Everyone knows the legendary, gift-giving Santa Claus, but does anyone know how the jolly old man came to be? Children look forward to the fellow dropping off their gifts on Christmas day, but who is he?
The story begins with a man from modern-day Turkey in the year 280, named St. Nicholas. During this time, he was known to give presents to children while wearing a red robe. His tale began to spread throughout the years, eventually landing in New York due to Dutch families immigrating. There the Dutch called him Sint Nikolass, or Sinter Klaas. This name later transformed into the classic Santa Claus we all know today. Stories from newspapers and books began to spread, eventually leading to the Coca-Cola Company using him for their advertisements in the 1930s. Their depiction of Santa Claus popularized the idea of him wearing a fuzzy, red suit.
Gradually, Santa Claus became the face of Christmas, commonly appearing at parades and malls during the holidays. His image brings joy to millions across the globe, reminding everyone about the festive bliss Christmas is all about.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/articles/santa-claushttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Claus
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Claus