what is the origin behind Santa Clause?

Question

How did Santa become associated with Christmas?

Answer 1

The American version of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus originally came from the Dutch version called Sint Klaas. The Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) brought this fun and lively tradition (some even say cult) to America.
This version of Santa has given the current myth its visual form and these most curious traditions:

A merry old man with red and white clothes

Eight flying reindeer, later joined by Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

A home located on or near the North Pole

The habit of filling socks or stockings with presents on the night of December 24th.

Also the habit of entering houses through the chimney.

The most important single source for our modern day version of Santa Claus comes from the Christmas poem A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement C. Moore. Written for his children in 1823, the family poem was later published for the general public and included what became the now famous picture of Santa Claus by Thomas Nast ( see below right ).

Actually the old "cult" of Santa Claus incorporates many traditions: Christian and Pagan, Old Catholic, Scandinavian, Dutch, German and English.

Santa brings us all together! Kids all over the world know who Santa is... And although he may be a little commercial, who can help, but love the jolly old elf?

It's the Idea of giving that reminds us; we are all on this planet together, for the long run.

So lets be kind to one another.

Answer 2

Santa (i think the original name was Kris) started out about 800 years ago in somewhere around New Findland. He didn't like seeing all the childeren in a nearbye village work all day. So he decided to do something about it and started making toys for them. This hermit had built himself a large house so he was good with the wood works. But he needed help. He decided to help the short people (midgits), that lived around there, by hiring them. In that time it was very hard for them to get jobs. So he would carry all the presents that they all made with a sleigh pulled by reindeer (no horses cause they aren't as good in the snow). Kris would go in the night because he didn't want anyone to know who had done the good deed.
When Kris was dieing, the parents had decided, because he was only mortal, that they should keep the spirit of Santa alive. So they started to pretend like he was still alive. They pretended like he was an imortal, the essence of Christmas (which he had started).
Unfortunatly, some parents have forgotten the vowes they made to keep Kris alive, and so you will see little 7 year old kids that say that their parents so there is no such thing as Santa. There is, or at least was, but they just have forgotten.

Answer 3

For this you need a little pagan mythology, little history, and a it of Catholic ingenuity.

1) Frau Holle - a Germanic Goddess who flew around the world on delivering sickness to 'evil' people and blessing others with heatlh.
2) Yule - Winter Solstice, usually around Dec 21st-22nd. Christians used to set Christmas by this date, a way to encorporate the heathens :)
3)Greek Saint Nicolaus - known as 'friend of children'. The Feast of St. Nicholas is on Dec. 6.
4)Sint Klaas - Dutch saint, similar to the Greek St. Nicolaus
5) A Dash of commercialism....

and you've got the Modern Santa Claus

Answer 4

go to the library and find the BIG BOOK OF WHY and look up santa clause...i'm pretty sure its in there =) have fun

Answer 5

I believe it had something to do with the Three Wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus.

But here's another version......

Answer 6

Check it out.

Answer 7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa -have fun reading that!

Answer 8

i don't know.