Santa claus biography a evil

Santa Claus

Legendary Christmas figure

"Santa" redirects upon. For other uses, see Santa Claus (disambiguation) and Santa (disambiguation).

Fictional character

Santa Claus (also known sort Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure^[1] originating in WesternChristian culture who assay said to bring gifts about the late evening and long hours on Christmas Eve.

Christmastime elves are said to rattle the gifts in Santa's shop, while flying reindeer pull queen sleigh through the air.^[2]^[3]

The wellliked conception of Santa Claus originates from folklore traditions surrounding position 4th-century Christian bishop Saint Bishop, the patron saint of breed.

Saint Nicholas became renowned practise his reported generosity and redden gift-giving. The image of Santa Claus shares similarities with authority English figure of Father Christmastide, and they are both immediately popularly regarded as the very person.^[4]

Santa is generally depicted little a portly, jolly, white-bearded workman, often with spectacles, wearing shipshape and bristol fashion red coat with white wad collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed fastening trousers, a red hat orderly with white fur, a swarthy leather belt and boots, sharp a bag full of genius for children.

He is customarily associated with a deep, flourishing laugh, frequently rendered in Noel literature as "ho, ho, ho!"

This image originated in class United States during the Nineteenth century, after Dutch settlers shagged out the legend of Sinterklaas ("Saint Nicholas") to 17th-century New Amsterdam (present-day New York City). High-mindedness 1823 American poem "A Go from St.

Nicholas", written through an anonymous author, recounts Venerate Nicholas arriving at the author's home on Christmas Eve affluent a sleigh pulled by fugacious reindeer. The poem laid nobleness foundation for modern depictions remember Santa Claus, strengthening the league between Santa Claus and Season.

Over time, this connection has been maintained and reinforced show song, radio, television, children's books, family Christmas traditions, films, swallow advertising.^[5]^[6]

Predecessor figures

Saint Nicholas

Main article: Ideal Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (now Demre) in the go awol of Lycia in the Italian Empire, today in Turkey.

Saint was known for his warm-hearted gifts to the poor, flimsy particular presenting the three needy daughters of a pious Christianly with dowries so that they would not have to expire prostitutes.^[7] He was very spiritual-minded from an early age take up devoted his life entirely endorse Christianity. In continental Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Oesterreich, the Czech Republic and Germany), he is usually portrayed pass for a bearded bishop in lawful robes.

In 1087, while ethics Greek Christian inhabitants of Myra were subjugated by the freshly arrived Muslim Seljuq dynasty, captivated soon after their Greek Disproportionate church had been declared willing be in schism by description Catholic church (1054 AD), top-notch group of merchants from greatness Italian city of Bari coolth the major bones of Nicholas's skeleton from his sarcophagus admire the Greek church in Myra.

Over the objection of excellence monks of Myra the sailors took the bones of Beauty Nicholas to Bari, where they are now enshrined in character Basilica di San Nicola. Sailors from Bari collected just fraction of Nicholas' skeleton, leaving boxing match the minor fragments in prestige church sarcophagus. These were next taken by Venetian sailors close the First Crusade and fib in Venice, where a communion dedicated to Saint Nicholas, high-mindedness patron of sailors, was material on the San Nicolò revisit Lido.

Saint Nicholas' vandalized tomb can still be seen embankment the St. Nicholas Church huddle together Myra. This tradition was habitual in two important scientific investigations of the relics in Metropolis and Venice, which revealed rove the relics in the combine Italian cities belong to description same skeleton.

Saint Nicholas was later claimed as a militant saint of many diverse assemblys, from archers, sailors, and line to pawnbrokers.^[7]^[8] He is as well the patron saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow.^[9]

During the Focal point Ages, often on the sundown before his name day tip off 6 December, children were conferred gifts in his honour.

That date was earlier than illustriousness original day of gifts gather the children, which moved restrict the course of the Restructuring and its opposition to honourableness veneration of saints in assorted countries on 24 and 25 December. The custom of gifting to children at Christmas was propagated by Martin Luther trade in an alternative to the ex- very popular gift custom converge on Saint Nicholas, to focal point the interest of the lineage to Christ instead of description veneration of saints.

Martin Theologist first suggested the Christkind by the same token the bringer of gifts. On the contrary Nicholas remained popular as genius bearer for the people.^[10]^[11]

Father Christmas

Main article: Father Christmas

Father Christmas dates to 16th century England beside the reign of Henry Cardinal, when he was pictured variety a large man in fresh or scarlet robes lined clang fur.^[12] He typified the constitution of good cheer at Yule, bringing peace, joy, good nourishment and wine and revelry.^[12] Style England no longer kept glory feast day of Saint Saint on 6 December, the Pa Christmas celebration was moved pop in 25 December to coincide accelerate Christmas Day.^[12] The Victorian quickening of Christmas included Father Xmas as the emblem of good cheer.^[13] His physical appearance was variable,^[14] with one image glare John Leech's illustration of probity "Ghost of Christmas Present" scheduled Charles Dickens's festive story A Christmas Carol (1843), as on the rocks great genial man in tidy green coat lined with big money who takes Scrooge through leadership bustling streets of London interconnect the current Christmas morning, sparge the essence of Christmas get through the happy populace.^[12]^[13]

Dutch, Belgian coupled with Swiss folklore

See also: Sinterklaas snowball Saint Nicholas

In the Netherlands boss Belgium, the character of Santa Claus competes with that consume Sinterklaas, based on Saint Nicolas.

Santa Claus is known similarly de Kerstman in Dutch ("the Christmas man") and Père Noël ("Father Christmas") in French. Add to children in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas remains the predominant gift-giver undecorated December; 36% of the Country only give presents on Sinterklaas evening or the day strike, 6 December,^[15] while Christmas, 25 December, is used by regarding 21% to give presents.

Passable 26% of the Dutch the general public gives presents on both days.^[16] In Belgium, presents are offered exclusively to children on 6 December, and on Christmas Put forward all ages may receive grants. Saint Nicolas/Sinterklaas' assistants are callinged "Pieten" (in Dutch) or "Père Fouettard" (in French), and they are not elves.^[17]

In Switzerland, Père Fouettard accompanies Père Noël now the French speaking region, period the sinister Schmutzli accompanies Samichlaus in the Swiss German locale.

Schmutzli carries a twig sweeper clash to spank the naughty children.^[18]

Germanic paganism, Odin, and Christianization

Prior designate Christianization, the Germanic peoples (including the English) celebrated a midwinter event called Yule (Old Morally geola or giuli).^[19] With picture Christianization of Germanic Europe, abundant traditions were absorbed from Yuletide celebrations into modern Christmas,^[20] much as the Wild Hunt, regularly attested as being led mass the god Odin (Wodan), fashion (among many names) the use foul language Jólnir, meaning "Yule man", countryside Langbarðr, meaning "long-beard", in Nigh on Norse.^[21]

Odin's role during the Yuletide period has been theorized rightfully having influenced concepts of In a straight line.

Nicholas and Santa Claus mosquito a variety of facets, plus his long white beard boss his gray horse for of the night rides (compare Odin's horse Sleipnir) or his reindeer in Northernmost American tradition.^[22] Folklorist Margaret Baker maintains that "the appearance raise Santa Claus or Father Yule, whose day is the Xxv of December, owes much adjoin Odin, the old blue-hooded, wrapped, white-bearded Giftbringer of the northern, who rode the midwinter unclear on his eight-footed steed Sleipnir, visiting his people with accomplishments.

Odin, transformed into Father Yule, then Santa Claus, prospered appear St Nicholas and the Christchild, became a leading player get the Christmas stage."^[23]

In northern Assemblage, the Yule goat was resourcefulness earlier bearer of gifts, which has to some degree get conflated with Santa Claus, supply instance in the Finnish Joulupukki tradition.^[24]

History

Origins

Early representations of the gift-giver from Church history and established practice, especially Saint Nicholas, merged confident the English character Father Christmastide to create the mythical classify known to the rest be advantageous to the English-speaking world as "Santa Claus" (a phonetic derivation notice "Sinterklaas" in Dutch).

In dignity English and later British colonies of North America, and after in the United States, Country and Dutch versions of greatness gift-giver merged further. For condition, in Washington Irving's History counterfeit New York (1809), Sinterklaas was Anglicized into "Santa Claus" (a name first used in authority U.S.

press in 1773)^[25] nevertheless lost his bishop's apparel, topmost was at first pictured type a thick-bellied Dutch sailor take up again a pipe in a junior winter coat. Irving's book was a parody of the Land culture of New York, nearby much of this portrait remains his joking invention.^[26] Irving's portrayal of Santa Claus was gallop of a broader movement assume tone down the increasingly ferocious Christmas celebrations of the year, which included aggressive home invasions under the guise of wassailing, substantial premarital sex (leading promote to shotgun weddings in areas veer the Puritans, waning in queue and firmly opposed to Xmas, still held some influence) extract public displays of sexual deviancy; the celebrations of the vintage were derided by both pleasurable merchants and Christian purists.^[26]

19th century

In 1821, the book A New-year's present, to the little incline from five to twelve was published in New York.

Show off contained "Old Santeclaus with Undue Delight", an anonymous poem description Santeclaus on a reindeer sledge, bringing rewards to children.^[27] Bore modern ideas of Santa Claus seemingly became canon after interpretation anonymous publication of the chime A Visit From St. Nicholas (better known today as The Night Before Christmas) in say publicly Troy, New York, Sentinel partition 23 December 1823; Clement Clarke Moore later claimed authorship, allowing some scholars argue that Speechmaker Livingston, Jr.

(who died niner years before Moore's claim) was the author.^[7]^[28] St. Nick go over the main points described as being "chubby promote plump, a right jolly freshen elf" with "a little notice belly", that "shook when recognized laughed like a bowlful star as jelly", in spite of which the "miniature sleigh" and "tiny reindeer" still indicate that significant is physically diminutive.

The cervid were also named: Dasher, Choreographer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem (Dunder and Blixem came from the old Land words for thunder and headlong, which were later changed work to rule the more German sounding Donner and Blitzen).^[29]

By 1845, "Kris Kringle" (from "Christkindl(e)", German for "Christ-child") was a common variant star as Santa in parts of rendering United States.^[30] A magazine unit composition from 1853, describing American Xmas customs to British readers, refers to children hanging up their stockings on Christmas Eve bring about "a fabulous personage" whose reputation varies: in Pennsylvania he survey usually called "Krishkinkle", but contact New York he is "St.

Nicholas" or "Santa Claus". Primacy author^[31] quotes Moore's poem orders its entirety, saying that tight descriptions apply to Krishkinkle too.^[32]

As the years passed, Santa Claus evolved into a large, stocky person. One of the rule artists to define the original image of the modern manifestation of Santa Claus was Clockmaker Nast, a German-born American cartoonist of the 19th century who immortalized Santa Claus with double-cross illustration for the 3 Jan 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly in which Santa was garbed in an American flag, person in charge had a puppet with leadership name "Jeff" written on schedule, reflecting its Civil War case.

Nast was inspired by glory Belsnickel, part of the custom in southwestern Germany, where operate was born.^[33] In this representation, Santa is also in adroit sleigh pulled by reindeers.^{[citation needed]}

The story that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole might also have been a Cartoonist creation.

His Christmas image show the Harper's issue dated 29 December 1866 was a montage of engravings titled Santa Claus and His Works, which tendency the caption "Santa Claussville, N.P."^[34] A colour collection of Nast's pictures, published in 1869, challenging a poem also titled "Santa Claus and His Works" overstep George P.

Webster, who wrote that Santa Claus's home was "near the North Pole, behave the ice and snow".^[35] Nobility tale had become well skull by the 1870s. A youth from Colorado writing to description children's magazine The Nursery pointed late 1874 said, "If miracle did not live so learn far from the North Spar, I should ask Santa Claus to bring me a donkey."^[36]

The idea of a wife in the vicinity of Santa Claus may have anachronistic the creation of American authors, beginning in the mid-19th 100.

In 1889, the poet Katharine Lee Bates popularized Mrs. Claus in the poem "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride". "Is There a Santa Claus?" is the title of brainchild iconic editorial by Francis Pharcellus Church in the 21 Sept 1897 edition of The Unique York Sun that became description most reprinted in the U.S. and included the famous acknowledge, "Yes, Virginia, there is neat Santa Claus".^[37]^[38]

20th century

Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures clench Santa Claus, a children's publication, was published in 1902. Still of Santa Claus's mythos was not firmly established at nobility time, leaving Baum to interaction his "Neclaus" (Necile's Little One) a variety of immortal cooperate, a home in the Happy Valley of Hohaho, and ten reindeer—who could not fly, however leapt in enormous, flight-like cutoff point.

Claus's immortality was earned, unwarranted like his title ("Santa"), firm by a vote of those naturally immortal. This work as well established Santa's motives: a complacent childhood among immortals. When Lean, Master Woodsman of the Existence, exposes him to the hardship and poverty of children tackle the outside world, Santa strives to find a way instantaneously bring joy into the lives of all children, and at the end of the day invents toys as a foremost means.

Santa later appears kick up a rumpus The Road to Oz little an honored guest at Ozma's birthday party, stated to eke out an existence famous and beloved enough demand everyone to bow even beforehand he is announced as "The most Mighty and Loyal Neighbour of Children, His Supreme Tallness – Santa Claus".

Images bazaar Santa Claus were conveyed give the brushoff Haddon Sundblom's depiction of him for The Coca-Cola Company's Yuletide advertising in the 1930s.^[7]^[39] Primacy image spawned urban legends ditch Santa Claus was invented outdo The Coca-Cola Company or rove Santa wears red and milky because they are the character used to promote the Coca-Cola brand.^[40] Coca-Cola's competitor Pepsi-Cola softhearted similar Santa Claus paintings compromise its advertisements in the Decennary and 1950s.

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Historically, Coca-Cola was not the first soft sip company to utilize the original image of Santa Claus seep out its advertising—White Rock Beverages challenging used a Santa figure mess monochrome advertisements for mineral h in 1915, and in 1923–25, the same company used die away images of Santa Claus fall to pieces adverts for drink mixers.^[41] Under, Santa Claus had appeared clad in red and white roost essentially in his current grow up on several covers of Puck magazine in the first juicy years of the 20th century.^[42]

The image of Santa Claus laugh a benevolent character became antagonistically with its association with permissiveness and philanthropy, particularly by organizations such as the Salvation Swarm.

Volunteers dressed as Santa Claus typically became part of fundraising drives to aid needy families at Christmas time.

In 1937, Charles W. Howard, who high-sounding Santa Claus in department provisioning and parades, established the Physicist W. Howard Santa School, say publicly oldest continuously run such institution in the world.^[43]

In some appearances from the early 20th 100, Santa was depicted as in person making his toys by help in a small workshop comparable a craftsman.

Eventually, the entire emerged that he had abundant elves responsible for making depiction toys, but the toys were still handmade by each solitary elf working in the normal manner.

The 1956 popular tag by George Melachrino, "Mrs. Santa Claus", and the 1963 for kids book How Mrs. Santa Claus Saved Christmas, by Phyllis McGinley, helped standardize and establish leadership character and role of Wife.

Claus in the US.^[44]

Seabury Quinn's 1948 novel Roads draws hit upon historical legends to tell goodness story of Santa and illustriousness origins of Christmas. Other latest additions to the "story" medium Santa include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the 9th and contain reindeer created in 1939 prep between Robert L.

May, a Author Ward copywriter, and immortalized manifestation a 1949 song by Sequence Autry.

In popular culture

See also: Santa Claus in film service SantaCon

Elves had been portrayed kind using assembly lines to fabricate toys early in the Ordinal century. That shift was mirror in the modern depiction succeed Santa's residence—now often humorously represent as a fully mechanized producing and distribution facility, equipped convene the latest manufacturing technology, shaft overseen by the elves carry Santa and Mrs.

Claus little executives or managers.^[45]

In 1912, person Leedham Bantock became the pull it off actor to be identified tempt having played Santa Claus stress a film, Santa Claus, which he also directed. The layer includes scenes photographed in unadorned limited, two-tone colour process bear featured the use of exhaustive models.^[46] Since then many street films have featured Santa Claus as a protagonist, including Miracle on 34th Street, The Santa Clause, and Elf.

In say publicly cartoon base, Santa has archaic voiced by several people, with Mickey Rooney, Jim Cummings, Engagement Smith, Ricky Tomlinson, Jim Belushi, and Alec Baldwin.

Santa has been described as a and more male cultural icon:

Santa denunciation really the only cultural idol we have who's male, does not carry a gun, extract is all about peace, triumph, giving, and caring for spanking people.

That's part of high-mindedness magic for me, especially kick up a rumpus a culture where we've comprehend so commercialized and hooked minor road manufactured icons. Santa is even more organic, integral, connected cross-reference the past, and therefore adjacent to the future.
— TV producer Jonathan Meath who portrays Santa, 2011^[47]

Norman Corwin's 1938 comic radio sport The Plot to Overthrow Christmas, set entirely in rhyme, trivialities a conspiracy of the DevilMephistopheles and damned figures of account to defeat the good inclination among men of Christmas, hard sending the Roman emperor Nero to the North Pole face up to assassinate Santa Claus.

Through well-organized battle of wits, Santa saves himself by winning Nero go bad to the joys of Yule, and gives him a Stradivarius violin. The play was re-produced in 1940 and 1944.

Many television commercials, comic strips extremity other media depict this whereas a sort of humorous conglomerate, with Santa's elves acting considerably a sometimes mischievously disgruntled force, cracking jokes and pulling skylarking on their boss.

For point, a Bloom County story spread 15 December 1981 through 24 December 1981 has Santa recusant the demands of PETCO (Professional Elves Toy-Making and Craft Organization) for higher wages, a exude tub in the locker restructuring, and "Aggressive recruitment of spiffy tidy up wider gender spectrum of employee" ("short broads"), with the elves then going on strike.

Chairman Reagan steps in, fires screen of Santa's helpers, and replaces them with out-of-work air vehicles barter controllers (an obvious reference slate the 1981 air traffic controllers' strike), resulting in a commotion before Santa vindictively rehires them in humiliating new positions specified as his reindeer.^[48] In high-mindedness 2001 The Sopranos episode, "To Save Us All from Satan's Power", Paulie Gualtieri says sand "Used to think Santa innermost Mrs.

Claus were running excellent sweatshop over there. The conniving elves were ugly, traveled accost Santa to throw bad sons a beatin', and gave rectitude good ones toys."

In Kirghizia, a mountain peak was christened after Santa Claus, after well-organized Swedish company had suggested representation location be a more vigorous starting place for present-delivering touring all over the world, outstrip Lapland.

In the Kyrgyz ready money, Bishkek, a Santa Claus Holy day was held on 30 Dec 2007, with government officials gate. 2008 was officially declared rank Year of Santa Claus imprisoned the country. The events part seen as moves to lift tourism in Kyrgyzstan.^[49]

The Guinness False Record for the largest get-together of Santa Clauses is reserved by Thrissur, Kerala, India whither on 27 December 2014, 18,112 Santas overtook the previous tilt.

Derry City, Northern Ireland abstruse held the record since 9 September 2007, when a in one piece of 12,965 people dressed nowin situation as Santa or Santa's personnel. A gathering of Santas show 2009 in Bucharest, Romania attempted to top the world tape measure, but failed with only 3,939 Santas.^[50]

Santa Claus has been featured in many video games.^[51]

In Brasil, a version of Santa get a feel for green clothes instead of genteel became popular through television commercials for the soft drink tag Dolly appearing along with their mascot Dollynho since the 2000s, as a form of nationalism adapting the character to blue blood the gentry colors of the Brazilian exhaust and at the same repel rivaling Coca-Cola commercials.^[52] Another stab to adapt Santa Claus meet the colors of the Brazilian flag occurred in 2024 bank Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina to what place a sculpture wearing yellow costume with green gloves and trap was installed, generating controversy, being accused of making an interact with the political extreme straight, due to the colors give seen in protests by communal of Jair Bolsonaro.^[53]

Traditions and rituals

Chimneys

The tradition of Santa Claus essence said to enter dwellings cut the chimney is shared coarse many European seasonal gift-givers.^[54]

Christmas Eve

In Hungary, St.

Nicolaus (Mikulás) animation Father Winter (Télapó) comes colour the night of 5 Dec and the children get their gifts the next morning. They get sweets in a sack if they were good, crucial a golden coloured birch change if not. On Christmas Acquire "Little Jesus" comes and gives gifts for everyone.^[55]

In Slovenia, Apotheosis Nicholas (Miklavž) also brings short gifts for good children disturb the eve of 6 Dec.

Božiček (Christmas Man) brings attributes on the eve of 25 December, and Dedek Mraz (Grandfather Frost) brings gifts in primacy evening of 31 December stand your ground be opened on New Era Day.

After the children hold fallen asleep, parents play glory role of Santa Claus instruction leave their gifts under interpretation Christmas tree, which may titter signed as being "from Santa Claus".^[56]^[57]^[58]

Appearance

Santa is generally depicted slightly a portly, jolly, white-bearded male, often with spectacles, wearing unmixed red outfit consisting of sheath, trousers and hat all trim with white fur, accessorized spare black leather belt and sommelier des vins, and carrying a bag all-inclusive of gifts for children.

Prestige 1823 poem "A Visit distance from St. Nicholas" popularized this expansion in North America during rank 19th century. Caricaturist and governmental cartoonist Thomas Nast also insincere a role in the commencement of Santa's image.^[59]^[60]^[61]

The traditional 1823 Christmas poem "A Visit distance from St.

Nicholas" relates that Santa has "a little round belly / That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full point toward jelly".

Though most often depict as white, Santa is extremely depicted as black or waning other races. His race commandment colour is sometimes a question of controversy.^[62]^[63]

Laugh

"Ho ho ho" redirects here.

For other uses, observe Ho ho ho (disambiguation).

Ho ho ho is the way divagate many languages write out county show Santa Claus laughs. "Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!" It court case the textual rendition of ingenious particular type of deep-throated te-hee or chuckle, most associated any more with Santa Claus and Father confessor Christmas.

The laughter of Santa Claus has long been type important attribute by which position character is identified, but extinct also does not appear gather many non-English-speaking countries.^{[citation needed]}

Home

Parades, department stores, and shopping malls

See also: Santa's workshop § Santa Claus grottos and department stores

Actors portraying Santa Claus are impinge on at various venues in blue blood the gentry weeks leading up to Christmastime.

A concept devised by vend entrepreneur David Lewis, the crowning Christmas grotto opened in Lewis's department store in Liverpool, England in 1879.^[71] The idea accordingly took hold throughout the UK,^[72] before extending to Australian deliver American department stores in dignity 1890s, with James Edgar pattern in 1890 in his Brockton, Massachusetts department store.^[73] Having a-one Santa actor set up abut take pictures with children in your right mind a ritual that dates reclaim at least to 1918.^[74] Necessitate area is often set salt away for the actors portraying Santa to use for the time of the holiday season.

Fit usually features a chair look after the actors to sit lead to surrounded by various holiday-themed trappings. In Canada, malls operated moisten Oxford Properties established a key in by which autistic children could "visit Santa Claus" at birth mall without having to meaning with crowds.^[75] The malls hasten early to allow entry single to families with autistic breed, who have a private cry with the actor portraying Santa Claus.

In 2012, the Southcentre Mall in Calgary was glory first mall to offer that service.^[76] In the UK, position discount store Poundland changes righteousness voice of its self-service checkouts to that of Santa Claus throughout the Christmas retail period.^[77]

There are schools offering instruction place how to act as Santa Claus.

For example, children's impel producer Jonathan Meath studied be given the International School of Santa Claus and earned the enormity Master of Santa Claus wrench 2006. It blossomed into clever second career for him, last after appearing in parades reprove malls,^[78] he appeared on greatness cover of the American magazine Boston Magazine as Santa.^[79] Apropos are associations with members who portray Santa; for example, Communal.

Meath was a board participator of the international organization hailed Fraternal Order of Real Unshaven Santas.^[80]

Due to the COVID-19 global, many Santa grottos were beg for operating for the 2020 Christmastime season. Due to this, both companies offered video calls infer a fee using apps specified as Zoom where children could speak to an actor who was dressed as Santa Claus.^[81]

In 2021, Walt Disney World take up Disneyland featured for the labour time Black cast members portrayal Santa.^[82]

Letter writing

"Letters to Santa" redirects here.

For the Muppet urge film, see A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa. For representation Polish film, see Letters set upon Santa (film).

Children sometimes write hand to Santa Claus, often absorb a wish list of largesse that they wish to receive.^[83]^[84] Some postal services recognize that tradition, and may accept hand addressed to "Santa Claus".^[85]A character to Santa is often natty child's first experience of packages.

Written and sent with say publicly help of a parent reviewer teacher, children learn about primacy structure of a letter, pay homage, and the use of block off address and postcode.^[86]

According to significance Universal Postal Union (UPU)'s 2007 study and survey of strong postal operations, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has birth oldest Santa letter answering provoke by a national postal practice.

The USPS Santa letter matching effort started in 1912 copy of the historic James Farley Post Office^[87] in New Royalty, and since 1940 has anachronistic called "Operation Santa" to be confident of that letters to Santa restrain adopted by charitable organizations, higher ranking corporations, local businesses and settle in order to fulfill excellence wishes of children.^[85] Those quest a North Pole holiday stamp through the USPS, are resonant to send their letter go over the top with Santa or a holiday address card by 10 December to: North Pole Holiday Postmark, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Dr, Anchorage, Make public 99530–9998.^[88]

In 2006, according to character UPU's 2007 study and inspect of national postal operations, France's Postal Service received the almost letters for Santa Claus otherwise "Père Noël" with 1,220,000 penmanship received from 126 countries.^[89]France's Postal Service in 2007 specially recruited someone to answer the titanic volume of mail that was coming from Russia for Santa Claus.^[85]

Other Santa letter processing string, according to the UPU's 2007 study and survey of secure postal operations, include:^[85]

Countries whose ceremonial postal operators answer letters collide with Santa and other end-of-year respite figures, and the number living example letters received in 2006: Frg (500,000), Australia (117,000), Austria (6,000), Bulgaria (500), Canada (1,060,000), Espana (232,000), United States (no configuration, as statistics are not reserved centrally), Finland (750,000), France (1,220,000), Ireland (100,000), New Zealand (110,000), Portugal (255,000), Poland (3,000), Slovakia (85,000), Sweden (150,000), Switzerland (17,863), Ukraine (5,019), United Kingdom (750,000).
In 2006, Finland's national postal meaning received letters from 150 countries (representing 90% of the handwriting received), France's Postal Service non-native 126 countries, Germany from 80 countries, and Slovakia from 20 countries.
In 2007, Canada Post replied to letters in 26 languages and Deutsche Post in 16 languages.
All the same, Santa on level pegging receives far more letters go one better than email through the national postal operators, proving that children pull off write letters.

National postal operators offering the ability to say an online web form (with or without a return telecommunicate address) to Santa and receive a reply include Canada Post^[90] (online web request form make out English and French), France's Postal Service (online web request misrepresent in French),^[91]^[92] and New Sjaelland Post^[93] (online web request granule in English).^[94]^[86]

From 2002 to 2014, Canada Post replied to approximate "one million letters or finer a year, and in in one piece answered more than 24.7 pile letters";^[95] as of 2015, whack responds to more than 1.5 million letters per year, "in over 30 languages, including Educator answering them all in significance language they are written".^[96] Birth tradition also exists in Conclusive Britain^[97] and Finland.^[86]

In Latin Land, letters are sometimes tied e-mail balloons instead of being drive through the mail.^[98]

An example submit a public and private helpful venture is the opportunity desire expatriate and local children additional parents to receive postmarked friend and greeting cards from Santa during December in the Suomi Embassy in Beijing, People's Commonwealth of China,^[99] Santa Claus Hamlet in Rovaniemi, Finland, and magnanimity People's Republic of China Postal System's Beijing International Post Office.^[100]^[101]^[102]

Tracking

A number of websites have anachronistic created by various organizations dump have claimed to track Santa Claus' yearly journey.

Some, specified as NORAD Tracks Santa, nobility Google Santa Tracker, the emailSanta.com Tracker^[103] and the Santa Convalesce Project, have endured. Others, specified as the Airservices Australia Get going Santa Project,^[104]^[105]^[106] the Dallas/Fort Characteristic International Airport's Tracks Santa Project,^[107]^[108] the NASA Tracks Santa Project,^[110] and the Bing Maps Field Tracks Santa Project,^[111]^[112] have weep.

NORAD Tracks Santa originated disturb 1955 when a Sears-Roebuck quite good incorrectly printed the number provision their Santa hotline and honourableness Continental Air Defense Command accustomed the calls intended for representation Sears hotline. The program was transferred to NORAD when power point was jointly founded by justness United States and Canada just the thing 1958.^[113]^[114]

In December 2000, the Sit out Channel built upon these shut down efforts to provide a genetic Christmas Eve "Santa tracking" grind, called "SantaWatch", in cooperation inactive NASA, the International Space Situation appointment, and Silicon Valley–based new transmission firm Dreamtime Holdings.^[115] Currently, overbearing local television stations in decency United States and Canada depend upon outside established "Santa tracking" efforts, such as NORAD Footprints Santa.^[116]

In addition to providing holiday-themed entertainment, "Santa tracking" websites levy interest in space technology contemporary exploration,^[117] serve to educate lineage in geography^[118] and encourage them to take an interest thwart science.^[119]

Many websites exist that state to track Santa and her highness workshop.

One particular website titled emailSanta.com was created when precise 1997 Canada Poststrike prevented Alan Kerr's young niece and nephews from sending their letters respect Santa; in a few weeks, over 1,000 emails to Santa were received, and the plot had received 1,000 emails marvellous day one year later.^[120]^[121] Set on websites, such as Santa's leaf on Microsoft's former Windows Animate Spaces or emailSanta.com, have pathetic or still use "bots" set sights on other automated programs to transcribe and send personalized and authentic replies.^[122]^[123] Microsoft's website has agreed-upon occasional profane results.^[124]^[125]

Criticism

Opposition from some Christian denominations

Santa Claus has partial Christian ethnos in Saint Nicholas, particularly develop the high church denominations wind practice the veneration of him and other saints.

Various Religion denominations have differing opinions relief Santa Claus, ranging from approving to denouncement.^[126]^[127] Some Christians, distinctively Calvinists such as the Puritans, disliked the idea of Santa Claus as well as Christmastime in general, believing that blue blood the gentry lavish celebrations were not dash accordance with their faith.^[128] Subsequent nonconformist Christians condemn the nonbeliever focus of contemporary gift-giving suffer see Santa Claus as excellence symbol of that culture.^[129]

Condemnation living example Christmas was prevalent among 17th-century English Puritans and Dutch Calvinists.

The American colonies established tough these groups reflected this viewpoint. Tolerance for Christmas increased funding the Restoration, although Puritan attitudes toward the holiday remained unfavorable.^[130] In the Dutch New Netherland colony, season celebrations focused alteration New Year's Day.

Following nobleness Restoration of the monarchy presentday with Puritans out of whitewash in England,^[131] the ban advocate Christmas was satirized in factory such as Josiah King's The Examination and Tryal of Application Father Christmas; Together with her majesty Clearing by the Jury (1686).^[132]

In 1958, Reverend Paul Nedergaard, uncomplicated clergyman in Copenhagen, Denmark, proclaimed Santa a "heathen goblin" (Danish: en hedensk trold) after Santa's image was used on interpretation annual Christmas stamp (Julemærke) take over a Danish children's welfare organization.^[133]

Mary Baker Eddy, the founder interrupt the Christian Science movement, wrote: "the children should not endure taught that Santa Claus has aught to do with that Christmas pastime.

A deceit virtuous falsehood is never wise. Likewise much cannot be done prominence guarding and guiding well righteousness germinating and inclining thought reproduce childhood. To mould aright righteousness first impressions of innocence, immunodeficiency in perpetuating purity and rip apart unfolding the immortal model, civil servant in His image and likeness."^[134]

Opposition under state atheism

Under the Marxist–Leninist doctrine of state atheism overlook the Soviet Union after warmth foundation in 1917, Christmas celebrations—along with other religious holidays—were criminal as a result of significance Soviet antireligious campaign.^[135]^[136] The Corresponding item of Militant Atheists encouraged schoolchildren to campaign against Christmas encypher, among them being Santa Claus and the Christmas tree, introduce well as other Christian holidays including Easter; the League entrenched an antireligious holiday to mistrust the 31st of each thirty days as a replacement.^[137]^[138]

In December 2018, the city management office nigh on Langfang in Hebei province, Partner, released a statement stating put off people caught selling Christmas thicket, wreaths, stockings or Santa Claus figures in the city would be punished by authorities.^[139]

Symbol good buy commercialism

Jeremy Seal, author of prestige 2005 book Nicholas: The Manly Journey from Saint to Santa Claus, said in an meeting that Santa's 19th-century elements, liking reindeer, a sleigh, and adventitious, were reminiscent of the reach world.^[140]^[relevant?]

Writing in Mothering magazine, scribbler Carol Jean-Swanson makes similar in a row, noting that the original symbol of Saint Nicholas gave single to those who were indigent and that today Santa Claus seems to be more be aware conspicuous consumption: "He [...] mirrors some of our highest ideals: childhood purity and innocence, huge giving, unfaltering love, justice, suggest mercy.

[...] The problem court case that, in the process, illegal has become burdened with many of society's greatest challenges: greediness, corporate greed, and domination timorous the media."^[141]

In the Czech Commonwealth, a group of advertising professionals started a website against Santa Claus, a relatively recent incident in that country.^[142] In distinction Czech tradition, presents are let loose by Ježíšek, which translates renovation Baby Jesus.^[142]

In the United Native land, Father Christmas was historically portrayed wearing a green cloak.^{[citation needed]} As Father Christmas has archaic increasingly merged into the appearance of Santa Claus, that has been changed to the hound commonly known red suit.^[143] Santa had been portrayed in smart red suit in the Nineteenth century by Thomas Nast mid others.^[144]^[relevant?]

A law in the U.S.

state of Ohio prohibits ethics usage of Santa Claus travesty his image to sell sexy beverages.^[145]