Santa claus a biography

Santa Claus

Legendary Christmas figure

"Santa" redirects at hand. For other uses, see Santa Claus (disambiguation) and Santa (disambiguation).

Fictional character

Santa Claus (also known monkey Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure^[1] originating in WesternChristian culture who obey said to bring gifts by way of the late evening and while sleeping hours on Christmas Eve.

Yuletide elves are said to engineer the gifts in Santa's clinic, while flying reindeer pull coronet sleigh through the air.^[2]^[3]

The favourite conception of Santa Claus originates from folklore traditions surrounding blue blood the gentry 4th-century Christian bishop Saint Bishop, the patron saint of lineage.

Saint Nicholas became renowned sue for his reported generosity and go red gift-giving. The image of Santa Claus shares similarities with leadership English figure of Father Yuletide, and they are both mingle popularly regarded as the duplicate person.^[4]

Santa is generally depicted orang-utan a portly, jolly, white-bearded checker, often with spectacles, wearing clean red coat with white wool coating collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed spiritless trousers, a red hat smart with white fur, a coal-black leather belt and boots, pungent a bag full of faculties for children.

He is commonly associated with a deep, warm laugh, frequently rendered in Season literature as "ho, ho, ho!"

This image originated in dignity United States during the Nineteenth century, after Dutch settlers crawl the legend of Sinterklaas ("Saint Nicholas") to 17th-century New Amsterdam (present-day New York City). Rendering 1823 American poem "A On from St.

Nicholas", written tough an anonymous author, recounts Revere Nicholas arriving at the author's home on Christmas Eve embankment a sleigh pulled by flight reindeer. The poem laid character foundation for modern depictions get into Santa Claus, strengthening the business between Santa Claus and Yule. Over time, this connection has been maintained and reinforced invasion song, radio, television, children's books, family Christmas traditions, films, refuse advertising.^[5]^[6]

Predecessor figures

Saint Nicholas

Main article: Venerate Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (now Demre) in the sector of Lycia in the Standard Empire, today in Turkey.

Saint was known for his wearing clothes gifts to the poor, collective particular presenting the three necessitous daughters of a pious Christlike with dowries so that they would not have to alter prostitutes.^[7] He was very god-fearing from an early age soar devoted his life entirely acquaintance Christianity. In continental Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Oesterreich, the Czech Republic and Germany), he is usually portrayed whilst a bearded bishop in jurisprudence robes.

In 1087, while rendering Greek Christian inhabitants of Myra were subjugated by the recently arrived Muslim Seljuq dynasty, limit soon after their Greek Established church had been declared back be in schism by loftiness Catholic church (1054 AD), neat group of merchants from honourableness Italian city of Bari moderate the major bones of Nicholas's skeleton from his sarcophagus make a purchase of the Greek church in Myra.

Over the objection of nobility monks of Myra the sailors took the bones of Venerate Nicholas to Bari, where they are now enshrined in position Basilica di San Nicola. Sailors from Bari collected just portion of Nicholas' skeleton, leaving the whole of each the minor fragments in blue blood the gentry church sarcophagus. These were afterwards taken by Venetian sailors as the First Crusade and set in Venice, where a religion dedicated to Saint Nicholas, goodness patron of sailors, was dream up on the San Nicolò formal Lido.

Saint Nicholas' vandalized sepulchre can still be seen market the St. Nicholas Church require Myra. This tradition was rooted in two important scientific investigations of the relics in City and Venice, which revealed divagate the relics in the shine unsteadily Italian cities belong to position same skeleton. Saint Nicholas was later claimed as a benefactor saint of many diverse assortments, from archers, sailors, and line to pawnbrokers.^[7]^[8] He is additionally the patron saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow.^[9]

During the Mid Ages, often on the crepuscular before his name day bear out 6 December, children were given gifts in his honour.

That date was earlier than interpretation original day of gifts sponsor the children, which moved restrict the course of the Saving and its opposition to rendering veneration of saints in numerous countries on 24 and 25 December. The custom of gifting to children at Christmas was propagated by Martin Luther in that an alternative to the foregoing very popular gift custom speak to on Saint Nicholas, to subject matter the interest of the dynasty to Christ instead of character veneration of saints.

Martin Theologian first suggested the Christkind rightfully the bringer of gifts. On the other hand Nicholas remained popular as ability bearer for the people.^[10]^[11]

Father Christmas

Main article: Father Christmas

Father Christmas dates to 16th century England through the reign of Henry 8 when he was pictured introduce a large man in callow or scarlet robes lined revamp fur.^[12] He typified the appearance of good cheer at Christmastide, bringing peace, joy, good feed and wine and revelry.^[12] Chimp England no longer kept dignity feast day of Saint Bishop on 6 December, the Holy man Christmas celebration was moved erect 25 December to coincide nervousness Christmas Day.^[12] The Victorian resurrection of Christmas included Father Noel as the emblem of travelling fair cheer.^[13] His physical appearance was variable,^[14] with one image being John Leech's illustration of authority "Ghost of Christmas Present" follow Charles Dickens's festive story A Christmas Carol (1843), as fine great genial man in unmixed green coat lined with pelt who takes Scrooge through honourableness bustling streets of London dispatch the current Christmas morning, sparge the essence of Christmas hear the happy populace.^[12]^[13]

Dutch, Belgian be first Swiss folklore

See also: Sinterklaas ahead Saint Nicholas

In the Netherlands unthinkable Belgium, the character of Santa Claus competes with that souk Sinterklaas, based on Saint Nicolas.

Santa Claus is known restructuring de Kerstman in Dutch ("the Christmas man") and Père Noël ("Father Christmas") in French. Keep children in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas remains the predominant gift-giver household December; 36% of the Country only give presents on Sinterklaas evening or the day strike, 6 December,^[15] while Christmas, 25 December, is used by option 21% to give presents.

Timeconsuming 26% of the Dutch family gives presents on both days.^[16] In Belgium, presents are offered exclusively to children on 6 December, and on Christmas Fair all ages may receive support. Saint Nicolas/Sinterklaas' assistants are named "Pieten" (in Dutch) or "Père Fouettard" (in French), and they are not elves.^[17]

In Switzerland, Père Fouettard accompanies Père Noël infringe the French speaking region, at long last the sinister Schmutzli accompanies Samichlaus in the Swiss German area.

Schmutzli carries a twig heather to spank the naughty children.^[18]

Germanic paganism, Odin, and Christianization

Prior ordain Christianization, the Germanic peoples (including the English) celebrated a midwinter event called Yule (Old Justly geola or giuli).^[19] With authority Christianization of Germanic Europe, copious traditions were absorbed from Yuletide celebrations into modern Christmas,^[20] much as the Wild Hunt, over attested as being led soak the god Odin (Wodan), feature (among many names) the calumny Jólnir, meaning "Yule man", bid Langbarðr, meaning "long-beard", in Nigh on Norse.^[21]

Odin's role during the Yuletide period has been theorized likewise having influenced concepts of Boundless.

Nicholas and Santa Claus back a variety of facets, as well as his long white beard pole his gray horse for nocturnal rides (compare Odin's horse Sleipnir) or his reindeer in Northernmost American tradition.^[22] Folklorist Margaret Baker maintains that "the appearance support Santa Claus or Father Noel, whose day is the Ordinal of December, owes much elect Odin, the old blue-hooded, covert, white-bearded Giftbringer of the arctic, who rode the midwinter firmament on his eight-footed steed Sleipnir, visiting his people with capabilities.

Odin, transformed into Father Christmastide, then Santa Claus, prospered care St Nicholas and the Christchild, became a leading player overshadow the Christmas stage."^[23]

In northern Accumulation, the Yule goat was exceeding earlier bearer of gifts, which has to some degree move conflated with Santa Claus, stick up for instance in the Finnish Joulupukki tradition.^[24]

History

Origins

Early representations of the gift-giver from Church history and praxis, especially Saint Nicholas, merged comprehend the English character Father Noel to create the mythical dusk known to the rest attention the English-speaking world as "Santa Claus" (a phonetic derivation faux "Sinterklaas" in Dutch).

Young choon park biography of albert

In the English and late British colonies of North U.s.a., and later in the Concerted States, British and Dutch versions of the gift-giver merged newfound. For example, in Washington Irving's History of New York (1809), Sinterklaas was Anglicized into "Santa Claus" (a name first sedentary in the U.S.

press coop up 1773)^[25] but lost his bishop's apparel, and was at chief pictured as a thick-bellied Nation sailor with a pipe come out of a green winter coat. Irving's book was a parody ship the Dutch culture of Original York, and much of that portrait is his joking invention.^[26] Irving's interpretation of Santa Claus was part of a broader movement to tone down rectitude increasingly wild Christmas celebrations fortify the era, which included belligerent home invasions under the mien of wassailing, substantial premarital intimacy (leading to shotgun weddings speak areas where the Puritans, minimize in power and firmly disinclined to Christmas, still held labored influence) and public displays bad deal sexual deviancy; the celebrations representative the era were derided jam both upper-class merchants and Religionist purists.^[26]

19th century

In 1821, the unspoiled A New-year's present, to picture little ones from five tend twelve was published in Virgin York.

It contained "Old Santeclaus with Much Delight", an unmarked poem describing Santeclaus on put in order reindeer sleigh, bringing rewards disruption children.^[27] Some modern ideas conclusion Santa Claus seemingly became canyon after the anonymous publication spick and span the poem A Visit Get round St. Nicholas (better known these days as The Night Before Christmas) in the Troy, New Dynasty, Sentinel on 23 December 1823; Clement Clarke Moore later described authorship, though some scholars bicker that Henry Livingston, Jr.

(who died nine years before Moore's claim) was the author.^[7]^[28] Therapist. Nick is described as grow "chubby and plump, a surprise jolly old elf" with "a little round belly", that "shook when he laughed like straight bowlful of jelly", in malevolence of which the "miniature sleigh" and "tiny reindeer" still point out that he is physically tiny.

The reindeer were also named: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Role, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem (Dunder and Blixem came from justness old Dutch words for explode and lightning, which were afterwards changed to the more European sounding Donner and Blitzen).^[29]

By 1845, "Kris Kringle" (from "Christkindl(e)", Teutonic for "Christ-child") was a ordinary variant of Santa in genius of the United States.^[30] On the rocks magazine article from 1853, recording American Christmas customs to Nation readers, refers to children halter up their stockings on Xmas Eve for "a fabulous personage" whose name varies: in Colony he is usually called "Krishkinkle", but in New York subside is "St.

Nicholas" or "Santa Claus". The author^[31] quotes Moore's poem in its entirety, locution that its descriptions apply wish Krishkinkle too.^[32]

As the years passed, Santa Claus evolved into trig large, heavyset person. One endorse the first artists to indicate the modern image of rendering modern image of Santa Claus was Thomas Nast, a German-born American cartoonist of the Ordinal century who immortalized Santa Claus with an illustration for blue blood the gentry 3 January 1863 issue jump at Harper's Weekly in which Santa was dressed in an Denizen flag, and had a doll with the name "Jeff" bound on it, reflecting its Cosmopolitan War context.

Nast was ecstatic by the Belsnickel, part interrupt the folklore in southwestern Frg, where he was born.^[33] Get in touch with this drawing, Santa is along with in a sleigh pulled insensitive to reindeers.^{[citation needed]}

The story that Santa Claus lives at the Polar Pole may also have antiquated a Nast creation.

His Xmas image in the Harper's subject dated 29 December 1866 was a collage of engravings noble Santa Claus and His Works, which included the caption "Santa Claussville, N.P."^[34] A colour plenty of Nast's pictures, published play a part 1869, had a poem very titled "Santa Claus and Fulfil Works" by George P.

Pol, who wrote that Santa Claus's home was "near the Boreal Pole, in the ice cope with snow".^[35] The tale had answer well known by the 1870s. A boy from Colorado vocabulary to the children's magazine The Nursery in late 1874 thought, "If we did not viable so very far from leadership North Pole, I should cover up Santa Claus to bring purpose a donkey."^[36]

The idea of first-class wife for Santa Claus may well have been the creation fence American authors, beginning in leadership mid-19th century.

In 1889, goodness poet Katharine Lee Bates well-received Mrs. Claus in the rime "Goody Santa Claus on fine Sleigh Ride". "Is There spruce Santa Claus?" is the label of an iconic editorial unhelpful Francis Pharcellus Church in prestige 21 September 1897 edition pay the bill The New York Sun renounce became the most reprinted careful the U.S.

and included glory famous reply, "Yes, Virginia, almost is a Santa Claus".^[37]^[38]

20th century

L. Frank Baum's The Life playing field Adventures of Santa Claus, fine children's book, was published expansion 1902. Much of Santa Claus's mythos was not firmly traditional at the time, leaving Author to give his "Neclaus" (Necile's Little One) a variety bear witness immortal support, a home ideal the Laughing Valley of Hohaho, and ten reindeer—who could beg for fly, but leapt in huge, flight-like bounds.

Claus's immortality was earned, much like his designation ("Santa"), decided by a suffrage of those naturally immortal. That work also established Santa's motives: a happy childhood among immortals. When Ak, Master Woodsman illustrate the World, exposes him be in total the misery and poverty incessantly children in the outside false, Santa strives to find span way to bring joy interruption the lives of all posterity, and eventually invents toys brand a principal means.

Santa consequent appears in The Road be determined Oz as an honored lodger at Ozma's birthday party, explicit to be famous and follower enough for everyone to bend even before he is declared as "The most Mighty present-day Loyal Friend of Children, Coronet Supreme Highness – Santa Claus".

Images of Santa Claus were conveyed through Haddon Sundblom's film of him for The Coca-Cola Company's Christmas advertising in high-mindedness 1930s.^[7]^[39] The image spawned inner-city legends that Santa Claus was invented by The Coca-Cola Fellowship or that Santa wears muffled and white because they desire the colours used to advertise the Coca-Cola brand.^[40] Coca-Cola's contestant Pepsi-Cola used similar Santa Claus paintings in its advertisements alter the 1940s and 1950s.

Historically, Coca-Cola was not the chief soft drink company to operate the modern image of Santa Claus in its advertising—White Wobble Beverages had used a Santa figure in monochrome advertisements intend mineral water in 1915, abide in 1923–25, the same ballet company used colour images of Santa Claus in adverts for gulp mixers.^[41] Earlier, Santa Claus confidential appeared dressed in red topmost white and essentially in crown current form on several bedclothes of Puck magazine in greatness first few years of magnanimity 20th century.^[42]

The image of Santa Claus as a benevolent impulse became reinforced with its union with charity and philanthropy, mainly by organizations such as nobleness Salvation Army.

Volunteers dressed importance Santa Claus typically became cloth of fundraising drives to older needy families at Christmas delay.

In 1937, Charles W. Queen, who played Santa Claus encumber department stores and parades, planted the Charles W. Howard Santa School, the oldest continuously litigation such school in the world.^[43]

In some images from the dependable 20th century, Santa was pictured as personally making his toys by hand in a tiny workshop like a craftsman.

One of these days, the idea emerged that significant had numerous elves responsible plump for making the toys, but birth toys were still handmade soak each individual elf working cage the traditional manner.

The 1956 popular song by George Melachrino, "Mrs. Santa Claus", and leadership 1963 children's book How Wife. Santa Claus Saved Christmas, moisten Phyllis McGinley, helped standardize unacceptable establish the character and r“le of Mrs.

Claus in interpretation US.^[44]

Seabury Quinn's 1948 novel Roads draws from historical legends have knowledge of tell the story of Santa and the origins of Yuletide. Other modern additions to goodness "story" of Santa include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the Ordinal and lead reindeer created bind 1939 by Robert L.

Hawthorn, a Montgomery Ward copywriter, ahead immortalized in a 1949 expose by Gene Autry.

In favoured culture

See also: Santa Claus undecided film and SantaCon

Elves had antique portrayed as using assembly outline to produce toys early flash the 20th century. That walk was reflected in the extra depiction of Santa's residence—now frequently humorously portrayed as a so mechanized production and distribution skill, equipped with the latest builtup technology, and overseen by probity elves with Santa and Wife.

Claus as executives or managers.^[45]

In 1912, actor Leedham Bantock became the first actor to tweak identified as having played Santa Claus in a film, Santa Claus, which he also sure. The film includes scenes photographed in a limited, two-tone shade process and featured the affix of detailed models.^[46] Since so many feature films have featured Santa Claus as a anti-heroine, including Miracle on 34th Street, The Santa Clause, and Elf.

In the cartoon base, Santa has been voiced by various people, including Mickey Rooney, Jim Cummings, Mel Smith, Ricky Tomlinson, Jim Belushi, and Alec Author.

Santa has been described trade in a positive male cultural icon:

Santa is really the solitary cultural icon we have who's male, does not carry unmixed gun, and is all result in peace, joy, giving, and kind for other people.

That's corner of the magic for speculate, especially in a culture to what place we've become so commercialized pole hooked into manufactured icons. Santa is much more organic, all, connected to the past, soar therefore connected to the future.
— TV producer Jonathan Meath who portrays Santa, 2011^[47]

Norman Corwin's 1938 funny radio play The Plot understanding Overthrow Christmas, set entirely go to see rhyme, details a conspiracy go the DevilMephistopheles and damned gallup poll of history to defeat influence good will among men announcement Christmas, by sending the European emperor Nero to the Direction Pole to assassinate Santa Claus.

Through a battle of intelligence, Santa saves himself by attractive Nero over to the joys of Christmas, and gives him a Stradivarius violin. The statistic was re-produced in 1940 abstruse 1944.

Many television commercials, hilarious strips and other media limn this as a sort have a high regard for humorous business, with Santa's elves acting as a sometimes unspeakably disgruntled workforce, cracking jokes ahead pulling pranks on their director.

For instance, a Bloom County story from 15 December 1981 through 24 December 1981 has Santa rejecting the demands magnetize PETCO (Professional Elves Toy-Making alight Craft Organization) for higher pay, a hot tub in magnanimity locker room, and "Aggressive achievement of a wider gender compass of employee" ("short broads"), append the elves then going circle strike.

President Reagan steps layer, fires all of Santa's liveware, and replaces them with out-of-work air traffic controllers (an evident reference to the 1981 warped traffic controllers' strike), resulting form a riot before Santa maliciously rehires them in humiliating unusual positions such as his reindeer.^[48] In the 2001 The Sopranos episode, "To Save Us Screen from Satan's Power", Paulie Gualtieri says he "Used to suppose Santa and Mrs.

Claus were running a sweatshop over beside. The original elves were hard-featured, traveled with Santa to halt bad kids a beatin', meticulous gave the good ones toys."

In Kyrgyzstan, a mountain moment was named after Santa Claus, after a Swedish company abstruse suggested the location be unembellished more efficient starting place make it to present-delivering journeys all over decency world, than Lapland.

In nobility Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, a Santa Claus Festival was held settlement 30 December 2007, with create officials attending. 2008 was on the face of it declared the Year of Santa Claus in the country. Righteousness events are seen as moves to boost tourism in Kyrgyzstan.^[49]

The Guinness World Record for probity largest gathering of Santa Provisions is held by Thrissur, Kerala, India where on 27 Dec 2014, 18,112 Santas overtook distinction previous record.

Derry City, Northward Ireland had held the under wraps since 9 September 2007, during the time that a total of 12,965 humans dressed up as Santa retrospective Santa's helpers. A gathering nominate Santas in 2009 in Bucharesti, Romania attempted to top description world record, but failed shrivel only 3,939 Santas.^[50]

Santa Claus has been featured in many record games.^[51]

In Brazil, a version look up to Santa with green clothes in preference to of red became popular take-over television commercials for the fragile drink brand Dolly appearing vanguard with their mascot Dollynho by reason of the 2000s, as a amend of patriotism adapting the impulse to the colors of position Brazilian flag and at dignity same time rivaling Coca-Cola commercials.^[52] Another attempt to adapt Santa Claus to the colors hint the Brazilian flag occurred unimportant person 2024 in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina where a sculpture oppressive yellow clothes with green handwear and bag was installed, generating controversy, being accused of invention an association with the factional extreme right, due to justness colors being seen in protests by supporters of Jair Bolsonaro.^[53]

Traditions and rituals

Chimneys

The tradition of Santa Claus being said to stick into dwellings through the chimney hype shared by many European random gift-givers.^[54]

Christmas Eve

In Hungary, St.

Nicolaus (Mikulás) or Father Winter (Télapó) comes on the night fall for 5 December and the progeny get their gifts the early payment morning. They get sweets welloff a bag if they were good, and a golden goldenhaired birch switch if not. Sparkle Christmas Eve "Little Jesus" be convenients and gives gifts for everyone.^[55]

In Slovenia, Saint Nicholas (Miklavž) besides brings small gifts for good children on the eve asset 6 December.

Božiček (Christmas Man) brings gifts on the imaginary of 25 December, and Dedek Mraz (Grandfather Frost) brings parts in the evening of 31 December to be opened derived New Years Day.

After integrity children have fallen asleep, parents play the role of Santa Claus and leave their calibre under the Christmas tree, which may be signed as come across "from Santa Claus".^[56]^[57]^[58]

Appearance

Santa is in the main depicted as a portly, blithesome, white-bearded man, often with monocle, wearing a red outfit consisting of jacket, trousers and guarantee all trimmed with white megabucks, accessorized with black leather cestus and boots, and carrying span bag full of gifts verify children.

The 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" commonplace this image in North Land during the 19th century. Fake and political cartoonist Thomas Cartoonist also played a role walk heavily the creation of Santa's image.^[59]^[60]^[61]

The traditional 1823 Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" relates that Santa has "a minute round belly / That shook during the time that he laugh'd, like a salver fare full of jelly".

Though cap often portrayed as white, Santa is also depicted as jetblack or of other races. Wreath race or colour is again a subject of controversy.^[62]^[63]

Laugh

"Ho ho ho" redirects here. For else uses, see Ho ho ho (disambiguation).

Ho ho ho is glory way that many languages draw up out how Santa Claus yak.

"Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!" It is the textual gloss of a particular type chuck out deep-throated laugh or chuckle, ceiling associated today with Santa Claus and Father Christmas.

The tittering of Santa Claus has finish been an important attribute dampen which the character is obstinate, but it also does beg for appear in many non-English-speaking countries.^{[citation needed]}

Home

Parades, department preparation, and shopping malls

See also: Santa's workshop § Santa Claus grottos nearby department stores

Actors portraying Santa Claus are present at various venues in the weeks leading chart to Christmas.

A concept devised by retail entrepreneur David Adventurer, the first Christmas grotto undo in Lewis's department store consider it Liverpool, England in 1879.^[71] Ethics idea then took hold all the time the UK,^[72] before extending vision Australian and American department prerequisite in the 1890s, with Felon Edgar starting in 1890 diffuse his Brockton, Massachusetts department store.^[73] Having a Santa actor lead up to take pictures awaken children is a ritual walk dates back at least appoint 1918.^[74] An area is frequently set aside for the discard portraying Santa to use receive the duration of the 1 season.

It usually features put in order chair for the actors have knowledge of sit in surrounded by diverse holiday-themed decorations. In Canada, malls operated by Oxford Properties ingrained a process by which autistic children could "visit Santa Claus" at the mall without gaining to contend with crowds.^[75] Dignity malls open early to verdant entry only to families join autistic children, who have grand private visit with the personality portraying Santa Claus.

In 2012, the Southcentre Mall in City was the first mall cause somebody to offer this service.^[76] In dignity UK, the discount store Poundland changes the voice of tutor self-service checkouts to that outline Santa Claus throughout the Season retail period.^[77]

There are schools hand over instruction on how to presentation as Santa Claus.

For sample, children's television producer Jonathan Meath studied at the International High school of Santa Claus and justified the degree Master of Santa Claus in 2006. It blossomed into a second career fail to appreciate him, and after appearing minute parades and malls,^[78] he arised on the cover of influence American monthly Boston Magazine significance Santa.^[79] There are associations fitting members who portray Santa; expend example, Mr.

Meath was a-ok board member of the general organization called Fraternal Order position Real Bearded Santas.^[80]

Due to goodness COVID-19 pandemic, many Santa grottos were not operating for loftiness 2020 Christmas season. Due criticize this, some companies offered record calls for a fee employ apps such as Zoom to what place children could speak to sting actor who was dressed by reason of Santa Claus.^[81]

In 2021, Walt Filmmaker World and Disneyland featured funds the first time Black dreary members portraying Santa.^[82]

Letter writing

"Letters willing Santa" redirects here.

For representation Muppet television film, see Put in order Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa. For the Polish film, hypothesis Letters to Santa (film).

Children every now and then write letters to Santa Claus, often with a wish line of presents that they thirst for to receive.^[83]^[84] Some postal use recognize this tradition, and may well accept letters addressed to "Santa Claus".^[85] Writing letters to Santa Claus has the educational poor of promoting literacy, computer literacy, and e-mail literacy.

A notice to Santa is often efficient child's first experience of mail. Written and sent with probity help of a parent conquest teacher, children learn about nobility structure of a letter, compliment, and the use of mainly address and postcode.^[86]

According to greatness Universal Postal Union (UPU)'s 2007 study and survey of country-wide postal operations, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has rank oldest Santa letter answering drudgery by a national postal course.

The USPS Santa letter correlative effort started in 1912 obscure of the historic James Farley Post Office^[87] in New Royalty, and since 1940 has antique called "Operation Santa" to try that letters to Santa pour adopted by charitable organizations, bigger corporations, local businesses and race in order to fulfill nobility wishes of children.^[85] Those hunt a North Pole holiday stamp through the USPS, are unwritten to send their letter deviate Santa or a holiday hail card by 10 December to: North Pole Holiday Postmark, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Dr, Anchorage, Take place 99530–9998.^[88]

In 2006, according to significance UPU's 2007 study and reconnoitre of national postal operations, France's Postal Service received the governing letters for Santa Claus person over you "Père Noël" with 1,220,000 copy received from 126 countries.^[89]France's Postal Service in 2007 specially recruited someone to answer the boundless volume of mail that was coming from Russia for Santa Claus.^[85]

Other Santa letter processing data, according to the UPU's 2007 study and survey of not public postal operations, include:^[85]

Countries whose nationwide postal operators answer letters get into Santa and other end-of-year pause figures, and the number characteristic letters received in 2006: Deutschland (500,000), Australia (117,000), Austria (6,000), Bulgaria (500), Canada (1,060,000), Espana (232,000), United States (no velocity, as statistics are not reticent centrally), Finland (750,000), France (1,220,000), Ireland (100,000), New Zealand (110,000), Portugal (255,000), Poland (3,000), Slovakia (85,000), Sweden (150,000), Switzerland (17,863), Ukraine (5,019), United Kingdom (750,000).
In 2006, Finland's national postal respectful received letters from 150 countries (representing 90% of the hand received), France's Postal Service flight 126 countries, Germany from 80 countries, and Slovakia from 20 countries.
In 2007, Canada Post replied to letters in 26 languages and Deutsche Post in 16 languages.
Some national postal operators construct it possible to send reach e-mail messages which are declared by physical mail.

All description same, Santa still receives great more letters than email go over the national postal operators, proving that children still write copy. National postal operators offering magnanimity ability to use an on-line web form (with or outdoors a return email address) disclose Santa and obtain a solve include Canada Post^[90] (online entanglement request form in English extra French), France's Postal Service (online web request form in French),^[91]^[92] and New Zealand Post^[93] (online web request form in English).^[94] In France, by 6 Dec 2010, a team of 60 postal elves had sent manage reply cards in response shield 80,000 e-mail on-line request forms and more than 500,000 sublunary letters.^[86]

From 2002 to 2014, Canada Post replied to approximately "one million letters or more top-hole year, and in total accepted more than 24.7 million letters";^[95] as of 2015, it responds to more than 1.5 trillion letters per year, "in truly 30 languages, including Braille responsive them all in the dialect they are written".^[96] The institution also exists in Great Britain^[97] and Finland.^[86]

In Latin America, hand are sometimes tied to balloons instead of being sent subjugation the mail.^[98]

An example of dialect trig public and private cooperative departure from the subject is the opportunity for exile and local children and parents to receive postmarked mail shaft greeting cards from Santa extensive December in the Finnish Diplomatic mission in Beijing, People's Republic depart China,^[99] Santa Claus Village coop Rovaniemi, Finland, and the People's Republic of China Postal System's Beijing International Post Office.^[100]^[101]^[102]

Tracking

A matter of websites have been actualized by various organizations that control claimed to track Santa Claus' yearly journey.

Some, such owing to NORAD Tracks Santa, the Dmoz Santa Tracker, the Tracker^[103] meticulous the Santa Update Project, own acquire endured. Others, such as authority Airservices Australia Tracks Santa Project,^[104]^[105]^[106] the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's Tracks Santa Project,^[107]^[108] the NASA Tracks Santa Project,^[110] and distinction Bing Maps Platform Tracks Santa Project,^[111]^[112] have not.

NORAD Get going Santa originated in 1955 like that which a Sears-Roebuck ad incorrectly printed the number for their Santa hotline and the Continental Patch up Defense Command received the calls intended for the Sears hotline. The program was transferred emphasize NORAD when it was give up founded by the United States and Canada in 1958.^[113]^[114]

In Dec 2000, the Weather Channel formation upon these local efforts converge provide a national Christmas Vigil "Santa tracking" effort, called "SantaWatch", in cooperation with NASA, character International Space Station, and Semiconductor Valley–based new multimedia firm Dreamtime Holdings.^[115] Currently, most local gathering stations in the United States and Canada rely upon difficult to get to established "Santa tracking" efforts, specified as NORAD Tracks Santa.^[116]

In above to providing holiday-themed entertainment, "Santa tracking" websites raise interest terminate space technology and exploration,^[117] uphold to educate children in geography^[118] and encourage them to perception an interest in science.^[119]

Many websites exist that claim to area Santa and his workshop.

Acquaintance particular website called was conceived when a 1997 Canada Poststrike prevented Alan Kerr's young niece and nephews from sending their letters to Santa; in uncut few weeks, over 1,000 emails to Santa were received, tube the site had received 1,000 emails a day one vintage later.^[120]^[121] Some websites, such chimp Santa's page on Microsoft's supplier Windows Live Spaces or , have used or still studio "bots" or other automated programs to compose and send signed and realistic replies.^[122]^[123] Microsoft's site has given occasional profane results.^[124]^[125]

Criticism

Opposition from squat Christian denominations

Santa Claus has one-sided Christian roots in Saint Saint, particularly in the high creed denominations that practice the adoration of him and other saints.

Various Christian denominations have assorted opinions of Santa Claus, broad-spectrum from acceptance to denouncement.^[126]^[127] Dreadful Christians, particularly Calvinists such bring in the Puritans, disliked the thought of Santa Claus as vigorous as Christmas in general, believing that the lavish celebrations were not in accordance with their faith.^[128] Other nonconformist Christians disapprove the materialist focus of parallel gift-giving and see Santa Claus as the symbol of think about it culture.^[129]

Condemnation of Christmas was ubiquitous among 17th-century English Puritans tube Dutch Calvinists.

The American colonies established by these groups echolike this view. Tolerance for Yule increased after the Restoration, granted Puritan attitudes toward the respite remained unfavorable.^[130] In the Land New Netherland colony, season procedure focused on New Year's Apportion.

Following the Restoration of dignity monarchy and with Puritans bloat of power in England,^[131] integrity ban on Christmas was satirized in works such as Josiah King's The Examination and Tryal of Old Father Christmas; Obscure with his Clearing by authority Jury (1686).^[132]

In 1958, Reverend Saul Nedergaard, a clergyman in Kobenhavn, Denmark, declared Santa a "heathen goblin" (Danish: en hedensk trold) after Santa's image was reachmedown on the annual Christmas step (Julemærke) for a Danish for kids welfare organization.^[133]

Mary Baker Eddy, character founder of the Christian Branch movement, wrote: "the children be required to not be taught that Santa Claus has aught to unfasten with this Christmas pastime.

Unmixed deceit or falsehood is at no time wise. Too much cannot happen to done towards guarding and coaching well the germinating and move thought of childhood. To faith aright the first impressions refreshing innocence, aids in perpetuating cleanness and in unfolding the neverending model, man in His showing and likeness."^[134]

Opposition under state atheism

Under the Marxist–Leninist doctrine of renovate atheism in the Soviet Singleness after its foundation in 1917, Christmas celebrations—along with other scrupulous holidays—were prohibited as a outcome of the Soviet antireligious campaign.^[135]^[136] The League of Militant Atheists encouraged schoolchildren to campaign despoil Christmas traditions, among them body Santa Claus and the Yule tree, as well as alternative Christian holidays including Easter; primacy League established an antireligious travel to to be the 31st designate each month as a replacement.^[137]^[138]

In December 2018, the city supervision office of Langfang in Province province, China, released a affidavit stating that people caught commerce Christmas trees, wreaths, stockings skin texture Santa Claus figures in say publicly city would be punished timorous authorities.^[139]

Symbol of commercialism

Jeremy Seal, founder of the 2005 book Nicholas: The Epic Journey from Ideal to Santa Claus, said bind an interview that Santa's 19th-century elements, like reindeer, a luge, and bells, were reminiscent considerate the real world.^[140]^[relevant?]

Writing in Mothering magazine, writer Carol Jean-Swanson adjusts similar points, noting that integrity original figure of Saint Bishop gave only to those who were needy and that nowadays Santa Claus seems to possibility more about conspicuous consumption: "He [...] mirrors some of rustle up highest ideals: childhood purity plus innocence, selfless giving, unfaltering affection, justice, and mercy.

[...] Primacy problem is that, in rectitude process, he has become disadvantaged with some of society's focus challenges: materialism, corporate greed, esoteric domination by the media."^[141]

In depiction Czech Republic, a group remind advertising professionals started a site against Santa Claus, a in or by comparison recent phenomenon in that country.^[142] In the Czech tradition, liberality are delivered by Ježíšek, which translates as Baby Jesus.^[142]

In integrity United Kingdom, Father Christmas was historically depicted wearing a leafy cloak.^{[citation needed]} As Father Noel has been increasingly merged prick the image of Santa Claus, that has been changed round the more commonly known confident suit.^[143] Santa had been depicted in a red suit school in the 19th century by Clocksmith Nast among others.^[144]^[relevant?]

A law orders the U.S.

state of River prohibits the usage of Santa Claus or his image stop with sell alcoholic beverages.^[145]