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
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once a poor old man who had three daughters. His daughters were never able to get married due to their such poor circumstances. Back then, and still in some countries, a dowry (money given to a groom) had to be paid before the marriage could occur. Since they were widows, and had no future in marriage, they were about to be sold into slavery and prostitution. Nicholas one night dropped a sack of coins through their chimney, and coincidentally, it landed within a stocking that had been hung to dry. This occurrence happened twice, allowing both the first and second daughter to be married. The elderly man was curious of to whom was dropping the coins from the chimney, so at night he hid by the fire hoping to catch Nicholas. After Nicholas was caught one night, he begged the man not to speak of the situation, because that would bring too much attention upon himself. Unfortunately, the news dispersed throughout the community, and every gift given after that was known to have been from Nicholas. Stories like this one helped compose some of the traditions we have during Christmas time. Do you hang stockings and stuff them with little goodies too? Because of St. Nicholas kindness and generous heart, like in the story above, he was designated as a Saint. He was known to be a Saint of many children as well as sailors. St. Nicholas was later exiled from Myra and then imprisoned during the “Great Persecution” by Emperor Diocletian (time of hatred toward Christians, involving executions, burnings and imprisonments). This was due to his strong advocacy to Christianity. His death is still indecisive, but it is known to be on December 6th during the mid-fourth century. His bones were stolen by Italian merchants, in 1087, but are now kept in a church named after St. Nicholas located in Bari. December 6th can also be known as St. Nicholas day. Between 1200-1500, people gathered with gifts and celebrated toasts to commemorate his day. Now a day, we celebrate similar celebrations on December 25th, also known as Christmas. Pope Julius I made December 25th the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. For the catholic church this was a special day, and to this day some people celebrate both Jesus’s birth and Christmas on the 25th. To this day, illustrations and prints vary on peoples imagine St. Nicholas to have looked. The most accurate impression was made using modern forensic facial reconstruction. This is known to be the most accurate because after his remains were found in Bari, they were then x-rayed and measured with great detail. These accusations were made by Caroline Wilkinson, a facial anthropologist from the University of Manchester. Once an accurate description of St. Nicholas was measured to have looked, digital artists were brought in to decipher the details. The details included an olive skin tone, based on most Mediterraneans, brown eyes and gray hair of an elder gentleman. No other work has been found to be more accurate based on the facts we know about the time period. Some early European deities are known to have correlations to St. Nicholas, for example the Roman Saturn or the Norse Odin. This deity appears to have a noticeable white beard and magical powers to fly, which match Santa’s beard, sleigh and reindeer. Roman Saturn also watched over kids making sure they practiced good behavior, just like modern day Santa. Although, many of the world had forgotten about St. Nicholas, people from the Netherlands refused to. They still believe in Nicholas as being their gift bringer. As they came to the New World colonies, the Netherlands brought along their tales of St. Nicholas or “Sinterklaas.” His tales in North America are thought to have started in New Amsterdam (modern day New York.) Another possible way of entering North America could be from popular Dutch interests during the Revolutionary War. In early America Christmas was celebrated much differently then it is today. The holiday lost touch with St. Nicholas and the aspect of a magical gift bringer, and was rather an outdoor community bash with crowds of people drinking alcoholic beverages. St.
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…
change. Most of your preperation for Christmas occurs in stores, malls, or outlets. Here you’ll find all the gifts you need, and maybe even children surrounding the guy in the big red suit, Santa. Christmas shopping advertisements started as early as the 1820 for stores, and then entered the newspapers in the 1840’s. Newspapers set off sections just to advertise deals and shopping sales. A Philidelphia shop lured thousands of families to show off the first life-sized Santa model. After realizing the popularity, many stores began to incorporate their own “live” Santa. This brought in more customer and profit for stores during the holiday. Have you ever noticed, at malls or facilities, the Salvation Army ringing their bells? Well that all started in 1990’s, when they were looking for money to help put toward free meals for the needy. They started by dressing unemployed men in Santa suits and sending them out on the streets of New York. Also in the 19th century, Clement Clarke Moore a biblical language professor, debatably, wrote the most famous christmas story. It was titled “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and was written for his six children. In 1823, a year after written, “A Visit From St. Nicholas” was anonymously published. This book described an elf-like small man who flew in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, adding to the phenomenon. In this book, it also tells of him filling up stockings, that hang above the fireplace, with gifts. Through the 19th century, Santa came in many different shapes and sizes randing from miniature to massive and skinny to fat. Santa wasn’t standardized as a full sized adult until the late 1800’s. He was also recognized as wearing a red coat with white furry trim, who flew around in a sleigh from the North Pole to watch over all the children. Over 1,000’s of years, St. Nicholas took on many different looks, figures and ideas. Krampus is one of the most popular ideas, which is a Germanic figure. This Christmas, a box office movie was directed based on Krampus. This figure is known as, in german, Ru-klaus (Rough Nicholas), Aschenklas (Ashy Nicholas), and Pelznickel (Furry Nicholas). Krampus was called rough, because it expected children to have good behavior or they would be forced to suffer consequences. Some children’s consequences included kidnapping and whippings. Although extremely dissimilar, this figure and many others developed into what we know today as Santa Claus. When Santa became established in North America, the stories, images and traditions then migrated over to Europe. Here in Europe, they replaced the scary gift bringers with more friendly names. Some of these names included: Père Noël (France) or Father Christmas (Great Britain). Throughout Europe, in each country, the names for Santa differed. These characters were made in exchange for some of the horrific stories before. Around the world “Santa” takes on various roles, customs, and names. Such as, in America we refer to him as Santa. But have you also heard of, Saint Nicholas/Nick, Father Christmas or Kris Kringle. He is called, in Spanish and French speaking countries, Father Christmas when translated. The French prefer Pere Noel, or in Spain, Papa Noel. Kris Kringle belongs to the Swiss and German. In Russia, their figures is a woman by the name of Babouschka. Although, each country and nationality have different names to call their Christmas figure, they all refer back to Saint Nicholas or Jesus. A highly popular advertisment, including Santa Claus, is run by Coca-Cola.
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
Santa. Today, we picture Santa as a big ole jolly guy dressed in a red suit. His facial features include glasses and a white beard. On Christmas Eve, he takes off from the North Pole in his sleigh with nine reindeer. As he flies house to house he delivers presents, through the chimney, to each boy and girl. Dating all the way back to 280 AD, they’d never picture St. Nicholas would make so much of an impact. Christmas is full of family, love and laughter, and it wouldn’t be the same without help from the one and only, .
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.
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.
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
Christmas has consumed itself. At its conception, it was a fine idea, and I imagine that at one point its execution worked very much as it was intended to. These days, however, its meaning has been perverted; its true purpose ignored and replaced with a purpose imagined by those who merely go through the motions, without actually knowing why they do so.
Nothaft, C. The Origins of the Christmas Date: Some Recent Trends in Historical Research. Church
As children, we grew up hearing stories of this “merry-go-lucky” guy who gave gifts to good boys and girls once a year. George Seaton’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) is an old holiday classic about a Macy’s mall Santa who restores a little girl’s belief in the existence of Santa Claus. The film gave it’s viewers a feeling of happiness and hope. Kris Kringle is the typical happy Santa that grants miracles to those who believe in him. The Santa represented in “Miracle on 34th street” is a wholesome, jolly old man that just wants people to believe in him. Kris Kringle depicted in “Miracle on 34th street” is a man to look up to. This is the Santa many of us have grown to know and love.
The evolution of the figure known as Santa Claus may be traced through religious, mythological, and cultural portrayals from the fourth century A.D. to the present.
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.
Before we examine the new Christmas celebration during the Victorian era in England- due to Mr. Dickens, we must review the pre- victorian, or Regency Period Christmas (1811-1820). The Regency Period was the contrary to popular belief, early Christmas celebrations were very much different than the Christmas we all know and love today. This Christmas was much more boring with “Simple decorations” according to Paula Wrightston. Unfortunately for the younger people Wrightston says that a Regency Christmas was more of an adult affair. Not only were traditions and age requirements different, but the actual dates differed as well with the first day of the season being the 24th of December running through the 6th of January making the Christmas season 12 days in length (Wrightston). So far it seems as if dickens’ made Christmas much more enjoyable for future generations most definitely. Although the early Christmas was different, some traditions never change. One example of this is the Christmas puddings, Wrightston says that although the Regency era people did not specifically have Christmas Pudding, they had a more liquified version of this t...
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...
...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.
Dutch children would put shoes by the fireplace for St. Nicholas or "Sinter Klaas" and leave food out for his horse. He'd gallop on his horse between the rooftops and drop candy down the chimneys into the children's shoes. Meanwhile, his assistant, Black Peter, was the one who popped down the chimneys to leave gifts behind. Dutch settlers brought the legend of Sinter Klaas to North America -- where we came to know him as Santa Claus. Clement Clarke Moore first described the “jolly old elf” with his sleigh drawn by reindeer, in the poem "The Night Before Christmas.
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.