Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, Christkind, Father Christmas, Père Noël, and La Befana are the names of gift-givers throughout the world who were inspired by this man.
St. Nicholas was born around 280 A.D. in Turkey. He was known for his saintliness and kindness towards children. In the many legends of St. Nicholas, he is supposed to have given away all his inherited wealth when he traveled the countryside, helping the poor and the sick.
One of the legends says he saved three sisters from being forced into prostitution or being sold as slaves by their father. He provided each with a dowry so they could marry.
Over many years, he became known as the protector of children and sailors. Dec. 6, the date of his death, is now a day of celebration. It was considered a lucky day to make big purchases or get married. St. Nicholas is still celebrated in Holland today.
St. Nicholas made it to America in the late 1800s when a New York newspaper reported on the Dutch people getting together to remember his death. St. Nicholas, spoken in Dutch, is Sint Nicholas. His nickname is Sinter Klaas.
Wood carvings given to members of the New York Historical Society in 1804 depicted St. Nicholas with stockings hung over the fireplace filled with toys and fruit.
In the early 1800s, stores began advertising Christmas shopping. In 1840, a store in Philadelphia featured a life-size Santa Claus.
In 1881, Clement Clark Moore wrote his three daughters a Christmas poem: “An Account of a Visit from St Nicholas” or “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This poem is where the modern description of Santa Claus originated. His magical power can make reindeer fly, which allows him to go down chimneys to fill stockings with gifts.
“Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;”
In 1890, the Salvation Army used Santa Claus to raise money to feed the poor Christmas dinner. They used unemployed men to dress as Santa, stand in front of a store, ring a bell, and ask people for donations. This tradition still goes on today during the holiday season.
Let us not forget that the ever-famous Macy’s Day Parade ends with the arrival of Santa. Since 1924, Santa has arrived in his sleigh with his eight-flying reindeer to kick off the Christmas season. After the parade, children went to the Macy’s department store to sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
In 1942, the movie “Miracle on 34 Street” debuted. It is considered a classic movie about a man who believes he is Santa Claus, and it stars Natalie Wood as a little girl who does not believe in Santa Claus. She eventually believes Kris Kringle is the real Santa Claus. The movie was remade in 1994.
So yes, there is a real Santa Claus who lives in the hearts of children and adults all over the world.
Diane Sikora
Reporter