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JOLLY OLD ELF (America) In 1809 Washington Irving introduced the first American depiction of SANTA CLAUS in "Knickerbocker's History of New York" Irving's SANTA CLAUS is of Dutch origin, with baggy breeches, broad brimmed hat, magical long pipe and a habit of laying his finger alongside his nose and winking.
SAINT NICHOLAS (Dutch) Best known and loved of Christmas spirits was SAINT NICHOLAS, whose horse's hoofs were heard on Dutch rooftops on the eve of December 6. He slid down chimneys, bringing things to fill the young one's shoes.
PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH (America) The English Dutch and German Dutch located in this area combined their legends of SANTA. Some called him CHRISTKINDLE and others called him KRIS KRINGLE. He would climb through open windows leaving presents. On his departure he would ring a bell.
CIVIL WAR SANTA (America) In late 1863 and throughout 1864 the red, white and blue flag motif was used in many unusual places in an effort to boost moral and patriotic spirits in the war weary North. Both the North and the South used SANTA to pass out propaganda material. After all who is going to shoot SANTA CLAUS!
WEINACHTSMANN (Germany) "CHRISTMAS MAN". On December 6, Saints Feast Day, children would leave their shoes on the doorstep. WEINACHTSMANN would fill the shoes with toys and gifts. In some parts of Germany he brought presents on Christmas Eve, accompanied by CHRISTKINDLE "Christ's Little Helper"
CHRISTKINDLE (Germany) "CHRIST'S LITTLE HELPER" A boyish figure of no gender. On christmas Eve he would help WEINACHTSMANN carry gifts, and would fill the good childrens shoes with toys and gifts.
RUBEZAHL (Germany) "THE WATCHER OF THE WOODS" He would watch over children who entered the woods, keeping them from getting lost and safe from harm. All year long he would make presents which he would pack into his sack at Christmas time and deliver to the children.
ZWARTE PIET (BLACK PETER) (Dutch) During the middle ages the Dutch referred to the devil as BLACK PETER. It was said that ST. NICHOLAS put the devil in chains and made him his slave. ST. NICHOLAS would have BLACK PETER drop candy and gifts down the chimneys into the childrens shoes on St. Nicholas Eve, which is a few weeks before Christmas. The practice was eventually carried over to Christmas itself.
THE JULNISSEN (Norway, Denmark) The Christmas gift bringers of Norway and Denmark were household elves that lived during the year in attica and stables. Then on Christmas Eve, they emerged to hide presents all around the house.
SWEDISH TOMPTE (Sweden) TOMPTE'S are elves who live deep in the forest. At Christmas time they make ornaments from wheat to decorate the trees. They also deliver gifts to the good children. TOMPTE'S were always seen accompanied by a goat made of wheat, called a "JULBACK".
ESKIMO SANTA (North Pole) He would leave toys and goodies to good children with the help of his companions, the snow babies. His "SNOW BABY" helpers are believed to be the result of Peary's first North Pole expedition. Mrs. Peary gave birth to a caucasian baby girl, and the Eskimos would travel for many miles to fiew her fair skin. They called the baby "Ah-Poo-Mickaninny", which translates to SNOW BABY.
TSAI SEN YEH (Mongolian-Asian Santa) Herdsmen's Day, is celebrated with feasting and the exchanging of small gifts by the family. Many other Oriental ethnic groups (those touched by the Mongols), were influenced by the tradition of these year end celebrations. TSAI SEN YEH appears at the end of the feast and gives gifts of money to the children.
DEDT MOROZ (Siberia) Known as FATHER ICE. There once was a woman who had two stepdaughters, one kind and the other wicked. On day in a fit of rage, the stepmother threw the kind daughter out in the cold. DEDT MOROZ appeared on his sleigh and, impressed with her kindness, reqarded her with diamonds. After hearing about this, the mother put her wicked stepdaughter out in the snow. The wicked girl threw a tantrum, which irritated DEDT MOROZ so much that he turned her into ice.
KOLYADA (Russia) On Christmas Eve in Russian, a white robed elf maiden traveled by sleigh from house to house. The children of the villages sang carols to honor her. KILYADA rewarded them with Christmas treats.
OLD BEFANA (Italy) An old woman who rode a broomstick through the air gave Italian children presents at Christmas, if they were good, coals if they were not. BEFANA was her name, she journeyed on Epiphany.
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