Santa 's Story

Through the ages, Santa Claus has been called by several different names. There are so many stories about Santa and his origin that it is difficult to say which is the oldest or most authentic. However, endearing as he is, both adults and children love to hear anything about Santa. So, here are some facts gleaned from the Net. Off we go!

• The original tradition and legend of Santa Claus may have been based on the early Dutch legend of Sinter Klaas, originating in the 1600's.

• Santa Claus really started to get famous when American author Washington Irving published stories about Santa Claus, referring to him as Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas arrived on Christmas Eve bringing presents for children.

• Santa Claus changed and became more famous when writer Clement Clarke Moore wrote a poem in 1823 about a christmas Eve visit from Saint Nicholas, better known as "The Night Before Christmas". Millions of children now could have a consistent description of Santa Claus and his eight flying reindeer.

• " Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
  He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
  And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
  A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
  And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
  His eyes -- how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
  His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
  His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
  And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
  The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
  And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
  He had a broad face and a little round belly,
  That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful 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;
  He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
  And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
  And laying his finger aside of his nose,
  And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
  He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
  And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
  But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
  "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

• Santa Claus is Popular!
  American magazines picked up on the popularity of Santa Claus, and many different versions of Santa Claus were published over the next 50 years.

• Santa Claus even began to appear in advertisements for popular products. The most famous reindeer, red nosed Rudolph, started to appear in the late 1930's.

• Santa Claus, Rudolph, and the other reindeer became popular when songs, stories, movies, or videos were released about them. Some of the more significant ones were:
  Santa Claus is coming to Town
  Jolly old St. Nick
  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Johnny Marks
  Grandma got run over by a Reindeer

• Santa Claus is also known as:
  Kris Kringle in England
  Saint Nikolaas in Holland
  Bobouschka in Italy
  Befana in Germany