染雾The Origin of Santa Claus
Article One
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, is a beloved figure associated with the Christmas season. With his iconic red suit, white beard, and jolly personality, Santa has become a symbol of gift-giving and holiday cheer. But where did this legendary character come from?
The origin of Santa Claus can be traced back to a fourth-century bishop named Nicholas. Nicholas was born in a wealthy family in the village of Patara, which is now located in modern-day Turkey. He was known for his kind and generous nature, often helping those in need. One famous story tells of Nicholas secretly giving gold coins to a poor family, by throwing them through the window at night. This act of generosity earned him a reputation as a patron saint of children and the less fortunate.
Over the years, the stories of Saint Nicholas spread throughout Europe, and different countries began to celebrate him in their own unique ways. In the Netherlands, he became known as Sinterklaas, a figure who would deliver gifts to children on the eve of his feast day, December 5th. The Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas later influenced the development of Santa Claus as we know him today.
The modern-day image of Santa Claus was largely shaped by the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore, also known as "The Night Before Christmas." Published in 1823, this poem described Santa Claus as a jolly man who travels on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, enters homes through the chimney, and leaves gifts in stockings hung by the fireplace.
In the late 19th century, the image of Santa Claus was further popularized by the Coca-Cola Company. In their advertisements, Santa was depicted as a plump, rosy-cheeked man wearing a red suit with white fur trim. This portrayal of Santa became widely recognized and has remained the dominant image of him ever since.
Today, Santa Claus is celebrated around the world as a symbol of the Christmas season. Children eagerly await his arrival on Christmas Eve, leaving out cookies and milk for him and carrots for his reindeer. Santa Claus continues to bring joy and happiness to people of all ages, embodying the spirit of giving and spreading holiday cheer.
In conclusion, Santa Claus originated from the stories of Saint Nicholas, a generous bishop who lived in the fourth century. Over time, his legend evolved and merged with various cultural traditions, resulting in the beloved figure we know as Santa Claus today. Regardless of his origins, Santa Claus represents the joy and generosity of the Christmas season, reminding us to spread love and happiness to those around us.
Article Two
The Evolution of Santa Claus
Santa Claus, the jovial figure known for delivering gifts on Christmas Eve, has a rich history that has evolved over centuries. From his humble beginnings as a kind-hearted bishop to the iconic image we recognize today, Santa Claus has become a beloved symbol of the holiday season.
The story of Santa Claus can be traced back to Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop who was known for his acts of kindness and generosity. Saint Nicholas was born into a wealthy family in the village of Patara, located in what is now Turkey. He dedicated his life to helping others, particularly children and the less fortunate. As his reputation grew, so did the stories of his generosity, which eventually spread throughout Europe.
In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas became known as Sinterklaas, a figure who would deliver gifts to children on the eve of his feast day, December 5th. This Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas would later influence the development of Santa Claus in other parts of the world.
The modern-day image of Santa Claus was popularized by the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore. Published in 1823, the poem described Santa Claus as a plump, jolly man who travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and enters homes through the chimney to deliver gifts. This portrayal of Santa Claus resonated with people, and it became the dominant image of him.
In the late 19th century, the Coca-Cola Company played a significant role in shaping the image of Santa Claus we know today. In their advertisements, Santa was depicted as a jolly man wearing a red suit with white fur trim. This portrayal of Santa became widely recognized and has since become the enduring image of him.
Throughout the years, various cultures and regions have added their own unique twists to the Santa Claus legend. In some countries, Santa Claus is accompanied by helpers like elves or mythical creatures. In others, he may have different names or appearances. Despite these variations, the core message of Santa Claus remains the same – spreading joy, love, and generosity during the Christmas season.
In conclusion, the evolution of Santa Claus is a fascinating journey that spans centuries and encompasses various cultural influences. From the stories of Saint Nicholas to the iconic image popularized by Coca-Cola, Santa Claus has become a cherished figure associated with the spirit of giving and holiday cheer. As we celebrate Christmas each year, let us remember the origins of Santa Claus and the joy he brings to people around the world.
圣诞老人的由来 英文 篇三
圣诞老人的由来 英文
"american origins: (as sent to me by brian dodd)quote from encarta 95
the american version of the santa claus figure received its inspiration and its name from the dutch legend of sinter klaas, brought by settlers to new york in the 17th century.
as early as 1773 the name appeared in the american press as "st. a claus," but it was the popular author washington irving who gave americans their first detailed information about the dutch version of saint nicholas. in his history of new york, published in 1809 under the pseudonym diedrich knickerbocker, irving described the arrival of the saint on horseback (unaccompanied by black peter) each eve of saint nicholas.
this dutch-american saint nick achieved his fully americanized form in 1823 in the poem a visit from saint nicholas more commonly known as the night before christmas by writer clement clarke moore. moore included such details as the names of the reindeer; santa claus's laughs, winks, and nods; and the method by which saint nicholas, referred to as an elf, returns up the chimney. (moore's phrase "lays his finger aside of his nose" was drawn directly from irving's 1809 description.)
the american image of santa claus was further elaborated by illustrator thomas nast, who depicted a rotund santa for christmas issues of harper's magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s. nast added such details as santa's workshop at the north pole and santa's list of the good and bad children of the world. a human-sized version of santa claus, rather than the elf of moore's poem, was depicted in a series of illustrations for coca-cola advertisements introduced in 1931 that introduced and made the red santa suits an icon. in modern versions of the santa claus legend, only his toy-shop workers are elves. rudolph, the ninth reindeer, with a red and shiny nose, was invented in 1939 by an advertising writer for the montgomery ward company.
in looking for the historical roots of santa claus, one must go very deep in the past. one discovers that santa claus as we know him is a combination of many different legends and mythical creatures.
the basis for the christian-era santa claus is bishop nicholas of smyrna (izmir), in what is now turkey. nicholas lived in the 4th century a.d. he was very rich, generous, and loving toward children. often he gave joy to poor children by throwing gifts in through their windows.
the orthodox church later raised st. nicholas, miracle worker, to a position of great esteem. it was in his honor that russia's oldest church, for example, was built. for its part, the roman catholic church honored nicholas as one who helped children and the poor. st. nicholas became the patron saint of children and seafarers. his name day is december 6th.
in the protestant areas of central and northern germany, st. nicholas later became known as der weinachtsmann. in england he came to be called father christmas. st. nicholas made his way to the united states with dutch immigrants, and began to be referred to as santa claus.
in north american poetry and illustrations, santa claus, in his white beard, red jacket and pompom-topped cap, would sally forth on the night before christmas in his sleigh, pulled by eight reindeer, and climb down chimneys to leave his gifts in stockings children set out on the fireplace's mantelpiece.
children naturally wanted to know where s
in 1925, since grazing reindeer would not be possible at the north pole, newspapers revealed that santa claus in fact lived in finnish lapland. "uncle markus", markus rautio, who compared the popular "children's hour" on finnish public radio, revealed the great secret for the first time in 1927: santa claus lives on lapland's korvatunturi - "ear fell"
the fell, which is situated directly on finland's eastern frontier, somewhat resembles a hare's ears - which are in fact santa claus's ears, with which he listens to hear if the world's children are being nice. santa has the assistance of a busy group of elves, who have quite their own history in scandinanvian legend.
over the centuries, customs from different parts of the northern hemisphere thus came together and created the whole world's santa claus - the ageless, timeless, deathless white-bearded and red suited man who gives out gifts on christmas and always returns to korvatunturi in finnish lapland.
since the 1950s, santa has happily sojourned at napapiiri, near rovaniemi, at times other than christmas, to meet children and the young at heart. by 1985 his visits to napapiiri had become so regular that he established his own santa claus office there. he comes there every day of the year to hear what children want for christmas and to talk with children who have arrived from around the world. santa claus village is also the location of santa's main post office, which receives children's letters from the four corners of the world.
