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Santa Clause

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Submitted By cowfighter19
Words 592
Pages 3
Where does Santa Claus
Come from?

Santa Claus Today

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas.

Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was born in Asia Minor in the third century in the city of patara which is a port on the Meditarian Sea, which is today turkey. Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Sinterklaas. He was a 4th century Greek Christian bishop. Saint Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor.

Dutch folklore

In Dutch folklore Saint Nicholas (the good saint) had helpers known as the Black peter, or pere fouettard in French. Tradition holds that Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) and his aides arrive each year by steam boat from Spain in mid November. Black Peter carries the book that contains notes on all children that indicate whether the child has been good or naughty during the year. The entourage carries gifts, chocolate letters and spice nuts to be handed to the well-behaved children. During the subsequent three weeks, Saint Nicholas is believed to ride a white-grey horse over the rooftops at night, delivering gifts through the chimney to the well-behaved children, while the naughty children risk being caught by Saint Nicholas's aides that carry jute bags and willow canes for that purpose Many countries celebrated his feast on December 6th by giving gifts. In 16th-17th century Europe, many Protestants and others changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child, and the date for giving gifts changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve. Santa Claus, Sinterklaas is an elderly, stately and serious man with white hair and a long, full beard and he wears a long red cape. He holds a gold-coloured crosier, a long ceremonial shepherd's staff with a fancy curled top. He carries a big book that tells whether each individual child has been good or naughty in the past year. He traditionally rides a white gray horse. In recent years, some consider it racist to have Black Peter and want him eliminated from any festival or mention.

Father Christmas

Father Christmas dates back at least as far as the 17th century in Britain, and pictures of him survive from that era, portraying him as a jolly well-nourished bearded man dressed in a long, green, fur-lined robe. He typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, and was reflected as the "Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens’ festive classic A Christmas Carol, a great genial man in a green coat lined with fur who takes Scrooge through the bustling streets of London on the current Christmas morning, sprinkling the essence of Christmas onto the happy populace.

Santa Claus started as Saint Nicholas and has evolved through many centuries to become the Christmas that we know today. There still exists many versions in many different cultures. Fifty to sixty years ago Christmas was a celebration that brought families together and share souvenirs. Today it is still abit of this but Christmas has changed a lot because of the companies that commercialize Christmas to make millions of dollars of profit.

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