Santa Claus is a legendary figure who is said to bring gifts to children on Christmas Eve. He is also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and simply Santa. But where did the name “Santa Claus” come from and what is the origin of this Christmas icon?
The Evolution of Santa’s Name
Santa Claus has gone by many different names throughout history. His current English name has evolved over time:
- Saint Nicholas – Santa was first known as Saint Nicholas, a Christian bishop born in 270 AD in Patara, Lycia (located in modern day Turkey). He was known for his generosity and gift giving.
- Sinterklaas – When Europeans brought the legend of Saint Nicholas to New Amsterdam (now New York City), the name shifted to the Dutch Sinterklaas.
- Santa Claus – The name was eventually anglicized to Santa Claus.
Other names for Santa Claus include:
- Father Christmas – A name used in England in the 17th century
- Kris Kringle – From the German Christkindl, meaning Christ Child
- Père Noël – French for Father Christmas
- Joulupukki – Finnish name meaning “Yule Goat”
But to understand the full origin of the Santa legend, we have to go back to the original Saint Nicholas.
The History of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop born around 270 AD in the Greek seaport of Patara, Lycia. He became known as a patron saint of children and sailors due to various legends surrounding his life:
- He was born to wealthy Christian parents and inherited a large sum of money when they died. He devoted his inheritance to helping the poor and needy.
- The most famous story is that he secretly gave bags of gold to three poor daughters of a bankrupt merchant so they could get married, not be sold into slavery. This led to the tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace for Saint Nicholas to fill with gifts.
- He also was known for leaving coins in people’s shoes, giving rise to the tradition of putting out shoes for gifts.
- There are many stories of him helping and rescuing children by reviving, healing or saving them from danger.
- Sailors and ship merchants revered him as a patron saint due to legends of him saving sailors at sea, calming storms, and guiding ships to safety.
Saint Nicholas died on December 6, 343 AD. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration and gift giving in many European countries. As immigrants from European countries mixed with other cultures in the Americas, Saint Nicholas traditions evolved into the Santa Claus legend.
The Dutch Sinterklaas
When European immigrants brought Saint Nicholas traditions to New Amsterdam (later New York City), the figure’s name shifted to the Dutch Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas was based on the historical Saint Nicholas but also incorporated Dutch folklore. He was portrayed as an elderly, stately and serious man accompanied by Black Peter, a mischievous helper who carried a staff and rod for punishment of bad children. Gifts were given on Saint Nicholas Eve (December 5).
The Dutch picture of Sinterklaas evolved over time as well. He became less stately and authoritarian, taking on a more benign, grandfatherly role. His reputation spread with Dutch settlement in New York and New Jersey, and his image began merging with traditional English Father Christmas figures.
Santa Claus Emerges
In the early 1800s the name “Santa Claus” emerged in New York, first appearing in newspapers and magazines. Famed New York author Washington Irving helped popularize Santa in his works including the History of New York (1809). Santa was described as a jolly Dutch sailor who smoked a pipe and wore a green coat and stockings.
Cartoonist Thomas Nast further cemented Santa’s image with his illustrations for Harper’s magazine in the 1860s and 70s. Nast provided visual depictions of Santa as a portly, jovial man with a flowing beard dressed in red with fur trim. Nast also set Santa’s workshop and home at the North Pole and had Santa traveling by sleigh with reindeer.
The visual image of Santa became standardized through later advertising campaigns, particularly those of the Coca Cola Company in the 1930s. Norman Rockwell paintings and classic Christmas movies and TV specials like Miracle on 34th Street also played a role in developing Santa’s warm, familiar persona.
Where the Name “Santa Claus” Comes From
The name Santa Claus is an American derivation of the Dutch name Sinterklaas. Though the exact etymology is debated, here are two leading theories:
- From the Dutch Sinterklaas – English-speaking settlers in New York adapted the name Sinterklaas to Santa Claus. They replaced “Sinter” with “Santa” and dropped “klaas.” This is the most straightforward theory of the origin of the name.
- From “Saint Nicholas” – It’s also possible that Santa Claus comes from an English abbreviation of “Saint Nicholas” where “Saint” was eventually shortened to “Sant” or “San” and “Nicholas” shortened to “Claus.” This was a common process in transforming names of saints and holy figures into secular names.
By the late 1700s and early 1800s, references to both “St. A Claus” and “Santa Claus” began appearing in American newspapers. The name was popularized by the 1821 publication of the poem “Old Santeclaus with Much Delight” by an anonymous author.
Though Santa Claus is now known mainly as a secular character, his religious bishop origins as Saint Nicholas remain an important part of his identity. For many, Santa Claus retains his roots as a symbol of holiday giving stemming from Christian charity and faith.
Common Questions About Santa’s Name
Here are answers to some other frequent questions about Santa Claus and his name origins:
- Is Santa named after Satan? No, this is just a folk etymology and urban legend. Santa has no connection to Satan or pagan gods. His name clearly evolved from the name Saint Nicholas.
- Is Santa Dutch or Turkish? Santa originated with Saint Nicholas who was Greek from what is now Turkey. The name Santa Claus came later from the Dutch Sinterklaas legend when Saint Nicholas traditions spread to New Amsterdam.
- Was Santa ever known as Odin or Wodin? No, there is no reliable historical evidence connecting Santa to Norse mythology or the god Odin. This is likely an invented theory based on coincidental linguistic similarities.
- Is Kris Kringle the same as Santa? Yes, Kris Kringle is an Americanized version of the German Christkindl, meaning Christ Child. Later the two figures merged so Kris Kringle and Santa Claus are different names for the same Christmas gift bringer.
Conclusion
Santa Claus originated with the historical Greek bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra. His name evolved through Dutch traditions of Sinterklaas combined with English Christmas lore. The figure we know as Santa evolved over centuries, shaped by diverse cultures and writers. While his exact origins are blended, Santa ultimately represents charity, faith, and holiday spirit around the world.