Origins of Santa Claus (or is it Father Christmas?)

It is suspected that Santa Claus is based on a real person – the patron saint of children who was Saint Nicholas.  Saint Nicholas was renowned for his charitable work and was a very popular saint, particularly in the East.  Saint Nicholas lived from 270 to 210 AD and became the Bishop of Byzantine Anatolia – a town in Turkey. He was renowned for his generosity and could often be seen in his red bishop’s clothes giving sweets and gifts to children. 

There are many versions of the origin of Santa Claus (Father Christmas) so which one do we believe.  And when did the Santa Letter originate  Well here we have tried to investigate and come with some answers.  

In early times, many churches were built in honour of Saint Nicholas. In the 11th century, he was were enshrined in a church in the Italian city of Bari. It is told that the first Crusaders visited Bari and carried stories about Nicholas to their homelands. The anniversary of his death, 6 December, became a national holiday and a day to exchange gifts.

Another origin of Santa Claus is of course from England.  Here Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas.  Father Christmas can be traced back to an old English festival usually held in midwinter. As far back as the 17th century pictures of him survive which show a rotund bearded man dressed in a long, green, fur-lined robe.  The Red-clothed Father Christmas didn’t make his appearance until the 1870’s. 

In Greece, Santa Claus or Father Christmas is the patron saint of sailors, in France he was the patron of lawyers, and in Belgium the patron of children and travellers.

And what about America.  Well it is in America that the Santa Claus we now know really came alive.  It is believed the American Santa Claus started in Holland where Saint Nicholas was known as “Sinterklaas” which over time developed into Santa Claus.  And when the Dutch founded New Amsterdam (now called New York), they took the name and celebrations with them.   

As early as 1773 "St. A. Claus" was mentioned in the American press. In 1809, Washington Irving (the author of "Tales from Sleepy Hollow") wrote about Sinterklaas in his "A History of New York." Irving described Sinterklaas as a rotund little man in a typical Dutch costume, with knee breeches and a broad-brimmed hat, who traveled on horseback on the Eve of Saint Nicholas. In 1822, Clement Clark Moore, a poet and professor of theology, published the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas").

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly,
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

Moore's Santa is a jolly old elf who flies around in a miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. Moore even named the reindeer by the names we know them today which are Doner, Blitzen, Cupid, Prancer, Dasher, Dancer, Comet and Vixen – and of course Rudolph of whom many songs and rhymes are written.

In the nineteen thirties an advertising agent called Haddon Sundblom created a Santa as a fat human instead of an elf, with a jolly face and big beard in a Coca Cola ad.  And today, Sundblom's Santa is the one that children and grown ups recognize around the world and which can be seen on the letter and covering envelope of our Santa Letter.

From then on the story of Santa Claus or Father Christmas continued to develop.  We know he has a “naughty and nice” list.  Children write their letter to Santa every Christmas asking for toys and games.  Nowadays Santa writes back to the children with a "Letter from Santa" Children who have been naughty get a piece of coal from Santa Claus and children who have been good all year can expect gifts galore.  We know Santa Claus has a Grotto which was originally at the North Pole but which has now moved to Lapland.  Letters from Santa from this site still bear the original North Pole postmark.  In his Grotto his elves work hard making toys for girls and boys around the globe.  

But on the other side of the coin there has long been opposition to teaching children to believe in Santa Claus.  Not only can the commercialisation of Santa Claus and Christmas be detrimental it also detracts from the religious background, traditional ways and the underlying hope of peace and goodwill at that time of year.  Indeed their are those who believe that the Santa Letter offered here is a sign of commercialisation.  We on the other hand believe that it is a "bit of fun" and in keeping with our motto of "Keeping the Dram Alive".  Others state that Santa Claus is a lie, and that it is wrong for parents to teach their children to believe in him.  Perhaps that is the same for the Tooth Fairy too…….

Whatever the history, no matter where you are in the world we all hope you have a very Happy Christmas