By Reece Hanzon
The image of Santa Claus as a jolly old man in red, driving a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, may be familiar and even commonplace to Americans, but that image is relatively new ? only about 200 years old. The legend of Santa Claus himself is much older.
Jacqueline Thursby, a BYU professor of mythology and folklore, said the story and evolution of Santa Claus began in the 3rd century with Saint Nicholas of Myra, born around 280 A.D. in Patara, Lycia ? ,located in the region of modern-day Turkey.
?I think he was well known and well respected for his kindness,? Thursby said. ?He was said to rescue the poor and perform miracles.?
Some of Saint Nicholas? reputation for kindness might may have influenced the modern idea of Santa Claus.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Saint Nicholas was particularly famous for saving three young girls from lives of prostitution by providing dowry money for them.
Thursby said that, according to legend, the three girls in question were very poor and had no dowry to pay any potential suitors. Without a good marriage, they would be left with very few opportunities for employment,. They wouldand possibly have been forced to become servants or prostitutes in order to survive.
Upon hearing of their troubles, Saint Nicholas is said to have secretly dropped a bag of gold for each girl down the chimney of the house, thus saving them from poverty and crime.
?He was known to be very kind to children,? Thursby said, pointing out how strangenoting that such kindness was strange at the time. She said childrenChildren, she said, were often looked down upon as an inconvenience because both mother and father were required to work for the support of the family. Young children required constant attention from the mother, detracting from her normal work.
St. Nicholas was widely venerated revered throughout Europe until the Reformation, during which,. aAccording to Encyclopedia Britannica, the fame of St. Nicholas declined in many countries., although However, he remained a prominent figure of folklore in several countries, especially the Netherlands, where he was known as Sinterklaas.
Dr. Thursby said the legend came to the Americas with Dutch immigrants, most of whom settled in New Amsterdam ? modern daynow New York City.
The modern version of Santa Claus first began to take form in the early 19thth century. It began with the publication of Washington Irving?s ?Diedrich Knickerbocker?s History of New York.?
?Irving made up the idea of Santa Claus bringing presents for children, smoking a pipe, and laying a finger beside his nose,? Thursby said.
Perhaps the most famous turning point in the evolution of Santa Claus was the composition of C. C. Moore?s Christmas poem, ?The Night Before Christmas.?
?Moore composed the poem in his head on his way to the city [New York] in a sleigh,? Thursby said. She said Moore invented the concept of Santa driving a flying sleigh and the names of his reindeer.
The finishing touches of Santa Claus?s image as a toy maker and other characteristic traits of Santa Claus, Thursby said, come from the drawings of Thomas Nast, an illustrator for Harper?s Weekly magazine.
?Thomas Nast invented the visual prototype of Santa Claus we know today and invented much of the Santa Claus lore,? Thursby said.
