Santa Claus, David Scattergood, cover, A Visit from St. Nicholas 1860
Illustration of one of the earliest versions of “The Night Before Christmas”
Illustration of one of the earliest versions of “The Night Before Christmas”
The earliest version of the gift-giver who looked like Santa Claus rather than the halfling Dutchmen who appeared between 1837 and 1848 was a drawing by artist F.O.C. Darley
Children hanging their stockings at the foot of their bed in the expectation that Santeclaus would arrive during the night
One of the earliest uses in print of a name that was in common use by 1821
The frightening and unkempt but human gift-givers who traveled alone emerged in northern Europe following the Reformation because the Protestants would not include a Catholic saint in their gift-giving exercises.
Arthur Stansbury created the most influential depiction of Santa that no one ever saw
One of the few versions of Santa that does not have a beard
A well-intentioned effort by artist George Beard in 1872
Santa Claus wearing what appears to be a long, wild beard modeled after the pagan god Odin