Who invented Santa coming down the chimney?

In 1812, Washington Irving published Knickerbocker's History of New York. The book includes the first known reference of St. Nicholas “rattling down the chimney.” This idea of Santa Claus coming down the chimney was then popularized by the 1823 poem “A Visit From St.

Who decided Santa comes down the chimney?

The tradition of Santa Claus entering homes through the chimney originated in the days when most homes did not have front doors or windows on the second floor. Back then, chimneys were the only way in and out of houses. That's why it was thought that this was where Santa Claus could enter to leave the presents.

What is the origin of Santa going down the chimney?

Back in pre-Christian times, the Norse God Odin would enter homes via chimneys at the Winter Solstice. The Italians had a witch who traditionally delivered gifts across the nation on Epiphany Eve – this witch (“Befana”) would be covered in soot accumulated from her various journeys down the chimneys.

Who invented Santa Claus and why?

Much earlier, the American cartoonist Thomas Nast fashioned Santa Claus's image on the pages of the American magazine Harper's Weekly. The character of Santa Claus is believed to descend from Bishop Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the 4^th century.

Who created the myth of Santa?

The Legend of St.

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St.

The History of Santa Claus

How did Santa get invented?

Early representations of the gift-giver from Church history and folklore, especially St Nicholas, merged with the English character Father Christmas to create the mythical character known to the rest of the English-speaking world as "Santa Claus" (a phonetic derivation of "Sinterklaas" in Dutch).

When did Santa Claus begin?

Let's start at the beginning

By all accounts, his story begins in the fourth century AD in what is now modern-day Turkey. A man named Nicholas became the bishop of a village called Myra. He was later canonised, and soon became one of the most popular saints in Christianity.

What Colour was Santa before Coca Cola?

Before Coca‑Cola was invented, Santa Claus (St Nick) had appeared in numerous illustrations and books wearing a scarlet coat.

What is the true story behind Christmas?

The origins of Christmas stem from both the pagan and Roman cultures. The Romans actually celebrated two holidays in the month of December. The first was Saturnalia, which was a two-week festival honoring their god of agriculture Saturn. On December 25th, they celebrated the birth of Mithra, their sun god.

Did Coca Cola make Santa?

Coca-Cola did not create the legend of Santa Claus. But Coca-Cola advertising did play a big role in shaping the jolly character we know today. Before 1931, there were many different depictions of Santa Claus around the world, including a tall gaunt man and an elf —there was even a scary Claus.

When did Santa start going down chimneys?

In 1812, Washington Irving published Knickerbocker's History of New York. The book includes the first known reference of St. Nicholas “rattling down the chimney.” This idea of Santa Claus coming down the chimney was then popularized by the 1823 poem “A Visit From St.

How did Santa get in without a chimney?

To find out we went straight to our source in the North Pole, CeeBee the Elf, and asked “How Does Santa Claus Get Into a Home Without a Chimney?” and got the inside scoop. The answer is simple… magic and a key!

When did Santa stop smoking a pipe?

Nicholas" (1823) and removed its mention of Santa's pipe. She spent $200,000 to print 55,000 copies and declared to the New York Post, "Santa has stopped smoking, and 2012 is the year he quit, and there's nothing anyone can do about it."

Did Santa ever go to jail?

Nicholas was the 4th-century Greek Bishop of Myra (in present-day Turkey). Under the Roman emperor Diocletian, who persecuted Christians, Nicholas spent some five years in prison—and according to some accounts, in solitary confinement.

Who started the tradition of leaving milk out for Santa?

Norse mythology

Odin, the most important Norse god, was described as owning an eight-legged horse named Sleipner, which he rode with a raven perched on each of his shoulders. During the Yule season, children left food out for Sleipner, in the hopes that Odin would stop by during travelling to leave gifts in return.

Who put Santa in a red suit?

The tradition of him wearing red began in the 1870s with the American cartoonist Thomas Nast, who introduced the red suit and cap, white fur lining and buckled black belt.

What is the dark history of Christmas?

From ancient times, the season that we now know as Christmas was a midwinter celebration called The Winter Solstice, or Yule. A pagan festival, The Winter Solstice was a time to celebrate the fact that the worst of winter was over, and the people could look forward to longer days with more sunlight in the near future.

When was Jesus actually born?

The date of birth of Jesus is not stated in the gospels or in any historical sources, but most biblical scholars generally accept a date of birth between 6 BC and 4 BC, the year in which King Herod died.

Why does Santa say Ho Ho Ho?

In truth, "ho ho ho" doesn't mean anything. It's actually just the sound of Santa Claus's laughter. It might sound strange to us to hear someone laughing like this, since most people's laughter sounds more like "ha ha ha" instead of "ho ho ho".

Why did Father Christmas wear green?

The origins of Father Christmas in England date back to ancient pre-Christian midwinter festivals where an unnamed pagan figure, robed in a green hooded cloak and wearing a wreath of holly, ivy or mistletoe, would come to lift people's spirits during the bleakest time of year.

Why Santa wears red clothes?

It's widely believed that today's Santa wears a red suit because that's the colour associated with Coca‑Cola, but this isn't the case. Before the Coca‑Cola Santa was even created, St Nick had appeared in numerous illustrations and written descriptions wearing a scarlet coat.

How did Santa get his name?

In the early USA his name was 'Kris Kringle' (from the Christkindl). Later, Dutch settlers in the USA took the old stories of St. Nicholas or 'Sinterklaas', as he'd come to be known in parts of northern Europe, with them and Kris Kringle and St Nicholas / Sinterklaas became 'Santa Claus'!

What is Santa's real name?

Santa's real name is Saint Nicholas, and in many countries, he's still called that, including in Germany, where Sankt Nikolaus still visits children. The name Saint Nicholas has morphed into Santa Claus and that has become the most widespread name for Santa.

Is Santa real or is it your parents?

Santa is real in the sense that he was an actual person. Otherwise known as Saint Nicholas, his story goes all the way back to the 3rd century. He was a monk who was born in 280 A.D. in modern-day Turkey. As an only child, he was given great affection by his parents.