The story of Santa Claus hinges on the history of St. Nicholas, a venerated bishop who lived during the third and fourth centuries A.D.
Nicholas was born around 270 A.D. to wealthy Christian parents in the Greek village of Patara on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey.
His parents died during an epidemic while he was young. Dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ, he used his inheritance to assist the destitute, ill and downtrodden.
Although not a priest, Nicholas was made bishop of Myra while still a young man. He became known for his generosity to those in need.
Over time, stories and legends came to be told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds.
The best known story is of a poor man with three daughters. Because the father was not wealthy, his daughters lacked dowries or something of value to be offered to prospective husbands.
Without a dowry, they would be sold into slavery, most likely prostitution, said Carol Myers, president of St. Nicholas Center, based in Holland, Mich.
According to the legend, three bags of gold mysteriously appeared in the poor man's house. They were tossed through an open window and said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry, hence the American custom of Christmas stockings.
Belief in St. Nicholas and traditions migrated to the United States with the influx of European immigrants beginning as early as the 16th century.
As Protestant reformers, the Puritans did not bring St. Nicholas traditions to the New World, but German immigrants did. They still observed the feast of St. Nicholas.
During the 19th century, American writers and artists wanted to domesticate the Christmas holiday and transform it from a raucous drinking time to a family-focused holiday. St. Nicholas proved to be the perfect ambassador to relay the message.
The 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," commonly known as " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," removed the saintly robes of Nicholas and cloaked him with a "chubby and plump," "jolly old elf" image and persona. This gave birth to the modern Santa Claus story.
The name "Santa Claus" is simply the American pronunciation of the German Sankt Nikolaus and the Dutch Sinterklaas.
Santa took on various artistic interpretations, but by the 1930s, popular illustrators such as Norman Rockwell and Haddon Sundblom had tied the jolly fur-trimmed Santa firmly to commercial culture.
Nicholas was born around 270 A.D. to wealthy Christian parents in the Greek village of Patara on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey.
His parents died during an epidemic while he was young. Dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ, he used his inheritance to assist the destitute, ill and downtrodden.
Although not a priest, Nicholas was made bishop of Myra while still a young man. He became known for his generosity to those in need.
Over time, stories and legends came to be told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds.
The best known story is of a poor man with three daughters. Because the father was not wealthy, his daughters lacked dowries or something of value to be offered to prospective husbands.
Without a dowry, they would be sold into slavery, most likely prostitution, said Carol Myers, president of St. Nicholas Center, based in Holland, Mich.
According to the legend, three bags of gold mysteriously appeared in the poor man's house. They were tossed through an open window and said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry, hence the American custom of Christmas stockings.
Belief in St. Nicholas and traditions migrated to the United States with the influx of European immigrants beginning as early as the 16th century.
As Protestant reformers, the Puritans did not bring St. Nicholas traditions to the New World, but German immigrants did. They still observed the feast of St. Nicholas.
During the 19th century, American writers and artists wanted to domesticate the Christmas holiday and transform it from a raucous drinking time to a family-focused holiday. St. Nicholas proved to be the perfect ambassador to relay the message.
The 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," commonly known as " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," removed the saintly robes of Nicholas and cloaked him with a "chubby and plump," "jolly old elf" image and persona. This gave birth to the modern Santa Claus story.
The name "Santa Claus" is simply the American pronunciation of the German Sankt Nikolaus and the Dutch Sinterklaas.
Santa took on various artistic interpretations, but by the 1930s, popular illustrators such as Norman Rockwell and Haddon Sundblom had tied the jolly fur-trimmed Santa firmly to commercial culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment