Who invented Santa Claus and why?

[Lonkut]

The new year is coming and after seeying lots of santas it got me thinking: who invented santa claus, why and when?

 

[cgannon64]

St. Nick was a real guy, who delivered presents to poor people. Btw, I said Nick because I can't spell Nicholaus. Nicolous. Nichalous. Nicholous.

 

[Flintlock]

Toys 'R' Us, obviously



I actaully have no idea.

 

[Perfection]

When you don't know something ask Wiki!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

 

[Rhymes]

Christmas is coming

We'r in october for christ's sake!!!!!!!!

 

[Fetus4188]

I find it amazing how the Christman season gets longer every year, it use to start after Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November for all you non-Americans), now it starts before Halloween

 

[stormbind]

Coca Cola?

I dunno, but I'm familiar with Sinterklaas op een wit paard, and cannot deny the similarities. I bet Wikipedia has the truth..

 

[AceChilla]

I thought it was originally a Dutch and Belgium tradition which got taken over by Americans in the colonies. Sinterklaas became Santa Claus and the Saint became some dude with a funny hat and raindeers.

This is the Dutch Sinterklaas:

 

[stormbind]

The second character is Father Christmas, which remains the British name for Santa Claus. Father Christmas dates back at least as far as the 17th century in Britain, and pictures of him survive from that era, portraying him as a well-nourished bearded man dressed in a long, green, fur-lined robe. He typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, and was reflected in the 'Spirit of Christmas Present' in Charles Dickens' famous story, A Christmas Carol.

Saint Nickolas is the European dude, and Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus) is the British take off.

Father Christmas is merrier and more politically correct.

 

[Xen]

I have heard that the entire things has its start in Turkey, ironcially from a man who woudl chase around naughty children

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

What the heck does Santa Claus have to do with Jesus Christ?! Christmas is Mr. Christ's birthday, for crying out loud!

 

[CivCube]

St. Nickolas was originally a Turkish lord who once gave gifts to a poor man's daughters, who needed them in order to marry. Since then he is known as the patron of criminals and children.

 

[Lonkut]

Santa claus is associated with new year not christmass.

 

[Fetus4188]

Santa claus is associated with new year not christmass.

Maybe where you come from that is the case but not in America and (apparently) most of Europe.

 

[Rhymes]

Santa claus is associated with new year not christmass.

Canada neither. Where do you come from man?

 

[Syterion]

St. Nick was a real guy, who delivered presents to poor people. Btw, I said Nick because I can't spell Nicholaus. Nicolous. Nichalous. Nicholous.

Say it with me- N-I-C-H-O-L-A-S
Alternate spellings include not having the H

Santa is an guy made up by parents to control their bratty spoiled children.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

I’m not trying to flame or anything but nearly all of Lonkut’s posts seem to revolve around asking a fairly simple or pointless question. Have you ever heard of something called google? It's this amazing search engine that has the ability to search and filter through the gigabytes of Internet garbage and find answers to your queries.

 

[newfangle]

Corporate America.

 

[CivCube]

I’m not trying to flame or anything but nearly all of Lonkut’s posts seem to revolve around asking a fairly simple or pointless question. Have you ever heard of something called google? It's this amazing search engine that has the ability to search and filter through the gigabytes of Internet garbage and find answers to your queries.

Oh come on! That is what is part of the fun of OT. If we can't create a debate on the foundations of a simple question, what can we do? Besides, this could be interesting. How does Santy Claus tie in to the history of globablization?

 

[Gelion]

The Finns? Reno help me out here...