Sinterklaas And Santa Claus
It is said that sinterklaas was the precursor of santa claus.
Sinterklaas and santa claus. The anglicised santa claus made was born in the new world shortly after dutch colonization of the americas. Sinterklaas is popular in europe mostly netherlands and santa claus is popular worldwide. In 1821 the book a new years present to the little ones from five to twelve was published in new york.
A man with serious credentials sint is thought to be the incarnation of saint nicholas the patron saint of children who has been revered since the middle ages. Sinterklaas as a source for santa claus. It is often claimed that during the american war of independence the inhabitants of new york city a former dutch colonial town new amsterdam reinvented their sinterklaas tradition as saint nicholas was a symbol of the citys non english past.
5 by giving gifts. He has to do this for the whole world in just a few hours. The dutch sinterklaas was americanized into santa claus a name first used in the american press in 1773.
However both santa and sinterklaas never give an explicit answer when asked their age. A character risen from a mixed bag of sinterklaas father christmas and saint nicholas. Technically both sinterklaas and santa clause are the same figure both based on saint nicholas of myra.
Travels around the netherlands delivering gifts on the 5th of december. Although santa claus is famous world wide as the jolly man with a big belly that arrives on 25 december to give gifts to the good children not many know the history behind the man. It contained old santeclaus an old man on a reindeer sleigh bringing presents to children.
Hence they should in theory be of the same age which would be 1737 given that nicholas was born in 270 ad. Historians believe that dutch and german settlers took the tradition with them to america. Delivers gifts under the cover of night on christmas eve december 24th for children to open the next day on christmas morning.
There his catholic garb was gradually transformed into the jolly non sectarian red suit with the white fur trim we are all so familiar with.