SANTA CLAUS
Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films. The North American depiction of Santa Claus as it developed in the 19th and 20th century in turn influenced the modern perceptions of Father Christmas, Sinterklaas and Saint Nicholas in European culture.
Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name exists in several other countries, including France (Père Noel),Spain (Pape Noel, Pare Noel), almost all Hispanic South America (Papa Noel), Brazil (Papai Noel), Portugal (Pai Natal),Italy (Babbo Natale), Armenia (Kaghand Papik), India (Christmas Father), Andorra (Lord Quinto), Romania (Moş Crăciun) and Turkey (Noel Baba) .
Many postal services allow children to send letters to Santa Claus. These letters may be answered by postal workers and outside volunteers. Writing letters to Santa Claus has the educational benefits of promoting literacy, computer literacy, and e-mail literacy. A letter to Santa is often a child's first experience of correspondence. Written and sent with the help of a parent or teacher, children learn about the structure of a letter, salutations, and the use of an address and postcode.
Santa Claus parades are held in some countries to celebrate the official opening of the Christmas season with the arrival of Santa Claus. The parades usually include themed floats, dancing or marching groups and bands playing Christmas songs. They are moving pageants that typically end near the center of a city. Often sponsored by department stores, they may reinforce the store's brand recognition during the important Christmas shopping season.
According to Christian mythology, Santa Claus is a merry old man who visits the homes of good children on Christmas eve and delights them by presenting gifts. Santa Claus is believed to ride on sleigh singing HO! HO! HO!. The mythical story of Santa Claus is recreated even in present times and even today Santa Claus, the legendary bringer of gifts at Christmas is a well loved figure of all. Most importantly, he is the patron saint of children. Santa Claus has created an unforgettable picture in the minds and hearts of young kids. They love him and always wish for a good present from their favorite Santa Claus.
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and simply Santa, is a figure with legendary, historical and folkloric aspects who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas.
Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films. The North American depiction of Santa Claus as it developed in the 19th and 20th century in turn influenced the modern perceptions of Father Christmas, Sinterklaas and Saint Nicholas in European culture.Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name exists in several other countries, including France (Père Noel),Spain (Pape Noel, Pare Noel), almost all Hispanic South America (Papa Noel), Brazil (Papai Noel), Portugal (Pai Natal),Italy (Babbo Natale), Armenia (Kaghand Papik), India (Christmas Father), Andorra (Lord Quinto), Romania (Moş Crăciun) and Turkey (Noel Baba) .In past centuries, the English Father Christmas was also known as Old Father Christmas, Sir Christmas, and Lord Christmas. Father Christmas is said to wear a bright red suit, but in Victorian and Tudor times he wore a bright green suit. Father Christmas typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, but was neither a gift bringer nor particularly associated with children. A traditional figure in English folklore, Father Christmas is identified with the old belief in the Old English god Woden
Father Christmas often appears as a large man, often around 70 years old. He is dressed in a red or green snowsuit trimmed with white fur, often girdled with a wide black belt, a matching hat, often long and floppy in nature, and dark hobnail-style jackboots. Often he carries a large brown sack filled with toys on his back. Urban myth has it that the red suit only appeared after the Coca Cola company started an advertising campaign depicting a red suited Father Christmas in the 1930s. However, the company themselves admit that the red suit had appeared before they used the image themselves. In reality, the red-suited Santa was created by Thomas Nast
Writing letters to Santa Claus has been a Christmas tradition for children for many years. These letters normally contain awishlist of toys and assertions of good behavior. Some social scientists have found that boys and girls write different types of letters. Girls generally write longer but more polite lists and express the nature of Christmas more in their letters than in letters written by boys. Girls also more often request gifts for other people.
Many postal services allow children to send letters to Santa Claus. These letters may be answered by postal workers and outside volunteers. Writing letters to Santa Claus has the educational benefits of promoting literacy, computer literacy, and e-mail literacy. A letter to Santa is often a child's first experience of correspondence. Written and sent with the help of a parent or teacher, children learn about the structure of a letter, salutations, and the use of an address and postcode.As the work year winds down for many, for others it’s busier than ever. And few are as active as the many Father Christmases who populate malls, shops and theme parks to the delight of young children. But, while donning a downy red and white costume and a billowing beard, sitting on a throne and engaging with children all day may appear a cushy job, it’s a tougher gig than you might imagine. And, as many have less to spend on nonessentials, Father Christmas is asked to tread ever more lightly in managing the expectations of his audience.
The presence of Father Christmas in shopping centres not only helps build the brand but also connection with Christmas encourages us to get into the Christmas spirit of increased consumption, gift giving and expenditure.
Santa Claus parades are held in some countries to celebrate the official opening of the Christmas season with the arrival of Santa Claus. The parades usually include themed floats, dancing or marching groups and bands playing Christmas songs. They are moving pageants that typically end near the center of a city. Often sponsored by department stores, they may reinforce the store's brand recognition during the important Christmas shopping season.It is a direct descendant of late Medieval and Renaissance revivals of Roman Triumphs, which had music and banners, wagons filled with the spoils of war, and climaxed with the dux riding in a chariot, preferably drawn by two horses, and thus called the biga. Similarly, the climax of a Santa Claus parade is always Santa in his sleigh, drawn by eight reindeer. Roman Triumphs were themselves consciously modeled on ceremonies honoring the gods, and Santa Claus himself is the descendant of Saint Nicholas. The Santa Claus parade directly corresponds to the modern triumphal entry of Santa Claus.
According to Christian mythology, Santa Claus is a merry old man who visits the homes of good children on Christmas eve and delights them by presenting gifts. Santa Claus is believed to ride on sleigh singing HO! HO! HO!. The mythical story of Santa Claus is recreated even in present times and even today Santa Claus, the legendary bringer of gifts at Christmas is a well loved figure of all. Most importantly, he is the patron saint of children. Santa Claus has created an unforgettable picture in the minds and hearts of young kids. They love him and always wish for a good present from their favorite Santa Claus.On the night of Christmas Eve, Santa Claus keeps the gifts under the Christmas Tree and in the stockings hung by the fireplace. He is believed to be the giver of gifts without any expectation. He presents gifts just to make little children feel good. On the early Christmas morning, children get up to see what Santa has put under the tree. Gifts include toys, sweets, candies, electronic gadgets and other games. These are the priceless gifts which become the most cherished memories for children.
Who's that fat little jolly old man
With beard as white as snow?
And who creeps down the chimney at night,
Then as quick as a wink, off he goes?
I've been told that it's dear Santa Claus,
That jolly, happy man!
Who comes once a year on Christmas Eve,
Spreading joy everywhere that he can!
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