Santa Through History
To obtain the best understanding of how Santa and his fellow midwinter gift-givers developed, the most interesting approach and, I presume, the most accurate approach is to review historical illustrations. Santa Through History is a collection of historical illustrations dating back to 1750, some of which were included in Santa Claus Worldwide (The Book) and some of which were not.
Father Christmas 1686
woodcut of Father Christmas by Josiah King in 1686
Old Christmas 1652
1652 woodcut by John Taylor of “Old Christmas”
German Weihnachtsmann figurine circa 1900
1800s and early 1900 figurines of Weihnachtsmann
German Belsnickle candy container c.1890
Papier mache candy containers made in Germany between roughly 1890 and 1910
King Winter 1859
“King Winter,” an Americanization of the name Herr Winter
Herr Winter und die Kinder 1848
Drawing by German artist August Kreeling in 1849 “Herr Winter und die Kinder”
Herr Winter with tree 1847
Moritz von Schwind’s illustration of Herr Winter
Herr Winter 1847
The first of several depictions of Herr Winter drawn by Moritz Von Schwind
L’Hiver 1842
One of several character illustrations that personify the winter season
Knecht Ruprecht in Berfegenbeit 1890
Formal version of Knecht Ruprecht
Knecht Ruprecht 1881
Drawing of Knecht Ruprecht in 1881
Der Knecht Ruprecht 1875
Drawing of Knecht Ruprecht from 1875
Knecht Ruprecht, Part 3 1852
Third edition of Richter’s set showing Knecht Ruprecht
Knecht Ruprecht, Part 2 1852
Second of Richter’s illustrations of Knecht Ruprecht
Knecht Ruprecht, Part 1 1852
One of three illustrations by artist Ludwig Richter of Knecht Ruprecht
Knecht Ruprecht 1784
Der Pelzmarte 1863
Pelzmartel 1854
This illustration by German artist Carl August Reinhardt
Der Pelzemartel 1850
Illustration by Count Franz Graf von Pocci of Der Pelzemartel
Pelzemartel 1840
Illustration depicting a subject known variously as Pelzemärtel, Pelzermärtel, Pelzamärdl, Bulzermärtl, and Martin in furs