THE HISTORY OF SANTA CLAUS
Authors: Santas Richard Christie and Thurston James
Where did Santa Claus come from? Well, we could say that Santa is a direct descendent of Saint Nicholas, and that would be true enough, but it would be the simplest answer to a rather complex heritage. After eons of being conquered by Sweden and then Russia, Finland finally declared independence from Russia in 1917 and was established as a nation, however, the story of Santa Claus begins long before this.
“At
first he worked with the poor and homeless giving them gifts of
food, clothing and blankets.“ |
The genealogy of Santa Claus can be traced back over 2000 years to a period before the birth of Christ. The family tree has many branches. Saint Nicholas may be Santa’s grandfather, but don’t be surprised if you find that Santa has a lengthy heritage going all the way back to Finland and northern Europe.
The forefather of the portly, bearded man, know in Finland as Joulupukki,
was not dressed in red, did not greet children with smiles, and he
certainly brought no gifts. Instead, Joulupukki, literally “yule goat”,
donned horns and an animal hide and covered his face with soot or a bark
mask. He traveled from house to house frightening children with his wild
dancing and singing, and expected offerings of food or gifts. |
No one knows exactly how or when, but as cultural influences from elsewhere
spread into Finland, the beast transformed into the smiling Santa Claus that now
meets children from around the world at his log cabin in Finland’s Arctic
Circle. “The history of Santa Claus is an interwoven cultural braid. Santa
Claus, like other cultural phenomena, is a reflection of its time,” says Ahti
Ahonen, regional Christmas coordinator in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish
Lapland. Finland, Sweden and Norway were the home of Norse Vikings who
established trade ties with Russia, Scotland, Great Britain, Spain and Rome. The
Vikings carried with them the traditions and legends of Santa Claus. Many
Vikings settled in Scotland and Great Britain bringing their traditions with
them. This explains why so many Scottish names have Nordic origins.
Mithra & Saturnalia
Let’s begin this investigation of Santa’s lineage by going back to the first
century, to Persia and to Rome. No, Santa is not a Persian or Roman, but we find
roots of his ancestry in the early festivals that these folks celebrated during
the shortest days of the year, the winter solstice.
The Persians called their festival ‘Mithra.’ It was a post-harvest celebration
that took place in December, in the dead of winter. This birthday festival was
in honor of the sun, and it anticipated the sun’s impending return. The Romans
had a similar festival they called ‘Saturnalia.’ It was a seven-day celebration
lasting from December 17th to 24th. It also remembered the winter solstice, the
time of frost and snow and evergreens, of fires and candlelight indoors, and it
too took notice of the first sign of the lengthening of daylight hours. These
winter celebrations were marked by a time of decorating, feasting, drinking, and
gift giving. The public parties were carnival in nature, and for adults. The fun
consisted of turning the social order upside down. They involved games, dancing,
disorder, masquerade, irreverence, mockery, dares, and mischievous horseplay
between virtual strangers.
Yule-tide
The Celts and Teutons borrowed from the Romans, but they called their winter
festivals ‘Yuletide.’ The Saxons brought the Yule log to Brittany. Fire played a
vital role in their celebration. As the Yule log was set blazing, it had special
merit beyond the heat it provided. In these northern European countries it
commemorated the rebirth of the sun, the source of light, heat, and life.
Odin
 |
To the north, in the countries of Finland, Sweden, and
Norway, there was a very old white bearded gentleman who rode through
the mid-winter skies on a horse. His name was Odin and his white horse
was named ‘Sleiphir.’ We mention him now, not because he had anything to
do with Saturnalia, but rather because he was a prominent figure who
dominated the winter skies at this same time period in the very early
days of the first century. Odin is considered to be a great-great-great
grandfather to Santa Claus. |
The Nativity
When Christ was born in Bethlehem these pagan festivals were deeply
entrenched, and vastly popular. Saturnalia was eagerly celebrated
throughout the Roman Empire and its extended territory. The leadership
of the early Christian church, in their efforts to convert the world to
Christianity, did their best to suppress the attention that these pagan
gods of Saturn and the Sun were receiving, however, the festival
activities had deep roots. Then as now, attempts at changing tradition
encountered stiff resistance. So, rather than antagonize new converts by
doing away with old customs, the church authorities thought it might be
a good idea to give sacred meaning to the old observances. Bishop Julius
I set December 25 as the date to celebrate the birth of Christ. Rather
than eliminate the festival, Julius I changed its focus. In 353 AD the
feast of the Nativity was first celebrated in Rome. The celebration, now
a holy day, was slowly transformed from a public carnival and became
centered on family worship and on the home. Children were warmly
included. |
 |
Saint Nicholas
 |
It was at this time in history that Saint Nicholas was
born. He became bishop of Myra, Turkey while he was still a young boy.
St. Nicholas performed miracles in the lives of children whom he had
contacted. At first he worked with the poor and homeless children giving
them gifts of food, clothing and blankets. Then he started orphanages to
supply all of their physical needs. The tales of these miracles and the
generous gifts to children have been passed on to us through oral
tradition and have become legendary. The stories of his love and
generosity were powerful enough that he became the patron saint of
children. The tradition of Saint Nicholas as a gift giver was
widespread. Families observed his feast day on December 6th, and the
children began receiving gifts in his name.
The happy news spread! Saint Nicholas replaced Odin as the rider of the
horse. |
The winter rider was still very old and still had a white beard, but was now
dressed in red bishop’s robe with miter, crosier and jeweled gloves as he went
about on his white horse. In Holland, Belgium, and Germany, the children were
told that the night before his feast day, Saint Nicholas would come looking for
good children and would reward them with presents of ginger cakes, candies,
apples, nuts, and small toys.
The stories of his generous gift giving were amplified as they spread
throughout Europe. Moving from country to country, the customs were altered to
fit the new home, and the name for Saint Nicholas was changed to fit their
language. Names like ‘Sinter Klaas,’ ‘Jule-nissen,’ ‘Sankt Nikolaus,’ ‘Sint
Nicolaas,’ ‘Santa Klaas,’ and ‘Pere Noel’ were formed. In some countries the
gifts were brought on Epiphany, the festival of the Three Kings, January 6th.
Knecht Ruprecht
In time, a terrible switch-wielding impish assistant was improvised for Saint
Nicholas, and he rode with him on his rounds. The gift-bringer now had a
two-sided character. He could read the heart and know the hidden thoughts and
actions of those he visited. He came not only to reward the good, but also to
punish the bad. In some countries this assistant was called ‘Pels Nichol’
(Nicholas with the fur) and in other places he was known as ‘Black Peter,’ or
‘Knecht Ruprecht.’ This small imp was a Moor from Spain, a sprite clad in animal
skin or straw with a dingy face, horns, a long red tongue, and fiery eyes. He
carried a heavy stick and displayed a black bag in which he might carry the bad
children away. Naughty children found switches in their shoes, and the food they
put out for the white horse was left untouched.
Befana
In Italy, another character was added to the Saint Nicholas family tree. It was
a very old woman by the name of Befana. She was a genial hag who searched the
world leaving candy and sweets for good children, and stones and coal for the
bad. A legend tells us of her history and how she met the Three Wise Men as they
were searching for the Bethlehem Christ child. They invited her to accompany
them in their quest, but she was too busy with her household duties. After they
left, she changed her mind and searched desperately for them, but it was too
late, they were well gone. Befana continues her search, hoping to fine the baby
Jesus, leaving presents wherever there are children.
Kriss Kringle
 |
In Germany, after the reformation, the leaders of the
Protestant Church considered Saint Nicholas to be a bit too Catholic for
their tastes. Again, rather than eliminate the custom of the gift giver,
a replacement was made. This time by a person known as Krist Kindlein,
Das Christkindl, or the Christ Child. This character appeared as a young
boy (or girl) dressed as an angel with white robe, golden wings, and a
golden crown. ‘Kris Kringle’ is a name derived from Krist-Kindlein, or
the infant Christ. |
Santa Claus Comes to the New World
Santa’s
Workshop |
The Mayflower came to the new world in 1620, and Santa Claus was not
far behind. When the Dutch settled New Amsterdam, now New York in 1630,
they brought their version of Saint Nicholas to the new world. I’m very
glad to report that ‘Black Peter’ failed to survive the trans-Atlantic
journey.
At about this time a cousin of Santa Claus made his way into the homes
of England. His name was ‘Father Christmas.’
Santa was known as a man who loved to work with his hands. His workshop
was legendary as he created so many handmade toys for children. He saw
children in the streets with smudged faces and tattered clothes. |
Nicholas knew they were orphans who lived in the
streets. He knew that no one would be buying them a Christmas present
this year, or any other year. Nicholas walked sadly in the gathering
dark, remembering the look of longing on their dirty faces. One boy had
longingly wished for a toy soldier. Suddenly, he stopped in the middle
of the street. “That boy will have a toy soldier!” he exclaimed. “I’ll
make it for him!” |
Santa Grows
and Develops
|
 |
In 1823, ‘The Night Before Christmas,’ attributed to
Clement Moore, was published in the New York Sentinel. It was
immediately popular. Moore’s description of jolly old Saint Nick
presented a new graphic image of what Santa was like. The bishop’s red
robe gave way to a fur-trimmed suit; the erect saintly stature sagged to
jolly rotundity. Santa is elf-like and he smokes a pipe. His white horse
was replaced by eight reindeer (nine counting Rudolph,) and they pulled
a sleigh.
In 1863, Thomas Nast, the well-known cartoonist for Harper’s Illustrated
Weekly, gave us a literal presentation of Santa Claus in the Christmas
issue, 1863. |
More recent developments
It’s possible that there will never be an ending to the evolution of Santa
Claus. We keep seeing minor changes. In the 1930s the Coca Cola Company
published ads of Santa drinking their product. These ads were very well
received, and our perception of Santa changed once again.
The ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ took away much of Santa’s elfin quality. He
became more human and it placed him in the department stores.
Since the world has seen Tim Allen’s movie, ‘The Santa Clause,’ there is no
question in anyone’s mind as to what Santa’s workshop at the North Pole looks
like. What can be next?
It’s true that Santa brings joy to the faces of the children as we chat with
them; however, the affection of the children and its reciprocal effect on Santa
is, in itself, its own reward.
