Ho Ho History

by Carol

Papai Noel, Axta Baba, Pere Noel, Grandfather Frost, Padre Noel, Pai Natel,Noel Baba, Father Christmas - Santa Claus! How did this old man become loved the world over? His earliest mention was in England in 1477 - when a pastor invoked Sir Christmas - who encouraged adults to eat and drink to celebrate Christ's birth. The Puritans thought he had a little too much "good Cheer," and reformed him into a kindly old man "given to good cheer - but not in excess." English politicians made fun of that, but the political battle eventually played out  into a character associated with feasting, hospitality and generosity to the poor.

By 1931 in America, Santa had been depicted as a Norse huntsman, a tall, gaunt man in tights, a bishop and an elf. The the Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew the familiar looking Santa (although he was small and elf-like) for Harper's Weekly in 1862, and for the next 30 years, and his look gradually changed.

But it was actually our commercialism that spread his popularity. In the 1920's the Coca-Cola company began using him in their advertising in the popular print magazines.  In 1930 Fred Mizen painted him having a Coke at a soda fountain in a department store. Coke later hired Haddon Sondblom to paint Santa, and he used his elderly neighbor as a model, as well as  the description from The Night Before Christmas. In 1931 he began to be shown delivering toys and playing with children, although he often stopped to drink a coke as he read thank you letters. The Coke collection of historic paintings has been displayed all over the world - even in The Louvre!

But certainly, Santa personifies kindness, innocence, generosity, and our monthly theme - JOY!  Happy Holidays and now  - show us your Santa collection in our galleries on Flickr, Instagram, Focus on Phoneography and Facebook.

And to all my on-line Friends and Sisters - please accept my personal gratitude for being a part of this wonderful FOL experience. May you and your family spread the JOY in the world this Christmas and always.

                                                                             Hugs,
                                                                                 Carol