A history of Santa Claus

Anybody who says Santa Claus isn’t real hasn’t been paying attention.

Every winter, usually beginning sometime in early November, he comes from out of nowhere, and you can’t get rid of him. He’s at every shopping mall, on TV, in movies, on Christmas cards, at Christmas parties, at your house, and just about everywhere you look. He definitely carries more influence than the Easter Bunny.

Then, on Dec. 26, just when you think you can’t take it anymore – he’s gone without a trace.

As it turns out, the old guy has quite a history, and lot of different identities. Call him what you want – Santa Claus, St. Nick, Kris Kringle – he’s the face of Christmas around the world.

Meet St. Nicholas

There are conflicting versions of the origin of St. Nicholas, the religious figure who was the inspiration for Santa Claus, and it’s difficult to separate truth from legend. But all agree that his story starts around 280 A.D. in the region of the Middle East that today would be the nation of Turkey.

Nicholas was a wealthy man in the region of Lycia, a Christian priest who was known for his charity and kindness, particularly with children. He eventually became bishop for the region.  In 303 A.D., the Roman Empire began its persecution of Christians, and Nicholas was eventually imprisoned, along with other Christians who refused to renounce God, until the rise of a new emperor in 313 A.D.

Once released, he returned to his work as bishop and continued to gain fame for his kindness and wisdom. There are various stories about his deeds, ranging from giving gifts to needy children late at night without being seen, to saving children from lives of servitude and cruelty. Even after his death in 343 A.D., his legend and popularity continued to grow, and stories of his generosity and kindness toward children continued. He was sainted by the Catholic Church in 800 A.D., and by the 1400s, he was generally considered as the third-most beloved religious figure (behind Jesus and Mary).

He became the patron saint of children, and a feast day was established in his honor on Dec. 6 of each year. The practice of gift-giving often was a part of the celebration.  His status as a religious icon continued until the 1500s, when Nicholas and other saints fell from the public grace during the Protestant Reformation.

Becoming Santa Claus

In the centuries after the Reformation, the legacy of St. Nicholas gradually merged with other cultures, resulting in the creation of mythical, gift-giving characters in a number of countries. In Holland, he was “Sinter Klaas,” while Germany had “Christkindl,” or “Christ Child.” England honored “Father Christmas,” and France followed that naming concept with “Pere Noel.”

Dutch and English cultures converged in New York (or “New Amsterdam”) in the 1800s, as immigrants came to the United States by the thousands. Sinter Klaas transformed from a religious figure clad in the red robes of a bishop, into “Santa Claus,” a smiling, bearded plump figure wearing a red suit with a pointed cap, similar to the imagery used for Father Christmas. For German immigrants, the name transformed from Christkindl to “Kris Kringle,” but the concept was the same.

Those traditions came together in a famous poem by American author Clement C. Moore, written in 1823. “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” introduced new creative elements, including the flying sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, landing on rooftops while St. Nick dropped down the chimney with a bag stuffed with toys. Today, Moore’s poem is also commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas.”

Building the perfect Santa

Moore’s poem also gave a broad sketch of what Santa looked like: dressed in fur from head to toe, twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks and nose, white beard, and a “little round belly that shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.”

Still, there were some blanks to be filled in. Early art images of Santa often showed him as an elf, small enough to ride in a tiny sleigh and drop down a chimney with ease.  Other times, he was a tall, slender, serious-looking figure dressed in a red religious-style robe, or even a tan coat. The modern day iconic image of Santa didn’t take on a consistent appearance until the Coca-Cola Company turned him into one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history.

Coca-Cola began using Santa in advertising as early as 1920, suggesting that Coke was his favorite drink. In 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned popular artist and illustrator Haddon Sundblom to create a wholesome, fun-loving Santa.  Sundblom’s Santa always had the same basic look, but was depicted in casual situations – playing with toys, writing a letter, or raiding the refrigerator.

Sundblom stayed close to Moore’s depiction in the poem, with one major difference – it seemed like Santa always had a Coke in his hand. Also, Santa’s suit was the same shade of red as the Coca-Cola label, though the company has always claimed that it was a coincidence. Coca-Cola has continued the seasonal marketing campaign every year since 1931.

Ending up in Santa’s lap

It’s not clear when or where the first “department store Santa” made his debut. Some sources say it was in 1841, when “Kris Kringle” climbed the chimney atop a store in Philadelphia. Others claim it was in 1890, when businessman James Edgar brought Santa to his store in Brockton, Mass.

Regardless, there’s no doubt about Santa’s current status as a Christmastime fixture in shopping malls and department stores across the country, though it’s hard to pin down an estimate how many department-store Santas there actually are. However, more than 700 Santas currently belong to a non-profit association called the Amalgamated Order of Real-Bearded Santas (AORBS). All you need is a red suit, a big belly, a fluffy white beard, and $25 a year for dues.