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Santa Claus
From the Dutch origin of the old fellow to his current residence in Finnish Lapland
From Sinter Klaas to Santa Claus
Santa Claus is perhaps the most famous of all the figures associated with Christmas. We generally know him for being a fat, jolly man with a white beard, dressed in a red suit, and driving a sleigh full of presents drawn through the air by eight reindeer. Although Santa has always been an essential part of the Christmas celebration, the modern image of Santa did not develop until well into the 19th century: Santa Claus was an evolutionary creation, born by the fusion of two religious characters, St. Nicholas from the Netherlands and Christkindl from Germany.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, children in the Netherlands put their shoes by the fireplace for Sinter Klaas (Saint Nicholas), who was a bishop from the 4th century, known for bringing gifts to the poor. Sinter Klaas would fly from rooftop to rooftop on his white horse, dropping sweets down the chimney into the Dutch children's shoes each year on December 5th, while in Germany the similar tradition of the Christkindl (Christ Child) was celebrated on December 25th.
The story of Sinter Klaas was brought to North America by Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (the original name of New York) and it was popularized there by cartoonist Thomas Nast. The name eventually changed from Sinter Klaas to Santa Claus and this 19th century image from North America was adopted through the years around the globe, each country changing it slightly to suit their own cultures and traditions.
Santa Claus in Scandinavia
The tradition of Santa Claus has remained particularly alive in the Scandinavian region, especially in Finland. Over the centuries, customs from different parts of Nordic countries came together and created the image of Santa Claus as known today. Although traditions vary from family to family, Santa Claus always visits the homes on the 24th and everybody is allowed to open the present at this moment.
In the late 1920s it was believed that Santa Claus in fact lived on the Korvatunturi (Ear Fell) in the Finnish Lapland. Subsequenly as Santa Claus started regularly visiting this area, in 1985 a Santa Claus office was established in Korvatunturi. Still today Santa Claus can be visited in this Santa Claus park, where he gladly discusses about children's christmas wishes and receives letters into his post office.
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