Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle: Know about the real Santa Claus

New Delhi: While people from all walks of life are gearing up to celebrate Christmas, the greatest festival of the Christian community marking the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, we cannot forget talking about a prominent figure, Santa Claus, who brings smiles and happiness into the lives of every individual. Santa Claus has a long and historic connection to Christmas traditions. Whenever we talk about Santa Claus, an old character in a red dress with white hair and white beard, holding a bag full of gifts on his back, appears in our minds, but do you know who was the first Santa Claus? If your answer is no, then here is the answer.

The first man behind the red dress was Saint Nicholas, also known as Kris Kringle. To learn more about the first Santa Claus, let’s read the information below. The birth of the first Santa Claus The birth of Santa Claus can be traced back to the 3rd century, when Saint Nicholas stepped on the earth and became the patron saint of children.

Historians believe that Saint Nicholas was born sometime around AD 280 in Patara, near Myra, which is located in modern-day Turkey. Becoming a smile-bearer It is believed that Saint Nicholas gave away all his inherited wealth and travelled the countryside, helping the poor and sick, bringing rays of hope and happiness into their lives. Sooner, he became the subject of many legends and was much admired for his piety and kindness.

Among several stories of kindness by Saint Nicholas, one of the most prominent and admirable is the time when Nicholas protected three impoverished sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by offering them a dowry for their marriage. Earning a reputation of a protector Over the course of many years, Nicholas became a popular character, earning a reputation as the protector of sailors and children. Annually, December 6, which is the passing day of Nicholas, is marked as his feast day.

The day was traditionally considered a fortunate day to get married or to make large purchases. By the Renaissance, a period in history and a cultural movement marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity, covering the 15th and 16th centuries, Nicholas was the most famous saint in Europe. Even after the Protestant Reformation, when saint adoration started to decline, Nicholas remained a positive flag bearer and a prominent character, especially in Holland.

From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus By the end of the 18th century, Saint Nicholas had made his way into American popular culture. According to reports by a New York newspaper, in December 1773, and again in 1774, a group of Dutch families congregated to commemorate the death anniversary of Nicholas, marking the achievements of the saint. Nicholas’ Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas – a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas – earned him the title of Santa Claus.

During the annual meeting of the New York Historical Society in 1804, John Pintard, a member, distributed woodcuts of Saint Nicholas. The engraving’s background has well-known Santa imagery, such as fruit hanging over a fireplace and stockings stuffed with goodies. Santa Claus gained more popularity when Washington Irving referred to Nicholas as New York’s patron saint in his book ‘The History of New York’ in 1809.

Distribution of gifts, especially among children, has been an important part of Christmas celebration since the rejuvenation of holidays in the early 19th century. While in 1820, stores started advertising Christmas shopping, newspapers started creating separate sections, which often featured images of the newly-popular Santa Claus, for the holiday by the 1840s. .