Can you find out who Santa Claus is and where he came from? Use the internet safely to find out . . . 
Let us know your findings by putting them on the Year 6 blog.
Santa Claus
About mrgclarkeCan you find out who Santa Claus is and where he came from? Use the internet safely to find out . . .
Let us know your findings by putting them on the Year 6 blog.
About mrgclarke
i really love your picture of Santa. i am trying to work out where he has been and hopefully where he is going.
I KNOW I LOVE THAT PICTURE OF SANTA AS WELL I WAS THINKING THAT WERE HE WAS GOING AND WERE HE had been.
Santa Claus is derived from the dutch figure, Sinterklaas. He is known to be plump, jolly and has a white beard and red clothes. A tradition started in the 1820′s that Santa lived up in the North Pole with magic elves and reindeers. Ever since the 20th century, Santa Claus is believed to make a list of children throughout the world, catergorizing them by their behaviour.
(By the way, I can’t wait for christmas myself!!)
-Caitlin x
The most influential source on the origin of Santa Clause in America is a poem written by Clement C. Moore in 1823 called A Visit From St. Nicholas. The poem is commonly known by the name The Night Before Christmas. It is in this magical holiday story that we meet Santa Claus, his reindeer, round belly, his white beard and sac full of gifts.
The very old story of Santa Claus isn’t just a Christian tradition. In fact the origins of Santa Clause are a mixture of German, pagan, Dutch, English, Catholic, Scandinavian traditions and legends that can be traced to the Middle East and Russia.
St Nicholas who is called the patron saint of giving can traces his origins to Christian mythology. The story is told that St Nicholas came from a city called Patara and spent time travelling through Palestine and Egypt. At one time he was imprisoned and was said to have been at the first council of Nicaea, which was held in 325.
The Russian legend of St Nichols has a strong pagan influence. In Russia he used to be called Grandfather Frost. Grandfather Frost would provide New Year parties for children and was always with his granddaughter who was called Snegurochka or in English Snow Girl. As part of the party Grandfather Frost would bring gifts for the children. He would always be warmly dressed in red or blue clothing trimmed with fur.
Other legends surrounding St Nicholas are that he used to give gold coins without revealing himself to people who were in need. He was also always seen as a friend of children. In Europe December 6th used to be the day when gifts would given as this was St Nicholas Day. Today the remains of the real St Nichols are in St Nicola Basilica in Italy.
Today children throughout the world await the arrival of Santa Claus. Even though the origins of Santa Clause are similar he goes by different names depending on where you live. In North America he is called Santa Clause, in the UK and Ireland he is known as Father Christmas, in France children anxiously await Pere Noel, in Germany he is called Christindl and in Peru he is called Papa Noel. However even though he bears a different name in various countries Santa Claus is generally visualised as a jolly man dressed in fur, with a beard and bearing gifts.
Over the years images have evolved of Santa Clause. He has changed from his traditional origins into a commercial symbol of Christmas. The road to commercialising Santa Clause begin around the early 1900s when he began to appear in the work of well know artists such as Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker. The point at which Santa Claus’ commercial fate was sealed was when the Coca Cola Company began to use his image in their ads.
BY MOLLY BOULBY.
Where did Molly get all that information from?
Slight error of information “In Germany he is called Christindl”. The Christkindle is a derivation of the “Christ Child”. He is never seen but leaves presents for children and others in and “empty” room usually nicely decorated. Father christmas is “Der Weihnachtsmann” in Germany.
Santa is saint nick and it was coke cola that made him red but before he was green!!!!
I love the picture of santa
WOW I WISH I DID IT
St Nicholas (Santa Claus) originally war green bishop clothes.
Cool picture.