Lynn Jebbia asked:


The idea of Santa Claus and the gift of giving associated with him is said to have originated in Asia Minor which is now Turkey with St. Nicholas in 300 A.D. There really isn’t any historical documentation that tells us a lot about him. There are many legends that surround him. It is said that he was a wealthy man whose parents died and left him a fortune which he gave away to the poor and needy. Legends say that he often went out at night disguised in a hooded cloak, to leave gifts of money, clothing or food.

He was very religious and became a monk and eventually became bishop of the city of Myra. A well known St. Nicholas story is that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery and prostitution by their father by providing them a dowry so they could be married. Eventually, as his popularity grew along with the legends, he became known as the protector of children and sailors. He earned sainthood status and had a basilica built over his tomb.

St. Nicholas isn’t the only early tradition tying winter holidays with giving that eventually evolved into Santa Claus. The Saxons in Britain around 600 A.D. dressed an actor in a pointed cap, cloak and ivy and called him King Frost. They then extended kindness and gentleness to him in hopes that the approaching winter would be kind and gentle to them. Around 800 A.D. the Vikings believed that their main god, Odin, dressed up as a sage with a long white beard in December and visited earth to distribute gifts to the needy. The Viking followers of Odin changed the portrayal of Saint Nicholas from having a short, dark beard to a long white beard. The Germans had a character they called Winterman who dressed in furs and skins and these characteristics were also added to the portrayal of St. Nicholas.

Over time the European Christians started giving gifts to needy children on the anniversary of St. Nicholas’s death calling it Saints Feast Day. The Dutch nickname used for Saint Nicholas was “Sinter Klaas” which stood for Sint Nikolaas. Children speaking English pronounced this name as “Sainty Claus” and eventually it changed to Santa Claus.

Washington Irving, an American writer, described Santa as a jolly Dutchman who wore baggy pants and rode over the treetops in a horse drawn wagon, smoking a pipe, dropping gifts down chimneys. The first truly American version of Santa Claus emerged in the famous poem “The Night Before Christmas” which was written by Clement C. Moore in 1821. This poem was originally called “A Visit from St. Nicholas”. Moore described Santa Claus as the “jolly old elf, dressed all in fur with a round belly” and mentions eight reindeer for the first time as well as their names.

The image of Santa Claus and the myths surrounding him continued to evolve over time to the modern day characterization we all know as jolly old St. Nicholas who arrives on his sleigh, with Rudolph the Reindeer leading the way on Christmas Eve delivering gifts down chimneys for the delight of children everywhere. Christmas trees,

Veronica

Laina Huculak asked:


Let’s face it: Santa’s getting up there. Though no official statement from his publicist has been released, we are all expecting that Mr. Claus will be retiring soon. I think hundreds of years as a civil servant are more than enough to start collecting a pension. All of the elves have roughly equal seniority, so hiring within the company would create workplace tensions and could lead to a strike or, even worse, a coup d’état. And no one likes a militant elf; they’re so confrontational. To avoid a public relations nightmare, the people at Claus Corp. have decided in favor of outsourcing and invite all willing participants to apply. Before you start ho, ho, hoing, there are some prerequisites you must satisfy.

1. You must love children. Now, we don’t mean like them a little, or have logged a few hours babysitting. You are to become the hero to every single boy and girl in the world (and a few developmentally halted adults). It is imperative you treat these billions of kids as if they were your own grandchildren. Eat their cookies, regardless of their taste and shape. Drink their milk even if their little fingers dipped in. Respond to their letters in a loving, compassionate way, even if you know there’s no chance they’ll receive everything on their lists.

2. You must have the right look. Our HR department will remind us time and again that we can’t ask you to gain weight, grow a beard, and wear nothing but red velvet the rest of your career. However, the current Santa Claus has done an excellent job of portraying a figure who we all recognize, from his wire-rimmed glasses to his soot-stained boots. You are encouraged to take over this position and make it your own . . . but don’t stray too far from the original recognizable figure. For example, we frown upon wearing green, but encourage you to stuff a pillow in your fur-lined coat.

3. You must know how to operate a sleigh. This is, hands down the most significant aspect of the job. Owning and operating a sleigh is a privilege, not a right, so safety and caution are of the utmost importance. Being that those of us who don’t live in the North Pole are not readily familiar with such machinery, we encourage you to purchase a sleigh bed for practice. These beds are of a perfect shape and are made of the finest wood. Meticulous detailing on either side adds a creative touch for those who like to think outside the box. As well, sleigh beds are truly comfortable and safe and provide an excellent environment for hours and hours of sleigh-steering practice. Claus Corp will provide you with reindeer.

If you feel that becoming Santa Claus is the right fit for you, we would be delighted to receive your application. Visit Sleigh Bed Select for further details.



Kailyn

C A Mc Craw asked:


A great Santa Claus impersonation is a useful skill to have: you can thrill your young children on Christmas Eve, make extra gift-buying money by working as a mall Santa, volunteer your services as a Salvation Army bell ringer, or be the life of your next office holiday party. Playing one of the most famous white-bearded men in history can be a daunting prospect, but with the right tools and preparation, you can act out the part of a convincing Santa Claus this holiday season.

Here’s what you need to play Santa Claus realistically:

A Great Costume No one is going to believe you’re the real deal if you don’t dress the part. Many of us can still picture that one intoxicated uncle staggering around in the snow sporting a red turtleneck, a straggly, elasticized beard, and a can of beer, hollering “Ho, ho, ho!” at the top of his lungs. Not a convincing Santa.

Instead, stock up with the following:

- A professional Santa suit, preferably one with shiny buttons, furry white trim, and a matching hat.

- Standard Santa accessories, such as the requisite wide black belt and buckled boots. White gloves and small, square glasses are also a good touch.

- Jingle bells and a toy sack filled with gifts are also appreciated by little ones.

Now that you’re dressed the part, what else do you need?

The Proper Chuckle Yelling “Ho, ho, ho,” isn’t actually a prerequisites for those who want to play Santa Claus. Actually, it’s much more convincing if you master the art of the belly laugh. A good, infectious chuckle goes a lot further than a forced, barking hoot.

Also, remember that Santa Claus is a good-natured guy and probably doesn’t run around with a scowl on his face too often. So while you’re in that Santa costume, keep smiling, Kris Kringle. This takes us to our last, but most important topic:

The Santa Attitude In order to keep your audience from eyeing you in suspicion, it is important to get into the proper character. Instead of feeling irritation at the enormity of the role you’re getting ready to play, take a few minutes to capture the Christmas spirit. Think about why you’re playing Santa in the first place: the high-octane excitement of the kids you’ll be performing for, or the extra money you’ll be providing for needy charities. Once you remember the point of your performance, it becomes a lot easier to get into character.

Next, you need to develop an air of mysteryespecially if you’re making an appearance at a family get-together. You’re playing the part of a man that inexplicably gets into homes once a year, without setting of the burglar alarm, alerting the family dog, or even being slowed down by the fact that the chimney of the house leads to a forced-air furnace and not a fireplace. The trick to mastering this important characteristic is stealth. Scope out a likely place for a costume switch, and have a cover story prepared for your absence in the meantime. If it’s safe, and you won’t slip off a snowy roof, consider sneaking out a window and reappearing in another room. Again, cover your bases by making sure there are no locked windows or other hindrances to your plan.

You can also simply slip into a room when no one is looking, and just observe for a moment. Let everyone notice you and wonder when you showed up, and then leave in the same subtle manner.

Playing Santa Claus can be one of the most rewarding hobbies you ever pick up. Plus, if you do it right, portraying the legendary Kris Kringle in a heartfelt and credible way, you’ll find your skills in very high demand over the holiday season.



Dustin

C A Mc Craw asked:


The true story of Santa Claus remains one of the biggest mysteries of all time. Stories and legends of this jolly, red-clad symbol of kindness and Christmas cheer have been passed around for centuries in countries all over the world. Some believe Santa Clause has his roots in Christianity while some believe that he was really based on the mythological god, Odin. Others think that he was invented by the Coca Cola companies in the early 1900s to sell more pop.

Below are a few different explanations for the history of Santa Clause.

Early Christianity One story of Santa Claus, or St. Nicholas as he is often referred to, says that he was a Christian bishop named Saint Nicholas of Maya. As this account has it, Saint Nicholas was a bishop who gave wedding dowries to poor women, allowing them to catch husbands and avoid lives of prostitution. This Saint Nicholas can still be seen on German holy cards.

Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands In Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, Santa Claus is thought to be based on the Norse god Odin (or Woden), god of wisdom, war and death. Legend was that Odin would throw a party around Christmastime for other gods and dead warriors, and that he would ride to the party on his horse, Slepnir. Children in these countries leave straw, carrots or sugar in their shoes for Odins flying horse, which are replaced with treats or gifts during the night.

Austria and Italy Early folk tales in southern Austria and northwest Italy tell of a holy man who reforms a hideous child-eating monster. As the story goes, there was a large demon, covered in furs (known as Belsnickle, or Furry Nicholas) that snuck into homes at night to kill village children violently and stuff them up the chimney, or drag them away to be eaten later. A saint traps the demon with magic shackles, forcing him to bring the children toys and candy instead, to make up for how many of them he ate. In some stories, the demon persuades imps and other creatures to help him, similar to Santas elves, and in others, he chooses to go back to Hell instead.

Britain The Brits rendition of Santa Claus, dating back to the 17th Century, is most similar to ours. Santa, or Father Christmas, was a bearded man in a green, fur-lined robe, that starred in the Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol, as the Ghost of Christmas Present  no pun intended.

Early America America, called the melting pot of modern civilization, is also the melting pot of Santa Claus mythology. British, Dutch and early American influences came together to give us the Santa Claus that most of us are familiar with today: the jolly old man, distributing gifts yearly with the help of his entourage of elves and reindeer. The Coca Cola/Santa Claus myth stems from when companies in the early 1900s, like White Rock Beverages and Coca Cola began using Santas image to promote their productsand of course, his distinctive red and white colors didnt help dispel the rumor.

The only thing were really sure of is that Santa Claus was not invented by Coca Cola, as the urban legend states. But no matter where the real Santa hails from, what he stands for remains the same throughout every country: kindness, goodness and the generous, giving spirit associated with Christmas.

Source: www.wikipedia.com



Joselyn

C A Mc Craw asked:


While history has done a fairly good job presenting the established depiction of Santa Claus as the chubby, jolly, old, bearded man in a red suit, there has been little done to create a clear picture about the character and nature of Mrs. Claus. While she is generally seen as a loving, supportive, and kind women, many people are unsure what is the real personality and character surrounding this true leading lady?

Innovative and adventurous young people have begun to portray “Ms.” Claus as a hip, sexy, and enthusiastic helper to the great Saint Nick. There are a wide variety of costumes and suits available to Santa’s favorite helper, including basic red suits with short skirts and sleek boots. Interesting accessories, including stylish belts and hats add to the fun.

Many still like to think of Mrs. Claus as the traditional homemaker who displays elegance and glamour and gives great calm to Santa and his helpers during the stressful Christmas season. Traditional Mrs. Claus Christmas gowns and costumes are readily available for those wanting to maintain a classic look for the wife of Santa Claus.

Christmas costumes allow people to give great life to classic characters. Mrs. Claus is often overshadowed by her husband. After all, Santa is viewed as a jolly old man who flies around with eight reindeer on Christmas Eve night, spreading joy and cheer and giving great gifts to children. As many women suggest, however, behind every good man is a great woman.

Most Christmas movies and television shows tend to show Mrs. Claus as a loving, nurturing, traditional wife. With all the time and effort that Santa and his helpers put into making Christmas a great time of year, Mrs. Claus must be the stabilizing presence at the North Pole. She prepares and hosts the Christmas Eve meal for Santa and all his helpers before the work of the night begins.

While the entertainment world has stuck to the classic presentation of jolly old Saint Nick and his elderly and elegant wife, many adventurous, young women have chosen to give “Ms.” Claus a more youthful persona. With sleek and sexy suits that would make “Mrs.” Claus blush, young women have created an interesting new take on Santa’s lady that conveys excitement, energy, adventure, fun, and enthusiasm.

Whether a woman chooses to give Lady Claus a traditional and elegant look or a young and adventurous personality, she must do so in style and with a high quality Christmas costume. There are many cheap options available that can give someone the basic look of the mother of Christmas. But, fashion conscious women realize that quality fabric, trendy styles, and glamorous accessories can take a plain Mrs. Claus and make her shine as Santa’s right hand woman.



Davis