Once upon a time, long before the jolly man in red with a belly that shook like a bowl full of jelly, there was a kind-hearted bishop named Nicholas. His story begins in a small town called Myra, which is now part of modern-day Turkey. Nicholas was a man of deep faith and, most importantly, an incredibly generous soul. He loved helping those in need, often in secret, so that his good deeds wouldn’t be noticed. One of the most famous tales of Saint Nicholas tells of how he secretly dropped bags of gold down the chimneys of a poor family, saving three daughters from being sold into servitude. The family’s house had no chimney, but the gold landed in their stockings that were hanging by the fire to dry—an image that would later become a key part of the Christmas tradition.
Saint Nicholas became a beloved figure, and as the centuries passed, his kindness spread across Europe. His feast day, December 6th, was celebrated with much fanfare. Children would place their shoes by the door, hoping that Sinterklaas, as he was known in the Netherlands, would fill them with treats. The people of the Netherlands loved their Sinterklaas so much that when they sailed across the sea to the New World, they brought him along. And thus, Sinterklaas’s story was destined to change forever.
Santa Claus – Arcadian One Myrtle Beach
As the Dutch settlers arrived in the American colonies, the name “Sinterklaas” slowly morphed into “Santa Claus,” a name more easily pronounced by English speakers. The image of Sinterklaas as a benevolent, gift-bringing figure became entwined with new American traditions. In the early 1800s, Washington Irving, an American writer, gave his own spin on the character in A History of New York. He wrote of St. Nicholas flying over rooftops in a horse-drawn sleigh, a detail that would stick with Santa for centuries to come.
But it wasn’t until a few years later, in 1823, that the Santa we know today truly began to take shape. Clement Clarke Moore, a poet in New York, wrote a poem titled A Visit from St. Nicholas, better known as The Night Before Christmas. This poem, first published anonymously, painted a picture of a jolly, round man in a red suit who flew through the night sky with a sleigh full of toys, led by eight reindeer. Moore’s Santa was a figure full of warmth and magic, with a laugh that went “Ho, ho, ho!” and a belly that jiggled like a bowl full of jelly. Santa, as Moore described him, was not only generous, but he was also a bit mysterious, arriving only when children were fast asleep, leaving gifts in stockings hung by the fire.
Santa’s transformation didn’t stop there. In the 1930s, a new force emerged that would solidify the image of Santa in the hearts and minds of people around the world: Coca-Cola. In 1931, the company hired an artist named Haddon Sundblom to create a series of advertisements featuring Santa Claus. Sundblom’s depiction of Santa—a friendly, plump, and joyful figure with a bright red suit—became iconic. For many, this image of Santa is the one they still picture today, sipping a Coke while surrounded by festive cheer.
But Santa’s story wasn’t only taking place in America. Across Europe, other cultures had their own versions of Santa Claus. In the United Kingdom, Father Christmas was a figure of merriment, often depicted in a green robe. In Italy, children waited for La Befana, a good witch who delivered gifts on Epiphany, January 6th. And in Russia, Ded Moroz, or Father Frost, brought presents on New Year’s Eve. Yet, no matter the name or the tradition, all of these figures shared a common thread—the spirit of giving and joy during the winter months.
Santa’s image continued to grow and change. The reindeer—who had already been introduced in Moore’s poem—became a central part of his legend, with the most famous of them all, Rudolph, emerging in 1939. Rudolph’s glowing red nose made him an instant hero, and he soon joined the other reindeer in guiding Santa’s sleigh through the night sky.
And so, over the centuries, Santa Claus evolved. From a humble bishop who cared for the poor, to a magical, flying figure who could visit every home in the world in one night, Santa became a symbol of Christmas spirit, kindness, and generosity. Today, he brings joy not only to children but to adults as well, reminding us all of the magic that can exist in the world when we choose to be kind and share what we have with others.
So, every Christmas Eve, as you hang your stockings by the chimney with care and leave out cookies and milk, remember the long journey Santa Claus has taken—from the ancient streets of Myra to the snowy rooftops of your home. And perhaps, just perhaps, you’ll hear the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof and feel the magic of Christmas all around.