Santa Claus and related traditions
Santa Claus
The American version of St.Nicholas, originally from Dutch Sint(e)
Klaas. The Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) brought his
cult to America. This Santa has given the current myth its visual
form: merry old man with red/white clothes, eight flying reindeers,
living on or near North Pole, filling socks with presents, arriving
through the chimney. The most important single source for Santa was
the Christmas poem of Moore from year 1823 which was
transmuted to image by Thomas Nast.
Actually the cult of
Santa Claus incorporates many traditions Christian and pagan : Old
Catholic, Scandinavian, Dutch, German, English. Sadly, its main
feature nowadays is commercialism.
St.Nicholas
In Greek, Hagios Nikolaos, Bishop of Myra (in the present day
Turkey), died about AD 350. Also known as Nicholas of Myra, Santa
Claus or Santa in America.Countless of legends (no documents exist)
are told about this man within both Western and Eastern Churches.
He was born in the city of Patara, and travelled to Palestine and
Egypt when young. He was imprisoned during persecutions of the
Emperor Diocletian but released later by Emperor Constantine. He
attended the first council of Nicaea in 325.
His fame spread
rapidly in Middle Ages and thousands of churches are dedicated to
him. He has been the patron saint of Russia, Moscow, Greece,
children, sailors, prisoners, bakers, pawnbrokers, shopkeepers and
wolves. His gift-giving role in Christmas rites probably follows
from his fame as the friend of children. The story also tells that
he used to give anonymous donations of gold coins to persons in
need. His cult spread in Europe and Christmas presents were
distributed in December 6th when the pageant of St.Nicholas took
place. In many countries this day is still the day of Christmas
gift-giving, although there is a mounting pressure everywhere to
conform to the international custom of 24th/25th December. The
relics of St.Nicholas are in the basilica of St. Nicola, in Bari,
Italy (they were stolen from Myra in 1087 AD). For this reason he
is sometimes known as St.Nicholas of Bari.
Father Christmas
Generally a bearded old man in fur costume who appears in Yuletide
and gives presents. Incorporates many traditions from different
European countries and also newer American customs. The
characteristics can be divided roughly into three groups: Those with
traditional religious significance, those with trad but pagan origin and those
needed for the plot only (logical fill-ins for the continuity of the story).
Main sources:
Gifts:
from St.Nicholas and the Magi (The three wise
men from Orient), from pagan (Roman) Saturnalia custom.
Beard:
St. Nicholas is traditionally imaged as bearded.
Furthermore the Magi are bearded, being Persian
priests. A traditional feature. The beard is white because the man
is old.
Costume:
The general form of the cloak probably derives from
St.Nicholas, although the traditional costumes
of the three Magi also may have contributed. The fur linings
probably are logical add-on to fit the Northern Myth. In Finland
Father Christmas may use true fur coat.
Reindeer:
Cute creatures and Santa must use some form of
transport. If He comes from North, so why not reindeers,
who can be saddled with various fabulous names as well. An
American add-on to the story.
The sock
The repository for presents. A logical
add-on.
The chimney
In Scandinavia and Germany Santa comes in in 24th
December, knocking the door like normal people. In England
and America the visit is secret and thus the entrance
must be special: the chimney.
North Pole:
the supposed dwelling place of the American
Father Christmas. No clear significance of any
kind. Probably connected with the general "Northern exposure"
of the American Christmas lore. The fact that Chistmas is
pronouncedly Winter's festivity may contribute:
North Pole is Winter doubled.
Cap:
Probably from the bishop's mitre of St.Nicholas. Curiously
enough the mitre resembles and possibly derives
from the headgear of old Magi (mages, Persian
priests. the other Christmas present-givers). The Phrygian headgear
of French Revolution fame might be one influence.
Joulupukki
The name of Father Christmas in Finland. Literally: Yule Buck. Old
pagan traditions lived on in Finland and never faded but got
gradually a Christian flavor (elsewhere in Europe, too). The
shortest days of the year are in December and pagan peoples used to
have big festivities to ward of evil spirits. In Finland these
spirits of darkness wore goat skins and horns. In the beginning
this creature didn't give presents but demanded them, not to cause
havoc. The Christmas Goat used to frighten the kids and was in
every way very loathsome.
It is unclear how exactly this
personality was transformed into the benevolent Father Christmas
but nowadays the remaining feature is the name only. The process
was probably a continuous amalgamation of many old folk customs and
beliefs from varied sources. One can speak of a Christmas pageant
tradition consisting of many personages with roles partly
Christian, partly pagan: A white-bearded saint, the Devil, demons,
house gnomes, whatnot. Nowadays the Joulupukki of Finland resembles
the American Santa Claus.
The popular radio programs from the year
1927 onwards probably had great influence in formatting the concept
with Santa-like costume, reindeers and Korvatunturi (Mount Ear,
near Polar Circle) as its dwelling place. Because there really are
reindeers in Finland (sadly, part of our agricultural husbandry)
and we are living up North, the popular American cult took root
in Finland very fast. Maybe the Joulupukki is a little bit more
fearsome than Santa Claus, though. Finland is one of the few
countries where kids customarily do see Father Christmas in the act
of delivering the presents (a hired Santa or Grandpa) and probably
the only one where the Saint asks the kids if they did behave
during the year.
Many writers have been instrumental in designing the features of Christmas.
One of the most influential was Moore whose poem "A Visit from St.Nicholas"
painted the portrait of an American Santa Claus:
Down the chimney St.Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in furs from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.
His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump - a right jolly old elf -
And laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
Thomas Nast the painter got his inspiration from Moore's poem.
Thereafter no one could prevent the inevitable triumph of
Moore's Santa.
A newspaper artist who painted in 1870
the definitive first portrait of Santa Claus.
A page by Jarno Tarkoma.
Santa Claus home page
Mofile Place home page