Our North American Santa
tradition arrived with the Dutch in the 1650's as «Sinter
Klaus», whose name was anglicized to Santa Claus. But his
traditional appearance was ambigious until Dr. Clement Clark Moore of
New York wrote his famous poem «A Visit From St. Nicholas»
in 1822. Santa is «chubby and plump - a right jolly old elf»,
with eight tiny reindeer pulling a sleigh which alights on roofs to
allow St. Nick to descend chimneys and leave gifts.
The finishing touches to our Santa were added in the 1930's, when
Coca-Cola had Haddon Sundblom do Santa paintings for an advertising
campaign. He emerged with his jolly red-cheeked visage, white beard,
fur-trimmed suit, red stocking cap, wide leather belt and boots. Of
course his home is at Canada's North Pole, where children may write
to him at postal code H0H 0H0.
Santa Claus Village
Merry Christmas from Santa Claus at the North Pole
Welcome to The North Pole - Santa Claus Place
Santa´s Lapland and Christmas Club
Le Père Noël sur Internet - Site Officiel
