Santa Claus And His Many Incarnations
Posted By baiyangcity on December 28, 2010
While waiting for Santa Claus to bring you your eagerly awaited Xbox 360 Kinect, you may have spent a few moments thinking on his origins. Whether you did or you didn’t, worry not; here follows the low down on his evolution. Have fun!
Saint Nicholas
The bishop of what is now Myra in modern Turkey during the 4th century, Nicholas was the son of well-to-do Christian parents. Raised by his uncle (also Nicholas and bishop of Patara) following their deaths, recent tests on his bones have revealed him to be just under five feet in height. Saint Nicholas is perhaps best known for his generosity, gift giving (no Wii games back then, though!) and his concern for the welfare of children.
Father Christmas
Perhaps one of the more widely known yuletide figures, whose name is known in many countries and languages. The original Father Christmas was little more than a representation of festive cheer (complete with authentic drunkenness); he had no real association with children or gift giving.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus originated in the US, specifically New York where inhabitants of the city sought out symbols of their Dutch past following the American Revolutionary War. Drawing from the Dutch Sinterklass tradition, the corruption “Santa Claus” first featured in the American press in 1773. His first American appearance in 1810 drawn by cartoonist Thomas Nast saw him in traditional bishops’ robes, but by the 1880s Santa’s appearance became gradually more secular until he took on the red and white furred robes that we recognise today.
Santa Claus appears in a variety of contemporary media. Perhaps one of his most famous roles is appearing in The Coca-Cola Company’s seasonal advertising campaigns (although White Rock Beverages had previously used him to sell mineral water in 1915 and then later ginger ale).
I wonder how well he would do playing with a Kinect…
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