The History of Santa Claus

It is safe to say that many people worldwide, particularly in the west, have heard of Santa Claus, a legendary figure considered the traditional patron of Christmas in the United States, Canada and many other countries. He is famous for delivering presents to children all over the world on his sleigh. However, many people might not know the history behind the legendary figure. Did you know that the mythology surrounding Santa Claus evolved over hundreds of years?

In his book Santa Claus: A biography, Dr Gerry Bowler, PhD in history, states that the fictional character Santa Claus can trace its origins to the legendary Saint Nicholas. A saint whose” historical foundations are shaky” (Bowler, 2005, p.15). According to legend, Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century Christian bishop famed for his generosity and kindness, particularly toward children. After his alleged death in 343, the legend of his gift-giving grew, and in the 1100s, French nuns “honoured the patron saint of the young by secretly leaving” gifts at the homes of impoverished children the night before Saint Nicholas’s feast day (p.17). It was celebrated on the 6th of December and quickly became a tradition in many parts of Europe. 

Over time the legend of Saint Nicholas grew, and in some parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands, he came to receive the nickname Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas was described as a white-bearded man who wore a red cape over a bishop’s garments and a red mitre (Holland, n.d.). Sound familiar? 

In the 1700s, Dutch immigrants brought the legend of Saint Nicholas and the tradition of Saint Nicholas’ feast day with them to North America. The figure became popular as famed author Washington Irving wrote a book entitled The History of New York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickerbocker. He called Saint Nicholas a local patron. His declaration promoted the much-beloved European figure in the United States and made the fictional character an American (Bowler, 2005, p.26).

The first publication to mention and illustrate the American Santa was published in 1821 and entitled “Old Santaclaus with Much Delight.” It is an anonymously written and illustrated children’s poem published in New York by William B. Galley as a small paperback book entitled The Children’s Friend: A New-Year’s Present, to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve. The poem was the first to mention and illustrate the American idea of Santa Claus and his reindeer and sleigh. It was also the first to describe Santa’s arrival on Christmas Eve (Bowler, 2005, p.30).

The following year, in 1822, Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore wrote a Christmas poem called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas.” More popularly known by its iconic first line: “Twas The Night Before Christmas.” The poem was the first literary piece to describe Santa as a plump, jolly white-bearded man wearing a red suit and red hat flying from house to house delivering presents on a red sleigh filled with toys and powered by reindeer (Bowler, 2005, p. 33).

Many years later, political cartoonist Thomas Nast illustrated what we now considered the modern image of Santa Claus for Harper’s Weekly beginning in 1863 (Bowler, 2005, p.45). Nast’s Santa was based on descriptions given in Moore’s poem “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas.” 

Over time, more poems, illustrations, novels and even films (when they finally came around) depicted Santa Claus, and some even further expanded on his story. Some even add in the story of a Mrs Claus, and others go further, depicting Mr Claus with children of his own. Modern films such as Fred Claus (2007) starring Tim Allen and Arthur Christmas (2011) starring James McAvoy are great examples. The former depicts Santa as a married man with a brother, even referencing the legend of Saint Nicholas, while the latter shows the role of Santa as a family business. A family business passed down from father to son with James McAvoy voicing the youngest son Arthur who tries to help his father and brother deliver the Christmas presents. 

For those wanting to read more about the fascinating and rich history behind every child’s favourite jolly man in red, then we highly recommend you check out Dr Gerry Bowler’s incredible book Santa Claus: A biography. It delves deep into the character’s history, tracing its origins in detail and even discussing a little bit on how Christmas and gift-giving came to be the way that it is. 

References

Bowler, G. (2005). Santa Claus: A Biography. McClelland & Stewart Ltd.

Holland. (n.d.). Sinterklaas. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/activities/events/sinterklaas.htm

Irving, W. (2021). Knickerbocker’s History of New York Annotated. Independently published.

Unknown. (1821). The Children’s Friend: A New-Year’s present, to the little ones from five to twelve: Vol. III. William B. Galley. https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2014510