The legend of Santa Claus appeared in Scandinavia thousands of years ago. In Nordic mythology, Odin is the god of wisdom, art, poetry, and war. In the cold winter, he rides on his eight-legged horse and gallops to the ends of the earth, punishing evil, promoting good, and distributing gifts. At the same time, his son, the God of Thunder, dressed in red and using lightning as a weapon, fought fiercely with the ice and snow gods in darkness, and finally defeated the cold. According to pagan legend, Santa Claus is a descendant of the god Odin. There are also legends that Santa Claus came from St. Nicholas, so Santa Claus is also called St. Nicholas. Because most of these stories promote the spirit of Christianity, their origins and storylines are mostly forgotten, but Santa Claus remains in peoples spiritual world forever. Every year on Christmas Day, Santa Claus rides on the constellation Aries, and the Holy Child descends to the world holding a Christmas tree. As things change, writers and artists begin to describe Santa Claus as the image we are familiar with today in red clothes and a white beard. At the same time, different countries and cultures also have different interpretations of Santa Claus. In Germany, legend has it that he dressed as a holy boy and put nuts and apples in childrens shoes. He roams around in a two-wheeled carriage and observes peoples behavior, especially children. If he behaves well, he will get apples, nuts, candies and many other prizes. Bad boys get a whip. Parents suddenly adopted this legend to encourage their children to be obedient. It greatly surpasses the New Year and becomes a national festival. Santa Claus has become a favorite symbol and tradition of Christmas. The image of the jolly old elf driving his reindeer and pulling a sleigh filled with toys and gifts from door to door to deliver gifts to every child has been deeply etched in peoples memory.
Religious soldiers from Italy brought the relics of Saint Nicholas back to Italy at the end of the 11th century and built a church in the port city of Bari to commemorate him. Soon Christians from all over the world came to pay homage to this saint. These pilgrims brought the story of Saint Nicholas back to their homeland, so the legend of Santa Claus has its own characteristics in each country.
The Saint Nicholas Memorial Day appeared in Europe in the 12th century, focusing on the exchange of gifts and charity activities. Germany, France, and the Netherlands use December 6 as a religious day to give gifts to children and the poor.
When the Dutch colonists came to America, they brought their Bishop Sintirklass with them. Sintirklass was wearing a red cassock and riding a white horse. The American image of Sintirklass later evolved into that of a jolly old elf. first american writerWashington Irving described him in his comedy "The History of New York" as a round, fat old Dutch man. In 1823, the poet Clement Moore continued to dramatize the image of Sintirklass/Saint Nicholas in his poem "Impression of St. Nicholas". This is the Santa Claus you see at the beginning of this article.
In the 1860s, cartoonist Thomas Nash drew a fat, kind Santa Claus as an illustration for "Harpers Week". This image of Santa Claus began to be deeply rooted in the minds of the American people. Over time, the image of Santa Claus spread back to Europe, to South America, and throughout the world.
Many countries have preserved their own customs and legends about Santa Claus. In Dutch legend, Santa Claus Sintirklass also brought an assistant named Black Peter and arrived on a ship on December 6. He was carrying a big book that described what all the Dutch kids had done over the past year. Children who behave well will be given gifts, and children who behave poorly will be taken away by his assistant.
German Santa Claus also brings an assistant called KnechtRuprecht, Krampus or Pelzebock, carrying a large bag with gifts on his shoulder and holding a stick in his hand. Good children receive gifts from him, but naughty children have to be taught a few sticks.
The Italian Santa Claus is called LaBefana; the French Santa Claus is called Father Christmas or Pere Noel; the Swiss Santa Claus is called Christkindl or ChristChild; the Scandinavian Santa Claus is called julenisse or juletomte; and the British Santa Claus is called julenisse or juletomte. Santa Claus is also called Father Christmas (Father of Christmas) like France. His image is more solemn and thinner than other Santa Clauses. Santa Claus in North America rides a sleigh pulled by reindeer to deliver gifts to children.
