Santa Claus is the “main character” of Christmas, wearing a red suit with white trim, a white beard, long mustaches, and a jovial face.…
Santa Claus.
Father Christmas and St. Nick are alternative names for Santa Claus. This figure has appeared for a long time in many cultures, especially in Western countries. Legend has it that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with elves, spending most of his time preparing gifts and toys for children.
He receives countless letters from children around the world during the Christmas season. On Christmas Eve, he begins his journey with a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer to deliver gifts and toys to good children.
This figure has appeared for a long time in many cultures, especially in Western countries.
Have you ever wondered why the reindeer’s nose is red? Researchers in Norway and the Netherlands have studied and found the answer. The reason the reindeer’s nose is red is due to the abundance of blood vessels, which help protect the nose from freezing and regulate brain temperature. This allows the reindeer to pull Santa’s sleigh to deliver Christmas gifts to well-behaved children worldwide.
Additionally, reindeer have mucous glands scattered throughout their noses, which help maintain an optimal nasal environment under changing weather conditions and extreme temperatures. These mucous glands also assist in fluid transport and act as a barrier.
The concept of Santa Claus has now spread all over the world. Children always believe in the story of Santa coming down the chimney into each home to leave treats in the stockings they hang near their beds or fireplaces. As a result, parents often buy gifts to place in stockings by the fireplace, so when children wake up, they are thrilled to find gifts from Santa. This tradition encourages children to behave well, be kind, and study hard to receive gifts from Santa.
Meanwhile, there is much information suggesting that this character is real; the image of Santa Claus during the Christmas holiday is believed to be the embodiment of Saint Nicholas, a real person who lived in the 4th century, known as “Santa Claus.”
Santa Claus is believed to be the embodiment of Saint Nicholas.
Saint Nicholas was the only son in a wealthy noble family in Northern Europe, who lived a kind and ethical life from a young age. He decided to become a priest, but due to his family’s circumstances, he had to stay home to care for his aging parents.
Nicholas became well-known for his love of the poor and dedicated his life to serving God, frequently assisting many needy families facing hardships or illnesses in the area.
After his parents passed away, Nicholas entered the seminary and was ordained a priest. The wealth left by his parents was used by Father Nicholas to help impoverished families, the sick, and those in distress. He also paid special attention to poor children. From then on, Saint Nicholas was referred to as “Father Christmas.”
Legend has it that Saint Nicholas was a very benevolent priest. He performed many miracles: saving three innocent officers from death sentences, rescuing sailors in distress, and saving three girls to preserve their virtue. One story recounts how he saved three children who wandered into the home of a butcher and were killed and dismembered for salting. Seven years later, Saint Nicholas passed by and resurrected them. Therefore, Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children, sailors, and young unmarried men, just as Saint Catherine is the patroness of young girls who have yet to marry. The feast day of Saint Nicholas is December 6, the day he died. On the night of December 5-6, he flies up to the sky on a horse laden with gifts and sweets for children. He lands to leave gifts in the children’s stockings in Northern and Eastern France and many regions in Europe, such as Germany, Belgium, etc. In return, they leave carrots and turnips for Saint Nicholas’s horse to eat.
The red and white colors in Santa’s outfit are thought to be the colors of a bishop’s vestments.
Even as the names and legends surrounding Santa Claus have changed, the red and white of his attire remain constant. Over time, the bishop’s robe and miter have been replaced by a warm fur outfit.
Finland is believed to be the home of Santa Claus.
Finland is considered the home of Santa Claus, a country famous for winter tourism and snow, along with delicacies like salmon and reindeer meat. Santa Claus is also a cultural tourism icon of Finland. It is said that he lives in the Lapland region of Northern Finland.
Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, is regarded as Santa’s “home.” The village, located near the Arctic Circle, is where he lives and works year-round. The village has many attractions, including Santa’s office, the elves’ homes, Santa’s post office, and a Christmas bakery… The village is vibrant, welcoming hundreds of thousands of tourists each Christmas season.
While it’s still unclear whether Santa Claus is real, many people certainly aspire to be like him. One such person is a man who has embodied Santa Claus for nearly half a century. Mr. Ron Horniblew, 77, has transformed into Santa Claus, bringing joy to children in Lotus (UK) for 48 Christmas seasons.
Mr. Ron first donned the red suit of Santa Claus in 1964 when his son, named Graham, eagerly awaited gifts from Santa himself. Later, Ron’s friends also wanted their children to experience the happiness Graham had, so he officially began his career from that point.
Throughout 48 years as Santa Claus, Ron has visited homes to deliver gifts to thousands of children, bringing joy to orphaned children in the Bahamas and participating in various competitions among Santas in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
In 2004, he became the best Santa Claus in the world when he won a competition among men dressed in red delivering gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
