SANTA CLAUS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1915, Page 9 (Supplement)

SANTA CLAUS

HIS HISTORY, THE FRIEND OF CHILDREN. Who is this grand old man, adored by everyone, and where was he born? The answer to this question is not easy, for Santa Clans was born ages ago, and he has been so busy ever since that lie never lias taken the time to study his family tree. One thing lie knows, and that he lias many names. English children call him Santa Clans; the little Dutch folk, St. Nicholas; the French, Pere Noel; and the Germans, Prince Rupreeht or Kriss Kringle, but they all moan the same thing. The story of his birth is told in mediaeval legend. This Italian story says that his name was St. Nicholas, and lie was a bishop in the fourth century. He had a great deal of money, but fle was so good to the poor people, and especially the children, that he gave it away u-3 fast as he got it. There are many tales about his good deeds, but perhaps the most interesting one is how he brought back to life three children who had been killed.

In Italy he was known as a tall man, dressed in white robes and wearing a crown. But the happy Dutch did not think of this kind man that way. To the Dutch people he always appeared as short-legged and pot-bellied and wall wrapped in furs. He was accompanied by a black slave, who carried a bag full ot sweets and presents. St. Nicholas carried a birch rod with him, and asked the children who had been good and who had been bad. If they were' good he gave them nuts, crackers and candies, but if the.v had been bad they got a flogging. The children put their wooden sabots in the open fireplace so that he could put some more presents in these on going out. In Russia he was worshipped the same way, but lie always appeared as a tall person wearing the vestments of a bishop, with mitre and crown. His companion was a bearded man wearing a fur coat, carrying a stick and a basket full of presents. There are many interesting legends associated with tho name of St. Nicholas or Santa Claus in England. One is that lie was put in prison for some unknown offence, put managed to escape. This is told in "An Hue and Cry after Christmas,'* and it tells of the arraignment, conviction and imprisoning of Christmas and how he "broke out of prison in the holidays and got away, only leaving his hoary liair and grey beard sticking 'between two iron bars of a window." ADVANCE COURIER IN GERMANY.

In Germany 'lie was at first considered as an advance courier for the Okristkindlein, distributing part of the angel child's gifts and promising a visit of the Christkindlein on Christmas Eve when lie hoard that the children were good. In some of the small places he appeared grotesquely—sometimes in goatskin and danced like a gout; again In a white sheet with a stick and two lights in. his mouth. The legend says that Claus, Nicholas, Neeht Rupreclit, or whatever his name is, "comes in wearing a white sheet and holding a stick in his hand." He tells the children to pray, and. if they disobey he (toga them, but if they obey he gives them plenty of nuts and apples.

The Italian children also believed in their patron saint, but they worshipped his wife instead. Her name is La Befana, and fhey pay as much homage to her as the other children do to the saint. She is not good-looking, for she is supposed to be mole than 2000 years old. The legend says that when the three wise men were about to pass her .window she refused to go to the window and salute them. tShe saw her mistake when it was too late, and has tried to repent by making the children of Italy happy 011 her birthday, which is January fi. She is supposed to be Santa Claus' wife, and when she is not busy helping him she is in Italy getting ready for her yearly ecleoration, which takes place on January fl, when she gives the children toys, fruits, candies, etc.

She is also known in Russia, and a great many children believe in Mrs. instead of Mr. Santa Claus. There she is called Babouska, and the story tells that she is so kind because she is repenting of her sins.

In France it was the angel child who lame every year to bless the children and to remember them with some small gift. Afterward he had so much to do lie sent his servant Pere Noel, which is the Santa Clans of the French and Dutch children, to help him distribute his gifts and to tell them that lie will como to. bless them before the Xew 'Year.

Though Santa Clans lias a large sleigh and two splendid horses or reindeers, according to the countries he visits, he has such long distances to cover that he cannot appear In all countries on ■the same day, Santa Claus was born in Holland, or, rather, it took the Dutch children to find him. But he is a great traveller and goes, to all countries, where he has many shops and thousands of men and women working for him. He goes to all the forests of Germany, especially to the wonderful "Black Forest," and gets thousands and thousands of trees.

• The Dutch may boast that Santa Claus was born ill Holland. Who knows? 'Perhaps he was. But Germany is the home of the Christmas tree, for it was tire first country that used the evergreen tree in Christmas celebration.

There are many beautiful stories associated with the origin of the first Christmas tree. One legend says that on the holy night all nature, even this animals anil the trees, were rejoicing, and that the cedars, instead of pointing their branches upwards as pointed slender trees, spread their branches wide to protect the mother and her new-born child. Though it was mid-winter, the thorn commenced to blossom, and its white flowers made a cover for the child's cradle. The olive pdured forth oil for the new-born child. All wore happy except the small pine, which had nothing to o(Ter, and year by year it grew taller. Still it never forgot ihai holy night, and the wind sweeping through its branches moans because the pine is still unhappy because it had nothing to &ivc.