By Peggy Yip

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Santa Claus, a name passed on from generation to generation, all leading back to the celebrated holiday known as Christmas. Also known as Kris Kringle or Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus is an old Christmas legend of which dates back to hundreds of years ago. Whether from holiday songs or stories, every Christmas enjoyer is bound to come across this classic figure at least once in their lives. 

Present-day Santa Claus is usually portrayed as a boisterous, chubby man, who has white hair and a beard. His outfit consists of a red suit with a white fur trim paired with his matching cap, black belt, black boots, and at times, spectacles. He can be recognized by his signature laugh, which is thought to sound a little like ‘ho ho ho’. 

On the 24th of December, Santa Claus supposedly goes around town from house to house during nighttime, lugging around a large sack, filled with gifts for children, on his back. He is carried around in a sleigh that’s led by nine of his flying reindeers. The leader of them being Rudolph, who’s famous for his bright, red nose. He answers to the calls or wishlists from children who’ve been well-behaved throughout the year, and climbs up into their chimneys to deliver their Christmas presents. In tradition, some families prepare milk and cookies for him as a welcoming gift.

Originally from the North Pole, Santa works in his workshop with his elf helpers, creating toys to get ready for the big day. He owns a ‘Naughty or Nice’ list, which is used to record the performance of each and every child through the year. For the children who’ve been naughty, he habitually leaves them coal, and in other known scenarios, brings them nothing. 

Santa Claus is believed to be based off of a notable monk named St. Nicholas, explaining one of his iconic nicknames. Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop who was known for handing over his wealth to the poor and travelling the world to take care of those sick or in poverty. He performed countless miracles, and his stories began to rapidly spread after his passing.

To some, Santa Claus may just be an old tale, composed of fakes who play the part for children during the Christmas season, or guardians giving their children gifts under his guise. To others, it might seem as though the ‘Spotting Santa’ videos that frequently appear online is clear evidence that Santa is out there somewhere in the North Pole, watching and waiting for the next upcoming Christmas.

Works Cited

Augustyn, Adam. “Santa Claus.” Britannica, 20 July 1998, https://www.britannica.com/art/legend-literature. Accessed 13 December 2021.Onion, A., Sullivan, M., & Mullen, M. (2010, December 8). Santa Claus. HISTORY. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus