Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers
This is a comprehensive history of the world's midwinter gift-givers, showcasing the extreme diversity in their depictions as well as the many traits and functions these characters share. It tracks the evolution of these figures from the tribal priests who presided over winter solstice celebrations thousands of years before the birth of Christ, to Christian notables like St. Martin and St. Nicholas, to a variety of secular figures who emerged throughout Europe following the Protestant Reformation. Finally, it explains how the popularity of a poem about a "miniature sleigh" and "eight tiny reindeer" helped consolidate the diverse European gift-givers into an enduring tradition in which American children awake early on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought.

Although the names, appearance, attire and gift-giving practices of the world's winter solstice gift-givers differ greatly, they are all recognizable as Santa, the personification of the Christmas and Midwinter festivals. Despite efforts to eliminate him by groups as diverse as the Puritans of seventeenth century New England, the Communist Party of the twentieth century Soviet Union and the government of Nazi Germany, Santa has survived and prospered, becoming one of the best known and most beloved figures in the world.

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Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers
This is a comprehensive history of the world's midwinter gift-givers, showcasing the extreme diversity in their depictions as well as the many traits and functions these characters share. It tracks the evolution of these figures from the tribal priests who presided over winter solstice celebrations thousands of years before the birth of Christ, to Christian notables like St. Martin and St. Nicholas, to a variety of secular figures who emerged throughout Europe following the Protestant Reformation. Finally, it explains how the popularity of a poem about a "miniature sleigh" and "eight tiny reindeer" helped consolidate the diverse European gift-givers into an enduring tradition in which American children awake early on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought.

Although the names, appearance, attire and gift-giving practices of the world's winter solstice gift-givers differ greatly, they are all recognizable as Santa, the personification of the Christmas and Midwinter festivals. Despite efforts to eliminate him by groups as diverse as the Puritans of seventeenth century New England, the Communist Party of the twentieth century Soviet Union and the government of Nazi Germany, Santa has survived and prospered, becoming one of the best known and most beloved figures in the world.

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Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers

Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers

by Tom A. Jerman
Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers
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Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers

Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers

by Tom A. Jerman

Overview

This is a comprehensive history of the world's midwinter gift-givers, showcasing the extreme diversity in their depictions as well as the many traits and functions these characters share. It tracks the evolution of these figures from the tribal priests who presided over winter solstice celebrations thousands of years before the birth of Christ, to Christian notables like St. Martin and St. Nicholas, to a variety of secular figures who emerged throughout Europe following the Protestant Reformation. Finally, it explains how the popularity of a poem about a "miniature sleigh" and "eight tiny reindeer" helped consolidate the diverse European gift-givers into an enduring tradition in which American children awake early on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought.

Although the names, appearance, attire and gift-giving practices of the world's winter solstice gift-givers differ greatly, they are all recognizable as Santa, the personification of the Christmas and Midwinter festivals. Despite efforts to eliminate him by groups as diverse as the Puritans of seventeenth century New England, the Communist Party of the twentieth century Soviet Union and the government of Nazi Germany, Santa has survived and prospered, becoming one of the best known and most beloved figures in the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781476680934
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date: 05/25/2020
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 248
Product dimensions: 7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Retired attorney Tom A. Jerman lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

Preface 1

1 The Remarkable Diversity, and Simultaneous Commonality, of the Worlds Midwinter Gift-Givers 5

2 Setting the Record Straight on the Nicholas-to-Irving-to-Moore-to-Nast History of Santa Claus 17

3 The Celebration of Christmas Before Christ 25

4 The Establishment of the Nativity of Jesus as a Christian Holiday 37

5 The Midwinter Celebrations of Yule in Northern Europe 41

6 The Emergence of St. Nicholas as a Seasonal Gift-Giver 46

7 The Identity and Emergence of the Evil Helpers of St. Nicholas 54

8 The Protestant Reformation and the Suppression of St. Nicholas 64

9 Knecht Ruprecht: Pagan God, Evil Helper or Faux Nicholas? 71

10 Gift-Givers in Germany and Central Europe: St. Nicholas, the Christ Child, Der Weihnachtsmann and Knecht Ruprecht 81

11 Gift-Givers in the British Isles: Father Christmas Still Reigns 94

12 Gift-Givers in the Benelux Nations: Sinterklaas and Black Peter 105

13 Gift-Givers in Scandinavia: The Yule Goats, Gnomes and Elves 110

14 Gift-Givers in the Southern Half of Europe: The Christ Child, Le Befana and the Three Kings 113

15 Gift-Givers in Russia and Eastern Europe: Ded Moroz and Snegurochka 119

16 How the Celebration of Christmas Came to the English Colonies in America (or Not) 127

17 The Purported Role of Washington Irving in the Introduction of St. Nicholas to America 134

18 How the Poem Now Known as "The Night Before Christmas" Started the Santa Ball Rolling 150

19 Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due: William B. Gilley and Arthur J. Stansbury and The Children's Friend 159

20 From Moore to Nast: The Depictions of Santa from the 1820s through the 1890s 164

21 The Ups and Downs of Santa in the Twentieth Century 195

Epilogue: The Santas of Christmas Future 206

Chapter Notes 209

Bibliography 231

Index 237

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Bibles & Christianity
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Bibles & Christianity
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Holidays, Christian

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