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	::''This article is about Santa Claus all around the globe, for Santa Claus in the ], see ].''

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	'''Santa Claus''', also known as ''']''', ''']''', '''],''' or simply '''Santa''', is a symbolic gift-giving person, who is based on the historical ]. Santa Claus is an eminent character in the hearts and minds of millions of children and adults around the world who ] in him. The popular American form ''Santa Claus'' originated as a mispronunciation of ] '']'', which is a contracted form of ''Sint Nicolaas'' (Saint Nicholas). Santa Claus has a suit that comes in many colors depending on the country.

	==Overview==
	] in the Netherlands]] Santa Claus is a variation of a Dutch ] based on the historical figure ], a ] from ] in ] (the greater part of modern-day ]), who used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. His ] became legend when a man lost his fortune and found himself incapable of supporting his three daughters, who would not be able to find husbands as they lacked ]. This man was going to give them over to a life of prostitution; however, St Nicholas provided them with gold, enabling them to retain their virginal virtues and marry.

	This inspired figure of ''']''', the subject of a major celebration in the ] and ], ] (where his believed date of death, ], is celebrated the evening before on ]), which in turn inspired both the myth and the name of Santa Claus. "Santa Claus" is actually a mispronunciation of the Dutch word "Sinterklaas" by the English settlers of ] (later renamed ]). Whilst in those countries '''Saint Nicholas''' is celebrated as a distinct character with a religious touch separate from Christmas, '''Santa Claus''' is also making inroads as a symbol during the Christmas season.{{fact}}

	Santa Claus is an example of ] ]. He now forms an important part of the ] tradition throughout the ] and ] and other parts of ].
	]
	Santa Claus is traditionally represented in a red cloak with white fur trimmings, a reference to St Nicholas, who reputably performed his charitable acts dressed in his red bishop's robes.

	In many ] traditions, Santa Claus visits children on ] and is identified with ], Archbishop of ] in ], Asia Minor (contemporary Turkey), whose memory is celebrated on that day. According to the Greek tradition, he is supposed to visit children and give presents every January 1. This festival is also marked by the baking of Saint Basil's bread (Gr. Βασιλόπιτα - Vasilópita), a sweetbread with a coin hidden inside.

	Depictions of Santa Claus also have a close relationship with the ] character of '']'' ("Grandfather Frost"). He delivers presents to children and has a red coat, fur boots and long white beard. Much of the iconography of Santa Claus could be seen to derive from Russian traditions of ''Ded Moroz'', particularly transmitted into western European culture through his German folklore equivalent, ''Väterchen Frost''.

	] Santa]]
	Conventionally, Santa Claus is portrayed as a kindly, round-bellied, merry, bespectacled white man in a red coat trimmed with white fur (perhaps remotely derived from the episcopal vestments of the original Bishop Nicholas), with a long white ] and green or white ]. On Christmas Eve, he rides in his ] pulled by ] from house to house to give presents to children. During the rest of the year he lives together with his wife ] and his ] manufacturing ]. Some modern depictions of Santa (often in advertising and popular entertainment) will show the elves and Santa's workshop as more of a processing and distribution facility, ordering and receiving the toys from various toy manufacturers from across the world. His home is usually given as either the ], in northern ], ] in ] ], ] in ], ] in ], or ], depending on the ] and country. Sometimes Santa's home is in ] when he is identified as ]. ] placed his home in The Laughing Valley of Hohaho. In the original Dutch tradition, Sinterklaas lives in Spain and is accompanied by a great number of black servants, called 'Zwarte Pieten', which means Black Petes.

	==Historical origins==
	{{main\|Origins of Santa Claus}}
	The figure of Santa Claus has his roots in various cultures, produced by a blend of Christian imagery and Germanic folklore.

	''See also: ] and ]''

	==Santa Claus in popular culture==
	]
	===Santa Claus rituals===
	{{main\|Santa Claus rituals}}
	Several rituals have developed around the Santa Claus figure that are normally performed by children hoping to receive gifts from him.

	===Little Jesus===
	In the Czech Republic, Santa Claus does not give gifts. Instead, ''']''' (little Jesus) handles the job. Ježíšek is a representation of the newborn ] and gives gifts after ] dinner.

	==Christian opposition to Santa Claus==
	{{main\|Christmas controversies}}
	]'s ''The Examination and Tryal of Father Christmas'' (1686), published shortly after ] was reinstated as a holy day in ]. <small>''Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C.''<small>]]Though Santa Claus has Christian origins, he has become a ] representation of Christmas. As such, a number of Christian churches dislike the secular focus on Santa Claus and the materialist focus that present-receiving gives to the holiday.

	Such a condemnation of Santa Claus is not a ] phenomenon, but originated among some ] groups of the ] and was prevalent among the ] of ] England and America who banned the holiday as either ] or ]. Following the ], under ]'s government Christmas was banned. Following the ] of the monarchy and with Puritans out of power in England, the ban on Christmas was satirized in works such as ]'s ''The Examination and Tryal of Old ]; Together with his Clearing by the Jury'' (1686) .

	Rev. ], a clergyman in ], ] attracted controversy in 1958 when he declared Santa to be a "pagan ]" after Santa's image was used on fundraising materials for a Danish welfare organization ]. One prominent religious group that refuses to celebrate Santa Claus, or Christmas itself, for similar reasons is the ]. A number of denominations of Christians have varying concerns about Santa Claus. Some Christians even claim that Santa is a hidden representation of ]. They note that the name Santa Claus sounds a bit like the term "Satan's claws".

	Some Christians would prefer that the focus of the Christmas season be placed on the birth of ]. In addition, some parents are uncomfortable about lying to their children about the existence of Santa. Many who share these concerns but still wish to participate in the festive gift-giving atmosphere of "Santa season" will shop for toys to donate to poor children on ]'s ], ]. This is an opportunity to instill the Christian value of secret ], which Nicholas was known for. Although ] are usually not acknowledged in ] denominations, this tradition has found acceptance there as well.

	While these viewpoints do not represent the majority of Christians, their comments have drawn the attention of critics such as the fictional ], whose website satirizes and ] this viewpoint. The website specifies that Satan is disguising himself as Santa (notice the same letters used in an anagram) to deceive people into a materialistic celebration.

	==See also==
	===Related Topics===
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ] - a form of gift giving
	* ] - mass gatherings of people dressed in cheap Santa suits
	* ] - a northeastern US tradition of pilots delivering presents to families in remote lighthouses.

	===Variations of Christmas around the world===
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	===Related Figures===
	* ]
	* ] and ] - Dutch characters used for celebrations of Saint Nicholas on 5 and 6 December.
	* ] - Character created for the Easter holiday.
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ] and ]
	* ] and ] - Mythical characters.
	* ] - a Canadian street performer
	* ] - Scandinavian mythical character
	* ] - Scandinavian Christmas symbol
	* ] - Ukranian folk tale equvilant to Santa Claus (Translates to ''Saint Claus'''; Pronounced ''Svyatiy Klaoos'')

	==Notes==
	<references/>

	==External links==
	{{Commonscat}}
	* by Santa Club
	* The Original 1860s Illustrations
	*, the artist whose Christmas cards inspired Haddon Sundblom when he designed Coca-Cola's Santa.
	*
	*, one of the Internet's oldest Santa-related website, founded in 1991 by former ] ] Jeff Guide
	*
	*
	*

	==References==
	*. ''Washington Times''. November 21, 2003.
	*. ''AOL News''. Dec. 9, 2006.
	* Barnard, Eunice Fuller. "Santa Claus Claimed as a Real New Yorker." ''New York Times''. December, 19, 1926.
	* ]. ''The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus''. 1902; reprint, New York: Penguin, 1986. ISBN 0-451-52064-5
	* Belk, Russel W. "A Child's Christmas in America: Santa Claus as Deity, Consumption as Religion." ''Journal of American Culture'', 10, no. 1 (Spring 1987), pp. 87-100.
	*. ''The Watchtower'' (New York). December 15, 2000.
	* Clar, Mimi. "Attack on Santa Claus." ''Western Folklore'', 18, no. 4 (October 1959), p. 337.
	* Clark, Cindy Dell. ''Flights of Fancy, Leaps of Faith: Children's Myths in Contemporary America''. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995. ISBN 0-226-10778-7
	* at ].
	* at ].
	* at Landoverbaptist.org.
	*Dini, Paul. '']'' various issues
	* Flynn, Tom. ''The Trouble with Christmas''. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 1993. ISBN 0-87975-848-1
	* Horowitz, Joseph. ''Classical Music in America: A History of Its Rise and Fall''. New York: W. W. Norton, 2005. ISBN 0-393-05717-8
	* ''New York Sun''. September 21, 1897.
	* King, Josiah. ''The Examination and Tryal of Old Father Christmas; Together with his Clearing by the Jury . . .'' London: Charles Brome, 1686. Full text available
	* Lalumia, Christine. . In the ''Ten Ages of Christmas'' from the ] website.
	* Moore, Clement Clarke. "A Visit from St. Nicholas." ''Troy (N.Y.) Sentinel''. December 23, 1823.
	* Nissenbaum, Stephen. ''The Battle for Christmas''. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. ISBN 0-649-41223-9{{Please check ISBN\|Calculated check digit (0) doesn't match given.}}
	* Otnes, Cele, Kyungseung Kim, and Young Chan Kim. "Yes, Virginia, There is a Gender Difference: Analyzing Children's Requests to Santa Claus." ''Journal of Popular Culture'', 28, no. 1 (Summer 1994), pp. 17-29.
	* Ott, Jonathan. ''Pharmacotheon: Entheogenic Drugs, Their Plant Sources and History''. Kennewick, Wash.: Natural Products Company, 1993. ISBN 0-9614234-9-8
	* Plath, David W. "The Japanese Popular Christmas: Coping with Modernity." ''American Journal of Folklore'', 76, no. 302 (October-December 1963), pp. 309-317.
	* Potter, Alicia. at Factmonster.com.
	* Quinn, Seabury. ''Roads''. 1948; facsimile reprint, Mohegan Lake, N.Y.: Red Jacket Press, 2005. ISBN 0-9748895-8-X
	* in the ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' at NewAdvent.org.
	* ]. '']''. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1998. ISBN 0-8222-1631-0
	* Shenkman, Richard. ''Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History''. New York: HarperCollins, 1988. ISBN 0-06-097261-0
	* Siefker, Phyllis. ''Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men: The Origins and Evolution of Saint Nicholas, Spanning 50,000 Years''. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1996. ISBN 0-7864-0246-6
	* Twitchell, James B. ''Twenty Ads that Shook the World''. New York: Crown Publishers, 2000. ISBN 0-609-60563-1
	* at NORADsanta.org.

	{{Christmas}}

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Revision as of 18:58, 5 January 2007

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