Santa Trivia

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Children are awaiting the late night arrival of the man known as  SANTA CLAUS, with anxiety and gleeful anticipation. These children are young and old, or should I say older, human beings who love the mystery and awe of the Yuletide season.

But how many facts do you know about the chubby man in the red suit, who brings toys and presents to many across the globe?

Here are 10 points of trivia about Santa Claus—you might know and then again may not. Sharing this info would make a good party game at your boring office party; or an additional segment to your Trivial Pursuit Game.

1. Who was the first or ‘original Santa Claus’?  Many believe he was a bishop who lived in Turkey in the 4th Century called, St. Nicholas. The bishop would take presents to children in his town of Myra each winter.

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1. Did you know that prior to the 16th century, people of the Christian faith (in Europe) exchanged gifts during the feast of St. Nicholas on December 6?

1. America didn’t really grasp hold of the whole Christmas Celebration and St. Nick story until Washington Irving included a drawing of him in the 1809 publication A History of New York.

1. Then, in 1823, Clement C. Moore wrote ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ (or ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’). Moore’s rendition of St. Nicholas characterized Santa as a jolly old man who rode in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer  and delivered presents around the world to children everywhere.

1. Santa Claus has many names: Père Noël in France, St. Nicholas or Sinter Klaas in Holland, Father Christmas in England….and see what other nations call the winter gift giver —-

            Babouschka, a grandmotherly figure, brings presents in Russia,

           Jultomten, a Swedish gnome who rides a sleigh, delivers gifts

           Syrian children receive gifts from a camel that belonged to one of the Three Wise Men.

           Italy, a kindly old witch named La Befana leaves gifts for children.

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      6. Do you know how many reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh?        (9)

      7.  What year did the US Congress make December 25th an official Christmas Holiday?                                      ( June 26th, 1870)

         8. What did St. Nicholas originally drop down the chimney of homes in around Europe?                                         (A bag of coins)

         9. Santa’s lead Reindeer Rudolph had a red nose in order to guide the sleigh and Santa through fog….and did you know Rudolph was designed by Robert L May for the department store Montgomery Wards for their holiday ads.

       10. In 1931 Coca Cola presented their now famous ‘modern’ image of Santa, created by Haddon Sundblom.