Santa Claus –its Origin and History for Happy Merry Christmas “Xmas”

Santa Claus –its Origin and History

Facts to know about Santa Claus

👉 Do you ever know Santa Claus?

Did you ever know who is the aged person giving us attractive gifts in the eve of Merry Christmas?

Well! Let’s go to know something about the mysterious person, ever loving to all of us. In many countries, Christmas is a time of exchanging gifts with friends and relatives. Christmas is also closely associated with the emergence of a number of Christian and mythological characters associated with Christmas and the exchange of gifts. These are Father Christmas or Santa Claus, Pere Noel, and Wenaksman, St. Nicholas or Sinterclass, Christkind, Chris Kringle, Joulupukki, Babbo Natale, St. Basil, and Father Forrest.

👉 The Identity of Santa Claus

The most popular of these characters in modern times is the mythical gift-giver Santa Claus, dressed in red. The source of Santa Claus is multiple. The name Santa Claus is an exploitation of the Dutch Sinterclass name, whose general meaning is St. Nicholas. Nicholas, a fourth-century Christian, was the bishop of Myra, Turkey. He was renowned for his care, kindness, and gifts to children, among other generous contributions. In many countries, festivals are celebrated in his honor on December 6 by exchanging gifts.

👉 Popular belief regarding Santa Claus

According to popular belief, Nicholas, dressed as a bishop, with the help of his assistants, had been investigating the children's behavior for the past year, and then he would decide if the child deserved the gift. St. Nicholas' name became known in the Netherlands in the thirteenth century AD, and the tradition of exchanging gifts in his name began in Central and Southern Europe. During the Reformation movement, many Protestants abandoned the traditional character of gift-givers and imported the character of Christ Child or Christkindl, and the date of gift-giving changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve.

👉 Modern version of Santa Claus

Although the modern version of Santa Claus was created in New York, USA, There were six major contributors behind this transformation. Washington Irving (1783 -1859) and the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840–1902) are the most notable person of doing such roles.

After the American War of Independence, New Yorkers voted to bring back some of the city's non-English past symbols. In fact, New York City was founded as the Dutch colonial city of New Amsterdam, and the Dutch Sinterclass tradition was renamed St. Nicholas.

In 1809, the New York Historical Society officially commemorated history by declaring Sancte Claus the patron saint of New York City, the patron saint of New Amsterdam. Although new artists took charge of his paintings, the costume of Santa Claus also felt secular.

Since 1863, Nast has been painting Santa Claus every year. In the 1880's, Nasta's Santa took on its modern form. This form was probably painted in the style of the English Father Christmas. In the 1920s, this form of courtesy of ad creators gained stability.

👉 Predecessors of Santa Claus

Father Christmas, the predecessor of the character Santa Claus, is a humorous, chubby and bearded man. He is a symbol of the good spirit of Christmas. Written references to Father Christmas are found in England in the early 17th century.

Of course, he had nothing to do with giving gifts to children at that time. He was associated with Christmas merriment and drunkenness. In Victorian Britain, his character was recreated in harmony with Santa. Noel's character also developed in this way in France.

Babbo Natale plays the role of Santa Claus in Italy. The character who gives gifts in this country is Le Bafana. He brought gifts on the eve of Epiphany. It is said that La Befana went out to bring gifts for the baby Jesus, but he lost his way. Now he brings gifts for all the children.

According to some cultural traditions, Santa Claus is accompanied by Nech Ruprek or Black Peter. According to other stories, Elfera prepares gifts. Santa Claus's wife is named Mrs. Claus.

Some opposition to the American story of St. Nicholas' conversion to Santa is also heard. It is claimed that the St. Nicholas Society was not established before 1835, which happened at least fifty years after the American War of Independence.

After all, there is no mention of St. Nicholas or Centerclass in Charles Jones's New Amsterdam Children's Literature Books, Periodicals, and Magazines’ study.

👉 Belief regarding Santa Claus

According to the recent cultural traditions of some Latin American countries, such as Venezuela and Colombia, Santa makes toys and gives them to Jesus. Jesus went from house to house giving the toys to the children. This belief is an attempt to combine traditional religious beliefs and Santa culture imported from America to Alto Adige / Sadatirol (Italy), Austria, Czech Republic, Southern Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Switzerland. St. Nicholas, in collaboration with Nach Ruprek, brought small gifts, such as candy, nuts, and fruit, on 6 December.

While parents around the world teach their children about Santa Claus and other gift givers, some reject them as superstitions.

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