Santa's House

Not many people know the origin of Santa Claus, a man sainted for his gifts, generosity and kindness to the poor, starving, helpless and sick, giving away all his worldly goods for their benefit over 1500 years ago. A wonderful example for hundreds of generations of people, and even today, of the spirit of giving, caring and helping your fellow man. Did you know that Santa Claus, or Kris Kringle, was St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey?

Orphaned at an early age, when Santa Claus received his inheritance, he gave it all away as food, gifts and money to the poor people of Turkey, his homeland. Continuing to give and care was Santa Claus's life, so he later became the Bishop of Myra who was well known for his gifts of miracles, as well as his kindness and generosity to all mankind. What better example of the celebration of the Christmas spirit than a man, sainted, who gave everything to help his fellow man?St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, or Pere Noel, there's no doubt his gift keeps giving and living beyond time.

How The Santa Claus Legend Began.
The custom of giving gifts on a special day in winter was practiced before Christianity was well established, Saint Nicholas became a symbol of the custom among Christians. During the Reformation, Protestants substituted nonreligous characters for Saint Nicholas. America had a figure of Saint Nicholas on the front of their ship. The Dutch settlers maintained their custom of celebrating the saint's feast day on December 6. They told their children that the saint visited their homes and left gifts for the youngters on Saint Nicholas Eve. In time, English settlers adopted the legends and festivities associated with Saint Nicholas. English-speaking children spoke the dutch name for the saint, Sinterklaas, quickly and excitedly so that it sound like Santy Claus or Santa Claus.

Santa-like Characters In Other Countries.
Today, people in many parts of the world are familiar with the legend of Santa Claus. But he is primarily an American tradition. People in most countries have adopted other imaginary characters who supposedly bring gifts on a certain day of the year other than Christmas.

In the Netherlands and Belguim, Saint Nicholas visits homes on St. Nicholas Eve, December 5. He leaves small gifts in shoes that the children put near the fireplace, to be opened on St. Nicholas Day, December 6. He often is accompanied on these visits by a character named Black Pete, who carries a birch rod to whip naughty children. People in Austria, Hungary, and parts of Germany also celebrate St. Nicholas Day.

In southern Germany, people usually say the Christkind (Christ Child) sends the gifts on Christmas Eve. But in Northern Germany, most people say the Weihnachtsman (Christmas Man) brings the presents. From the name Christkind came the character Kris Kringle, who gradually became identified with Santa Claus. In France, Pere Noel leaves small presents in homes on Christmas Eve. In Sweden, the Jultomten, an elf-like character, brings gifts on Christmas Eve. This elf is called Julenissen in Denmark and Norway.

Santa Claus

Father Christmas

Kris Kringle

Saint Nicholas

Sinterklaas

La Befana

St. Nick

Pere Noel

On the night before Christmas, all across the world, millions of children will be tucked in their beds while "visions of sugarplums dance in their heads." When they awake they will check their stockings to see if Santa Claus has come.

Santa Claus has become the most beloved of Christmas symbols and traditions. The image of the jolly old elf flying in a sleigh pulled by reindeers and leaving toys and gifts for every child is know worldwide.

The history of Santa Claus begins with a man called Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, in what is now Turkey. Saint Nicholas was know for his charity and wisdom. Legends tell of him coming from a wealthy family and giving all his money to the poor. He also was said to posses magical powers. He died in 340 AD and was buried in Myra.

Late in the 11th century religious soldiers from Italy took the remains of the saint back with them to Italy. They built a church in honor of him in the town of Bari, a port town in southern Italy. Soon Christian pilgrims from all over the world came to visit the church of Saint Nicholas. These pilgrims took the legend of Saint Nicholas back to their native lands. As the legend of Saint Nicholas spread it would take on the characteristics of each country.

In Europe during the 12th century Saint Nicholas Day became a day of gift giving and charity. Germany, France, and Holland celebrated December 6th as a religious holiday and gave gifts to their children and the poor.

When the Dutch colonists traveled to America, they brought with them their Sinterklaas, an austere bishop who wore a red bishop's costume and rode on a white horse.

The American image of Sinterklaas would gradually evolve into that of a jolly old elf. He was first described as a plump and jolly old Dutchman by Washington Irving in his comic History of New York. In 1823 Sinterklaas/Saint Nicholas' metamorphosis continued with the publication of Clement Moore's poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas (Twas the night before Christmas...).

In the 1860s cartoonist Thomas Nash drew pictures of a plump and kindly Santa Claus for the illustrated Harper's Weekly. This image of Santa Claus was becoming ingrained in the minds of the American people. As time went on this image of Santa Claus traveled across the globe, back to Europe, to South America, and elsewhere.

Many countries have kept their own customs and traditions of Saint Nicholas. In some cultures Saint Nicholas travels with an assistant to help him. In Holland, Sinterklaas sails in on a ship arriving on December 6th. He carries a big book which tells him how the Dutch children have behaved during the past year. Good children are rewarded with gifts and the bad ones are taken away by his assistant, Black Peter.

In Germany Saint Nicholas also travels with an assistant, known as Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus, or Pelzebock, and comes with a sack on his back and a rod in his hand. Good children receive a gift, but naughty children are punished by the assistant with a few hits of the rod.

In Italy La Befana is good witch who dresses all in black and brings gifts to children on the Epiphany, January 6th. In many Spanish countries; Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and South America, the children wait for the Three Kings to bring their Christmas gifts.

In France Father Christmas or Pere Noel bring gifts for the children. Switzerland has the Christkindl or Christ Child who bears gifts. In some towns children await the Holy Child and in others Christkindl is a girl-angel who comes down from heaven bearing gifts.

The Scandinavian countries celebrate with an elf, called the julenisse or the juletomte who bears gifts. And in England Father Christmas, an more austere and thinner version of Santa Claus, brings gifts.

In North American it is the round and plump "Ho Ho Ho'ing" Santa Claus who flies in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeers delivering toys to the children of the world.

The Origins of Saint Nicholas

Includes descriptions of Santa around the world.
Order of St. Nicholas Archbishop of Myra
St. Nicholas Festival
Saint Nicholas of Myra Icon
Saint Nicholas Icons and Figurine
Saint Nicholas of Myra
The Saint Nicholas Page
The Lives and Legends of Saint Nicholas
History of Santa Claus

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SANTA'S NAMES AROUND THE WORLD
COUNTRY	NAME
British Isles	Father Christmas
China	Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run)
Czechoslovakia	Svaty Mikalas
Denmark	Julemanden
France	Pere Noel or le petit Jsus
Germany	Saint Nicholas
Greece	Saint Nicholas
Italy	La Befana
Japan	Hoteiosho
Netherlands	Sinterklaas
Norway	Julebukk
Russia	Saint Nicholas
Spain	Balthazar
Sweden	tomte
Wales	Mari Ilwyd

Santa Claus

The Many Faces of Santa

On the night before Christmas, all across the world, millions of children will be tucked in their beds while "visions of sugarplums dance in their heads." When they awake they will check their stockings to see if Santa Claus has come.