Well, there was a real person that Santa Claus is supposed to be based on – St Nicholas, a 4th century bishop – but it was really in the US, many hundreds of years later, that the name Santa Claus became popular, probably from the Dutch legend of a jolly old man called Sinter Klaas.
I was really interested to find out, a little while ago, that there are some very old Scandinavian legends about a red-coated figure who would give presents to people, especially children – he seems to have a lot of names including Tomten. That probably explains why we always imagine Santa living in the far north. Also a lot of those old myths suggested that the ‘gift-giving’ figure would punish bad behaviour as well as rewarding the good – anyone else remember being threatened with a stocking full of coal and wood if they were naughty? I certainly was, and that’s a side of the Santa/Father Christmas idea that crops up a lot.
What’s really nice is the way people all over the world have created their own idea of the ‘Christmas man’, whatever their culture or beliefs – there are some fascinating examples here www.lone-star.net.
It seems as if we all just love the idea of giving presents and having a warm, friendly figure around in the darkest part of the year…
"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth..... "VIRGINIA O'HANLON. "115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if Santa didn't exist. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished...
By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897.
All I know is that he must really dislike kids. I mean, think about it! He took the one job in the world where there is zero chance of seeing a kid 364 days out of the year, never had kids of his own, and distributes the toys while they are sleeping, so he should, ideally, never be in contact with them.... Yes, indeed...
If you want him to be real, he is. If you don't want him to be real, he isn't. But personally, I believe in Santa. When I was a small kid, I made my parents swear it wasn't them. Here is a story with proof.
One day, I prayed to Santa:
"Dear Santa, I would like to see your writing, and I will save the tags and put them in my memories box. I also want to tell you I believe in you 100%"
I didn't tell my parents that i prayed this...But on Christmas Day i checked my presents and for the first time in my life, Santa wrote: From: Santa and To:
I knew 100% that that was definitely not my parents writing.....And they were surprised when I told them I prayed...It's impossible for anybody to read your mind.
Also, my best childhood friend once went on a vacation to a cottage and she stayed there from the 20th to Jan. 4. When she came back, she had presents under her tree. Her parents only gave her candy, but that year, she got her wish.
I don't exactly know if he is a human, because how would he get into your house to drop presents if you don't have a chimney? I do not know about that, but I believe in him having a spirit that makes children happy.
But do not mind much about if Santa is real or not, think about Jesus and how He gave Himself to us,who are not worthy, and let this day come true, think, why would He give presents on His birthday?
Have a religious Christmas and may Be Peace with you!!!
No he isn't real sorry for crush in peoples dreams who see this answer but generations ago santa was invented so parents could brighten up kids christmas but generations ago kids might have only gotten... An apple a ball a rag doll i don't think anybody knew it would go this bad parents having to buy millions of toys for their kids so they cant disappoint them i'm sure nobody meant it to go this far ... There you go the truth.
I am fourteen and i still believe in santa claus some times if you dont believe th spirit of christmas just goes down.4 years ago i got a letter from santa claus and i was so excited.2 years ago i home with my baby cousin and my parents were not home that night there was no presents underneath the tree and i left cookies and milk out for santa and the next morning there was about 100 presents under neath the tree and he also ate all the cookies and milk.if your parents tell you that there is no such thing as santa claus dont listen to them because there is such thing as santa claus. JUST KEEP believing. :)
