As promised in my previous post, some more info Of Sint and Santa...
December 6, is the birthday of Saint Nicholas.
From our traveling days as International Consultants, I did save this very informative story from the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' in-flight magazine.
It is in English, so if you like to, you are able to read it.
~
Of Sint and Santa
Whatever you call him - Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Sinterklaas - St. Nicholas presides over the season of giving. Ghislaine Kruit and Terri J. Kester look into the long history of the man in red and the Dutch tradition that bears his name.
Facing page and above: Dutch children turn out in their thousands to welcome Sinterklaas in mid-November
Sinterklaas is treated with the reverence owing to a bishop
Right: gangs of Zwarte Piets accompany their master. They distribute small treats among the crowd.
Left: Image from The Book of Hours (ca 1500) illustrating St Nicholas' revival of three drowned boys.
St Nicholas' Day was once observed all over Europe as a special day for children.
Below: German and French Christmas cards from the early 1900s show St Nicholas presenting gifts.
Above: Season's greetings from France (1920-12).
Right: Thomas Nast's incarnation of St. Nicholas as Santa (Harper's Illustrated Weekly, 1870)
Father Christmas made this appearance in Punch in 1880
In this Swedish illustration (1917) Santa knocks at the door
Santa-shaped balloon floating over New York City (1949)
~
Indeed, the ending is so true: Whichever way you look at it, St Nicholas plays a starring role in the longest party in history.
December 6, is the birthday of Saint Nicholas.
It is in English, so if you like to, you are able to read it.
~
Of Sint and Santa
Whatever you call him - Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Sinterklaas - St. Nicholas presides over the season of giving. Ghislaine Kruit and Terri J. Kester look into the long history of the man in red and the Dutch tradition that bears his name.
Sinterklaas is treated with the reverence owing to a bishop
Right: gangs of Zwarte Piets accompany their master. They distribute small treats among the crowd.
St Nicholas' Day was once observed all over Europe as a special day for children.
Below: German and French Christmas cards from the early 1900s show St Nicholas presenting gifts.
Right: Thomas Nast's incarnation of St. Nicholas as Santa (Harper's Illustrated Weekly, 1870)
In this Swedish illustration (1917) Santa knocks at the door
Santa-shaped balloon floating over New York City (1949)
~
Indeed, the ending is so true: Whichever way you look at it, St Nicholas plays a starring role in the longest party in history.
Related links:
{How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats} | previous post by me
{SAINT NICHOLAS - SINTERKLAAS 2013} | previous post by me
{SAINT NICHOLAS - SINTERKLAAS 2013} | previous post by me
The Origin of Santa Claus Video about history, listen till the end to hear how Sinterklaas morphed into Santa Claus...
{Saint Nicholas | Sinterklaas} | previous post by me about my newspaper publication
{Humble Gifts of the 1950s} | previous post by me about my early childhood treats for December
{Chocolate & Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas} | previous post by me
{Chocolate Letter LOVE} | previous post by me
{Chocolate Letter LOVE} | previous post by me
{Chocolate and Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas} | previous post by me
{Since 1896 Dutch CHOCOLATE LETTERS - Have YOU Tried Them?} | previous post by me
{Since 1896 Dutch CHOCOLATE LETTERS - Have YOU Tried Them?} | previous post by me
i guess i'd prefer to celebrate the saint than a jolly man with elves. :)
ReplyDeleteDearest Theresa,
DeleteHaving grown up being Dutch, it always has been such a joy to celebrate Saint Nicholas. Reserving Christmas for a 2-day feast, like we celebrate here Thanksgiving with Family around the table...
Hugs,
Mariette
Hola amiga querida !! Que buen post !! Es bueno saber un poco de historia de santa Claus
ReplyDeleteDearest Angélica,
DeleteThank you and it is a beautiful story about Saint Nicholas who became Santa...
Hugs,
Mariette
Wist niet dat Sinterklaas ook ooit in Frankrijk en Duitsland is geweest. Het blijft een spannend feest voor kinderen en volwassenen.
ReplyDeleteBeste Marianne,
DeleteJa niet alleen is geweest, maar nóg. Ik las op verschillende duitse blogs dat hun de schoenen/laarzen buiten zetten... Wij zetten de klomp of schoen juist bij de haard, omdat zwarte Piet door de schoorsteen zou komen. Ja, een pracht legende en het is een eeuwenoude traditie die voorlopig nog niet weg zal gaan. Spannend met name voor de kinderen en ook best voor volwassenen!
Liefs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletein gewohnter Schönheit erfreut mich dein Blog.
Sonnige Grüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa danke und ich hoffe du bekommst auch etwas von den heiligen Niklaus mit.
Liebe Grüsse, ohne Sonne,
Mariette
♪♬° ·. Aqui o chamamos de Papai Noel.
ReplyDeleteÓtimo domingo!!!
Boa semana!
Beijinhos do Brasil. ♪♬° ·.
·.·.✿✿ミ
Dearest Inês,
DeleteAha, you also succumbed to the Santa, turning away from the original Saint Nicholas.
Either way, it is a very nice celebration over the ages!
Hugs and happy new week.
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteSince my Gramp was Dutch there was always bits of Dutch tradition in our Christmas. I think of Saint Nicholas Day as the beginning of the season. Hope your day was joyful!..........*s*
Dearest Suzi,
DeleteGuess there is a whole lot of that original Dutch tradition still very much alive all over the USA! Saint Nicholas did start a very long party indeed! We don't really celebrate it as such; just the two of us. BUT I ordered all the Dutch Chocolate letters again for our friends and extended family...
Hugs,
Mariette
I enjoyed reading about St. Nicholas and Dutch tradition! It has such a long history. It's great to keep tradition knowing the true Christmas spirit :-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteIndeed, having such a long history is a living proof that gift giving and doing good does survive over the ages. A wonderful tradition, even if it has changed quite a bit in some countries.
Sending you hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,in Greece our tradition is Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great !
ReplyDeleteA Greek Saint that brings presents to the children,at New Year's Eve!
Like Saint Nicholas!Flora had a great celebration in Hague,yesterday!
Have a wonderful week!Hugs!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteSaint Basil sounds very similar and on New Year's Eve is a lovely time for doing so.
I bet, Flora enjoyed the celebration in The Hague; glad she did.
Hugs and happy new week to you.
Mariette
Dearest Mariette; Japanese people might not have much knowledge about Christmas and St. Nicholas as origin of Santa. I DO agree with you and Tamago-san and feel wonderful we have this tradition and cerebrate together world-widely :-)
ReplyDeleteps. So sorry for my recent absece. Started to be able to visit friends, my dear friend!
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Dearest Miyako,
DeleteYes, over the ages this has spread all over the world by now.
Let's all keep this spirit of gift giving alive.
Hugs to you,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletebei uns kommt am 6. Dezember der Nikolaus und am 24. - also Heiligabend - der Weihnachtsmann. Das wirst Du ja auch alles wissen. Und ich kenne auch die Geschichte der Bräuche aus anderen Ländern. Es ist schon interessant, wie es anderswo abläuft. Oder wie ich bei Traude/Rostrose gerade vom Krampus las, der bei uns gänzlich unbekannt ist (von dem ich aber schon gehört habe).
Wir feiern Weihnachten im christlichen Sinne und ohne viel Aufwand. Bin immer froh, dem großen Rummel zu entgehen. Das artet häufig aus. Wir lieben es beschaulicher und was Geschenke betrifft, gibt es gerade an Weihnachten eher Nützliches, wie ein Paar Socken, einen schönen Pullover oder Schal, eben das, was man ohnehin brauchen würde.
Liebe Grüße und noch eine schöne Adventszeit
Sara
Liebe Sara,
DeleteWo wir beiden noch in den Niederlanden wohnten haben wir Sankt Nikolaus gefeiert un hier in der USA feiern wir nur Weihnachten im christlichen Sinne und auch ganz pur, schon seid Jahrzehnten haben wir keinen Weihnachtsbaum mehr. Alles damals weggegeben wo wir nach Pennsylvania umgezogen sind und von da nach die Venedig Gegend in Italien und wieder zurück nach Georgia, USA... Zwischendurch noch zwei mal Weihnachten in Indonesien aber alles ohne Baum!
Ich staune jedes Jahr wieviel Umweltschmutz dadurch produziert wird. Hier liegt am 26. schon soviel beim Müll und auch Häufe an Packpapier...
Ganz liebe Grüsse zum 2. Advent.
Mariette
Hello dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteWell that is a nice review of the origin of Santa!
Whatever one believes it is a wonderful reason for a family reunion especially when some members live far away! :)
Thanks for sharing this!
Keep well, hugs from France!
Dearest Noushka,
DeleteLike you sum it up, to us it also is mostly about a family get-together and not so much about the over commercialized aspect of it.
Thanks for your visit and comment and enjoy what you're doing.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteFather Christmas made this appearance in punch in 1880 in the Swedish illustration 1917 santa knchs at the door santa-shaped ballon floating over New York city 1949.
I don't know nothing about Christmas time has came from USA. St Nicholas are originely of Santa!
Thank you very much with lovely Christmas of santa!
Hugs and Love!
Michiko
Dearest Michiko,
DeleteIt is quite an interesting history about St. Nicholas from whom Santa originated. And now world wide there are so many different forms. All about gift giving and at times way over commercialized...
Sending you hugs ans wishing you sunshine and great golfing.
Mariette
I am a fan of Saint Nicholas...not so much of the Santa version. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDearest Daniela,
DeleteThank you; guess it's because we were raised in the Old World... To me Christmas is about the True Meaning and Family.
Hugs,
Mariette