The History of Santa Claus

The History of Santa Claus

Santa Claus hasn't always looked like the jolly old fellow we know today. Like so many other American traditions, he's a product of the great American melting pot. But the most influential figure in the shaping of todays generous as loving Santa Claus was a real man, St. Nicholas of Myra (now Turkey), a fourth century bishop. As a champion of children and the needy, he was legendary for his kindness and generosity.

After the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, the feasting and veneration of Catholic saints were banned. People had become spoiled to their yearly visit from their gift-giving saint. So in some countries, the festivities of St. Nicholas' Day were merged with Christmas celebrations.

In Germany, he appeared as Weihnachtsmann, in England as Father Christmas, and in France, as Pèrè Noël, who left small gifts in the children's shoes.

In the areas where St. Nicholas was still portrayed as the gift-bearer, a host of other characters developed to be his assistants. Two of his most well-known helpers were Knecht Ruprecht and the Belsnickle. Depending on the local tradition, they were either attendants to St. Nicholas or gift-bears themselves, but in all cases, both were fearsome characters. It was not only their duty to reward good children but to also to reprove children who were naughty.

Knecht Ruprecht (meaning Servant Rupert) was also by other names such as Black Peter (so called because he delivered the presents down the chimney for St. Nicholas and became blackened with soot).
Immigrants to the New World brought with them their beliefs. The Scandinavians introduced gift-giving elves, the Germans brought their decorated trees, and the Irish added the ancient Gaelic custom of placing a lighted candle in the window.

In the 1600's, the Dutch presented Sinterklaas (meaning St. Nicholas) to the colonies. In their excitement, many English-speaking children. That phrase was used again in 1822 in the now-classic poem by Dr. Clement Clarke Moore, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," more commonly know as "The Night before Christmas." His verse gave an Arctic flavor to Santa's image when he substituted eight tiny reindeer and a sleigh for Irving's horse and wagon. It is Moore's description of Santa that we most often think of today: "He had a broad face, and a little round belly, that shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly."

Up to this point, Santa's physical appearance and the color of his suit were open to individual interpretation. Then in 1863, Thomas Nast, a German immigrant, gave us a visual image of the cheerful giver that was to later become widely accepted.

When Nast was asked to illustrate Moore's charming verse for a book of children's poems, he gave us a softer, kinder Santa who was still old but appeared less stern than the ecclesiastical St. Nicholas. He dressed his elfin figure in red and endowed him with human characteristics. Most important of all, Nast gave Santa a home at the North Pole. For twenty-three years, his annual drawings in Harpers Weekly magazine allowed Americans to peek into the magical world of Santa Claus and set the stage for the shaping of today's merry gentleman.
`St. Nicholas' evolution into today's happy, larger-than-life Santa Claus is a wonderful example of the blending of countless beliefs and practices from around the world. Because goodness is his very essence, in every kindness we do, Santa will always be remembered.

Christmas Around the World

As lights are put up, trees are bought, and mid-term exams are getting nearer by the day, it's time to acknowledge the upcoming holidays. Christmas is celebrated in many ways all over the world and has all different names. In Brazil, father Christmas is called Papai Noel and in France, Christmas is called Noël. Everyone has a different way of celebrating this joyous occasion with different traditions and these are just a few.
Santa Claus in Belgium is called de Kerstman or le Père Noël. Small family presents are given and put underneath the tree or in stockings. A sweet bread called "Cougnou" is served on Christmas morning and is supposed to be shaped by the baby jesus. In Hungary, children receive candies and small toys in their shoes on Dec. 6th. On Dec. 24th, children go to the movies or a relatives because baby Jesus brings them a tree and presents. Upon returning, they enjoy a festive meal and then view the tree for the first time. They share presents and then older children attend midnight mass with parents.
Latvians believe that father Christmas brings gifts on all 12 days of Christmas, starting with Christmas eve. The first Christmas tree was decorated in Latvia. The special Latvian Christmas Day meal is cooked brown peas with bacon (pork) sauce, small pies, cabbage and sausage. In Portugal, a special Christmas meal of salted dry cod-fish with boiled potatoes is eaten at midnight on Christmas Eve.
Here in the United States, We generally celebrate Christmas on the morning of December 25th. Children wake up early to run downstairs and find beautifully wrapped presents under the tree. If you are catholic you might attend midnight mass or midnight service on Christmas eve, as do some other denominations such as Methodist, Lutheran, and Greek orthodox. Children are told that Santa Claus will come at midnight with a big, red bag of toys down through the chimney. He will arrive stylishly in a sleigh with nine flying reindeer and land on the roof. Children leave cookies and milk for Santa and carrots and sugar for his reindeer. Christmas morning breakfast consists of cinnamon rolls or some sort of coffee cake. Christmas dinners include either turkey or ham and sometimes both. Epiphany is celebrated by Catholics, as is Advent.
Christmas has many names and faces all around the world. This time of year permeates with holiday cheer and charity. Whether you're finding coal in your stocking or joyously sifting through the candies you found in your shoe, Christmas is a great celebration.

katie rule.

How we help those in need?

December 25th is one of the important days of the year, besides Thanksgiving, in western civilization. This time of year family and friends come together to spend time to eat, sing and open presents, which could be an all day and night event. In America kids wake up on Christmas day running towards the Christmas tree to open and play or wear what they have received from the famous "Santa Claus" When kids thank their parents for the present and a good hot meal, after they usually play with the toys or wear the clothes they have gotten.

However, during Christmas not everyone is fortunate enough to have presents yet alone a good hot meal. Here on Galveston Island the community has volunteers that come together to help give those less fortunate a plate for families. Also school’s help children with no presents by organizing a toy drive, where they can get donations from the student, faculty and staff. This week at O’Connell High School, students were asked to bring in toys or blankets in order to receive free dress and off campus lunch.

After Hurricane Ike the island has been going back to some “normality” Fortunately, the city has not lost its Christmas spirit and the joy with the holiday coming closer. Just like every year, the city lit up the traditional Christmas tree. Many Galvestonians have decorated outside their houses and communities have lit up their streets with lights, bows and large ornaments.
Helping other people less fortunate during the holidays can bring a smile to both those you help and to you, because of the good duties you do for them. The work we do may be considered as being a Good Samaritan, just like in the bible when no one would help the hurt man only the man who covered his wounds and brought him back to health. We can be that one person that covers the wounds for the poor, with presents, food and the love of the community.

O’Connell High School is one of many schools’s that works very hard to provide clothes and other donations to help families that don’t have anything to give to their children and to get thru the winter, which brings many cold fronts and rain that is very cold. After Hurricane Ike students, faculty and staff have come together to keep the school on track, students have cafeteria duty, also they help teacher with keeping their room clean.

In this year we have seen our city get hit and almost even destroyed by the wrath of Hurricane Ike, but when the Galvestonians returned they didn’t let this defeat what they love and what they have created, they are rebuilding and building everything better. When the holidays come around the island isn’t afraid to stand up and keep doing the traditions they have always been accustomed to. So this holiday season we should all be thankful and help those in need.

-Jackie Tovar

The birthday of Christ. Was our savior actually born on December 25? Looking back on Biblical records this does not appear to be true. Jesus wasn’t born on December 25. This day was chosen to win over pagan sun worshipers. The stories, songs, and myths are part of an elaborate tradition that has little to do with the Biblical account of the birth of Christ.
The word Christmas actually translates in English to Christ’s mass, the festival of Jesus’ birth. The first mention of December 25 as the feast day of the nativity (the correct name for the Birthday of Jesus) dates to 354 B.C. In ancient times December 25 was the date of the winter solstice a pagan holiday celebrating the sun god. In Rome the week preceding the solstice was the saturnalia, and orgiastic festival that was ended with gift giving an the lighting of candles, resembles a certain holiday to me.
Early Roman Christians appointed the date of December 25 and used it to win converts from paganism. The word Pagan actually means civilian. The use was that if you were not a Christian (enlisted in Christ’s army) you were a pagan. Early Christians did not see Jews as pagans because they worshiped the same God.
After the Roman Empire was split into Eastern and Western halves in 340A.D. Christians were also spread across East and West. Eastern Christians used a calendar where the solstice fell on January 6 when the birthday of Osiris was still celebrated at Alexandria, Egypt.
The most accurate account of the actual Birthday of Christ isn’t very accurate, because the New Testament gives several possible birth years, Matthew has Jesus born between 7-14 B.C. and Luke has him born before 4 B.C., and in 6A.D. After Herald the great dies, these two gospels disagree by about 10-12 years, the date is wrong and the year is a mystery. The birthday of the Son of God is a moveable feast.