Santa Claus Through The Ages

His assistant, Black Pete, the predecessor of the American elves, was said to be and enslaved demon that Sinterklaas captured on a visit to the underworld. Parents used Sinterklaas and Pete to scare their children into good behavior. They were told all the good children would receive candy from Sinterklaas. However, if you were naughty, Black Pete would give you a thorough switching before stuffing you into his sack and carrying you off to the underworld.

In the late 16th century, a massive wave of immigrants from Holland and the Netherlands brought the idea of Sinterklaas to America. At this time the Feast of Sinterklaas was still observed on December 6th. The old ideas of Black Pete faded as Sinterklaas became a friendlier character. Now he was said to deliver sweets to the good children , but to the naughty a long switch for the parents’ use. In 1821, a poem in the “Children’s Friend” changed the way this mythological character was seen. In the poem was introduced the character a didactic old man who rode a sleigh and dropped presents through chimneys:
     
     “Old Santeclaus with much delight
      His reindeer drives this frosty night.
      O’er chimneytops, and tracks of snow…”

       “Where e’er I found good girls or boys,
      That hated quarrels, strife and noise,
      I left an apple, or a tart,
      Or wooded gun, or painted cart….”

He was said to be:     

    “The steady friend of virtuous youth,
       The friend of duty, and of truth …”
       
who presented:

       “No drums to stun their Mother’s ear,
       Nor swords to make their sisters fear;
       But pretty books to store their mind
       With knowledge of each various kind…”

 He delivered swithches too: 

       “But where I found the children naughty,
       I left a long black, birchen rod,
          Such as the dread command of God…” 

In 1823 Clement C Moore wrote a poem that shaped the image of Santa Claus today. His poem, popularly known as “The Night Before Christmas”, stated that:

“He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,”
and: “He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf”
and: “the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.”

The descriptions in this poem have been used in depictions of Claus worldwide ever since.

Image via Wikipedia

Today, Santa Claus is the most associated fictional character with the Christmas season. This character, who evolved from a blend of Christianity, Paganism, and Catholicism, is an integral part of Christmas for children the world over. The next time you see a mall Santa, think about how this charater began as a feared ancient pagan god and developed into such a beloved holiday character.