HISTORY OF SANTA CLAUS

All of us know the name of Santa Claus, especially children are more familiar to this name. In our childhood we all could hardly sleep on 24th December night, always wanted the night to dawn as soon as possible. Till today every child on the day of Christmas arises early in the morning to discover what the old fellow has brought to him. He wears his white hair long and dresses in a red fur cloak and a red ‘santa hat’ on head. He always smokes a clay-pipe, and carries with him a large bag full of presents for children.

There is a tale behind the origination of his gift-presenting custom. Long long ago there lived an honest clergyman at a small town of Myra in Turkey. His name was St. Nicholas. The then king of that town could not stand his generosity and always envied him. One fine morning St. Nicholas was imprisoned for a paltry offense and was released after a long time on the Christmas eve. He returned his home and came to know that marriages of three daughters of a poor peasant were going to be cancelled as the man did not have enough money. That night he tiptoed the home and hurled a bag full of gold coins, savings of his lifetime, through an open window. Accidentally that landed by the socks hanging for desiccation by the fireplace. From then it is believed that the custom of hanging socks on 24th December night started. This great man passed away on December 6, 343 AD. That auspicious day is still observed as ‘Nicholas Day’ in Holland. Dutch tradition says that St. Nicholas lives in Madrid, Spain and every year he chooses a different harbor to arrive in Holland, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him. And from St. Nicholas, his name gradually changed into Santa Claus. Although we are more familiar to this name, he is known as La Befana in Italy, Babushka in Russia, Christkind in Germany and Sinterklaas in Holland.

Washington Irving, a popular american author and comedian, wrote of this legendary figure in his book “knickerbocker’s history of new york” and there he referred Santa as jolly old saint Nick. Alexander Anderson got an order of drawing Nick from New York Historical Society. He pictured the old saint standing by a fireplace with a large sack in his hand. It was the first ever depiction of this mythical character. Later renowned cartoonist Thomas Nast renovated that pose. From 1863 to 1886, every year he used to sketch Santa Claus in the periodical Harper’s Weekly in the Christmas eve in new styles and garments. He is also popularly known to be the ‘Father of Santa’.

Just like normal people Santa also resides in his own home in Alaska. Don’t get surprised by this! His home is situated by the Richardson Highway-17 miles east of Fairbanks, in Alaska. There stands a big idol of him near the entrance of his home. He lives there with his wife (Yes! Santa Claus is married, from the year 1889. Her name is Jessica), a group of dwarfs and a herd of reindeer. But, you know, every year she has to spend the Christmas eve alone, because her husband is then already on his way to houses of children all over the world. Nine reindeer draw his sledge weaving through the heaps of ice. They are- Rudloph (remember the song- Rudloph, the red-nose reindeer!), Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. They are based on those used in the 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (commonly called “The Night Before Christmas”), written by Clement Moore. And probably they were first sketched by Robert May in 1939.

So, knowing so many things on his family and background, are you planning to pay him a visit him this Christmas? Here is the address for you:

Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus,

Santa Claus House,

Santa Claus Lane,

North Pole, Alaska-99706.