1. The Origin of Santa Claus
#Santa Claus originates from St. Nicholas (Saint Nicholas), a Christian saint who lived in 4th century Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
#St. Nicholas was known for helping the poor and giving gifts to children.
His legend spread across Europe from the 11th century, and especially in the Netherlands, he became associated with Christmas under the name "Sinterklaas."
In the 19th century, his story was brought to America, where the name and image of "Santa Claus" became established.
2. The Creation of Rudolph
#Rudolph is not a historical figure, but rather a fictional character created in 1939 by Robert L. May, an employee of Sears department store in the United States.
Rudolph was originally introduced as the main character of a Christmas story to be given to customers in a promotional booklet.
#Robert L. May wrote the story of " #Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer " as part of the store's holiday promotion.
Rudolph, who was initially mocked by other reindeer for his bright red nose, became a hero when Santa Claus saw the light from his nose and made him the leader of the reindeer team on a foggy Christmas Eve.
In 1949, the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", written by Johnny Marks, became a hit and popularized the character.
3. #Sleigh and Reindeer
The sleigh and reindeer first appeared in 1823 in the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ( #The Night Before Christmas ), written by Clement Clarke Moore.
In the poem, Santa Claus is depicted riding a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, delivering gifts across the sky.
Rudolph was added later as the 9th reindeer, a character introduced in the 20th century.
Original names of the reindeer:
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen.
Rudolph, with his distinctive glowing red nose, was given a special role as the leader of the reindeer team.
4. The Relationship Between Santa Claus and Rudolph
While Santa Claus originates from the 4th-century legend of St. Nicholas, a Christian figure,
Rudolph is a fictional character created for commercial purposes in the 20th century in the United States.
Thus, Santa Claus and Rudolph represent two different cultural traditions that were merged: one rooted in Christian charity and the other in commercial promotion. This combination shifted the focus from the original purpose of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ to a more festive Christmas culture, where people shop for gifts under elaborate #Christmas trees.
Another aspect of Christmas also includes the image of a Salvation Army bell ringer on a snowy street, where people offer coins to support the needy, reflecting the more charitable side of the holiday.