Santa Claus: A Brief History

Christmas is the happiest time of the year. We all look forward to the Christmas songs, decorating our Christmas trees, and spending time with family. Young children are especially excited since it is that time of year when they get the opportunity to sit in Santa Claus’s lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. For them, Santa Claus represents Christmas. But how exactly did “Santa Claus” come about?

The answer can be traced back all the way to 280 A.D. in Patara, Turkey, with the birth of the ever-generous St. Nicholas. This saint was known for his kind and giving nature, and he even helped the poor and sick. St. Nicholas made his way into American culture in the late 1700s. He became prominent in New York when people celebrated his feast day on December 6th. In the early 1800s, the New York Historical Society distributed wood with engravings of St. Nicholas. The Dutch name for St. Nicholas was Sint Nikolaas. The nickname for the Dutch name was Sinter Klaas. Sinter Klaas evolved into Santa Claus by the early to mid-1800s. Between the 1820s and 1840s, holiday shopping was being advertised. Children were able to go into stores and encounter model Santa Clauses, and soon “live” Santa Clauses.

The actual purpose of a live Santa Claus came about in the 1890s with the Salvation Army. This organization collected donations to pay for meals for families in need. Ever since, Santa Clauses have appeared all over the United States in malls, and in modern times, kids directly tell him their desired Christmas gifts.