2006-12-21 08:23:20 · 8 answers · asked by reff 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
How did the Christmas legend begin?
2006-12-21 08:24:03 · update #1
You make it sound as if Santa isn't real and is just a fairy tale or something. He's coming to my home in just a few days. I'll try to stay awake and ask him what you mean by your question.
:-)~
2006-12-21 08:27:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The legend of Santa Claus in America was started by Dutch immigrants. Basically when they made reference to Saint Nicholas, their thick accent was mis understood as Santa Claus. Thus the legend was born of a jolly bearded fellow who brings gifts to good children throughout the land. However, it wasn't until a 1930's advertising campaign by Coca-Cola that Santa Claus began being associated with a red and white clothing.
2006-12-21 16:28:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The jolly fat elf we identify as Santa Claus came from the Coca-cola advertisements in the 1920s. The Saint Nicolas is where the legendary figure started. Of course the entire holiday of Christmas was stolen by the Catholic church from pagans who celebrated Yule. Many of the pagan traditions were incorporated into the Catholic church to bring the pagans into the church.
2006-12-21 16:32:33 · answer #3 · answered by Christopher L 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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.
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.
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
2006-12-21 16:27:04 · answer #4 · answered by Shina Beana 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Santa began as a person named St.Nicholas.The first present he ever gave was a dowry(money for marriage) for a poor girl that was going to mary someone.So he put gold down her chimney.But that St. Nicholas is not a legend.That St. Nicholas is the Santa we really know today.He just got older.
2006-12-21 18:35:59 · answer #5 · answered by Deleted 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i saw a cartoon on cartoon network about the legend of santa clause,don't remember that much but you should check it out
2006-12-21 16:25:57 · answer #6 · answered by Aubrey 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
From St. Nick
2006-12-21 16:26:02 · answer #7 · answered by osunumberonefan 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, Grandpa and Grandma Claus were bored......
2006-12-21 16:25:32 · answer #8 · answered by twicewise 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋