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Santa Claus is an old character with origins that go back centuries. There are different explanations of what happened but this blog will explore each possible origin story in detail and answer the question of what happened to make Santa Claus today. #ThinkWithNiche
The idea of Santa Claus is an old one. The modern-day image of the jolly man in a bright red suit with a white beard and black boots, who travels on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts, may seem anything but old. Yet this idea of Saint Nicholas has an origin that dates back centuries ago. It all started with the legend of Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, who was known for his secret gift-giving to children. Modern-day Mormons believe he was born at the same time as Jesus Christ and later became one of Jesus's original 12 Apostles. He died on December 6th 343 AD during the persecution of Roman Emperor Constantine I.
However, there are many different explanations about how St. Nicholas became associated with Christmas and gift-giving over time. This blog will explore each possible origin story in detail and try to answer what really happened when this character came to be known as Santa Claus today.
The Origin of Santa Claus
There are a few different theories about the origins of Santa Claus. The most popular theory, and one that is often accepted as the truth, is that he was born in the 5th century to a Christian family in ancient Turkey. He became known for his secret gift-giving throughout his life, and he eventually became a bishop in present-day Turkey. The next most popular explanation is that he has been around since the 4th century when Pope Julius I took over from Celestine I. It was during this time that Bishop Nicholas of Myra died on December 6th 343 AD during the persecution by Roman Emperor Constantine I. The third theory about Santa Claus's origins comes from a man named Francis Church. In 1823, Church wrote a book called "A General History of Christmas" which introduced the idea of Santa Claus to Americans for the first time. This book makes it clear that Santa Claus's name comes from "Saint Nicholas," but because there were no such things as copyright laws back then, Church got away with using images of Saint Nicholas in his book to represent Santa Claus without actually saying so.
The Medieval European Theory
The first story we will explore is the Medieval European theory. This theory suggests that St. Nicholas was originally a gift giver and not the gift giver we know and love today. The legend of Saint Nicholas states that he would secretly leave coins to children who left their shoes out for him to fill with sweets and small gifts. For many years, people believed this was how Saint Nicholas became associated with Christmas and gift-giving. Yet there are some flaws in this explanation. For one, there is no historical evidence linking St. Nicholas to this modern-day image of Santa Claus, nor does it make sense that he would give presents on Christmas Eve when he died in 343 AD before the tradition of celebrating Christmas began in 350 AD. It's also hard to imagine why a bishop would go around leaving his religious items behind for people if he wanted them to convert to Christianity instead!
The Dutch Connection
One of the most popular and well-known origin stories about the character of Santa Claus is that he is a Dutchman. The story goes that in 11th century Holland, Bishop Nicholas helped the poor by giving them money and food. He was said to be making these secret gifts on Christmas Eve. To honor this legend, Dutch children would leave their wooden shoes filled with hay out for Saint Nicholas on Christmas Eve so he could fill them with treats while they slept. When the children awoke in the morning, they would find their shoes decorated with oranges and sweets. Some believe that this tradition gradually evolved into the modern-day tradition of hanging stockings over a fireplace mantel (to catch any spare cookies or other baked goods that might fall off). It's also believed that American children adopted this tradition from Dutch settlers who lived in New York during colonial times, which would explain why many Americans still refer to him as "Sinterklaas".
The Turkish Connection
One possible origin story of the modern-day Santa Claus is that St. Nicholas was born in what is now present-day Turkey. Turks believe that St. Nicholas traveled to the land of present-day Turkey after being exiled from his home in Myra, which was then part of the Byzantine Empire. He became known as "Kadıköy Nick" or "Father of Giving." In Turkish culture, he has been seen as a bringer of good luck, and it is believed that if you even try to count all of his good deeds he would outnumber grains of sand on the beach. This legend may sound like it is implausible, but some believe this story could be one explanation for how Saint Nicholas became associated with Christmas and gift-giving over time.
Conclusion
Santa Claus is a cultural icon. His image can be found almost everywhere- from movies and television to the mall and the mall, and even in books and stories. But who did he originate from?
The origins of Santa Claus are unknown, but his image has been around for centuries. Some believe that Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Turkey, is the inspiration for Santa Claus. Others believe that he originated from medieval Europe. The truth, however, may never be known. Santa Claus is a cultural icon and has been around for centuries. He is a modern-day legend.
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