ORIGINS OF SANTA CLAUS

Have you seen Santa Claus?

Since we were kids, Santa Claus has been our traditional trademark that Christmas is coming. He is known as a jolly man in a red hat, red clothes, and white beard. Who gives gifts to the good children on Christmas eve.

As Filipinos, We have seen Santa in the malls and videos entertaining us but have you ever wondered, Who is Santa Claus? Where did he originate?

Well, here are the origins of Santa Claus that we have gathered in this blog.

The true Santa Claus: Legendary Santa Claus

According to History, The legendary Santa Claus was seen hundreds of years ago by a Christian bishop named St. Nicholas. Many believed that Nicholas had been born in the year 280 A.D. in Patara. A town in modern-day Turkey, near Myra. Nicholas is famously known as St. Nicholas for his kind heart to needy people. He is also known as a wealthy man with good intentions for his people. He gave away all his wealth and traveled to the countryside to help the sick people.

Image from the Pinterest

Through these actions, Nicholas's prominent act spread and made him known as a protector of the sailors and children—St. Nicholas had become Europe’s well-known saint of the renaissance period. The feast day of St. Nicholas is on December 6. It is considered a lucky day to be married and purchase everything you want.

New York : Sinter Klaas

If there is Santa Claus, there is Sinter Klaas! Sinter Klaas is a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas Dutch name for Saint Nicholas. St. Nicholas made his first appearance in popular culture in the United States at the end of the 18th century.

Image from the ABC

A member, John Pintard, distributed woodcuts of St. Nicholas, according to history. The context of the artwork includes images of Santa Claus, such as stockings packed with toys and fruit hung above a fireplace. As his fame grew, Sinter Klaas was painted as everything from a "rascal" in a blue three-cornered hat, crimson waistcoat, and yellow stockings to a man in a broad-brimmed hat and a "large pair of Dutch trunks hose."

Christkind: Santa Claus

In some parts of America, Santa Claus, who first appeared in America in the 18th century, was not the first gift-giver inspired by St. Nicholas. They called it Christkind. Christkind, also known as Kris Kringle, was said to bring gifts to well-behaved Swiss and German youngsters. Christkind, which means "Christ kid," is an angel-like figure who frequently joins St. Nicholas on his holiday trips.

Image from german girl

They have different beliefs about the gift-giver. Father Christmas is said to visit each home on Christmas Eve to fill children's stockings with festive treats, according to English legend. There are different persons in charge of disseminating the gifts. According to Legend, The name Père Nol is in charge of filling French children's shoes. While a helpful witch named La Befana flies a broomstick down the chimneys of Italian homes to deposit toys into the stockings of lucky children.

Santa Claus is a giver that every hopeless person seeks to have. We can be Santa Claus to our friends, family, and acquaintances. May this serve as a guide to us in this yuletide season to share our blessings even, how big or small it is.