A Brief History of Santa Claus Traditions
Christmas is filled with traditions and events, but how did they start and why do we still do them? Traditions are often passed down throughout generations for centuries, but the origins are often unknown or forgotten.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus was really known as St. Nicholas, he did not smoke a pipe, fly around in a wagon with any reindeer, goes down chimneys, worked with elves or live at the North Pole, he did however bring presents to children every year. According to tradition, he was born in the city of
Patara, where he became bishop of Myra. He was imprisoned during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians but was released under the rule of Emperor Constantine the Great. After his death he was buried in his church at Myra. In 1087, Italian sailors stole his alleged remains from Myra and took them to
Bari, Italy. Nicholas' relics remain enshrined in the 11th-century basilica of San Nicola,
Bari. Nicholas' had a reputation for generosity and kindness for the poor and unhappy. He was said to have given marriage dowries of gold to three girls whom poverty would otherwise have forced into lives of prostitution. The money was left in their stockings, which hung over the fireplace to dry. He became the patron saint of Russia and Greece. After the Reformation, Nicholas' fan disappeared in all the Protestant countries of Europe except Holland, where his legend persisted as Sinterklaas (a Dutch name, Saint Nicholas). Dutch colonists took this tradition with them to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the American colonies in the 17th century. Sinterklaas was adopted by the country's English-speaking majority under the name Santa Claus, and his legend of a kindly old man was united with old Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents.
Christmas Gifts
In ancient Rome, people exchanged gifts on New Years' Day. These might be jewelry, pieces of gold and silver, or home-made pastry, cookies and candies. Sweet things were given to ensure sweetness for the year to come, lamps to wish for the light and warmth, and money was given to wish for increasing wealth. Wrapping of gifts may have originated in Denmark. When the Apostles brought the Gospel to Rome, the people learned of the Three Wise Men who came from the Orient to present gifts to the newborn King. From then on, the old custom was only slightly changed. The exchanging of presents remained, but now it was done in imitation of the three wise men, on Christmas.
History of Santa Claus pictures, costumes, suits, letters, North Pole,
parade.
Popular Santa Claus Songs:
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Here Comes Santa Claus
A year without Santa Claus, Tracking Santa Claus the Movie, Santa Claus 2
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