...
Evidently, myths have become the culprit of traditions. That being said, the contemporary and ancient myths of Santa Claus and Krampus can only be understood by determining the elements that devise their entireties. Both narratives involve elements of opposition, trickery, mythemes, repetition, symbols, and ritualistic processes all of which support the structure of each holiday myth and tradition. Overall, the individual elements facilitate a valid, detailed compare and contrast analysis when examining the myths of Santa Claus and Krampus in a North American culture.
A Christmas Carol. Classics of Children's Literature. Ed. John W. Griffith and Charles H. Frey. 3rd ed.
Is Santa truly a secular figure or is he a religious one? This has been a long-standing argument. However, instead of viewing Saint Nick as either secular or religious, it would be more beneficial to examine him as a figure consisting of both religious and secular elements. It is true that the contemporary Santa Claus may be more associated with secular concepts, such as consumerism, but it is also crucial to emphasize the origins of the jolly old man. He is the product of Western Christianization. It is thought that he was created from a combination of the historical figure of Saint Nicholas, a Christian saint, who was known for giving gifts, and the fictional character of Father Christmas from British folklore (CITE). Santa Claus can be viewed
Nothaft, C. The Origins of the Christmas Date: Some Recent Trends in Historical Research. Church
Most people know the story of Santa. While there are many different versions, the gist of it is the night before Christmas, while children are sleeping, a fat man slips down the chimney to distribute gifts to boys and girls that have been good all year. The story was meant to bring hope and joy to children. It was a tale of giving and of love. However, as time goes on characters change, sometimes for better, and sometimes they take a turn for the worst.
Christmas was originally supposed to be a celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ. Modern historians suggest that Christ was actually born sometime in April, but that is hardly the point; the point is that a day on which to celebrate his birth and life was needed, and so one was chosen. During the season surrounding this holiday -- especially since it coincided with that of other, similar holidays -- it was thought right to honor Jesus by acting as he did, i.e., in a kind, generous, and forgiving manner. Out of this sprung the custom of giving gifts to loved ones on this holiday.
Charles Dickens creates a world in A Christmas Carol where Christmas is simply magical. The scenes that Dickens describes capture the exact spirit of Christmas, making every reader both young and old relate. Dickens portrays a few of the Christmas traditions in A Christmas Carol that were typical during the Victorian Era, but definitely not all. Christmas during this time period was just beginning to become popular and widely celebrated. People were beginning to decorate their homes for the holiday in reverence of Jesus Christ as well as a sign of new life. Friends and family would send and exchange Christmas cards that featured unique artwork and designs. The legend of Santa Claus was just beginning to circulate throughout Europe. The food that was served for Christmas dinner was also a very important aspect of the holiday season.
...ch out only for themselves, we lose sight of what Christmas is truly about. Forgetting the being of Santa Claus only makes us slight the kindness on which this holiday is based. Not believe in Santa! You may as well not believe in the very gifts laid under the tree on Christmas morn. Without your faith, Santa Claus would be nonexistent. There would be no yearning in your soul to give of yourself to others, no example to follow. Thank God, Santa Claus exists and exists forever, lightening the heavy heart as the sight of the snow blankets the soul and defines the heart of childhood.
Charles dickens classic novella “A Christmas Carol” endorses the notion that “Generosity involves more than the giving of money, it’s also about the giving of one's goodwill, compassion, sympathy, empathy and kindness. By taking his seemingly irredeemable protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge on a supernatural journey, Dickens’ intends to convey to all of society the importance of generosity. He proclaims that generosity of the spirit defines Christmas, and goes a large way towards defining true humanity for him as well.
Christmastime was always a magical time of year for me. The beautifully decorated shopping malls, with toys everywhere you looked, always fascinated me. And the houses, with the way their lights would glow upon the glistening snow at night, always seemed to calm me. But decorating the Christmas tree and falling asleep underneath the warm glow of the lights, in awe that Santa Claus would soon be there, was the best part of it all. As a child, these things enchanted me. Sure, the presents were great, but the excitement and mystery of Christmas; I loved most of all. Believing…that’s what it was all about. Believing there really was a Santa and waking up Christmas morning, realizing he’d come, as my sleepy eyes focused on all the fancily wrapped presents before me.
The well known holiday of Christmas today is far from what it was in it’s former being. Many aspects led to the change in Christmas, however Charles Dickens, a Victorian era author was arguably the most influential in the change. There was a time when christmas was not much more important than your average holiday. Without the work of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Regency Christmas would not have changed to be the way it is today. As we examine the Regency Christmas, the Christmas events in A Christmas Carol, new Christmas ideas, and today’s new christmas we will form the true Christmas.
One might ask, where did the tradition Santa Claus come from? The answer to this question unfortunately is not quite as straight forward. Somehow this tradition wove itself into the holiday season during the 4th century from Turkey, where a wealthy bishop, by the name of Nicholas habitually gave gifts to children. Following the death of Nicholas, he was honored as a saint, Sinter Nikolass, and a holiday was established in honor of him on December 6th. Dutch people in the Netherlands later shortened the saint's name to Sinter Klaas, which eventually evolved into Santa Claus in the US following Dutch i...
Carols, snow, mistletoe, cookies and milk. These are all synonymous with the Christmas season. However, for many, the true staple of Christmas is Santa Claus. Every child has felt the joy of Christmas Eve, spending time with family, leaving treats out for Santa, tossing and turning in their beds in anticipation for old St. Nick’s arrival. Although what Santa does is well known, his origins are slightly less familiar to most. The man we identify with Christmas has developed over a long time and has encountered many changes. “The original St. Nicholas is for the most part a shadowy figure, lost in historical mists and religious myths. (Myers 318).
Also in the 4th century, a bishop in Turkey who came to be called St. Nicholas was known for good deeds involving children. St. Nicholas is illustrated in medieval and renaissance paintings as a tall, dignified and severe man. His feast day on December 6 was celebrated throughout Europe until about the 16th century. Afterwards, he continued to be known in Protestant Holland.