The character that we know today as Santa Claus is as good a representation of the United States' "melting pot" of cultures as anything. He is a synthesis of a number of legends and traditions, whose origins lie in different parts of the world. Let's explore a brief history of Santa Claus and see how we got to the jolly old gift-giver we see every Christmas.
Saint Nicholas
The story of Santa begins with Saint Nicholas of Myra, an actual personage from the area that is now modern Turkey. The real man was a bishop, known for his generosity to the poor, even going so far as to provide dowries for three peasant girls in order to keep them from resorting to prostitution. He was often anonymous in his gift-giving, which added to his mystique and aided his eventual mythologization.
Saint Nicholas Day eventually became a holiday not only to honor the man, but also for children to leave their shoes out in hopes that he would come in the night and leave coins in them. This famous gift-giver's legend spread to many cultures, undergoing alterations in each country.
Did You Know?
The real Saint Nicholas had a church built in recognition of him. He is a very revered saint; his relics have been fought over, his feast day (separate from Christmas) is celebrated all over the world, and, in some countries that recognize both, he is more popular than Santa Claus.
Sinterklaas and Father Christmas
Saint Nicholas became Sinterklaas to the Dutch, many of whom settled New York. He wears a bishop's garb and is aided by helpers in giving gifts. His appearance (old, with a white beard) and habit of riding a flying white horse may have derived from myths of the Nordic god Odin, who behaved similarly and was also known to give gifts to children.
In the United Kingdom, where the primary settlers of America are from, the character of Father Christmas dates back to the 17th century. At the time, Puritans were against the holiday for numerous reasons. He was representative of the Christmas feast, and the desire of non-Puritan Britons to keep the holiday around. He is perhaps most famously portrayed in Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol as the Ghost of Christmas Present, a jovial old man in a green fur coat.
In the United States, the presence of these two traditions, thanks to British and Dutch settlers, gave way to a merging of their qualities. The result is the man we now know as Santa Claus, whose name is simply an Americanization of the name Sinterklaas.
Modern Santa
The 1823 poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas (better known as The Night Before Christmas), attributed to Clement Moore, solidified many of the characteristics of Santa Claus as we know him today; the jolly disposition, the chubby physique, the eight reindeer (not counting Rudolph), and the habit of sliding down chimneys can all be traced back to this work. Cartoonist Thomas Nast was one of the earliest artists to render Santa the way we think of him now, beginning in the mid-to-late 19th century. The presence of the famous red suit is often attributed to him.
It is interesting to note how Santa's methods of toy production have changed over the years. He and his elves used to make handmade gifts for children, but many contemporary depictions of the workshop at the North Pole are modeled after mass-production facilities. The elves can now be seen more as warehouse workers and design teams than craftsman, and Santa and Mrs. Claus almost resemble CEOs of a major corporation.
Controversy
That last bit reflects one of the reasons some people find the character of Santa objectionable: to them, he represents consumerism. Still other groups bemoan the secularization of Christmas and see Santa as the figurehead of that trend. On top of that, the notion of, in effect, lying to one's children in an elaborate and calculated manner makes many parents uncomfortable.
However, it would be more than a stretch to say that these are the opinions of the majority. Everyone's Christmas is different. The important thing, when it comes to Santa or any other tradition we may hold, is that we enjoy the holiday and help others to do the same. Merry Christmas.