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A Christmas Story: "All About Santa Claus"
The history of the Santa Claus tradition as we know Santa Claus today with a red Santa suit and Santa hat, first emerged when the Dutch settlers came to Manhattan on Christmas day 1624. Sinterklaas the good saint in Holland was named the patron of their new home. In Holland, Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) wore a red robe (Santa suit, Santa hat), while riding a white horse, and carried a bag of presents to fill the children's stockings. A sinister assistant called black Pete proceeded Sinterklaasin the Holland tradition to seek out the naughty boys and girls who would not receive gifts. Black Pete, to the delight of all the American children, was left behind in Holland by Sinterklaas. By the late 1600s and through out the 1700s Sinterklaas would be known as Sancte Clause who would arrive on Christmas eve December 24.
It was not until the 1800s that Santa Claus, the Santa suit, the Santa hat, and the Santa clause image as we know Santa Claus today started to emerge. Writers and artists depicted a lovable jolly fellow, small in size with a giving heart. Santa Claus with his Santa suit and Santa hat would ride in a sleigh pulled by magical reindeer across the sky. Santa Claus would drop gifts down the chimneys of the good boys and girls.
In the early 1820’s Clement Moore describes St. Nicholas as dressed in a fur Santa suit and Santa hat, with rosy dimpled cheeks and a red cherry nose. Santa's face was broad with a droll little mouth and a snow-white beard. He was chubby and plump with a little round belly that shook like a bowlfull of jelly.
The Santa Claus picture drawn by Thomas Nast gave Americans a Santa Claus wearing a Santa suit and Santa hat that looked and behaved like a real person. His Santa Claus picture depicted Santa reading letters from children, making his delivery lists, and toys year around in Santa Claus' workshop.
The final image of Santa Claus, as we know Santa Claus today, came in the 1931 drawing by Haddon Sundblom. His version of the Santa Claus picture was a life size figure with the spirit of an elf resembling Clement Moore's written description of Santa Claus. Santa Claus wore a red Santa suit and red Santa hat trimmed in white fur and wearing black boots.
The arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas eve has become one of the most notable events of the Christmas holiday season. The Santa Claus we recognize today, wearing the red Santa suit and Santa hat, symbolizes love, caring, and gift giving of the Christmas season.
A Merry Christmas and to All a Good Night!
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If You See a Fat Man...
If you see a fat man
Who's jolly and cute,
wearing a beard
and a red flannel suit,
and if he is chuckling
and laughing away,
while flying around
in a miniature sleigh
with eight tiny reindeer
to pull him along,
then lets face it...
Your eggnog's
Waaaayyy too strong!
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Santa Claus Suits, Hats, Beards & Costume Accessories
Santa Claus Ornaments, Toys & Collectibles

$16.95
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$89.95
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$16.75
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$16.95
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Christmas Holiday Shopping Guide at Mile Hi Mall
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