A TALE OF REINDEERS : SANTA CLAUS AND CHRISTMAS

 

‘You better watch out

 You better not cry

 You better not pout, I’m telling you why…

 Santa Claus is coming to town.’

 

 

It’s the jingle bell period and it’s okay even if we don’t have a winter. I personally don’t think many Nigerian kids are waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. Reality tends to hit pretty early around here(laughs).

 

There’s so much talk about Santa and how Christmas is not about a guy in red coats. Plus many speculations on how easy it is to rearrange ‘Santa’ to ‘Satan’. Many seem quite sensible and can be reasoned with, but how did Santa Claus come to be and be so popular?

 

 

 

 

 THE STORY OF SANTA

 

The story of Santa, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nick or Kris Kringle, dates back many years. The fourth century precisely. Back to a monk, Saint Nicholas, born sometime around 280 A.D near a village called Myra in modern day Turkey.

 

Saint Nicholas was known for his piety, kindness and generosity especially towards children.

 

He became known as the protector of children and sailors and is celebrated during the Feast of Saint Nicholas on the 6^th of December, the anniversary of his death.

 

 

He was a very popular saint and the patron saint of many European countries, though the most similar to the Santa of today were first seen in the Netherlands.

 

 

 

FROM SAINT NICHOLAS TO SANTA CLAUS

 

The story of Saint Nicholas (Sint Nikolaas - Dutch) spread to America as a result of the Dutch settling there.

 

Over quite a period of time, a group of Dutch intellectuals gathered under the name ‘Knickerbockers’ to preserve their culture and traditions.

 

 

Washington Irving, a prominent member of the group, published a book, THE KNICKERBOCKER’S HISTORY OF NEW YORK, that contained satirical renditions of Dutch stories.

 

In the book, there were several mentions of a “Sinter Klaas”(a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas) and details of him flying across the sky on a wagon and leaving presents for good children.

 

His descriptions in the book were quickly adopted by the British settlers who combined the St. Nicholas Day celebrations with their Christmas and New Year celebrations.

With a British New York-an accent, it's easy to see 'Sinter Klaas' and 'Santa Claus' sounding similar

 

 

 

SLEIGHS AND REINDEERS

 

In 1822, Clement Clark Moore a friend of Irving, wrote a poem, AN ACCOUNT OF A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS, later popularly known as TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

 

In the poem which he originally intended just for his family, he made alterations to parts of the legend e.g the wagon became a sleigh. This was to make it more relatable though. The reindeers were added instead of horses which were a common transport then, in order to give it some element of mystery.

 

Contrary to his intentions, the poem would end up in the NEW YORK SENTINEL on the 23^rd of December 1823.

 

 

 

SANTA TODAY

 

The earlier depictions of Sint Nikolaas were very different from what we have today. He used to be drawn on a donkey and with a tall, pointy bishop’s hat. Many countries have their own versions of a being that gives gifts on Christmas.

 

The Santa picture evolved over following years with further and currently evident touches from a cartoonist Thomas Nast. The popularization of his version can be attributed to your favourite soft drink company.

 

Yeah, Coca Cola made use of the character for advertising and marketing purposes and with good results.

 

These contributions all helped the Santa picture become the chubby, bearded, shiny-cheeked, red-coated, generous guy from the North pole that we all know today.

 

 

 

This is the story of how Father Christmas came to be part of our Christmas. It is imperative to know that he isn’t the reason behind the season. This season is one where we appreciate sacrifice, God’s gift of His son to us and the implications of that singular act of love.

 

It is also a season of giving. Giving of gifts, wishes, prayers. A season of love.

 

 

You may have your views on Santa sharing Christmas with us, but so long as the real reason of Christmas is known and kept at the fore, a little children’s tale never hurt anyone.

 

'I'm stuck here! Do y'all want me or no?'

 

What do you think?

Share in the comments.

Check out these 

Coca cola on Santa Claus 

A visit from St. Nicholas

Washington Irving's book