Waking up in the New Year or Christmas morning, kids all over the world first of all rush to the decorated Christmas tree or holiday socks, hung by the fireplace, to a joyful squeal find there gifts ...
How does Santa Claus lives in a country, is there ahis family?These questions concern not only children but also adults, I sincerely wish to continue to believe in the beautiful Christmas tale.
Who was actually St. Nicholas
is interesting to know that the prototype of the current Santa Claus was a real historical figure.St. Nicholas, known as Myra, was actually born Christian bishop from Myra in Lycia (modern Turkey).He lived in the IV century and famous for charity and good deeds.
about him many legends.So, having learned that one of the residents of the city is so impoverished that he was going to sell to a brothel his three daughters, St. Nicholas threw secretly at night in the window of the house of the man three bags full of gold.According to another legend, he miraculously revived three children, were killed and imprisoned in a barrel.Because it is considered a protector of children, the patron of the lost and innocent, as well as protects the wandering travelers and sailors.
In Russia, this is also very revered saint.It is called the saints, or the Miracle Worker.
Outside St. Nicholas
examining the relics of St. Nicholas with the permission of the Vatican, the British scientists using computer technology to recreate the face of the saint.Thanks to them, it became known for certain, it looks like "Santa Claus", which existed in reality.
St. Nicholas was short - 168 centimeters, had olive skin, short gray beard, dark brown eyes and a broken nose.Not so much in common with a modern fairy-tale hero, bringing Christmas presents ...
Why Santa Claus brings presents at Christmas?
became Santa Claus Christmas character is not immediately.Initially, in Europe gave gifts to children on December 6 - the day of worship of St. Nicholas.However, during the Reformation, this tradition has changed.Characters gifts to children, was considered the baby Jesus, and a holiday when it happened, was moved to the eve of the Catholic Christmas.
After winning Counter gifts to children again began to bring Saint Nicholas, but still on Christmas Day, in late December.While, for example, in the Netherlands, the saint (here his name Sinterklaas), sometimes happy surprises kids on both holidays.
history of Santa Claus in America
English Puritans first began to explore the North American continent, it is not celebrated Christmas.The history of Santa Claus on these lands began in the mid 17th century, when Dutch colonists was founded settlement of New Amsterdam (later became New York).
In the early 19th-century American writer Washington Irving was written "History of New York," in which he mentioned the custom of honoring the New Amsterdam St. Nicholas.The development of this theme 14 years later from the pen of Clement Moore's book "The Night Before Christmas, or visit St. Nicholas."In it, he described for the first time, it looks like Santa Claus as he travels through the sky on a reindeer sleigh and what happens when he comes to visit the house on Christmas Eve with gifts.
This poem greatly influenced the idea of Santa Claus around the English-speaking world.And today it is one of the most beloved American Christmas tales.
Since that time, the image of the character, handing out gifts to children, we finally ceased to be associated with the saints.
How does Santa Claus
The composition of Clement Moore's Santa Claus appears in the form of a cheerful elf with a fat belly, smoking a pipe and loves to eat.Cartoonist Thomas Nast first failed to fulfill the desire of adults and children to learn how to look this fabulous character.Twenty-four years he portrayed Santa Claus on the Christmas cover of the weekly edition of "Harper's Weekly", enjoyed great popularity.However, Santa Claus by Nasta was black and white, although the fur coat, and a wide belt, and a hat and shiny boots were essentially the same as we used to see them now.
paint coat fabulous grandfather in the red at the end of the 19th century publisher Louis Prang, who was the first in America began to produce colored lithographic cards for Christmas.
In 1930, the American company "Coca-Cola", wanting to enjoy their drinks equally popular both in winter and summer, including Santa Claus in its advertising campaign.Work commissioned Chicago artist Haddon Sundblom.For thirty years, he created images of "Christmas grandfather" who brings gifts to children.The prototype of Santa Claus, now known around the world, served as a friend and neighbor of the artist, Lou Prentice.
pictures where Santa Claus has not looked the elf, smiling and kind giant fell to the liking of the people.Also well received and Rudolf - invented a new artist, the ninth reindeer Santa.
Do Santa's family?
can often hear the question haunting many: "The family is there a Santa Claus or" Grandfather Christmas "lives alone?"
answer to it is covered with a veil of secrecy.According to the classical Catholic tradition, "historic" Santa Claus, that is, Saint Nicholas was a priest, that is definitely not family owned.But as this fantastic character, it does not exclude the possibility that he might remain in a happy marriage.
According to some sources, the first time information about Mrs. Claus appeared in the pages of American magazine "Harper" in 1881.According to another version, eight years later, the lady invented writer Katharine Lee Bates, funny song dedicated to her.
way or another, but for the most common version, the wife of Santa Claus is a normal human woman.Her "fairy age" - about sixty years.Mrs. Claus real name nobody knows - some sources call her Goody, the other - Wilhelmina, and others - Jessica ... She - a plump, cheerful and very sociable, almost all the time wearing a red dress, because I love this color, wears glasses, andspins gray hair in a bun at the nape.She often bakes delicious buns and likes to watch the elves - Santa's loyal aides - made toys for children's gifts.It is said that one day when Santa Claus seriously ill just before the Christmas holidays, Mrs. Claus wearing his coat, was wearing artificial beard and went to deliver gifts to the very little ones.
Where does Santa Claus?
cold "country of Santa Claus" - Lapland, the realm of eternal ice and snow - in fact, the northern province of Finland.However, the residence "Christmas grandfather" there actually exists!It is situated in the provincial capital - Rovaniemi.
Good white-bearded man in a red here takes visitors all year round.With central Santa's mail, you can send a postcard to every corner of the world.And dreams of adults and children about the holiday come alive in a fabulous Santa Park and the Christmas Village.
Santa Claus Santa Claus
image of Santa Claus, so popular in television shows and commercials, has been on our screens, and shop windows in the January-December days.Children are often simply identified with Santa Claus originally Slavic Grandfather Frost.However, apart from the fact that in both the winter holidays fairytale characters bring gifts to kids, they do not have much to do as it may seem at first glance.
So what is different from Santa Claus Santa Claus?First of all, the fact that the latter does not have the Holy Nicholas irrelevant.The history of our Santa Claus goes back to the folklore of eastern Slavs.There he presented in the form of fairy-tale heroes, giants, rivers and lakes shackles frost and ice.
eventually formed Frost changed.Grozny severe character he gradually turned into a good and just Santa, bestow gifts of children.The company traditionally makes his granddaughter, my dear and beloved by all the Snow Maiden.
image of Santa Claus
Externally Santa Claus, too, looks differently - absolutely not what it looks like Santa Claus.Photo below allows you to fully represent these differences.
Grandfather Frost is mighty and strong, impressive growth, is a bushy white beard.He is dressed in a long coat to the ground on his head wearing a hat boyars, on his feet - certainly boots.He does not wear glasses.Unlike Santa Claus, Santa Claus vehicle - not fabulous deer and horse-Russian troika.At home, he did not penetrate through the fireplace, and the inexplicable magic way inherent magical creatures.And the gifts in a sock he never puts, preferring to hide them under the branches of trees.
What these fabulous characters are different, in no way does not mean that some of them are better and some worse.Just do not forget that during the winter holidays on a par with the world-famous Santa Claus walks majestically on his possessions and our Santa Claus, carrying with ease behind a huge bag of gifts ...
