Here is how to tell the story of Santa Claus and why it matters

HERE IS HOW TO TELL THE STORY OF SANTA CLAUS AND WHY IT MATTERS

So, do you believe in Santa Claus?

For those of us who don’t believe in him, we certainly keep our traditions close.

There is no bigger joy for me than when I make the gifts at the end of December – it is both to keep the tradition (very important to me) and to give the year a bright close.

Read the article below to find out (or remember) about how we ended up with a jolly, plump bonhomme with a hearty laughter as the symbol of the birth of Christ, and tell us in the comments what Santa Claus means to you.

L’origine

Father Christmas is said to have originated from Saint Nicolas. We find in his representation all the symbolism of St Nicolas (white beard, red coat…).
Santa Claus travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Saint Nicholas travels on the back of a donkey.

Despite the Protestant reform of the 16th century which suppressed the feast of St Nicholas in European countries, the Dutch kept their Sinter Klaas (Dutch name for Saint Nicholas) and its distribution of toys.

When they settled in the United States, Sinter Klass became Santa Claus. Santa Claus undergoes clothing and cultural transformations to transform himself into a more friendly character.

La naissance

In 1863 “Harper’s Illustrated Weekly,” the New York newspaper, Santa Claus dreamed of a costume trimmed with white fur and wearing a large leather belt. The designer Thomas NAST was the author.

For nearly 30 years, Thomas NAST represented, in this newspaper, Santa Claus pot-bellied and jovial, with the white beard and accompanied by reindeer.

It was in 1885 that the illustrator of this newspaper drew the route of the Santa Claus which goes from the North Pole to the United States; his residence was thus officially established.

Coca Cola

The American firm had the genius to ask Haddon SUNDBLOM to draw this old man (whose fame was growing there) drinking Coca Cola to regain his strength during the distribution of toys. This would encourage children to drink it during the winter.

The designer dressed it in the colors of the famous Coca Cola bottle: red and white. This new look and the fame he received from the publicity made the old man the planetary master of the magical night, Santa Claus.

There were quite a few protest movements on the part of the Catholics against this overwhelming popularity, the night of December 24 to 25 being originally that of the baby Jesus. Some protests even went so far as to burn the effigy of Santa Claus, but everything fell into place over time.

Regardless, the arrival of Santa Claus remains magical for everyone and symbolizes our attachment to our family and loved ones.

Santa Claus en France

The prestige of the American lifestyle (the American Way) was buoyant in France in the aftermath of World War II. The French were fascinated by the “land of the liberators” and they appropriated popular American icons, including Santa Claus, with a little help from the French press.

In December 1951, the French media reported an unusual event which caused a great scandal throughout the country. The religious authorities of the city of Dijon, in Burgundy, had decided to organize a crusade against Santa Claus and set fire to his effigy on the Place de la Cathédrale, in the eyes of a crowd of children and adults! It was their way of protesting the character of Santa Claus, whom they saw as a usurper and a heretic. Santa Claus was accused of paganizing the holy Christmas season, and his greatest offense was breaking into public schools, where Christmas religious traditions had been banned.

Père Noël, est-il différent ?

1. Père Noël doesn’t wear the red Santa hat; instead, he wears a red cloak with a hood trimmed in white fur.
2. Children don’t wake-up to presents under the tree on Christmas morning. Père Noël brings toys to good little boys and girls after evening Mass on Christmas Eve.
3. Children don’t leave Santa Claus milk and cookies. French adults rarely drink milk, so Santa wouldn’t either.
4. Children don’t hang stockings, instead they leave their shoes and slippers by the fireplace. If they have been good, Père Noël leaves treats in their shoes or slippers. Nowadays, he also leaves presents under the Christmas tree.
5. Père Noël doesn’t leave coal for naughty children. Instead children behave around the holidays out of fear of Père Fouettard, who follows Father Christmas, and as his name implies whips and beats badly behaved children.

Et voilà !

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN!
Tell us in the comments below, what is your favorite Santa Claus story? 🙂

Let me guess.

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