When you think of Santa Claus, most everyone will have the same vision of what he looks like. The most common idea is of a jolly, slightly chubby man with rosy red cheeks, white hair and a white beard. He is dressed in a red suit with white trim and a red hat on his head. For over a century, this has been the picture that everyone has had of the man who only works one day a year, Santa Claus. However, around the world their have been other descriptions of Santa Claus, and the other names he has been known over history.
The origins of Santa Claus can be traced to the 4th Century, where Bishop Nicholas of Myra became famous. Bishop Nicholas was a kind person who was generous by helping to provide youth in the area who were needy with gifts and presents. However, Bishop Nicholas did not want his identity revealed to the people in the community. In fact the true meaning of Christ's birth on December 25th was the real reason for the generosity shown by Bishop Nicholas. The church recognized the work of Nicholas and named him as a Saint. From that point onward, Bishop Nicholas was known as Saint Nicholas.
Saint Nicholas was known for his white hair and white beard. He is known for wearing a robe and carried a staff which he used as a walking stick. However, the kindly spirit of Saint Nicholas was the basis for our ideals of what we believed Santa Claus to look like.
Another version of Santa Claus was Sinterklaas. Based in Dutch folklore, Sinterklaas went from village to village on horseback. It is believed that he gave out treats to the children of the villages that he visited. These visits were done once a year in December. The costume that Sinterklaas wore was very similar to that of Saint Nicholas with a robe, bishops hat and staff that was used as a walking stick.
In other parts of the world Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas. Father Christmas is the same as Santa Claus in many countries including England. The costume that Father Christmas wears is similar to that of Santa Claus from the red suit, red hat to the black belt and black boots. The story of Father Christmas is basically the same as that of Santa Claus.
Our current version of Santa Claus originated in drawings done by Thomas Nast. Prior to Nast's drawings in Harper's Weekly in 1862, the typical version of Santa Claus was based on images derived from the original settlers of the British Colonies. However, Nast took some elements of the previous versions and added a few additional elements to come up with the current red suited Santa we have come to know and love.
Santa Claus has also been a key element of advertisements over the Christmas holidays. Santa is one of the most beloved icons of the holiday and is generally considered a trusted spokesperson representing the spirit of Christmas. Santa has been used in many different ways to promote various products. One of the most famous advertisements was from the Coca Cola Company. This iconic ad is one of the first and most memorable versions of Santa Claus.
While the costume that Santa Claus has used has changed over the centuries, the spirit of giving and kindness has remained. Santa Claus has been one of the most beloved and trusted icons in history and remains so today. To help learn more about the various versions of Santa Claus, please feel free to review the following resources:
- Saint Nicholas Information - biographical site providing a look at the life and work of Saint Nicholas.
- Saint Nicholas Biography - helpful site proving a look at the life of the famed Bishop Nicholas.
- Saint Nicholas for Kids - fun and educational website with information on the life of Saint Nicholas along with games and other fun items.
- Sinterklaas - informative resource providing information on the Dutch Santa Claus.
- Story of Sinterklaas - useful site outlining the story behind the traditions of Sinterklaas.
- Sinterklaas History and Tradition - helpful article covering the history of Sinterklaas and the various traditions associated with him.
- Father Christmas in England - information on the history behind Father Christmas in England.
- History of Santa Claus and Father Christmas - helpful look at the background of Father Christmas and Santa Claus.
- Father Christmas - information on Father Christmas as a symbol of Christmas.
- The History of Santa Claus - background information on the history behind the famous symbol of Christmas.
- History of Santa Claus - informative site providing a look at the origins of Santa Claus.
- Santa Claus Information - facts and figures surrounding the life and work of Santa Claus.
- Santa Claus and Thomas Nast - story and images of the origins of Santa Claus.
- Thomas Nast's Santa Claus - images of the Nast cartoon drawings of Santa Claus from the 1800's.
- Santa Advertisement - information on the famous advertisements by a major soft drink manufacturer using Santa Claus.
- Santa and Christmas Games - fun collection of games and activities around Santa Claus and Christmas.
- Santa Claus Resources - useful collection of resources and links on Santa Claus.
- Santa Claus Around the World - information on the legacy of Santa Claus around the world.
Article written by Janice D. McDonald