History of Santa Claus

Christmas is a time of the year when people get an opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends. Christmas is the time when homes are cleaned and decorated with wreaths, twigs and lights to welcome the festival. The families go out to buy a Christmas tree and choose one as per the requirements. Once the tree is brought home, it is decorated with tinsel, ornaments and paper flowers. During Christmas, people organize get together, feasts and parties. The entire atmosphere is full of gusto and festive fervor. Christmas music, giving of gifts, singing carols and Santa Claus are the traditions closely associated with Christmas.

Santa Claus and Christmas are synonymous to each other. Santa Claus is seen in almost all American and European countries. He brings gift for good children on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus is an old gentleman who is fat and jolly. He has white beard and wears red clothes that white cuffs and collars. He uses black leather belt and boots. This image of Santa Claus is quite popular all over the world. This image is further popularized through television, movies, radio and songs. Father Christmas is the name of Santa in England and Europe. Santa Claus in an American name given to the modified version of St. Nicholas.

There are a lot of stories about the residence of Santa Claus. There are people who believe that Santa stays in a house on North Pole. This is an American version. The English believe that Santa stays in the mountains of Korvatunturi in Finland. Santa Claus lives with his wife, magical elves and flying reindeers. The elves make toys for children and the reindeers pull the sleigh of Santa. One of the legends states that Santa makes a list of children and then distributes his gifts in form of toys, candies, sweets and so on. Santa Claus is based on St. Nicholas, a fourth century Greek bishop of Myra. St. Nicholas was known for his kindness and generosity. He used to give gifts to good children and help poor people.

The German people associate Santa Claus to Odin, a German god. Odin used to travel on eight-legged horse. The children used to keep their boots outside the doors filled with carrots, sugar and straw. This food was meant for the horse. Odin used to replace the food with gifts like candy, sweets and toys for the children who were kind enough to give food to the horse. This legend is quite popular in Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. This was a belief in pagan times. After the spread of Christianity, St. Nicholas was popularized in these countries.

From seventeenth century, Santa Claus or Father Christmas is seen in works of literature. slowly he was popularized in all the countries due to commercialization and advertising. Today, Santa is a figure that one associated with Christmas and his gifts.