SantaClaus is perhaps the most remarkable of all the figures associated with Christmas.
Although Nast never settled on one size for his Santa figures (they ranged from elf-like to man-sized), his 1881 "Merry Old SantaClaus" drawing is quite close to the modern-day image.
Santa was portrayed as both large and small; he was usually round but sometimes of normal or slight build; and he dressed in furs (like Belsnickle) or cloth suits of red, blue, green, or purple.
For the rest of the year SantaClaus is believed to be living on the North Pole along with his wife and his elves where he manufactures toys.
Another tradition concerned with the letters to SantaClaus is that of burning down the letters written to SantaClaus in Britain, as it is believed that with the wind these letters would be automatically transported to the North Pole.
No description of SantaClaus can be complete without the mention of Santa's reindeers, which have been given the names of Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, who is also called by the name of Donner as some people find it difficult to pronounce Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph.
SantaClaus (also known as Father Christmas) is the American and British variant of the European folk myth of Saint Nicholas, explaining the source of Christmas presents given to children on Christmas Day.
Conventionally, SantaClaus is portrayed as a kindly, round bellied, merry bespectacled man in a red suit trimmed with white fur, with a long white beard.
Santa's image was further modernized by the Coca-Cola company, who at the turn of the 20th Century featured the character in a variety of advertising campaigns.
SantaClaus is a variation of a European folk tale based on the historical figure Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Myra that is now present-day Turkey, who gave presents to the poor.
Conventionally, SantaClaus is portrayed as a kindly, round-bellied, merry, bespectacled white man in a red coat trimmed with white fur (perhaps remotely derived from the episcopal vestments of the original Bishop Nicholas), with a long white beard and green or white gloves.
Such a condemnation of SantaClaus is not a twentieth century phenomenon, but originated among some Protestant groups of the 16th century and was prevalent among the Puritans of 17th century England and America who banned the holiday as either pagan or Roman Catholic.
The legend of SantaClaus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas.
Even after the Protestant Reformation, when the veneration of saints began to be discouraged, St. Nicholas maintained a positive reputation, especially in Holland.
Santa distributes some gifts in bulk quantities to orphanages, children's hospitals etc. before Christmas.
Some time is taken to decelerate the sleigh to a stop, for Santa to deliver the presents, for him to return to the sleigh and for the sleigh to accelerate to cruising speed.
SantaClaus does not exist, except as a symbol or a myth.
SantaClaus, is not afraid of chilly weather – under his thick, red coat he is snug and very warm, as he commutes from Korvatunturi in Eastern Finnish Lapland to Rovaniemi every day.
In SantaClaus Office within the Arctic Circle it is far from freezing.
The Office is full of excitement with a symphony of different languages, spoken by the thousands of international guests in Rovaniemi to meet with SantaClaus.
Donate online to the Star's SantaClaus Fund and you will help provide gift boxes to 45,000 needy children.
The Toronto Star SantaClaus Fund was established in 1906 by Toronto Star Founder, Joseph E. Atkinson.
Maurice Coulter heard stories about the founder of the Toronto Star SantaClaus Fund many years before the gift boxes arrived to brighten a poignant Christmas Day for her children.
SCARED OF SANTA GALLERY: Tis the season to be scared witless
A couple of years ago, the Chicago Tribune asked readers to send in their "Scared of Santa" photos.
Those photos are included here, as well as additional photos sent in by SouthFlorida.com, Sun-Sentinel.com and Chicago Tribune readers in subsequent years.
Find the Meaning and Define the Answer of SantaClaus rally
A SantaClaus rally is a late-December rise in stock market activity, generally seen over the final week of trading prior to the new year.
The rally is generally attributed to anticipation of the January effect, an injection of additional funds into the market, and to additional trades which must, for accounting reasons, by completed by the end of the year.
ChristmasSantaClaus Clipart and Pictures - Holiday-Clipart.com
It's Christmas again and here you'll find links to some great Christmas clip art and web graphics.
Whether it's SantaClaus, snowmen, Christmas trees, turkeys or more offbeat Christmas subjects - you'll find lots of Christmas clipart and web graphics to use.
