2006-12-17 07:24:49 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santy, Jolly Old Elf, Santa Klaus or simply Santa, is a Mythical gift-giving icon who distributes presents to sleeping children and adults who have been "good" all year; traditionally during the night of December 24, Christmas Eve. The popular American form Santa Claus originated as a mispronunciation of Dutch Sinterklaas, which is a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas (Saint Nicholas).
Father Christmas is a well-loved figure in many countries and predates the "Santa Claus" character. "Father Christmas" is similar in many ways, though the two have quite different origins. Using "Santa" in places that predominantly call him "Father Christmas" is often viewed as an Americanism and is quite rare, although they are generally regarded as the same character. Father Christmas (and in some cases baby Jesus) is also present instead of "Santa" in Afghanistan ("Baba Chaghaloo"), Albania ("Babadimri"), Armenia ("Gaghant Baba"), Brazil ("Papai Noel"), Bulgaria ("Dyado Koleda"), Chile (Viejo Pascuero), Denmark ("Julemanden"), Egypt ("Papa Noël"), Finland ("Joulupukki"), France and French Canada ("le Père Noël"), Germany ("Weihnachtsmann" or "Nikolaus"),Greece "Άγιος Βασίλης-Άyos Vasílis" Hungary ("Mikulás"), Iran ("Baba Noel"), Ireland ("Daidí na Nollaig"), Italy ("Babbo Natale"), Latvia ("Ziemassvētku vecītis"), Lithuania ("Kalėdų Senelis"), Malta ("San Niklaw"), Mexico ("El Niñito Dios" ("Child God", meaning Jesus)), Norway ("Julenissen"), Poland ("Święty Mikołaj"), Portugal ("Pai Natal"), Romania ("Moş Crăciun"), Russia ("Ded Moroz"), Scottish Highlands ("Daidaín na Nollaig"), Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Deda Mraz"), South Africa ("Vader Kersfees"), Spain and some of Spanish-speaking Latin America ("Papá Noel" or "San Nicolás" or "Santa Claus" ), Sweden ("Jultomten"), Turkey ("Noel Baba"), and the United Kingdom ("Father Christmas").
Santa Claus is a variation of a Dutch folk tale based on the historical figure Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Myra in Asia Minor (the greater part of modern-day Turkey), who used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. His charity became legend when a man lost his fortune and found himself incapable of supporting his three daughters, who would not be able to find husbands as they lacked dowries. This man was going to give them over to a life of prostitution; however, St Nicholas provided them with gold, enabling them to retain their virginal virtues and marry.
This inspired figure of Sinterklaas, the subject of a major celebration in the Netherlands and Belgium, Germany (where his alleged date of death, December 6, is celebrated the evening before on December 5), which in turn inspired both the myth and the name of Santa Claus. "Santa Claus" is actually a mispronunciation of the Dutch word "Sinterklaas" by the English settlers of New Amsterdam (later renamed New York). Whilst in those countries Saint Nicholas is celebrated as a distinct character with a religious touch separate from Christmas, Santa Claus is also making inroads as a symbol during the Christmas season.[citation needed]
Santa Claus is an example of folklore mythology which adults know is fiction, but which is sometimes presented to children as fact. Other prominent examples are the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. He now forms an important part of the Christmas tradition throughout the Western world and Japan and other parts of East Asia.
A Santa Claus doll.Santa Claus is traditionally represented in a red cloak with white fur trimmings, a reference to St Nicholas, who reputably performed his charitable acts dressed in his red bishop's robes.
In many Eastern Orthodox traditions, Santa Claus visits children on New Year's Day and is identified with Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (contemporary Turkey), whose memory is celebrated on that day. According to the Greek tradition, he is supposed to visit children and give presents every January 1. This festival is also marked by the baking of Saint Basil's bread (Gr. Βασιλόπιτα - Vasilópita), a sweetbread with a coin hidden inside.
Depictions of Santa Claus also have a close relationship with the Russian character of Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost"). He delivers presents to children and has a red coat, fur boots and long white beard. Much of the iconography of Santa Claus could be seen to derive from Russian traditions of Ded Moroz, particularly transmitted into western European culture through his German folklore equivalent, Väterchen Frost. Parents say Santa gets around the world in 1 night by magic.
Department Store SantaConventionally, Santa Claus is portrayed as a kindly, round-bellied, merry, bespectacled white man in a red coat trimmed with white fur (perhaps remotely derived from the episcopal vestments of the original Bishop Nicholas), with a long white beard and green or white gloves. On Christmas Eve, he rides in his sleigh pulled by flying reindeer from house to house to give presents to children. To enter the house, Santa Claus comes down the chimney and exits through the fireplace. During the rest of the year he lives together with his wife Mrs. Claus and his elves manufacturing toys. Some modern depictions of Santa (often in advertising and popular entertainment) will show the elves and Santa's workshop as more of a processing and distribution facility, ordering and receiving the toys from various toy manufacturers from across the world. His home is usually given as either the North Pole, in northern Canada, Korvatunturi in Finnish Lapland, Drøbak in Norway, Dalecarlia in Sweden, or Greenland, depending on the tradition and country. Sometimes Santa's home is in Caesarea when he is identified as Saint Basil. L. Frank Baum placed his home in The Laughing Valley of Hohaho. In the original Dutch tradition, Sinterklaas lives in Spain and is accompanied by a great number of black servants, called 'Zwarte Pieten', which means Black Petes.
2006-12-17 07:37:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your on the right track here. Superman is also a good contender, especially two thousand from now when "ancient" text evidence of supernatural beings (like Santa Claus) are in question. You should take an archeology class and anthropology. Also look into critical writing and how written accounts are authenticated or validated. Genghis Khan, Plato, Socrates and Jesus Christ are real people that really existed. The Roman empire, hebrews,Moses and the old testament accounts of these people and places are authentic. Santa Claus, Superman, Gotham City, and the daily planet although extensively recorded, are still myth and legend; a fact that will still be verifiable two thousand years from now.
2016-05-23 02:28:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but no. Santa Claus is a myth. They took St. Nicholas's story and created it to be what is called today, Santa Claus. His story will remain forever, but when you have kids, keep the tradition going.
2006-12-17 07:29:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
santa exists in our hearts, and you should need proof to believe in his spirit.
he was once a living breathing soul hundreds of years ago. He was Saint Nicholas and he gave all the poor children gifts on christmas. that is where we get santa from.
2006-12-17 07:27:40 · answer #4 · answered by cocoa_spark 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, he really exist in the hearts of all the children who dream and believe that someone out there may still exist who hasn't forgotten of them during the holiday season.
2006-12-17 07:28:05 · answer #5 · answered by m_es_84 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Santa Clause is a invention of COCA-COLA.
Hard to belive but true.
2006-12-17 07:34:25 · answer #6 · answered by rpg_killaz 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He used to a long time ago. But he is still alive in our hearts.
2006-12-17 07:40:29 · answer #7 · answered by kitty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of coursely!
2006-12-17 07:31:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2006-12-17 07:27:10 · answer #9 · answered by missourim43 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No is just a story they tell kids
2006-12-17 07:27:41 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
St. Nick was a real person, either way yeah.
2006-12-17 07:28:05 · answer #11 · answered by bdearone 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋