Where did Santa Claus come from? Santa Claus - who is he? So which character is older?

10 questions about Santa:

1. How old is Santa Claus?
“Even he himself doesn’t remember it exactly.” One day, as he sat in his favorite rocking chair in front of the fireplace at our home on Mount Korvatunturi in Finnish Lapland, he decided to count how many Christmas nights he could remember. Santa counted to 364 and fell asleep.

2. Does Santa Claus have a family?
- Certainly! All people in the world have a family. He is equally gentle towards adults and children.

3. Can people visit Korvatunturi?
- Of course they can, if they know how to get here. But this is a long and difficult path. And if you ask for directions, everyone will send you in different directions. Remember that you need to turn left after the small fir tree, and if you are coming from the west on the narrow path, then you need to turn right if you have already passed Spruce Pond.

4. Should Santa Claus always be in a good mood?
- Santa is always kind. Sometimes he has to be strict, but he is always fair. From time to time he gets angry or sad. He is especially upset when he learns that there are places in the world that do not care about the welfare of children.

5. What does Santa Claus think about how people celebrate Christmas in different cultures?
- Every culture has its own customs that are worthy of respect, and that’s how Santa Claus treats them.

6. Was Santa ever a child and did he go to school?
- Santa Claus still feels like a child. Life taught him everything. The modern world is constantly changing, so you need to learn all the time. Santa has been to many schools. One day he even visited an elementary school.

7. How tall is Santa?
- It depends on whether he is walking, deep in thought, or looking at twigs on the ground in the forest, or looking into the distance. He is taller than the tallest elf, but shorter than the tallest spruce in Lapland.

8. What hobbies does Santa have?
- Santa loves to go to the sauna, especially the old-fashioned Finnish black sauna. He also really likes to take a nap for an hour or two.

9. Does Santa Claus live in Korvatunturi?
- Korvatunturi is his permanent residence and the place he loves most, but throughout the year he visits different places around the world and stays where he feels good.

10. How many names does Santa Claus have?
- It seems to me that in every country it has its own name. Here in Finland his name is Joulupukki, in America - Santa Claus, in Germany, if I'm not mistaken, Vainachtsman, and in neighboring Holland - Kerstman. He has so many names because people love him so much all over the world.

10 questions about elves

1. How many elves live in Korvatunturi?
- Nobody knows for sure. Elves move quickly and are rarely all in one place. But when the sun sets behind Korvatunturi, there are as many elven heels hiding under the blankets as there are stars in the sky, and maybe even more.

2. Are elves Santa's children?
- Santa Claus believes that everyone should be someone's child, and that being a child is the most important thing in the world.

3. Are new elves still being born?
- New Christmas elves and other types of elves are born quite often. When the last rays of the evening sun meet the aurora, the north wind blows and the stars shine, elves are born.

4. Is it possible to become an elf?
- Certainly. You can also remain an elf. Taking care of the younger and weaker is the job of an elf. Making someone happy who has so little to be happy or giving toys and clothes to children who really need them is the best way to become an elf.

5. Does Santa read all the letters he receives?
- The elves help him read letters and make lists. Santa still receives a lot of Christmas cards.

6. What kind of elves does Santa Claus have?
- He has elves who drive deer. They respect the reindeer because they have learned to live in harmony with humans and elves. He has cartographer elves and explorer elves. And then there are elf professors who study all sorts of different things.

7. Do all elves have names?
- Yes, almost everyone.

8. What does Santa do with his elves in his free time?
- They play different games. One of their favorite pastimes is to sit by the fireplace and talk about everything in the world. They reminisce about past travels and interesting people they have met over the years.

9. Can a person see an elf?
- Elves are good at remaining unnoticed. Children often notice a branch moving or someone peeking at them through a window or from behind a curtain. Then they realize that it is their personal elf tiptoeing around.

10. Do Christmas elves have different names?
- Yes, I have. The Finns call them Tonttu, the Swedes and Norwegians call them Tomte or Nisse, the Germans call them Heinzelmännchen, and the British also call them gnomes.

10 questions about how Santa delivers gifts

1. How does Santa travel?
- Differently. He has a sleigh and a team of reindeer, as well as a team of dogs, a car, an airplane, a snowmobile and a helicopter.

2. Are all gifts given in Korvatunturi?
- Not all. Some are made at home and are especially valuable. There are also small workshops that help Santa make gifts.

3. How does Santa manage to deliver all the gifts?
- He takes advantage of the time zone difference. When children in Finland wake up, children in Japan fall asleep and vice versa. There is also some magic in this matter. Sometimes Santa tasks elves with delivering gifts. The most important thing is that gifts are delivered on time.

4. Has Santa ever gotten stuck in a chimney?
- If this happened, delivery would have to be suspended. And this cannot be allowed. Santa is a great specialist in descending into chimneys.

5. Is it possible to receive gifts even if you have not behaved well?
- Santa Claus is sure that deep down all children are good. If a child is hungry or tired, he may become fussy. It has nothing to do with whether the child is good or not.

6. What does Santa do when he's not delivering gifts?
- He relaxes by walking in the forest and listening to the sounds of wildlife. He also spends time preparing for next Christmas by reading children's letters. Most of all he likes to read books.

7. Does Santa receive gifts?
- Often. The best gifts, according to Santa, are the happy smiles of children and the joy in their eyes.

9. How does Santa know how to get to all his destinations?
- It works like this: The elf secretaries write down the detailed addresses of all children, including country, state, province, region, city, village or district, house number and apartment, and even bedroom and bed. This is a very important job, 284 elves work on it all year.

10. Where does Santa get the money to go to, say, Japan?
- Shh! We don't use the word "money" here. Santa is very lucky because in his world money does not exist. He just gets on a plane, and that plane flies to Japan when Santa needs to go there.

What does Santa Claus look like? This question worries almost all boys and girls who have been living in their last days in anticipation of the upcoming New Year. Santa Claus is the Western equivalent of our Father Frost. He also comes to the children, only at Christmas, not New Year, and gives gifts. They have many differences. One of them is that it is not known for certain which area is considered his homeland. If Father Frost is from Veliky Ustyug, then his western brother is either from the vicinity of the North Pole, or from Lapland.

Appearance

Everyone who has seen him at least once knows what Santa Claus looks like. Outwardly, he is very different from the familiar and close Santa Claus. What Santa Claus looks like and where he lives, you will learn from this article.

While Father Frost's beard grows almost to his toes, Santa Claus's is always neat and short. Santa Claus wears felt boots, and Santa Claus always wears boots. Santa Claus travels on foot, while his Western counterpart rides in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, each of which has its own name.

To find out what the real Santa Claus looks like, just look at any image of him. The Western New Year and Christmas wizard wears a neat jacket with a belt, but the domestic Santa Claus wears a warm sheepskin coat with a sash.

In addition, it is not difficult to recognize him, since the Santa Claus costume always looks the same. It only comes in red. But Santa Claus' clothes come in both blue and red. When describing what a Santa Claus hat looks like, it is worth noting that he has a cap with a neat fur trim. Comparing with Santa Claus, it must be said that the latter has a mandatory attribute - a fur hat.

How is Father Frost different from Santa Claus? Another fundamental point is that the Western wizard has a bad habit. He can often be seen with a pipe, which he smokes incessantly.

When describing what Santa Claus and Father Frost look like, it must be recognized that the differences between them are very significant. They make it easy to distinguish one from another.

Origin

The way Santa Claus looks has a lot to do with his origin story. The prototype of a good grandfather with gifts is considered to be the Christian Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, who is revered by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians. The saint himself became famous primarily for the fact that he devoted a lot of time and attention to charity. With secret gifts, he often helped poor people who had children.

Initially, St. Nicholas Day was celebrated on December 6th. It was then that in European countries it was customary to give gifts in his name. Everything changed during the Reformation. The veneration of saints was no longer encouraged. Therefore, in Germany and some neighboring countries they began to give gifts to children in the name of the baby Jesus Christ. And the day of their presentation was moved to December 24, when Christmas markets were organized everywhere.

When the time came for the Counter-Reformation, children again began to receive gifts in the name of St. Nicholas, this time directly at Christmas. Only in a few European countries have ancient traditions been preserved. For example, in Holland, children expect surprises not only on Christmas, but also on December 6, St. Nicholas Day.

Santa Claus in the USA

It is noteworthy that it was the Dutch colonists who brought this image to the New World. This happened back in the middle of the 17th century. In America, Santa Claus first settled in the settlement of New Amsterdam, present-day New York. There they first began to replicate what Santa Claus looks like.

An important stage in the formation of this character is considered to be 1809, when the book “History of New York”, written by the famous American writer Washington Irving, spoke about the times of Dutch rule, and specifically mentions how St. Nicholas was honored in New Amsterdam.

Transformation of Saint Nicholas into Santa Claus

In 1822, in fact, the biography of this hero began in American literature. Columbia University teacher Clement Clarke Moore wrote a Christmas story for children in which he spoke in detail about this character who always brings gifts to children who have behaved well in the past year. Shortly before Christmas, the poem was published in the local press under the title "The Night Before Christmas, or the Visit of St. Nicholas." It became very popular and was reprinted several times. Many today argue that it was thanks to Clement Moore that St. Nicholas was finally transformed in the minds of millions into Santa Claus. By 1840, almost all residents of the New World knew who Santa Claus was.

Another important point: it was in this poem that the transport of a fairy-tale wizard was first described. It was indicated that he travels across the sky on a sleigh pulled by reindeer.

Santa's Popularity

In 1863, American artist Thomas Nast used the character in a series of his political cartoons. It was he who presented him in the image of a hero who gives gifts to children. Santa Claus has become very popular. Nast, in fact, made a name for himself on this. In subsequent years, he produced a large number of drawings intended for children, in which the life of Santa Claus was presented in funny scenes. In his works, he began to think about and describe in detail the life and habits of a good wizard.

It was then that a version appeared that Santa’s homeland is the North Pole, where he has a special home. In it, he keeps records in a special book, in which he writes down all the good and bad deeds of children from all over the world. From these drawings one can clearly trace the transformation of this image from the fat elderly elf as he was originally presented to a more realistic and humane character who is very similar to our modern Santa Claus.

It is believed that Nast almost completely copied this character from himself. He, too, was a plump and well-fed man, very short in stature, but at the same time with a wide spade beard and a large lush mustache.

Santa Claus in the 19th century

It’s actually interesting what Santa Claus looked like in the 19th century. Initially, he was depicted as a kind elf who appears on the eve of Christmas in a cart pulled by reindeer. And it enters the house through the chimney.

Some historians note that the Confederates were absolutely demoralized to see Santa depicted on the enemy's side.

There is even a legend that during the Civil War for Independence, Lincoln asked Nast to portray Santa Claus along with the northerners. His only downside at the time was that Santa remained black and white for a long time. He only got his famous red fur coat in 1885 thanks to the publisher Louis Prang. It was he who brought to America the tradition of Christmas cards, which were customary to give in Victorian England. They were made using the technique of color lithography, so it soon became necessary to figure out what color the robe of the hero of our article would be. So he got a bright red outfit.

Development of the image of a wizard

In 1930, the image of Santa was further developed. All thanks to the advertising campaign of a major American soft drink manufacturer. They decided on a clever trick to ensure that their products are remembered all year round, and not just during the Christmas period.

The drink's red and white labels reminded marketers of Santa's similar attire. Illustrator Haddon Sundblom, originally from Chicago, consistently depicted a new winter wizard every year for the next 30 years. He turned into a giant, similar to his neighbor Lou Prentice. It was Sundblom who painted the ninth reindeer in the harness, to which he gave the name Rudolf.

Transformation of the image

It’s interesting that initially Santa in Nast’s illustrations wore a sheepskin coat that was invariably brown. Only over time did it begin to acquire reddish shades. At the same time, many researchers of the biography of this character argued that the red color itself does not carry any meaning.

It was only after the advertising campaign in which Sundblom participated that Santa's costume was only depicted in red. Wearing a sheepskin coat of the same type, he was depicted on the covers of the popular American humor magazine Puck, which was published at the beginning of the 20th century.

Santa's transport

Santa gets to his charges, to whom he brings gifts, on a sleigh drawn by reindeer. Interestingly, each of them has its own name. Initially there were eight of them. Their names were Swift, Lightning, Dancer, Thunder, Prancing, Cupid, Grumpy and Comet.

In 1823, another reindeer named Rudolph appeared in the poem "The Night Before Christmas." It is noteworthy that he has become the most popular among all Santa's reindeer today. He stands at the head of the team and is distinguished from the rest by his bright red nose.

And one more interesting fact about Santa Claus. In 1955, his image was used in a North American Aerospace Defense Command entertainment program. In it you could watch the fictitious movements of Santa's sleigh. This was reported by the media; they could even be monitored via a special hotline.

Santa Claus remains a popular character today, regularly used in advertising, films and animated series.

Every year, Santa Claus visits millions of children around the world and gives them gifts. How much does it cost? Where does he get this money from? Senior lecturer at the National Research University Higher School of Economics and head of the ILoveEconomics.ru project Danil Fedorovykh figured out how Santa Claus’s financial life works.

How much does Santa Claus earn per year?

This is difficult to estimate given that the sources of income are not reliably known. Forbes magazine in 2005 included Santa Claus in its list of the 15 richest fictional celebrities, estimating his net worth at infinity. The following year, however, Forbes was forced to remove Santa from the rankings, given the overwhelming evidence that he was real.

How much does he spend?

According to the World Bank, there are almost 2 billion children in the world between 0 and 14 years old. If we assume that about half of them are visited by Santa Claus (that is, they live in countries where visiting Santa Claus is mandatory at Christmas, and they have also behaved well during the previous year), then it turns out that Santa needs to give about a billion gifts. According to some estimates, the average cost of a Christmas gift in the United States is approximately $40. If we take this figure as a basis, it turns out that the entire value of the gifts that Santa gives is $80 billion, which is approximately equal to the GDP of Sri Lanka and slightly less than the net worth of Bill Gates.

A lot of money is spent on delivering gifts around the world. If we assume that the gifts weigh an average of 500 grams, then the total weight of the gifts is about a million tons. It's hard to say how much cargo a carriage pulled by magical reindeer could carry, but if instead Santa Claus used Airbus A380F aircraft (one of the largest cargo planes in the world), then at least 6 thousand of them would be required. Each of these planes costs more than 400 million dollars, that is, Santa's entire fleet could cost more than 2 trillion (not including fuel). Although, perhaps, deer are cheaper than airplanes.

Where does Santa get his money?

There is no exact data on how Santa Claus makes money, but it would be strange if Santa did not try to receive a commission from everyone who uses his image for their own purposes. According to Quartz, fake Santas who work in malls during Christmas week make between $35 and $50 an hour, while Santas at elite parties for Russian oligarchs can earn up to $1,000 an evening. The real Santa is too busy to participate in this, so he probably sells a franchise, taking a salary from everyone who wants to be like him.

At the same time, it is interesting that Santa has no competitors: the market for delivering New Year's gifts to children is quite clearly divided between several magical grandfathers in different countries, and they rarely try to seize other people's shares. Perhaps there is a secret conspiracy between them, which could be of interest to the North Pole antimonopoly service.

It is possible that Santa secretly sells some of the gifts made by the magical elves to pay his expenses. Of course, in order not to be discovered, he can only do this through online stores. Who knows - maybe it's Santa who is behind Amazon.com? Amazon's success is difficult to explain by anything other than the use of magical elf labor.

Additionally, Santa Claus is the celebrity with the most valuable personal brand in the world. The Brand Finance agency valued the Santa brand at $1.6 trillion, 18 times more expensive than the Apple brand.

Can he be called a budget employee?

It doesn't seem like Santa Claus is under anyone's control, so he's probably an entrepreneur, and a very successful one at that: billions of people around the world have been loyal to his brand for a very long time. On the other hand, given his line of work, Santa can be called a social entrepreneur - at least, corporate social responsibility is definitely present in his factory.

By the way, what about the elves? Do they receive a salary?

There are several theories about the conditions under which Santa's magical elves work. Considering the number of gifts, these conditions can be monstrous: long work shifts, short breaks, a strict boss. Do not forget that it is very cold at the North Pole, and the night lasts for six months, and there is no state or courts to which the elves could appeal if Santa violates their rights.

It is unknown whether Santa pays a salary at all, but he certainly provides the elves with a place to stay and food. It is also unknown whether the elves can quit and leave the magic factory (or at least go on vacation), or whether they are in the position of slaves there. The latter option seems unlikely: it is difficult to imagine that Santa, who spends his life making children around the world happy, could enslave these funny creatures. Most likely, elves do not leave the North Pole just because they like their work.

Santa Claus is a character who has migrated from fairy tales to reality. Children and teenagers believe in him, and adults resort to his help. The existence of the hero explains the unusual events that occur during the New Year holidays. A grey-bearded old man in a traditional red suit takes care of children and prepares gifts throughout the year. Surprises placed under the tree on New Year's Eve are expected by kids no less than birthday presents. Relationships with a fictional character are built on faith in him and in miracles.

History of appearance

It's hard to believe that Santa Claus is a real person. He lived in ancient times, and his homeland was called not Lapland, but the Lycian Worlds. These are lands located in the territory of present-day Turkey. Mentions of the character date back to 253 AD. The citizen's name is Saint Nicholas. He worked in the rank of bishop, was known as a respectable person and was respected for his faith. Having savings, Saint Nicholas shared with those in need and helped them to the best of his ability. Sailors, merchants and bakers considered him a patron, and children doted on the good hero.

According to tradition established in the 10th century, December 6 was the day of distribution of gifts at the Cologne Cathedral. The custom was quickly adopted in other cities, associating it with the famous St. Nicholas. In Russia the hero's name is .

In the 19th century, American Clement Moore created a poem called "The Night Before Christmas, or the Visit of St. Nicholas." It told the story of the grandfather going from house to house to give gifts to children who had behaved well all year. The character's name - Santa Claus - is associated with a generous donor.

By 1840, almost everyone in the New World had an idea who Santa Claus was. In 1863, artist Thomas Nast used the image of the old man in political cartoons. Subsequently, he described the life of a wizard in illustrations. Since then, it has been generally accepted that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, and his residence accommodates many elves who help make gifts for children.

According to legend, Santa has a house where he lives and works. Here he makes entries in a book of deeds of children from all over the world, assessing who was obedient and who was naughty. It is curious that the hero was originally depicted as an elf, but over time the appearance became more human and similar to that which can be seen in modern images of the character.

Biography

Throughout the year, Santa prepares for the main holiday to pamper children with long-awaited gifts. On the eve of the holiday, he gets into a sleigh drawn by reindeer and flies across the sky to different countries, delivering gifts. Grandfather comes down the chimney into each house, leaves surprises under the tree and treats himself to cookies. Having completed the work, he goes home and again gives the task to the elves, who are collecting gifts for the kids.

Santa is wearing red pants and a jacket with a belt, a neat cap on his head, and high boots on his feet. In some images you can see that the grandfather is not averse to indulging in a smoking pipe. The old man's surroundings are peculiar, but his life story remains mysterious.

Unlike, who has a granddaughter, Santa Claus is lonely. Although some suggest that Mrs. Claus has a right to exist. The old man takes care of himself and has a weakness for milk and cookies, which are usually left for him under the Christmas tree. Among his friends are elves and deer, creatures with whom Santa easily finds a common language.

The magic sleigh is moved through the air by forest deer: Dasher - Swift, Dancer - Dancer, Prancer - Jumper, Vixen - Frisky, Comet - Comet, Cupid - Cupid, Donder - Thunder, Blitzen - Lightning and Rudolf. The last horse joined the herd by accident, overtaking the deer during a snowstorm. It is distinguished by a bright red glowing nose.

If we talk about the person who served as the prototype for Santa Claus, then his biography has more confirmation and known details. Nicholas was born in Asia Minor in 255-257. AD in Patara. The boy's parents died, leaving their property to the heir. He lived with his priest uncle and helped those in need. There is a known case involving the family of a poor man whose daughters could not marry due to lack of a dowry. The girls were going to be sold into slavery.

The night before the first transaction, the eldest daughter hung the stockings to dry after washing, and in the morning she found gold in them. Nicholas helped the girls find happiness. He came to the rescue secretly. After a while he was elected bishop. The hero's life was an example of faith, generosity and cordiality. After Nicholas's death, the tradition of giving gifts and leaving surprises in New Year's stockings continued.

Quotes and facts

In different countries, Santa Claus is represented in different images, and in different languages ​​of the world his name sounds differently. In Russia and Belarus this is Father Frost, in Austria - Sylvester, in Greece - Saint Basil, in Germany - Weinachtsman, in Colombia - Pope Pascual, in France - Père Noel. Holland is a country where Santa is called Sinterklaas. In each state, the wizard hides gifts in his own way. In Sweden, children find them near the stove, in Germany - on the windowsill, in Mexico - in boots, and in Spain - on the balcony. In one corner of the world, Santa Claus is a pagan god, in another he is a wizard, and in the third he is a forest dweller.

In Europe, it is generally accepted that the over-aged children's favorite lives in Lapland. Many families come to stay at Santa Claus's residence on the eve of the New Year. In America, grandfather has residence in Torrington, Connecticut and Wilmington, New York.

Americans made Santa Claus the idol of millions. Thanks to the famous advertising campaign of the Coca-Cola brand, the image of a lively grandfather was fixed in the minds of children and adults. It is not surprising that cartoon characters in the United States accurately voice the nuances of Santa's biography.

“Don’t you know the true meaning of Christmas? It's Santa's birthday!" - speaks .

In the cartoon “Santa's Secret Service,” the position of chief magician is passed down from generation to generation, and the main character declares with dignity:

“Many years ago, my father told me that being Santa was the best job in the world. He was right: I love my job!”

The kind image of a plump old man bringing gifts is cultivated in America and other countries, allowing children to believe in magic and fairy tales. Every New Year's film broadcast during the holidays contains philosophical quotes on this subject.

Film adaptations

Santa has become the hero of numerous animated projects and films. In comedies, parents of large families, notorious bandits, heroes who do not believe in the power of Christmas, and those who lack love and warmth during the cold winter holidays appear in the form of a New Year's wizard.

Filmmakers present Santa Claus as an ordinary family man in the 1994 film “The Santa Claus,” introduce the public to the character forced to play the role of a good wizard in the 2003 film “Bad Santa,” and offer to learn what a grandfather’s family might look like. The film “Fred Claus” tells about this. Santa's Brother" 2007 release. Thanks to the imagination of the directors, the hero of traditional legends appears in a modern form and remains a favorite of the public, regardless of the plot of the film.

It seems that this kind old man with a snow-white beard has always existed, but he became a symbol of the New Year holidays only about 200 years ago. The image of Santa developed gradually, and each nation contributed something of its own to it, but its obligatory attributes were a white mustache and beard, gloves and a bag of gifts.

On December 19, all Orthodox Rus' celebrates the saint's day Nikola Ugodnik. It was he who became the prototype of today's Santa Claus, as he is called in the West. Where did the fat New Year's man in a red zipun come from, who rides around on reindeer, lives for some reason in Lapland and gives gifts to all the children? But Santa Claus, that is, Saint Nicholas, lived in the 4th century in the city of Myra in the country of Lycia (present-day Turkey), was a thin monk and hardly even saw snow. How did it happen that the name of one of the greatest ascetics of the Church became a character in a New Year's children's fairy tale? The answer is simple - apostasy, a general falling away from the Christian faith, from the Mother Church. Today's American does not understand what Christ has to do with Christmas, because the word Christmas itself - Christmass ("Christ's Mass") began to be written like this - "X-mas". The closeness of the memory of this saint to Christmas made him the hero of this holiday, which for Westerners has lost all Christian roots.

In many countries around the world, until recently, Santa Claus was the symbol of the New Year. Each people called it differently, sometimes very funny: Yolupukki (Finns), Deda Mraz (Croats), Noel Baba (Turks), Pere Noel (French).

It was, in fact, because of this very bag of gifts that another confusion occurred, which led to the fact that in England and America the traditional Father Frost began to be called... Santa Claus. And then in many other countries as well: Santa Nicholas (in Belgium), Svyatos Mikalaus (in the Czech Republic), Site Kaas or Sinter Klaas (in Holland). All these names are translated into Russian the same way - St. Nicholas.

Who was this same Saint Nicholas, who is revered all over the world, albeit in a completely fictitious image? The answer to this question is given by his biography or, in church language, his life.

The future saint was born around 270 in the city of Patara, in Lycia, on the southern coast of Asia Minor (now the territory of Turkey). His parents were noble and rich, but did not have children until they were very old. Through their fervent prayers, the Lord gave them a son, whom they named Nikolai, which means “victorious people.”

From a young age, the boy spent almost all his time in church, and at a more mature age he was ordained a priest. When his parents died, leaving Nicholas a rich inheritance, there was no doubt for him that it should be used to help those in need. Such an opportunity soon presented itself.

Not far away lived a once noble and wealthy man, who had now fallen into extreme poverty. Having exhausted all possibilities to get out of the difficult situation, he decided to take an extreme measure: to sacrifice the honor of his three beautiful daughters. Having learned about this, Saint Nicholas decided to help them. Three times at night he sneaked up to their wretched home and threw a bag of gold out the window. Soon all the sisters got married successfully, the merchant’s trading business went smoothly, and he, in turn, also began to help people. When Nicholas was elevated to the rank of bishop of the city of Myra, he remained just as kind, sympathetic and caring. The doors of his house were not closed - he equally helped both the powerful and the poor; He was a father to orphans, a breadwinner for the poor, a comforter to those who mourn, an intercessor to the offended...

Saint Nicholas died in 342, but his death did not stop his good deeds: countless miracles, one more amazing than the other, did not and will not cease to be performed for all who call on his holy name.

Special veneration of St. Nicholas in Germany began already in the 6th century, in Rome - in the 8th century, and therefore, already in the Middle Ages, a good custom was established here and in other European countries: on St. Nicholas Day, December 19, to give gifts to children, following his example.

But here’s the problem: when, a little over two weeks later, the Nativity of Christ came with its “gift” traditions - the Magi, who found the Infant Christ with the help of a guiding star, presented Him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh - it was again impossible to do without gifts. Therefore, over time, both of these “gift” traditions came together, eventually becoming an indispensable attribute of the Christmas holiday. And Saint Nicholas turned into... a kind wizard, giving gifts to children (remember the episode from his life with bags of gold) and fulfilling their cherished desires. And already from the 10th century, it was Santa Claus who congratulated German children; in Poland, from the 13th century, scholarships were distributed in schools in his name.

Today's Santa Claus is the joint brainchild of the Dutch (the trendsetters, so to speak), the Americans and the British. They tormented him for a long time: they either wrapped him in a cloak, or gave him the appearance of a slender smoker-chimney sweep, throwing his gifts through chimneys, or depicted him with lush sideburns, dressed in furs from head to toe... The beard was drawn for him in 1860 by the American artist Thomas Knight. Then he was dressed in a red fur coat trimmed with fur. The image of a good-natured fat man with an indispensable bag of gifts was invented by the Englishman Tenniel.

And then somehow, imperceptibly, this omnipresent Santa Claus became (no more or less) a symbol of Christmas! His first appearance in this capacity happened in 1885 in America: on the first Christmas greeting card (following the example of the British), he was already drawn - in a red robe and cap, with white sideburns and thick eyebrows, with a red nose and a bag full of gifts.

Where does Santa Claus live?

Many northern countries are still debating where Santa Claus lives. Some believe that he lives at the North Pole, others believe that he settled in the town of Rovaniemi in northern Finland. In modern Finland there is even a special service for answering on behalf of Santa Claus, and this is understandable, because... On average, in December he receives up to 80 thousand letters from children from different countries with requests and wishes.

The English word Santa Claus comes from the nickname Sinterklaas (from the word "ash") of St. Nicholas (in the Orthodox tradition of Nicholas the Pleasant) were the first Dutch settlers in America. He was considered the patron saint of sailors and children, for whom he prepared gifts all year, and on Christmas night he delivered them and left them in stockings prepared for gifts. True, this began to be considered later, and among the Dutch Sinterklaas was, rather, a stern teacher, for he poured ash into the stockings of those children who did not behave as they should. The main Christmas character gained particular popularity after the American professor of Greek and Oriental literature Clement Clark MOORE in 1822 wrote a poem for his children for the holiday about St. Nicholas, who appears on the night before Christmas, when even mice fall asleep, and goes down the chimney with a bag full of gifts to leave for the children. In a fur coat, with a white beard and a red nose, he rides around on a team of eight reindeer, and his approach can be recognized by the creaking of runners and the melodious ringing of bells tied to the reindeer necks.

The poem quickly spread and became popular, which somewhat offended the professor, since he was very serious and did not approve of the fun that the Christmas celebration had turned into.

And about forty years later, caricaturist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus, and the image became complete: a red fur coat and headdress, a wide leather belt and sparkling black boots.

The Russian Father Frost looks a little different, and his story goes back to Morozko from Slavic folklore. If Santa Claus is more like a gnome, then Father Frost is a giant, a hero who patrols his possessions, freezes rivers and lakes with ice, and at the same time gives gifts to children. His downside is that he often asks him to perform something for himself. Not out of greed - the soul just asks. But for the voiceless, legless, and suffering from sclerosis, everything pays off in the fact that our Grandfather has a Snow Maiden - she will not only give gifts, but can also kiss.

Where was Santa Claus born?

The modern image of the good-natured, fat Santa Claus appeared in the United States relatively recently, on Christmas Day 1822. It was then that Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem “The Coming of St. Nicholas,” in which the Saint appeared as a cheerful and cheerful elf with a round, tight belly, indicating a passion for delicious food, and with a smoking pipe. As a result of his reincarnation, Saint Nicholas got off the donkey, acquired eight deer, and had a bag of gifts in his hands.