Santa Claus – The Face of Christmas

Known as Santa Claus, Pere Noel, Santa Clos, and others, thos mythical figure was born as a transformation through time of Saint Nicholas of Myra (Turkey).  Saint Nicholas was a bishop who lived in the IVth Century.  Kind and generous with children and the needy, he became the patron saint of orphans, sailors, students, loaners and thieves.  His legend  teaches us that he rewarded the good and punished the bad.

In some Northic countries they still celebrate December 6 as St. Nicholas Day.  It is usual for someone dressed in the robes of a medieval bishop to visit homes rewarding good children with candy and giving the naughty a sack of coal.

After the Protestant reform in the XVIth Century, saints were cancelled in the new protestant religion but the legend of Saint Nicholas persisted and marked the beginning of the Christmas Season.  When some Dutch immigrants arrived in the United States they brought with them this tradition and called him Sinterklaas which became Santa Claus.

In 1822 Dr. Clement Clarke Moore wrote “The Night Before Christmas” giving Santa Claus a new arctic image by mentioning sleigh and reindeer.  But, it was Thomas Nast who in 1863 illustrated Moore´s story and gave us a more human Santa Claus, dressed him in red and gave him a home in the North Pole.

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom (1899-1976) American artist added the final touches to Santa Claus by making him like a kind grandfather when he made the drawings for the Coca Cola Co. adds which are still seen to this day.

In our Hispanic countries many children expect the baby Jesus to bring to bring them their toys on December 25 while others get their presents from the 3 Wise Kings on January 6; but regardless of who brings the toys, they all know and love Santa Claus.