Monday, December 19, 2011

The Many Faces Of Santa

My littlest Angel asked me today why all the Santas looked different.  Not wanting to get into a political conversation with a three year old I explained that different people all over the world had different ideas as to how he looked and the Santas we see are not the "real" Santa.  "Oh" she said, "that's because no one ever really sees him so we have to guess."  Whew, I was relieved.  I always support the culture any child in my care comes from so the whole Santa thing gets tricky!  I did, as I do every year explain that there are also many people around the world who do not believe in Santa and do not celebrate Christmas.  They of course find this hard to imagine.  Anyway, this conversation inspired me to show the Angels some different Santas and then of course the next thing was sharing it!  Scroll down and please have fun!
 *
 Santa Claus has a rich and long history that dates back to medieval times.  He was, up until 1863 mostly depicted as a very thin figure and had other names including Father Christmas, St. Nicholas and Sinterklaas.


This is a medieval fresco depicting St. Nicholas from the Boyana Church near Sofia, Bulgaria.
(source) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boyana_Angel.jpg


In 1823 an anonymous poem was published in the Troy New York Sentinel titled "A visit from St. Nicholas".  This poem was later credited to Clement Parke Moore and is better known as "The Night Before Christmas".  This poem defined many of our modern views about Santa and this is also when he started to become a much plumper, jollier fellow.  Then in 1863 Thomas Nast's illustration of Santa appeared in Harper's Weekly and the modern Santa was born. 


(source)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Santa_Claus_1863_Harpers.png






U.S, Army Garrison ,Miami
(source)  http://www.flickr.com/photos/usag-miami/6539107535/



Santa Claus waves goodbye as he and his reindeer leave Finnish Lapland to meet children from all the world. Photograph: Martti Kainulainen/EPA
(source)  http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2011/dec/13/weekly-notes-queries-16-december



To much Eggnog?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hazboy/6539025525/ 


Morita - chan en Navidad
http://www.flickr.com/photos/periodistapullip/6538906315/ 



 Men in fancy dress take part in the annual Santa Claus parade in Porto.

http://www.shipmentoffail.com/



A man dressed in a large Santa Claus suit takes part in the Great Edinburgh Santa Run with other participants on December 11, 2011 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Around a thousand people took part in the annual fundraising event, with all money raised being donated to the charity 'When You Wish Upon a Star'.
(Jeff J Mitchell - AFP/Getty Images)



Crisis para todos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pepe_bello/6538725073/ 



"Poppy Claus, is that you?"
Everett's Poppy played Santa Claus for the local children in Pt. Pleasant, and we think that Everett was on to his shenanigans.
(source)  http://www.flickr.com/photos/wondermonkey2k/6538684167/






At the orphanage, the kids were stunned to see Santa Claus walk into the compound.
http://makingadifference.posterous.com/



?????
(source)  http://www.flickr.com/photos/losangelesdistrict/6538417973/



Santa Claus Race in Liverpool
http://life4pics.blogspot.com/2011/12/race-santa-claus-in-liverpool.html



St. Nicholas in the Ukraine
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmberea/6538369379/



From Tokyo
Posted by at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)