The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-12-17
SANTA CLAUS IS MOST LOVED
CHARACTER, THE WORLD OVER
Travels Under Lot Of Different
Names to Fit Foreign Gus
toms and Traditions
ne ORIGINATED IN HOLLAND
English Made Him Into a Fat,
jolly Old Fellow, the Chill
dren's Patron Saint
ny BERYL MILLER

nj MILLER
Santa Claus-thc jolly old gentle
nan with the ruddy cheeks and flow
Ing beard who gladdens the hearts OF
children on Christmas Days the
worlds best known and most loved
character.
To be sure. he travels under 4 lot
Of different names In foreign lands
end he varies his methods to tit their
customs and traditions. But regard
less Of all that his work Is all to tho
same purpose and he Is known and
loved al over the world.
Why? Because he personifies tho
Spirit Of Christmas. Everywhere, he
Is bringing good cheer and happiness.
Traits from Many Lands
Santa Claus family history shows
that he Is a composite individual,
combining traits from many lands.
He originated In Holland several hun
cred years ago as . very stern but
charitable churchman In long black
robes. Tho Germans adopted him
and fitted the Christmas tree into his
program. Then the English, calling
MIN Father Christmas. took him over
and made him into a fat. jolly old
fellow who was the children's patron
saint. The N~orwcgians next gave
him his team Of prancing reindeer
and juggling sleigh. as one would cx-
pect In such a northern country.
And then, a hundred years ago. an
Northumberland Moore-wrote q
poem that combined all these feat
ures. That poem was The Night
Before Christmas' and 1t established
Santa Claus as VIC know him today.
Rides = white Horse
In Belgium, rs In Holland. Santa
Claus still rides a white horse when
he makes his rounds OH Christmas
Eve. Little Dutch boys and girls place
their wooden shoes before the fire.
place 50 that the gifts dropped down
the chimney by Santa will fall into
them.
Although Santa is still rather a
stern disciplinarian In Holland. re-
warding good children with toys AMI
gifts and leaving switches In the
wooden shoes OF the naughty ones. he
Is more liberal In England. There
children are children and old Father
Christmas makes all or them happy.
good and bad alike.
Devil. Angel Accompany Him
In Bohemia at Christmas time. good
old Saint MiEulas goes through the
villages with switches and toys. q devil
and an angel accompanying him. The
devil points out the naughty boys
and urges Saint Mikulas to give them
only switches, but the angel inter-
codes for the naughty ones and al
ways wins her point when they
promise to be good In the future.
Poland has = Christmas tradition
that Is truly beautiful. The children
are told that 1T the hour Of Christ's
birth cows. horses and other dumb
beasts are endowed with speech. as
Christ was born In q manger. Chill
drcn 60 to the barns and plead with
the animals to talk with them-and
when the beasts refuse to answer. the
children know they have been
naughty and must be better mex!
year. No animals are worked on
Christmas day. and even the cows are
not MIXED. the milk being left for the
Mother of God. should she pass that
way and need 1t.
In old Hungary. Christmas Is
'Karacsony." Shoes are placed OH
the doorstep. Sugar is placed therein
for the good children. switches for
the naughty.
In Greece. good Hasios vasilios
makes his rounds. delivering gifts to
the children. HIS othc- name Is
Saint Basil.
Leave Hay Ter messe
In Spain the children put their
shoes on the balcony before the fam.
lily leaves for church on Christmas
morn. leaving tufts Of straw and hay
therein for Santa Claus horse. Re.
tvrning. the children find the shoes
flled with presents.
In Italy the festival season begins
on the day or good old Saint Nicolo.
the giver of gifts. But the gifts are
distributed by the Befana." . witch
like old woman In long black robes.
In Sweden and Norway, white .hair.
ed and Jolly Father Christmas brings
his gifts on = juggling sleieh with
prancing reindeer. All work b sus-
pended for several days rs happy
family reunions and ski jumping con-
AAN