Clover Lau (11) | STAFF REPORTER
Now that it is mid-December and the Christmas spirit is inching closer and closer (although it is common knowledge that everyone already started feeling the holiday cheer the moment November began), the time has come to do a brief history lesson on one of the most iconic and well-known figures ever, Santa Claus.
The name we now use to refer to him, Santa Claus, has actually been through an evolution process through the years. He was first known as Sint Nikolaas, which is Dutch for Saint Nicholas, then it was shortened to Sinter Klaas, and finally, it became Santa Claus.
The story of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named Saint Nicholas, born sometime around 280 A.D. in modern-day Turkey. Saint Nick was said to be the epitome of a giving man. He gave away all his inherited wealth to those who were in need and travelled around the countryside helping those who were poor and sickly.
Over the course of many years, Saint Nicholas gained immense popularity and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. By the Renaissance, Saint Nick was the most popular saint in Europe, especially in Holland.
In December of 1773, Saint Nicholas made his debut in popular American culture when a New York newspaper wrote an article about how Dutch families gathered to celebrate the death of a particular Saint.
In 1809, American author Washington Irving helped to spread the story of Santa Claus as he included him as the “patron Saint of New York” in his book, The History of New York.
From then on, the stories of Santa Claus spread throughout America (and Canada) and he has been forever immortalized through the stories parents tell their children, as well as in the media.
What better way to spread joy during the Christmas season than with the story of Santa Claus?
