The new and improved St. Nicholas got his start in the Middle Ages, that strange point in history between ancient and modern Europe. Princess Theophano of Constantinople gave her new husband Otto II of Germany an icon of St. Nicholas on their wedding day in 972. Nicholas legends began to spread the idea of doing good for those less fortunate.

A group of French nuns decided to bring anonymous gifts of food, clothing, and occasionally money to needy families. These nuns must not have been confined to the convent. They bestowed their largesse so it would be found on December 6, St. Nicholas Day. If recipients asked the source of these gifts, the nuns reportedly replied, “It must have been St. Nicholas.”

Everyone soon made St. Nicholas a favorite saint. But in 1517 – Disaster. Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis on the church door in Wittenberg and ignited the Protestant Reformation with its wars over religious affiliation. Protestant areas banned all saints and other customs from the Catholic Church.

People didn’t want to ban St. Nicholas, so they changed his name and purpose. In England, Nicholas became Father Christmas who still delivers presents today. In France he morphed into Perl Noel. German-speaking countries had the Christkind, a golden-haired baby with wings. Christkind translates as Christ-Child.

In the New World Christkind became Kris Kringal. Dutch settlers introduced Sinterklass. If you sound it out, it sounds like St. Nicholas. It also sounds like Santa Claus. Thus was Santa Claus born. But he wasn’t a big deal until the nineteenth century.

“A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore appeared in the Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823. Santa, now a fully adult elf with eight reindeer, a sleigh, and a weight challenge, flew through the night bestowing gifts.

In 1863, during the American Civil War, Harper’s Weekly published the first illustration of Santa Claus. He wore an American flag. For the next twenty years Thomas Nast refined Santa’s image. By 1881, Santa had a red belly, smoked a pipe, and held arm full of toys.

Coca-Cola began using Santa Claus in their advertisements during the 1920s. In 1931 Haddon Sundblom drew the Santa we most recognize today, replacing his pipe with a glass of Coca-Cola.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this short series on St. Nicholas/Santa Claus, and can’t help ending this one in the words of Moore’s poem:

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

AND TO ALL, A GOOD NIGHT.

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Illustrations from Wikimedia Commons.

Japanese Santa Claus, 1914. Public Domain.

Old Father Christmas, 1855. Public Domain.

Santa Claus by Thomas Nast. Harper’s Weekly, 1863. Public Domain.

Merry Old Santa Claus by Thomas Nast. Harper’s Weekly, 1881. Public Domain.

The Holidays Are Coming by Helga Haldorsson. Creative Commons Attribution.

Who is St. Nicholas? St. Nicholas Center

St Nicholas, Santa Claus & Father Christmas

The Night Before Christmas.

The post SANTA CLAUS: FROM HUMBLE SAINT TO INTERNATIONAL ICON first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

The American Christmas was born from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol — decorated trees, presents, and a memorable feasts.  More than these, Christmas became a day shared with family and friends.  The best way to watch Christmas develop during the 19th century is through media, beginning with a nursery rhyme.

Christmas is coming

The goose is getting fat

Please put a penny in the old man’s hat

If you haven’t got a penny,

Then a half penny will do

If you haven’t got a half penny,

Then God bless you

Go to YouTube for a fun rendition by Manhattan Transfer– you can sing along.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez2HBK6HKmI

Christmas is a time for joy, but also for remembering that not every has a “penny” to spare.  Now, on to our holiday.

This is the first American picture of Santa Claus, drawn by Thomas Nast for publication in the January 3, 1863 edition of Harper’s.

The title: A Christmas Furlough.  Santa sitting on his sled with only two reindeer is passing out gifts to Union soldiers, and the boys at the front who seem to have a jack-in-the-box.  Santa is patriotic and wearing a modified flag — striped trousers and stars on his jacket.

The next picture is called  Christmas Time Here Comes the Gobbler painted by Sophie Gengembre Anderson.  What a lovely room — what a magical turkey.  He is too polite to splash a single drop of blood on that ornate carpet.

A kid’s view of an excellent Christmas — Big brother supplies the bird. Little sisters watch in awe, and baby has a pull toy.  The cynic in me wonders how long it will take to dress and cook the bird.  Will it be ready in time for dinner?

What would Christmas be without holiday songs?  This cover on the sheet music for Charles Kinkel’s Santa Claus Galop is rich in meaningful holiday cheer.  Note Santa coming down the chimney on the right hand side.  It’s been ten years since he gave out gifts to the troops.  Fortunately he has not gained any weight, ‘cuz that chimney looks a little narrow.

 Wikipedia Commons, Public Domain

Note the French phrase Cadeaux de Noel — this is classy stuff.  It translates to “Christmas Gift.”  The young girl has several, including the lovely doll she holds.  A “galop” by the way was a lively dance popular at the time.

Our last picture, a photograph by Griffith & Griffith in 1897 depicts a Christmas scene many American grew up with — aside from the clothes and interior design.  But the tree looks familiar — a bit higgily-piggily, decorated with love.  Doting parents — no doubt wondering how long they have to hold the pose.  Grandpa has it easier, enjoying his chair and looking away from the camera.  The kids have a flash-frozen look, but it’s a happy scene.

Wikipedia Commons, Public Domain

And there are toys, toys, toys — a child size chair, a doll size chair, a baby buggy, a rolling horse for the young man of the house.  Middle class Americans had a good life in 1897.  This is the picture of family life that inspired Americans, regardless of their economic condition.  It depicts the abundance of Christmas that we still want today.

Every American wants to have enough to support his or her family.  We want our children to have what they desire.  We want our families to be together.  This may not be the way things are, but it is what most Americans have as their Christmas wish.

I hope that your Christmas wishes come true and that you continue to dream of a future in which families everywhere can live in peace.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The post CHRISTMAS IS COMING — THE GOOSE IS GETTING FAT first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.