alright so i've been wanting to do research about santa claus (also known as sinterklaaus) since last year christmas, and my efforts were only till halfway. so i made myself promise myself to do research about the guy again.
this is what i got..
the modern figure of santa claus is inspired primarily by saint nicholas. the name 'santa claus' or 'sinterklaaus' came from saint nicholas, which over the centuries, had evolved to santa claus or sinterklaaus or father christmas and many other names.
saint nicholas (4th century greek christian bishop) was famous for giving gifts and helping the needy. some believed that the existence of santa claus was so that children would remember saint nicholas.
after that, the image of santa claus was edited and modified over and over again to suit society.
'santa claus' was later in shown in parallel lines with odin (a god of north germany). both had beards, had some eight-legged-horned animal that flies (also known as reindeer for santa, sleipnir for odin) and had a cloth bag carried by their servants to capture naughty children.
according to odin tales, children would leave carrots, straw or sugar by their chimney for sleipnir the flying horse to eat and odin would reward their kindness by replacing the food they left for gifts and candy.
that contributed to the 'leave your stockings by the chimney!!' also, it was said that saint nicholas use to toss coins into windows and when windows were found shut, he would toss them down the chimney.
and so every christmas, many people look forward to receiving presents and gifts. either from 'santa' or 'odin' depending on what they believe in.
the meaning of christmas is hardly felt by the people around us. instead of focusing on the most precious gift (Jesus), alot focus on earthly gifts. =(
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