The number-one symbolic figure of Christmas is Santa Claus. He's the pop star among gift-bringers. A plump old man in a red-and-white outfit, as soft as the fur of his faithful reindeer, with a bushy white beard down to his chest, a jaunty mustache under his bulbous nose, and round red cheeks: that's how children picture Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, he slides down the chimney and places the presents under the Christmas tree or tucks them into the stockings hanging over the fireplace. For nearly a century, the grandfatherly-looking Santa Claus has been the most popular gift-bringer for Christmas in many regions of the world, especially in the historically Protestant countries.
Coca-Cola invented Santa Claus - is that true?
Everyone knows them: the Coca-Cola commercials in which Santa Claus pours out Cola bottles chilled in the ice of the North Pole and then rides off on his sleigh. Maybe you've also seen the famous, brightly lit Coca-Cola Christmas trucks driving through town, with Santa Claus holding up a bottle in greeting. Santa is even printed on the seasonal Cola cans. Do Coca-Cola and Santa Claus belong together?
For a long time, the myth has persisted that the creation of Santa Claus traces back to the Coca-Cola Company. That isn't quite true, though. The soft-drink company did contribute significantly to spreading the Christmas icon, but the gift-bringer wasn't invented by Coca-Cola. He existed long before the company began using the figure for its advertising campaigns each year in 1931. Still, the spread and the look of Santa Claus were certainly boosted and cemented by Coca-Cola.
The true origin of Santa Claus
The origins of Santa Claus reach back to the 18th century. As early as 1773, the name 'Santa Claus' appeared in the American press and later in children's books. In 1902, for example, the American author L. Frank Baum published the children's book 'The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.' Back then, though, Santa still looked completely different - not like the figure that artist Haddon Sundblom drew for Coca-Cola a century later, which has barely changed to this day. Visually, he more closely resembled St. Nicholas in his plain robe.
Essentially, Santa Claus is a blend of various figures, above all St. Nicholas, but also his helper Knecht Ruprecht and the Dutch Sinterklaas, from whom the English name Santa Claus derives. It was also used in Washington Irving's History of New York (1809). Since then, the name Santa Claus kept resurfacing until he finally achieved his marketing breakthrough in the 20th century.
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Santa Claus pushes aside St. Nicholas and the Christ Child
St. Nicholas and the Christ Child have largely faded into the background in Germany and many other European countries. After the Protestants rejected the veneration of St. Nicholas of Myra during the Reformation, it was above all the Christ Child that was responsible for the Christmas gift-giving in Europe for a long time. In the United States in particular, though, young children believe in 'Santa Claus,' as they call him there. According to the stories, he lives at the icy North Pole and delivers the gifts made by Christmas elves - with his enormous sleigh, magically pulled through the air by eight reindeer. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph with the red nose pull the sleigh. Today, Santa Claus is known all over the world. In large parts of Germany, too, he's the gift-bringer that children look forward to with sparkling eyes. This is thanks to the large-scale international marketing of Santa Claus.
Traditions and customs around Santa Claus
In America, children traditionally prepare milk and cookies for Santa Claus. In other countries, cake or other dishes are set out too; in Ireland, Santa is even left a glass of Guinness. That way, Santa Claus can refuel between visits to the individual houses. While the gift-giving there takes place on the morning of December 25, in German households it usually stays on Christmas Eve.
According to tradition, however, only the well-behaved children receive gifts. The naughty children, on the other hand, get a switch, similar to the one Knecht Ruprecht hands out at St. Nicholas Day. As with the Christ Child, writing letters to Santa Claus is widespread too. The letters contain a wish list of toys, but also examples of good behavior. During Advent, children can send their letters to the Christ Child, St. Nicholas, and Santa Claus. In Germany, Deutsche Post accepts the letters addressed to Santa Claus or the Christ Child and, if the letters arrive in time, even sends a reply back.
