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The Truth About Santa Claus

Running Time:5:56Release Date:
Everybody thinks they know about Santa Claus. But here we dig a bit deeper and find out the truth. We see how his image has changed over time and travel back in search of his origins. After you watch this video you will know a lot more about this rather elusive man.

About The Video

Introduction

There are some people in this world who do not believe in Santa Claus. They are rather foolish, but the truth is that for someone so famous, we know very little about the real Santa Claus.

A Rather Foolish Person Who Doesn't Believe In Santa Claus
A Rather Foolish Person Who Doesn't Believe In Santa Claus

The Origins Of Santa Claus

The early history of Santa Claus is lost deep in the mists of time. What we do know is that many of our Christmas traditions can be traced back to the pagan Yule-Tide festival. Part of Santa Claus may well be the pagan Green Man.

Green Man
Green Man
Yule Tide Celebrations
Yule Tide Celebrations

It is thought that Santa Claus has parts of Odin in him. Odin was the head of the Norse Gods.

Odin The Chief Norse God
Odin The Chief Norse God

Odin, flew through the sky just like Santa Claus. Rather than a sleigh, Odin had a horse called Sleipnir. Odin had a white beard similar to Santa Claus and children would leave food for his horse. They would often receive presents in return.

Odin Riding Sleipnir
Odin Riding Sleipnir

Saint Nicholas

A lot of Santa Claus, including his name, comes from Saint Nicholas of Myra. Saint Nicholas was born about 270 A.D. in what is now modern day Turkey. He died December 6, 347 A.D.

Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was known for secretly giving gifts. He was also Bishop of Myra.

A famous story of his generosity is about one of his parishioners, who was a very poor man. He had three daughters, but because of his poverty the man could not provide a dowry so that they could marry. Because of this the man was thinking about selling them to become prostitutes.

Saint Nicholas heard about this. Three times in the middle of the night he secretly brought bags of gold to the man's house. This meant that the man now had money so that his daughters could get married.

Saint Nicholas Giving Money
Saint Nicholas Giving Money

The Tomb Of Saint Nicholas

After his death in 347 A.D. Saint Nicholas was buried in Myra, which is is modern day Turkey. Here his body lay for 740 years.

In 1087, Saint Nicholas's body was stolen and moved 2,000 miles to a town called Bari, which is in Italy. At that time there was a major tourist industry centered around pilgrims visiting holy relics. So Bari sent 70 sailors on the long voyage to Myra. There they snatched the saint's bones and chased by the residents of Myra they brought them to Bari. Over 900 years later Saint Nicholas still resides in the town and remains a major tourist attraction.

The Tomb Of Saint Nicholas
The Tomb Of Saint Nicholas

The Legend Of The Three Pickled Boys

This is another story about Saint Nicholas. An evil shopkeeper killed three young boys. He then sliced them up and put them in a pickling barrel. He was going to sell them, pretending the three boys were pickled pork. Saint Nicholas who was visiting realized what had happened. He made the sign of the cross over the barrel and a miracle happened. Out jumped the boys alive and well!!

Saint Nicholas And The Pickled Boys
Saint Nicholas And The Pickled Boys

Saint Nicholas Eve

In some countries Saint Nicholas Eve is celebrated. This falls on the 5th December. People dress up as Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) and presents are given to children.

Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas
Children Meet Sinterklaas

A Visit From Saint Nicholas

In 1823, a poem was published anonymously, it was called "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" it is also known as "The Night Before Christmas".

Twas The Night Before Christmas
Twas The Night Before Christmas

The author is now believed to be Clement C. Moore, who was a Professor of Biblical Learning.

Clement Moore
Clement Moore

The poem established many of the ideas that we have of Santa Claus. In the poem Moore describes Santa Claus as plump and jolly with a beard. He also writes that Santa Claus uses a sleigh drawn by eight reindeer. The poem gives each of them a name.

Thomas Nast

Thomas Nast's Original Santa Claus
Thomas Nast's Original Santa Claus

On January 3, 1863 in Harper's Weekly, a cartoon was printed of Santa Claus.

The illustration shows Santa Claus visiting a camp during the American Civil War. This was drawn by Thomas Nast who was a political cartoonist.

Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast

This image became very popular and over the years Nast drew other cartoons of Santa Claus. They were widely copied. These illustrations were very influential in the way we see Santa Claus today.

Thomas Nast's Later Santa Claus
Thomas Nast's Later Santa Claus

Haddon Sundblom And Coca-Cola

In 1931 Coca-Cola published a Christmas advertisement. This featured Santa Claus drinking Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola Christmas Advertisement
Coca-Cola Christmas Advertisement

The advertisement was drawn by Haddon Sundblom. For over 30 years, every Christmas, Sundblom drew Coca-Cola a new advertisement featuring Santa Claus.

A Later Coca-Cola Santa Claus Advertisement
A Later Coca-Cola Santa Claus Advertisement

Interestingly Sundblom used himself as a model for his images of Santa Claus.

Haddon Sundblom
Haddon Sundblom
Haddon Sundblom As Santa Claus
Haddon Sundblom As Santa Claus

Sundblom's images are very important for their depiction of Santa Claus's clothes. Before these pictures, Santa Claus was dressed in many different colors.

Sundblom chose red for his Santa Claus. Many people think that the advertisements invented Santa Claus's red clothes. This is not the case, but they certainly popularized them.

Santa Claus Dressed In Yellow
Santa Claus Dressed In Yellow
Santa Claus Dressed In Green
Santa Claus Dressed In Green

Santa Claus Today

Santa Claus has never been so popular as he is today. His influence is still spreading throughout the world.

Rastafarian Santa Claus
Rastafarian Santa Claus
Japanese Santa Claus
Japanese Santa Claus

Santa Claus In Stores

Santa Claus In A Store
Santa Claus In A Store

People first started dressing up as Santa Claus many years ago, this tradition still continues today.

Meeting Santa Today
Meeting Santa Today
Some Of Us Are Not Sure About The Experience
Some Of Us Are Not Sure About The Experience
Some Of Us Like Meeting Santa Claus
Some Of Us Like Meeting Santa Claus
Others Definitely Do Not Enjoy Meeting Santa Claus
Others Definitely Do Not Enjoy Meeting Santa Claus

The End

Portrait Of Santa Claus
Portrait Of Santa Claus

So ends our tale. Even if we are not quite sure who Santa Claus really is, now you can see that he really does exist.

Cutting Room Floor

As all our videos are under 6 minutes in length, we sometimes cannot fit in all the great things we want to say. So here are bits that ended up on the cutting room floor, that we didn't want to throw away.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

The story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created by Robert L. May in 1939. He created the character Rudolph and wrote the poem for his employers Montgomery Ward.

This was as part of a Christmas promotional campaign for the retailer. It tells the tale of a ninth reindeer, who has a red-colored nose that is so bright, that it is used as a light for the other reindeer to find their way.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

President Kennedy Assures Santa Claus Will Be Safe

In 1961, a little girl wrote to President John F. Kennedy, she was worried about Santa Claus's safety, Kennedy replied:

"I was glad to get your letter about trying to stop the Russians from bombing the North Pole and risking the life of Santa Claus.

I share your concern about the atmospheric testing of the Soviet Union, not only for the North Pole but for countries throughout the world not only for Santa Claus but for people throughout the world.

However, you must not worry about Santa Claus. I talked with him yesterday and he is fine. He will be making his rounds this Christmas."

President John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy

Curious Facts

★ The names of Santa Claus's reindeer, according to Clement C. Moore, are Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, and Dunder and Blixem.
★ Dunder and Blixem's names are often changed to Donner and Blitzen, which is German for thunder and lightning.
★ NORAD and it's predecessor CONAD have been tracking Santa since 1955.

More Of Our Christmas Videos

The Mouse And The Christmas Cake

The Mouse And The Christmas Cake
We have found a rather jolly poem, just right for Christmas. The text and images we have used are from an edition first published way back in 1858.

A Visit From Saint Nicholas

A Visit From Saint Nicholas
This classic poem is also known as "The Night Before Christmas". Written by Clement Clarke Moore, it tells of a visit by Santa Claus.

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus
1897 a young girl, Virginia O'Hanlon wrote to her local newspaper asking if Santa Claus was real. A veteran newpaper man Francis Pharcellus Church answered her question.

Baboushka - A Christmas Legend

Baboushka - A Christmas Legend
One night many years ago, an old peasant woman named Baboushka was called on by the Three Wise Men who invited her to join them as they traveled to Bethlehem.

Old Santeclaus

Old Santeclaus
Published 1821, in The Children's Friend this little known poem is of great interest as it introduces some modern elements of Santa as we know him today.

Interesting Links

General

Wikipedia - Santa Claus
NORAD - NORAD Tracks Santa
Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola and Santa Claus