You don't know Santa Claus

Who is Santa Claus

Santa Claus, which we all know is also as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, originated fron the Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve. He is said to accomplish this with the aid of Christmas elves, who make the toys in his North Pole workshop, and with the aid of flying reindeer who pull his sleigh through the air.

Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, often with spectacles, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, a red hat trimmed with white fur, a black leather belt and boots, carrying a bag full of gifts for children. He is popularly associated with a deep, hearty laugh, frequently rendered in Christmas literature as "ho, ho, ho!"

During the Christmas season, no figure is more iconic to children than Santa Claus. Parents teach their children the importance of being polite and well-behaved throughout the year in hopes of making his "nice" list. Children sing songs about him and set out a plate of holiday cookies for his arrival. 

The story behind Santa goes back to the third century during the time of St. Nicholas, a monk, even though some sources state that he was a bishop. Nicholas was born around 280 A.D. in Patara, in modern-day Turkey.

Origin of the name Santa

The name, Santa Claus, was stated to evolve from Nick's Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas, which is translated as the Dutch name for St. Nicholas

Why Santa gives gifts

Gift-giving has its roots in pagan rituals held during the winter. When Christianity folded these rituals into Christmas, the justification for bearing gifts was redirected to the Three Wise Men, the Magi, who gave gifts to the infant Jesus. But in early modern Europe, it also had its roots in Christmas begging.

Santa also has a spouse

Santa's spouse is Mrs. Claus also known as Mrs. Santa Claus or Mrs. Santa is the legendary wife of Santa Claus, the Christmas gift-bringer in Western Christmas tradition. She is known for making cookies with the elves, caring for the reindeer, and preparing toys with her husband.

Santa's enemy

Let me blow your mind Santa has a rival called Krampus

Krampus is a horned, hairy and sporting hooves, the Krampus demon descends from the Alps on 5th December to punish naughty kids. All over Austria and Germany Santa Claus is due to deliver small gifts into kids' shoes on 6th December, so Krampus makes sure no undeserving child gets a gift. Krampus typically appears armed with a birch branch that he uses as a whip to whack naughty kids. He also has a large sack or tub strapped to his back into which he stuffs badly behaved children to carry them off and up into his mountain lair for further punishment.

3 interesting facts about Santa

1.Christmas wasn’t always about Santa bringing gifts

In early America, Christmas wasn't the festive holiday we know and love today. It was shunned in New England, lacked a cheerful figure who brought gifts and was celebrated outdoors with alcohol. A string of poems and stories in the early 19th century redefined the holiday by giving St. Nick a makeover and focusing on the themes of family and togetherness.

2.He didn’t always have a round belly

1809, author Washington Irving helped to shape Santa's image in his book "Knickerbocker's History of New York." In the novel, he described St. Nicholas as a pipe-smoking, slim figure flying over rooftops in a wagon delivering presents to good children and switches to the bad.

3.He didn’t always wear a red suit

Moore's poem created an American icon, but it didn't standardize depictions of Santa. In the 19th century, some images portrayed a man in different colored suits, others saw him miniature-sized and sometimes he rode a broomstick instead of a sleigh.

Thanks for reading to the end!