How Santa Claus came to be
The story of Santa Claus goes back hundreds of years, read all about how St Nicholas came to be the much-loved Santa Claus.
The festive season brings joy and happiness and with the Covid-19 pandemic in our midst, some cheer is needed. So let’s start off by telling the story of how Santa Claus came to be.
According to the History Channel’s website, the legend of the jolly man in the red suit can be traced back hundreds of years. It started with a monk called St Nicholas.
Hailing from the ancient city, Patara which is near Myra in Turkey, it is said St Nicholas was admired for his piety and kindness and became the subject of many legends.
In one of the most famous tales about him, he rescued three girls from being sold into prostitution by their father. According to National Geographic’s website, St Nicholas paid the dowry to get them married. His popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors.
Coming from a great inheritance, it was also said that he relinquished his riches to travel the countryside to help the sick and poor. December 6 marks St Nick’s feast day, a significant day in some parts of Europe as it was considered lucky to make big purchases or get married.
The saint remained popular in Europe even after the Protestant Reformation. In the Netherlands, where he was most loved, his name evolved to Sinterklaas or Sint-Nicolaas.
The legend of St Nick made its way to America at the end of the 18th century. At the time, an Episcopal minister from the states wrote a jolly Christmas poem for his three children. The poem, A visit from St Nicholas, more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas, could be responsible for the modern-day image of Santa Claus as a plump man able to go down chimneys due to his supernatural abilities.
By the late 1800s political cartoonist, Thomas Nast depicted Santa as a chunky, jovial man with a white beard and a big sack of toys for children. He gave Santa a workshop in the North Pole, elves and his lovely wife Mrs Claus.
By the 19th century, Santa Claus was seen roaming the streets and shopping malls gifting joy and toys and he has since become a much-loved symbol for Christmas all over the world. Ho, ho, ho!
