Santa Claus (Part 4) Goes Commercial

December 23 2006

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW A WORD, IDIOM OR PHRASE ORIGINATED IN THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE?

In the 1900s many businesses actively started using the Santa Claus image to promote their products and services, but at the beginning of the 1930s, the burgeoning Coca-Cola company out did everyone in a big way. Their annual advertisements — featuring Santa holding bottles of Coca-Cola, drinking Coca-Cola, receiving Coca-Cola as gifts, and especially enjoying Coca-Cola — became a perennial Christmas-time feature.

In fact, their successful winter campaigns featuring Santa helped fuel the legend that Coca-Cola actually invented the image of the modern Santa Claus, decking him out in a red-and-white suit to promote the company colors. Although Coca-Cola certainly helped make Santa Claus one of the most popular men in America, they didn’t invent him.

Even Forbes Magazine recognized the unique commercial value of Santa Claus by consistently ranking him #1 in the annual Forbes “Fictional 15” List of the wealthiest individuals. That was until this year, 2006, when Forbes turned more cynical and gave the top spot to defense contractor Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks.

I hope you enjoy reading the attached pdf posting. Despite the trend toward commercialism, Santa Claus still has a special place in my heart and in my memories. It is important in these troubling times to rekindle those memories of our childhood and the true spirit of Santa Claus. If you need help, please check the hyperlink at the bottom of Part 4 – “Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Claus.”

Jim C Quiz – Santa Claus – Part 4.pdf

Santa Claus (Part 3) = From St. Nick to Santa in America

December 18, 2006

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW A WORD, IDIOM OR PHRASE ORIGINATED IN THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE?

The month of December brings thoughts of Christmas delight and, for me, the research on the origins of Santa Claus. Part 3 of the story focuses on how his image evolved in America from a pious saint to a jolly, red-clad, sleigh riding gift-giver.

In the early 1800s the American press and a multitude of writers began to weave a tapestry, which thread by thread developed into an elaborate story about the life and times of Santa Claus. One of the best of the early image makers was a New Yorker, Clement Clarke Moore, who wrote a series of verses to read to his children on Christmas Eve, 1822.

His poem was published a year later as “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas” (aka “‘Twas the night before Christmas…”) Moore gave St. Nick eight reindeer, named them all, and devised the now familiar entrance into the home by chimney. However, the poem described a “minature sleigh” with a “little old driver.”

The man-sized image of Santa Claus became the dominant version around 1841, when a Philadelphia merchant named J. W. Parkinson hired a man to dress in “Criscringle” clothing and climb the chimney outside his shop. By 1885 the chubby, red-cheeked Santa with a red suit began to replace the fur-dressed Belsnickle image and the multi-colored Santas.

Please read the attached pdf posting. As always, I hope this stimulates your own personal research into the origins of Santa Claus, and I would appreciate your feedback.

1) Did you find the posting informative?

2) How would you improve this posting?

3) Can you provide a better “Moment of Zen?”

Jim C Quiz – Santa Claus – Part 3.pdf

Santa Claus (Part 2) = The gift-giver!

 December 11, 2006

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW A WORD, IDIOM OR PHRASE ORIGINATED IN THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE?

The month of December brings thoughts of Christmas delight, and the research continues on our favorite secular symbol, Santa Claus. Last week the focus was on St. Nicholas, who many believe was the true origin of gift giving that is now associated with Santa Claus.

So, how did this evolution from a pious saint to jolly, red-clad, sleigh riding gift-giver take place? This Part 2 will briefly show the early part of the transformation.

10^th century: Metaphrastes, an early Christian author, collected and wrote many traditional legends about St. Nicholas.

11^th century: The Roman Catholic Church taught that St. Nicholas’ remains were transferred to Bari in Italy during the Muslim invasion of Asia Minor. In Italy he became known as Nicholas of Bari.

16^th century: The Protestant Reformation had a very dim view of saints, and they actively focused on removing all St. Nicholas-related customs. This action actually enhanced the gradual rise of secular celebrations of Christmas.

19th century: St. Nicholas was gradually superseded in much of Europe (including France and Germany) by Christkindlein (the Christ child). He traveled secretly, typically at night, with a dwarf-like helper called Pelznickel (a.k.a. Belsnickle) or with St. Nicholas-like figures to deliver gifts to children. These three entities combined to create the Santa Claus we all know and love.

Please read the attached pdf posting. As always, I hope this stimulates your own personal research into Santa Claus, and I would appreciate your feedback.

1) Did you find the posting informative?

2) How would you improve this posting?

3) Can you provide a better “Moment of Zen?”

Jim C Quiz – Santa Claus – Part 2.pdf

Santa Claus = An American Symbol of Christmas

December 4, 2006

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW A WORD, IDIOM OR PHRASE ORIGINATED IN THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE?

The month of December brings thoughts of Christmas delight – greeting cards, wrapping gifts, decorations, family and friends. As we think of the holidays, there are many symbols that come to mind, but one secular symbol stands out – Santa Claus.

There are several names and origins for Santa, such as:

1) Kris Kringle

2) Saint Nicholas

3) Father Christmas

4) Saint Nick

The most accepted origin of Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas, who was recognized by the early church as Archbishop of Myra, and it is from there that the fame of his good deeds began to spread across the Mediterranean. It is believed that desperate sailors who called upon the Good Bishop to calm stormy seas were heard and prison walls crumbled when victims of persecution prayed to him. However, his fame as protector of children soon took precedence.

So, it appears that the character of Santa Claus is copied from the life of a real person, a saint named Saint Nicholas. The name ‘Saint Nicholas’ even sounds like ‘San-ta claus,’ especially in the Dutch language. The Dutch veneration of ‘Sinter Klaus’ was brought to North America with the Dutch settlers and eventually became the story of Santa Claus that everyone knows.

Please read the attached pdf posting. As always, I hope this stimulates your investigation, and I would appreciate your feedback.

1) Did you find the posting informative?

2) How would you improve this posting?

3) Can you provide a better “Moment of Zen?”

Jim C Quiz – Santa Claus – Part 1.pdf