Santa Claus Worldwide

Santa Claus Worldwide PDF Author: Tom A. Jerman
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476680930
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 249

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Book Description
This is a comprehensive history of the world's midwinter gift-givers, showcasing the extreme diversity in their depictions as well as the many traits and functions these characters share. It tracks the evolution of these figures from the tribal priests who presided over winter solstice celebrations thousands of years before the birth of Christ, to Christian notables like St. Martin and St. Nicholas, to a variety of secular figures who emerged throughout Europe following the Protestant Reformation. Finally, it explains how the popularity of a poem about a "miniature sleigh" and "eight tiny reindeer" helped consolidate the diverse European gift-givers into an enduring tradition in which American children awake early on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought. Although the names, appearance, attire and gift-giving practices of the world's winter solstice gift-givers differ greatly, they are all recognizable as Santa, the personification of the Christmas and Midwinter festivals. Despite efforts to eliminate him by groups as diverse as the Puritans of seventeenth century New England, the Communist Party of the twentieth century Soviet Union and the government of Nazi Germany, Santa has survived and prospered, becoming one of the best known and most beloved figures in the world.

Santa Claus Worldwide

Santa Claus Worldwide PDF Author: Tom A. Jerman
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476680930
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 249

Get Book Here

Book Description
This is a comprehensive history of the world's midwinter gift-givers, showcasing the extreme diversity in their depictions as well as the many traits and functions these characters share. It tracks the evolution of these figures from the tribal priests who presided over winter solstice celebrations thousands of years before the birth of Christ, to Christian notables like St. Martin and St. Nicholas, to a variety of secular figures who emerged throughout Europe following the Protestant Reformation. Finally, it explains how the popularity of a poem about a "miniature sleigh" and "eight tiny reindeer" helped consolidate the diverse European gift-givers into an enduring tradition in which American children awake early on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought. Although the names, appearance, attire and gift-giving practices of the world's winter solstice gift-givers differ greatly, they are all recognizable as Santa, the personification of the Christmas and Midwinter festivals. Despite efforts to eliminate him by groups as diverse as the Puritans of seventeenth century New England, the Communist Party of the twentieth century Soviet Union and the government of Nazi Germany, Santa has survived and prospered, becoming one of the best known and most beloved figures in the world.

The Santa Claus Book

The Santa Claus Book PDF Author: Alden Perkes
Publisher: Lyle Stuart
ISBN: 9780818403811
Category : Christmas
Languages : en
Pages : 150

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Book Description
A history of Santa and his elves.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus PDF Author: Pat Koch
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1439642508
Category : Photography
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
Santa Claus, Indiana, acquired its famous name in 1856 and has been celebrating the spirit of Christmas ever since. Postmaster James Martin began answering childrens letters to Santa and his elves in 1914, a tradition that continues to this day and makes Santa Claus a favored destination for those seeking the holiday spirit. The towns unique name prompted Robert Ripley to feature it in his popular cartoon strip, and businessmen such as Carl Barrett and Milton Harris raced to erect Christmas attractions as early as 1935. Beating Walt Disney by nearly a decade, Louis J. Koch opened Santa Claus Land, the nations first theme park, in 1946. Today, visitors still flock to Santa Claus to share in the magic of Americas Christmas Hometown.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus PDF Author: L. Frank Baum
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 3734081882
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 78

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Book Description
Reproduction of the original: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

The True Story of Santa Claus

The True Story of Santa Claus PDF Author: Janet Giovanelli
Publisher: Centennial Books
ISBN: 1951274423
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 99

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Book Description
He's a symbol of hope and hapiness, of generosity and benevolence. Santa Clause is simply one of the most beloved legends ever embraced. The Story of Santa explores the history of Father Christmas. Who is he, really? Where did he come from? (His origins may surprise you!) Why does he fulfill our wishes? And what can we learn from him? He's become a ubiquitous figure during the Christmas season with his white beard, red suit, and prominent belly, but just how much do those celebrating the happy holiday really know about Santa Claus? Here is the whole story from the beginning—including the pre-Santas like Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, and of course, St. Nicholas. This beautifully illustrated book celebrates all things Santa ranging from the much-loved poem "The Night Before Christmas" to the songs, movies, images, and stories that are loved by both young and old. Along the way, it explores the favorite stories that have sprung up around him, including Santa’s elves, his workshop, Santa’s beloved reindeer and the legend of Mrs. Claus and the North Pole abode where she and her husband make their home. You'll even learn the secret to how Santa has time to visit every house around the world in just one night (a mathematician explains how it’s physically possible).

The Santa Claus Chronicles

The Santa Claus Chronicles PDF Author: Dan Short
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
ISBN: 0736976892
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 178

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Book Description
Santa Dan’s Stories Will Soothe Your Soul Thirty years ago, Dan Short left the corporate world to follow a calling—to give the gift of God’s love to children and adults alike. How did he do it? By becoming Santa Claus, of course! These are “Santa Dan’s” tales of hope and humor, collected from his three decades of playing Jolly Old Saint Nick. And as you might have guessed, Santa has his share of stories to tell—some tearful, some joyful, and all of them filled with heartwarming Christmas spirit. You’ll meet some of the unforgettable people Santa Dan has encountered… Anna, a young cancer patient whose fulfillment of her dying wish becomes a life-changing experience for those around her. Rose, an elderly woman with a longstanding grudge against Saint Nick. Terry, a precocious boy with more moxie than clothing. Front Yard Santa, a neighborhood icon whose passing prompts a poignant gesture from a fellow Santa. Faith, Hope, and Grace, three enterprising young girls whose overwhelming generosity befits their virtuous names. …and you’ll be inspired to share the joy of Jesus with those around you!

Santa Claus

Santa Claus PDF Author: Letlhokwa George Mpedi
Publisher: African Sun Media
ISBN: 192831483X
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 201

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Book Description
The origins of Santa Claus, or so I am told, is that the young Bishop Nicholas secretly delivered three bags of gold as dowries for three young girls to their indebted father to save them from a life of prostitution. Armed with immortality, a factory of elves and a fleet of reindeer, his has been a lasting legacy, inextricably linked to Christmas. Of course, this Christmas looks a little different. Amidst a global pandemic, shimmying down the chimneys of strangers certainly does not adhere to social distancing guidelines. Some borders remain closed, and in some instances, the quarantine period is far too long. After all, he only has 24 hours to spread cheer across the world. As with the rest of us, Santa Claus is likely to get the remote working treatment. The reindeers this year are likely to be self-driving, reminiscent of an Amazon swarm of technology, and the naughty and nice lists are likely to be based on algorithms derived from social media accounts. In the age of the fourth industrial revolution, it is difficult to imagine that letters suffice anymore. How many posts were verified as real before shared? Enough to get you a drone. Fake news? Here is a lump of coal. Will we see elves in personal protective equipment (PPE) and will Santa Claus, high risk because of age and his likely comorbidities from the copious amount of cookies, have to self-isolate in the North Pole? In fact, will there be any toys at all this year? Surely production has been stalled with the restrictions on imports and exports into the North Pole. Perhaps, there is a view to outsourcing, or perhaps, there is a shift towards local production and supply chains. More importantly, as we have done in many instances in this period, maybe we should pause to reflect on the current structures in place. The sanctification of a figure so clearly dismissive of the Global South and to be critical, quite classist must be called into question. From some of the keenest minds, the contributions in this book make a strong case against this holly jolly man. We traverse important topics such as, is the constitution too lenient with a clear intruder who has conveniently branded himself a Good Samaritan? Allegations of child labour under the guise of elves, blatant animal cruelty, constant surveillance in stark contrast to many democratic ideals and his possible threat to national security come to the fore. Nevertheless, as the song goes, he is aware when you are asleep, and he knows when you are awake. Is feminism a farce to this beloved man – what role does Mrs Claus play and why are there inherent gender norms in his toys? Then is the worry of closed borders and just how accurate his COVID-19 tests are. Of course, this brings his ethics into question. While there is an agreement that transparency, justice and fairness, nonmaleficence, responsibility, and privacy are the core ethical principles, the meaning of these principles differs, particularly across countries and cultures. Why are we subject to Santa Claus’ notions of good and evil when he is so far removed from our context? As Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein would tell you, this is fundamentally a nudge from Santa Claus for children to fit into his ideals. A nudge, coined by Thaler, is a choice that predictably changes people’s behaviour without forbidding any options or substantially changing their economic incentives. Even with pinched cheeks and an air of holiday cheer, Santa Claus has to come under scrutiny. In the process of decolonising knowledge and looking at various epistemologies, does Santa still make the cut?

Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men

Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men PDF Author: Phyllis Siefker
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786429585
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 227

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Book Description
Much of the modern-day vision of Santa Claus is owed to the Clement Moore poem "The Night Before Christmas." His description of Saint Nicholas personified the "jolly old elf" known to millions of children throughout the world. However, far from being the offshoot of Saint Nicholas of Turkey, Santa Claus is the last of a long line of what scholars call "Wild Men" who were worshipped in ancient European fertility rites and came to America through Pennsylvania's Germans. This pagan creature is described from prehistoric times through his various forms--Robin Hood, The Fool, Harlequin, Satan and Robin Goodfellow--into today's carnival and Christmas scenes. In this thoroughly researched work, the origins of Santa Claus are found to stretch back over 50,000 years, jolting the foundation of Christian myths about the jolly old elf.

Visit from Santa Claus

Visit from Santa Claus PDF Author: Clement Moore
Publisher: Applewood Books
ISBN: 1429080736
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
A VISIT FROM SANTA CLAUS was originally published in 1899 by McLoughlin Brothers, New York, New York.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus PDF Author: Gerry Bowler
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
ISBN: 1551996081
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
An entertaining, often surprising look at the life of the world’s most influential fictional character. He is the embodiment of charity and generosity, a creation of mythology, a tool of clever capitalists. The very idea of him is enduring and powerful. Santa Claus was born in early-nineteenth-century America, but his family tree goes back seven hundred years to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Intervening generations were shaggy and strange — whip-wielding menaces to naughty boys and girls. Yet as the raucous, outdoor, alcohol-fuelled holiday gave way to a more domestic, sentimental model, a new kind of gift-bringer was called for — a loveable elf, still judgmental but far less threatening. In this engaging social and cultural history, Gerry Bowler examines the place of Santa Claus in history, literature, advertising, and art. He traces his metamorphosis from a beardless youth into a red-suited peddler. He reveals the lesser-known aspects of the gift-bringer’s life — Santa’s involvement with social and political causes of all stripes (he enlisted on the Union side in the American Civil War), his starring role in the movies and as adman for gun-makers and insurance companies. And he demolishes the myths surrounding Santa Claus and Coca-Cola. Santa Claus: A Biography will stand as the classic work on the long-lived and multifarious Mr. Claus.