St. Nicholas was credited with hundreds of miracles during his lifetime. Stories shared over the centuries including how he calmed storms with prayer, resurrected babies, and helped the poor. As with other saints, the anniversary of their death was celebrated. During the 12th century, nuns in France would make little gifts for children and leave them on the doorsteps of family homes, each with a tag signed “From St. Nicholas” to be discovered the morning of St. Nicholas Day on Dec 6th. St. Nicholas had grown so popular that he survived the Protestant Reformation in Germany during the 16th century when honoring saints became strongly discouraged by the clergy.
In the lyrics of many traditional songs dating back to the Middle Ages, St. Nicholas was accompanied by various helpers or companions. Knecht Ruprecht was St. Nicholas’ companion in Germany as a gift bringer, while in another region of Germany Belsnickel was a common companion. He carried a switch to punish the naughty children and would reward others with cakes or candy from his pockets. In other traditions, the companion would punish the naughty children with a birch rod or carry them off in a sack or basket. Krampus was a companion who resembled a wicked devil who often appeared alone, visiting homes and businesses. Zwarte Piet, also known as Black Pete, was another of St. Nick’s companions. These and many other characters acted as a counterpart to the gift-giver or a strict disciplinarian threatening to punish disobedient children. Recently Zwarte Piet was replaced by Sooty Piet (covered in chimney soot) during celebrations in the Netherlands. The punishment of children ended during the 1960 but the many companions continue as traditions in several areas of Europe.
The Dutch brought St. Nicholas traditions to North America as Sinterklaas in the 17th century. The name was distorted by many in the new land and became Santa Claus. In 1776, the American Revolution adopted Santa Claus as a symbol of the American resistance to British rule. He became an antidote to Christmas celebrated by the British enemy (who had adopted Father Christmas from the Scandinavians) and his fame spread. In 1809, Washington Irving published a story of the history of New York. Santa Claus was depicted as a saint who appeared in a sailor’s dream of Dutch immigrants settling on the island of Manhattan. The saint promised the settlers that he would visit every year on his airborne sleigh and deliver gifts to the children of the new city by slipping down chimneys.
In 1823, Clement Clark Moore anonymously wrote the famous poem “A Visit From St Nick” for his children (also known by the first line “Twas the Night Before Christmas”) inspired by folk legends of St. Nick from Europe. The Santa Claus character began to take shape. Around the same time in England, Victorian images of Father Christmas show him dressed all in green and wearing a holly crown. Historians claim that Father Christmas had been inspired by the Scandinavian god, Odin.
Many American authors were inspired by the legend of St. Nicholas while a very famous caricaturist, Thomas Nast, gave readers a more complete image. Over a series of 33 drawings, he transformed St. Nick from a simple peddler to a bearded fellow with a round belly and a sack over his shoulder. In 1875, Louis Prang printed a series of postcards depicting Santa Claus in a red suit. He may not have been the first to use this image but he is credited by many as being the first to invent this costume.
During the late 1800’s, exploration of the world turned to the north and south poles. These mysterious, undocumented regions were great playgrounds for the imaginations of authors. In 1885 writer George Webster created the idea of a toy factory and a home for Santa buried in the snow of the North Pole.
In 1931, Coca-Cola famously broadened its marketing to children. Haddon Sundblom was hired to create a “paunchy, smiling Santa Claus dressed in red, with ruddy cheeks and an elfish look.” By the end of World War II, the new Santa Claus image was well established.
As children, my siblings and I would always ask our dad for socks from his drawer to leave out for Santa and his elves to fill. His socks were larger than ours after all. Leaving a plate of my mom’s baking and a bowl of oats for the reindeer was also a family tradition on Christmas Eve.
