Who Is The Man in the Red Suit?
He’s St. Nicholas …
Born around 280AD in a coastal town near modern-day Turkey, St. Nicholas began his legend as a monk. Caring for the poor and sick became his life’s focus.
Said to have given away all of his wealth, he became well known for his kindness and as a protector of children and sailors.
He became known in the United States at the end of the 18th century. In 1773, a New York newspaper ran a story about Dutch families gathering in the U.S. to honor him.
Images of stockings hung over a fireplace and filled with toys and fruit by St. Nicholas emerged soon after. The Dutch continue to celebrate his legacy today.
The more modern stories of his good deeds — reindeer, sleigh and elves — came about when he transformed into Santa Claus.
“The only gifts I need are the looks of joy on children’s faces on Christmas morning,” says St. Nick, who makes an annual visit to Riversdale House Museum to celebrate its Flemish heritage. He adds that he does hope to find warm socks under his own Christmas tree — hand knitted by his wife.
Always putting others before himself, St. Nick shares what his reindeer look forward to finding left out for them on Christmas Eve.
“Carrots are good for the reindeers’ night vision,” St. Nick says. “Rudolph likes jalapeno peppers. He reports that they make his nose glow brighter.”
“Homemade cookies of any kind, made with love,” St. Nick says when pressed for his taste.
He’s Santa Claus …
Santa Claus first made his appearance on the Christmas scene in 1804.
Nick’s Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, is a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas — that’s Dutch for St. Nick. The name Santa Claus comes from this name.
Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore’s 1822 poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, popularized the appearance (except in size) and heroics of Santa Claus as he is recognized today:
He flies from house to house in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, bounds down chimneys to fill stockings from his bundle of toys.
By 1840, newspapers began to feature these images of Santa Claus in holiday advertisements.
It was a short leap to unite the house-invading, gift-bringing St. Nicholas — who Moore also calls Santa Claus — with decorated evergreen trees that have been brought inside to celebrate the season. Sometimes he brings and decorates the tree himself; other times, he unloads his presents under its boughs.
“Cutting down a tree and hanging it in a home is a sign of the gift of life,” says Santa Claus, who I visited at Homestead Gardens.
This tradition has continued for thousands of years. It served as a reminder that spring is coming, even in the darkest of winter.
He’s Kris Kringle …
Kris Kringle — derived from Kristkindl, meaning Christchild in German — delivered gifts to well-behaved children in Switzerland and Germany.
He became known in the English language in 1830 and achieved fame in the United States in 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street.
Kris Kingle appears at holiday celebrations throughout the season, dressed in a bright red suit with a black belt and black boots, spectacles and sporting a long beard. Greeting children and spreading good cheer he considers himself a “wonder worker.”
“The wise men brought gifts to the Christchild,” Kris Kringle says. “There were kids who had nothing, so I started making toys and delivering them. It just grew and grew.
“I love to bring happiness and joy to people in a time of the year when folks need cheering up,” Kringle said, when I caught up with him gathering Toys for Tots. “Back in the days before electricity, there wasn’t much to be happy about this time of year. That continues today. Folks need joy, love, light and celebration in their lives.”