Santa Clause - The Facts

Santa Clause comes to us with several names.America cookies and a glass of milk, in England he
For some he is know as Saint Nicholas, and forreceives mince pies and sherry. No wonder then
others Father Christmas or quite simply Santa.that he is perceived as a happy pot bellied
While people interchange Santa and Fathercharacter!How then did St. Nicholas make the
Christmas from an historical perspective they aretransformation from a bishop to a jolly old man
two different persons.It was Saint Nicholas ofwith red cheeks. The transformation did not
Myra, who lived in the 4th century in what is nowhappen all at once but over a period of time and
modern day Turkey, who gave birth to thegoes back before the American revolution to the
modern day Santa Clause. As bishop hetime when the Dutch controlled what is now New
developed a reputation for secret gift giving.In theYork. When the Dutch arrived in America they
Western tradition the day of gift giving is on thetook with them the legend of Saint Nicholas, at
25th December while in the Eastern tradition thethis stage he still dressed as a bishop.In
day for gift giving is New Years Day.Most of usWashington Irving's History of New York,
see Santa as a friendly, pot bellied sort ofSinterklaas was Americanised to "Santa Claus" but
character who rides from house to house,lost his bishop's apparel, and was at first pictured
through the sky, on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Itas a thick bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a
is possible that the tradition of ridding through thegreen winter coat. Irving's book was a lampoon of
sky comes from a Germanic tradition where thethe Dutch culture of New York, and much of this
god Wodam is seen riding a flying horse throughportrait is his joking invention.Santa Clauses robes
the sky. The horse has eight legs, the samechanged over the years until in 1885 the modern
number of reindeer that Santa uses!While Santa iscostume was born. At around this time his horse
portrayed as a jolly man giving out present towas converted to reindeer and a sleigh, his slaves
deserving children he is also used to keep childreninto elves and the date was moved forward to
in check. Traditionally Irish children, and a largecoincide with Christmas.For those interested
number of their European and AmericanSanta's eight reindeers were given their name in
counterparts, hang up a stocking for their giftsthe popular poem by Clement Clarke Moore 'the
but are told that if they are not good all yearNight Before Christmas.'Kevin Hart
round, they will receive a lump of coal instead of- the family site for Christmas. - an invaluable
a decent present.In most traditions food or drinkresource for creative writers. Large data bank of
are left out for him to help him on his journey. Inwriting contests.
Ireland it is traditionally a bottle of Guinness, in