Santa Claus

Is Santa Claus Really A Saint?

While waiting for Santa to deliver your Xbox 360 Kinect, you might have wondered where he came from. Without further ado, then, here’s a low down on the guy’s past. Enjoy!

Saint Nicholas

The bishop of what is now Myra in modern Turkey during the 4^th century, Nicholas was the only son of wealthy Christian parents. His uncle, also a Nicholas and bishop of Patara, raised him following their deaths during an epidemic; when he died, tests have shown that Saint Nicholas himself was barely five feet tall. Saint Nicholas is perhaps best known for his generosity, gift giving (no Wii games back then, though!) and his concern for the welfare of children.

Father Christmas

The name “Father Christmas” is known in many countries and languages. A jolly, rotund and bearded man, Father Christmas originally merely typified the good cheer of the season (specifically merrymaking and drunkenness), with no particular association with the giving of gifts or children.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus originated in the US, specifically New York where inhabitants of the city sought out symbols of their Dutch past following the American Revolutionary War. Drawing from the Dutch Sinterklass tradition, the corruption “Santa Claus” first featured in the American press in 1773. His first American appearance in 1810 drawn by cartoonist Thomas Nast saw him in traditional bishops’ robes, but by the 1880s Santa’s appearance became gradually more secular until he took on the red and white furred robes that we recognise today.

Santa Claus appears in a variety of contemporary media. Perhaps one of his most famous roles is appearing in The Coca-Cola Company’s seasonal advertising campaigns (although White Rock Beverages had previously used him to sell mineral water in 1915 and then later ginger ale).

I wonder how he would fare if he tried out a Kinect…