History and Facts About Santa Clause and Christmas

Want some history of and fun facts about Santa Clause? You have come to the right place. St. Nicholas is reported to have died in 350 AD. He is known by various names. Nicholas of Myra (Turkey), Santa Clause or just plain Santa. He not only gave gifts to kids, he gave gold coins to needy adults as well. His followers gave gifts to people as well and gave Christmas Presents on Dec 6 in Europe, which was the celebration of St Nicholas. In a lot of countries this date is still used to exchange gifts. 

Some additional names for Santa Clause and where they are used. China- Shengdan Laoren, England- Father Christmas, France- Pere Noel. Some Latin Countries call him El Niesus and is some he is called Papa Noel. During the Communist years of Russia, he was known there as Father Frost. 

Some countries including German say that The Baby Jesus delivers the gifts and not Santa. In some countries kids leave shoes out instead of stockings for the small gifts. 

The American version of Santa Clause comes from the Dutch version called Sinter Klaus. Writer Washington Irving really brought Santa Clause to America’s attention in 1809 when he wrote about the Dutch version. Clement Clarke Moore made him even more famous in 1823, when he wrote “A visit from Saint Nicholas” aka “The Night Before Christmas” He named the elves and described Saint Nicholas as an elf. 

A lot of Historians and experts in folklore don’t believe there ever was a real Saint Nicolas. Some think he was a legend that spun off Neptune and or Poseidon. 

During the American Civil War, the North’s naval blockade of the South was so effective that goods could not get through. Parents explained to their kids that even Santa couldn’t get past the Yankee Ships. Before the Civil war most Northerners disdained Christmas and celebrated Thanksgiving instead, but the Southern States embraced Christmas. The first 3 States to make Christmas a legal holiday were Alabama 1836, then Louisiana and Arkansas in 1838.