The origins of Santa Claus

Saint Nicholas was a wealthy Greek bishop in fourth-century Asia Minor –
modern Turkey – who gave secret gifts of gold to the poor. Known in Dutch
as Sinterklaas, a corruption of Sint-Nicolaas, he merged with the English
Father Christmas character to create the modern Santa Claus.

1939
Rudolf, the Red-Nosed
Reindeer created for
poem by Robert L. May.
In 1949, May’s brotherin-
law Johnny Marks
turns poem into song,
made famous by
Gene Autry

Dasher
Dancer
Prancer
Vixen
Donner
Comet
Cupid
Blitzen

Flying
reindeer pull
Santa’s sleigh to
help him deliver
Christmas gifts

AD 280 - AD 343
Nicholas of Myra –
later Saint Nicholas –
revered as patron
saint of children,
sailors and ships

17th Century
Dutch immigrants
bring stories of
Sinterklaas
(Santa Claus) to
New Amsterdam,
now New York

1823
NYC’s Troy Sentinel
newspaper publishes
Clement Clarke
Moore poem, A Visit
From St. Nicholas
(aka The Night Before
Christmas), featuring
old man on reindeer-drawn
sleigh who
brings gifts to children

17th Century
Thomas Nast,
political cartoonist at
Harper’s Weekly, is
first artist to define
Santa’s modern
image, as bearded,
plump, jolly man. His
1881 illustration
attains status akin to
official portrait

1931-64
Working with Coca-
Cola Company and
D’Arcy Advertising
Agency, illustrator
Haddon Sundblom is
hired to create new
vision of Santa Claus,
which he bases on
Moore poem’s
description of St. Nick

Sources: TheHistoryofChristmas.com, The Coca‑Cola Company

Pictures: Creative Commons, © The Coca‑Cola Company

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