only adults answer
2007-12-22 07:55:06 · 13 answers · asked by Troy G 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Santa Claus and Xmas are both Pagan originally..
Saint Nicholas' Day
When the old Gods ruled the world, Odinn the All-father rode the skies of Germania and Scandinavia in winter with a crowd of elves and spirits; those mortals who offered him reverence were rewarded with gifts.. In later years, Odinn's horse, elves and gifts became the accouterments of a Christian saint named Nicholas..
Nicholas lived in Asia Minor..Because he calmed the storms at sea during his life, he became the patron of sailors; and because he restored to life three murdered youths, he became the patron for boys..But the most famous tale concerning him was that of three maidens whose imppoverished father planned to sell them into slavery.. Nicholas redeemed them with three bags of dowry gold, which he flung through their windows one night and which landed on their shoes, set to warm before the fire..For this deed, he became the patron of maidens, and Frenchwomen prayed to him for husbands..
He also became the patron of pawnbrokers, and his bags of gold are remembered in the three golden balls that are the sign of the trade..
But gift-giving was his most important act..In Germany and Holland, children set out their shoes on the eve of his feast day, filling them with hay and carrots for his white horse, just as provender had been left for Odinn's horse by their ancestors.. Nicholas, they knew, would ride over the rooftops in the night with his elvish companion Knecht Ruprecht.. Ruprecht carried a switch for use on naughty young ones.. But Nicholas carried baskets of toys and sweets, to be left in the shoes of all good children...
That is the origin of Santa, and the red suit he wears has only been around since about the 1930's when he was part of a huge Coke campaign..
Blessings.. )O(
2007-12-22 17:17:13 · answer #1 · answered by Bunge 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is reason to believe, he was a real person at one time. Though i dont think he was called "Santa Clause".
I did some research about this for a paper.
There was a guy im sure you know, named St. Nick. who did much of what Santa is said to do.
Possibly, santa evolved from St. Nick.
This is a legend, and legends are hardly ever found to be factual or fake. Its one of those things, either you belive and tell you children hes real, or you dont and are totally against it.
2007-12-22 08:20:47 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. Strauss 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course! Don't you see him everywhere? This was in that venerable paper, the New York Sun:
"A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
He started out as a Catholic priest in the Turkey area and he was declared a saint not due to martyrdom like most, but due chiefly to his generosity to the poor. His veneration spread through Russia and when it reached The Netherlands his name was translated to roughly Sinder Klaas, from where it was Anglicized to Santa Claus.
Hope you've been good!
2007-12-22 13:48:51 · answer #3 · answered by Alan N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th century Christian bishop of Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity.
2007-12-23 03:27:15 · answer #4 · answered by Rachelle_of_Shangri_La 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
He was real, his spirit lives on today, and I still believe in him. Saint Nicholas of Patara was the bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (Turkey). He was born in 270 AD, and was canonized for his anonymous gifts to the poor. Did you know he is also the patron saint of sailors and pawnbrokers?
2007-12-22 08:45:09 · answer #5 · answered by ruriksson 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Santa Cluas is real and alive in my memories, as a kid really he appears only to Children! as you get older you tend to forget his impact on your life because you get wrapped up in work, friends, live, family and the like...If you have childern to are more intouch than those without!
Reccomend slow down and it will come back to you!
Ho!Ho!Ho!
2007-12-22 08:39:13 · answer #6 · answered by lingo bingo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course hes real but on the other hand hes not so theirs really no answer
2007-12-24 02:58:34 · answer #7 · answered by marco a 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he's only real to those who believe in him---mainly kids, so thats why adults cannot see him anymore =]
2007-12-23 04:08:19 · answer #8 · answered by topback35 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course not. It is the elves that you have to watch out for, they are everywhere.
2007-12-22 08:05:33 · answer #9 · answered by monkeyman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, he's everywhere, everybody's talking about him!!
2007-12-22 08:03:55 · answer #10 · answered by marie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋