The world will surely be a boring place without Santa Claus; Christmas celebrations will never be so much fun, joy and anticipation for kids. Thankfully we have Santa Claus! The portly figure of Santa Claus with a bag of gifts flung on his back is something that kids all over the world wish to see near their fireplace on the night of Christmas Eve. Though Santa is a character from folklore and many parents loathe introducing this concept to their kids, it is perhaps one tradition of Christmas that is more recognized than any other. The custom of giving is amply displayed by Santa during this festive season and kids simply adore him. People dressed up as Santa can be seen almost everywhere in the run up to the Christmas season. He is visible everywhere in malls, supermarkets, stores, television, parks, parties, parades, feats, carnivals; he is visible just about everywhere. Children love going up to him in the malls; they sit on his lap, get their picture clicked and receive gifts from him. This is the one time of the year when children look forward to going to malls for shopping.
The image of Santa Claus
Santa Claus visits the home of kids during Christmas delivering them the gifts that they want. Children believe that Santa, wearing a white bordered red robe with black boots and belt lives in the North pole, where it is perpetually winter. He is said to live there with his wife Mrs. Claus, a number of magical elves and eight flying reindeer. Children believe that he makes a list of all the children in the world and gives them gifts based on their behavior on the night of Christmas Eve. In this arduous task, he is helped by the elves by making toys and the reindeer by pulling his sleigh.
History of Santa Claus
The history of Santa Claus dates back to the 4th century in Turkey. St Nicholas, a Greek Christian Bishop of Myrna is the main inspiration behind the concept of Santa Claus. He was a charitable bishop renowned for his generosity to all, especially children. He was a devout Christian who sacrificed his entire life for the cause of religion. According to legends there were three Italian maidens, whose family had fallen on hard times. Their father did not have the money to pay for their dowries, so he was contemplating selling one of them as a slave to get the money. When St. Nicholas heard about their plight, he decided to help them. However, he decided to remain anonymous, so he went to their house late at night and tossed down three pouches of gold coins down their chimney. The coins fell on the three stockings that were hung by the fireplace to dry. Thus his benevolent gift made it possible for the maidens to marry. Due to his wisdom and knowledge, many groups proclaimed him as the patron saint; he was the patron saint for children, students, pawnbrokers, orphans, sailors and sometimes even thieves. Countries like Russia and Greece also adopted him as their patron saint. Throughout his life Saint Nicholas tried to help others and propagated the values of true virtue.
As his legend of generosity and kind heartedness spread far and wide over northern Europe, the image of this stately saint was transformed to a mythical being. He was known to reward the good and punish the evil. December 6th the date of his death is still observed in many countries by exchanging gifts in honor of the spirit of brotherhood. In the 16th century when the Protestant Reformists banned feasting and idolatry, people were still familiar to the annual visit from the gift giving saint, they did not want to change this. This is how the trend of gift giving by Santa Claus came into present day Christmas celebrations.
Origin of Santa
Some of these beliefs are not based on Christianity, so they are termed as pagan influences on the origin of Santa. Analogs about the origin of Santa have been drawn with Odin, a god in Germany prior to their faith in Christianity. Odin is said to have lead a big hunting party through the sky. He is believed to be riding Sleipnir, an eight-legged horse who could leap big distances. Apparently children would place their boots filled with straw, carrot or sugar near the chimney for the flying horse to eat. Odin would then reward these children by substituting the horse’s food with candy or gifts.
There are several legends regarding the origin of Santa’s helpers. One version is that the helpers are Hugin and Munin, the ravens who informed Odin about all that is going-on. According to certain Dutch folklore Saint Nicholas is aided by helpers named Zwarte Piet or Black Peter in giving away the gifts. St. Nicholas freed an Ethiopian boy, Peter from a market in Myrna. The boy was very grateful because of this and decided to stay with the saint as his helper. The Canadians were unaware of this tradition and they thought that if one Zwarte Piet was a fun, they should have more of this.
Different Names of Santa Claus
Santa Claus by any other name does not diminish his significance in the Christmas celebrations anywhere. Though known by different names across the world, one thing is constant; he is the fatherly figure who brings gifts for all children.Some of the names are mentioned below:
| Name | Country |
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| Afghanistan | Baba Chaghaloo | | Albania | Babadimri | | Armenia | Gaghant Baba | | Belgium | Pere Noel | | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Deda Mraz | | Brazil | Papai Noel | | Bulgaria | Dyado Koleda | | Chile | Viejo Pascuero | | Canada | Santa Claus | | China | Dun Che Lao Ren | | Denmark | Julemanden | | Egypt | Papa Noël | | Estonia | Jõuluvana | | France | Pere Noel | | French Canada | Père Noël | | Finland | Joulupukki | | Faroe Islands | Jólamaðurin | | Germany | Weihnachtsmann | | Hawaii | Kanakaloka | | Hungary | Mikulas (St. Nicholas) | | Iran | Baba Noel | | Iraq | Vader Kersfees | | Ireland | Daidí na Nollaig | | Italy | Babbo Natale | | Iceland | Jólasveinn | | Jamaica | Santa Claus | | Japan | Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts) | | Latin America | Papá Noel (Spanish speaking) | | Lithuania | Kaledu Senelis | | Latvia | Ziemassvetku vecitis | | Malta | San Niklaw | | Norway | Julenissen | | Poland | Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) | | Portugal | Pai Natal | | Romania | Mos Craciun | | Russia | Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) | | Serbia | Deda Mraz | | Scottish Highlands | Daidaín na Nollaig | | South Africa | Vader Kersfees | | Spain | Papá Noel | | Sweden | Jultomten | | Turkey | Noel Baba | | Turkmenistan | Aýaz baba | | United Kingdom | Father Christmas | | United States of America | Santa Claus | | Wales | Siôn Corn (Chimney John) |
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Santa Claus in Movies
Numerous films based on Santa Claus have been made; they are popular with children and adults alike. The initial films revolved around similar plot that consisted of Santa paying a visit to children on Christmas Eve and giving them the gifts that they had wished for. Later there were films that attempted to seek the origin of Santa. These films dealt with questions that children have asked over the years like: is Santa Claus real, how Santa delivers the toys, how he delivers gifts to houses where there are no chimneys, how does he travel from the North Pole, how does the sleigh fly etc.
A Little Girl Who Did Not Believe in Santa Claus
One of the first movies in the genre of questioning Santa’s existence was A Little Girl Who Did Not Believe in Santa Claus made in 1907. The plot revolves around a well to do boy trying to convince his poor friend that Santa Claus does exist. Some films are specifically made with the view to reiterate the fact that Santa does actually exist. The movie Polar Express also deals with the theme of questions and beliefs about Santa’s existence. Films like The Night They Saved Christmas portrayed Santa as the hero.
Santa Claus
There is another of genre of films that depict that there is more than one Santa. In the movie Santa Claus: The Movie, the plot revolves around how the lead pair played by David Huddleston and Judy Cornwell are discovered by a clan of elves to discover their toys all over the world. In Ernest Saves Christmas, the character of Tim Allen unintentionally causes Santa to fall off the roof of his house. After that he puts on Santa’s robes and is thus required to become the next Santa. Though initially reluctant about his job, he grows to love it later on.
The Adventure of the Wrong Santa Claus
Santa has also been depicted as imposter in some films. The silent film, The Adventure of the Wrong Santa Claus was perhaps the first film in this genre. In this film, a fake Santa steals all the Christmas gifts means for the kids and a part-time detective tries to recover them from him. Other films that showed Santa as a fraud include Silent Night, Deadly Night series, Santa Claws and Santa's Slay.
Letters to Santa
Writing a latter to Santa by children with their wish list for gifts is a very old tradition. Most of us have done this as a kid. In the letters children promise good behavior in return of the gifts from Santa. Some postal services allow these letters to be answered. In some countries the letters are answered by volunteers. In Canada more than 13,000 postal workers have volunteered to write responses to the letters to Santa. Sometimes children’s charities answer these letters and give them the gifts that they had asked from Santa. Sometimes children receive letters from Santa through certain agencies. For this parents have to register with the agency and request personalized letters to be delivered to their children
In Britain, the letters are burned with the belief that the letters will be magically transported to the North Pole through the wind. This tradition is however dying out with very few homes these days having real open fire in their home. The tradition of writing letter to Santa is again being revived there; the Royal Mail, the national postal service of England by giving a special new address: Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, SAN TA1. In some Latin American countries including Mexico, other than using the regular mail, children wrap their letters in helium balloons and release them in the air. They believe that the letters are magically delivered to Santa via air.
Santa Claus of Finland perhaps receives the most letters than any others. He has received more than eight million letters; roughly he gets more than 600,000 letters from over 150 countries annually. The most enthusiastic letter writers are children from England, Japan and Poland. Address of the Finnish Santa Claus is Santa Claus, Santa Claus Village, FIN-96930 Arctic Circle, Finland. Letters to Santa Claus in the United States are sent to North Pole, Alaska where volunteers answer them.
How to introduce Santa to kids
Introducing the concept of Santa Claus to children is very important. In the present times no Christmas celebration is complete without the presence of Santa Claus, who kids believe brings gifts for them. Kids are innocent, so the concept of Santa should be explained to them in such a way that they believe in it and at the same time they should not be heartbroken when later on they find out that Santa is just a myth. A good way to introduce Santa will be to read out stories about the jolly old man who brings gifts for children if they behave well. Children have an amazing power of imagination; they can very well conceptualizing how Santa will bring stuffs for them.
Showing them movies about Santa can also be a good concept; the entire family can gather together and enjoy the movie. Kids love this and very soon you will find them asking you questions about the concept of Santa. Once you have satisfactorily answered all their queries, you can involve the children in making cookies, cakes or bread for Santa that they will want to leave outside for him. Children love getting involved in doing things which generally adults are a part of.
Some children are a bit skeptical, as a parent you will have to use lots of imagination to make the whole concept believable to them. Of course they will need some concrete proof to make them believe that there actually is a Santa. A Santa evidence kit can be helpful here. The whole ides here is to make it look like Santa has been in the house at night with gifts for them. Arranging for the kids to receive letters from Santa is a good idea; parents will just had to ensure that they get the gifts which they had asked form Santa. Christmas celebrations will never be the same if kids did not believe that Santa visits them with gifts on the night of Christmas Eve.
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