It seems that this kind old man with a snow-white beard has always existed, but he became a symbol of the New Year holidays only about 200 years ago. The image of Santa took shape gradually, and each nation brought something of its own to it, but its obligatory attributes were a white mustache and beard, gloves and a bag with gifts.
On December 19, all Orthodox Rus' celebrates the day of the saint Nikola Ugodnik. It was he who became the prototype of today's Santa Claus, as he is called in the West. Where did the fat New Year's man in a red zipun come from, who rides around on reindeer, lives for some reason in Lapland and gives gifts to all the children? But Santa Claus, that is, St. Nicholas, lived in the 4th century in the city of Myra in the country of Lycia (present-day Turkey), was a thin monk and hardly even saw snow. How did it happen that the name of one of the greatest ascetics of the Church became a character in a New Year's fairy tale for children? The answer is simple - apostasy, a general falling away from the Christian faith, from the Mother Church. Today's American does not understand what Christ is in Christmas, because the very word Christmas - Christmass ("Christ's Mass") began to be written like this - "X-mas". The proximity of the memory of this saint to Christmas made him the hero of this holiday, which has lost all Christian roots for Westerners.
In many countries of the world, until recently, Santa Claus was the symbol of the New Year. Each nation called it in its own way, sometimes very funny: Yolupukki (Finns), Deda Mraz (Croats), Noel Baba (Turks), Pere Noel (French).
Here, in fact, because of this very bag of gifts, another confusion occurred, which led to the fact that in England and America the traditional Santa Claus began to be called ... Santa Claus. And then in many other countries the same way: Santa Nicholas (in Belgium), St. Mikalaus (in the Czech Republic), Site Kaas or Sinter Klaas (in Holland). All these names are translated into Russian in the same way - St. Nicholas.
Who was this very Saint Nicholas, who is revered all over the world, albeit in an absolutely invented image? The answer to this question is given by his biography, or, in the language of the church, his life.
The future saint was born around the year 270 in the city of Patara, in Lycia, on the southern coast of Asia Minor (now it is the territory of Turkey). His parents were noble and wealthy, but had no children until old age. Through their ardent prayers, the Lord gave them a son, whom they named Nikolai, which means "the conquering people."
From a young age, the boy spent almost all his time in the church, at a more mature age he took the priesthood. When his parents died, leaving Nicholas a rich inheritance, he had no doubt that it should be used to help those in need. Such an opportunity soon presented itself.
Nearby lived a once noble and rich man, who now fell into extreme need. Having exhausted all the possibilities for a way out of a difficult situation, he decided on an extreme measure: to sacrifice the honor of his three beautiful daughters. Upon learning of this, Saint Nicholas decided to help them. Three times at night he sneaked up to their wretched dwelling and threw a bag of gold out the window. Soon all the sisters successfully married, the merchant's business went smoothly, and he, in turn, also began to help people. When Nicholas was elevated to the rank of Bishop of the city of Mira, he remained the same kind, sympathetic and caring. The doors of his house did not close - he equally helped both the powerful and the poor; He was a father to orphans, a breadwinner to the poor, a comforter to those who weep, an intercessor to the offended...
Saint Nicholas died in 342, but his death did not stop his blessings: countless miracles, one more amazing than the other, did not stop and do not stop being performed for everyone who calls on his holy name.
Special veneration of Saint Nikolaus in Germany began already from the 6th century, in Rome - from the 8th century, and therefore already in the Middle Ages here and in other European countries a good custom was established: on St. Nicholas Day, December 19, give gifts to children, following his example.
But here's the problem: when, after a little over two weeks, Christmas came with its "gift" traditions - the Magi, who found the Infant Christ with the help of a guiding star, presented Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh as a gift - again it was impossible to do without gifts. And therefore, over time, both of these "gift" traditions merged together, eventually becoming an indispensable attribute of the Christmas holiday. And St. Nicholas turned into ... a kind wizard who gives gifts to children (remember the episode from his life with bags of gold) and fulfills their cherished desires. And since the 10th century, it was Santa Claus who congratulated German children; in Poland, since the 13th century, scholarships were distributed in schools on his behalf.
Today's Santa Claus is a joint brainchild of the Dutch (so to speak, trendsetters of "fashion"), Americans and the British. They tormented him for a long time: either they wrapped him in a cloak, or they gave him the appearance of a slender chimney-sweep smoker throwing his gifts through the chimneys, or they portrayed him with lush sideburns, dressed in fur from head to toe ... The beard was painted to him in 1860 by the American artist Thomas Knight. Then he was dressed in a red fur coat trimmed with fur. The image of a good-natured fat man with an indispensable bag of gifts was invented by the Englishman Tenniel.
And then, somehow imperceptibly, this ubiquitous Santa Claus became (nothing less) a symbol of Christmas! His first appearance in this capacity happened in 1885 in America: on the first Christmas greeting card (following the example of the British), he was already drawn - in red robes and a hat, with white sideburns and thick eyebrows, with a red nose and a bag full of gifts.
Where does Santa Claus live
Many northern countries are still arguing about where Santa Claus lives. Some believe that he lives at the North Pole, others that he settled in the town of Rovaniemi in northern Finland. In modern Finland, there is even a special service for answering on behalf of Santa Claus, and this is understandable, because. on average, in December, he receives up to 80 thousand letters from children from different countries with requests and wishes.
The English Santa Claus comes from the nickname Sinterklaas (from the word "ash") St. Nicholas (in the Orthodox tradition Nicholas the Pleasant) by the first Dutch settlers in America. He was considered the patron of sailors and children, for whom he prepared gifts all year long, and on Christmas night he delivered them and left them in stockings prepared for gifts. True, it began to be considered so later, and among the Dutch, Sinterklaas was rather a stern educator, for he poured ashes into the stockings of those children who did not behave as they should. The main Christmas character gained particular popularity after the American professor of Greek and Oriental literature, Clement Clark MUR, in 1822 wrote a poem for his children for the holiday about St. a bag full of presents to leave for the children. In a fur coat, with a white beard and a red nose, he rides on a team of eight deer, and his approach can be recognized by the creak of runners and the melodious ringing of bells tied to deer necks.
The poem quickly sold out and became popular, which somewhat offended the professor, as he was very serious and did not approve of the fun that the celebration of Christmas turned into.
And forty years later, cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus, and the image acquired completeness: a red fur coat and headdress, a wide leather belt and sparkling black boots.
Russian Santa Claus looks a little different, and his story goes back to Morozko from Slavic folklore. If Santa Claus is more like a gnome, then Santa Claus is a giant, a hero, patrolling his possessions, icing rivers and lakes, and at the same time giving gifts to children. His disadvantage is that he often asks to perform something for himself. Not because of greed - just the soul asks. But for the voiceless, legless, suffering from sclerosis, everything pays off with the fact that our Grandfather has a Snow Maiden - she will not only give gifts, but she can also kiss.
Where was Santa Claus born?
The modern image of the good-natured fat Santa Claus appeared in the United States relatively recently, on Christmas Day 1822. It was then that Clement Clark Moore wrote the poem "The Coming of St. Nicholas", in which the Saint appeared as a cheerful and cheerful elf with a round, tight belly, indicating a passion for delicious food, and with a smoking pipe. As a result of the reincarnation, Saint Nicholas got down from the donkey, acquired eight deer, and in his hands appeared a bag with gifts.
Origin of Santa Claus
The prototype of Santa Claus is the common Christian Saint Nicholas of Myra (Santa - “saint”, Klaus - “Nicholas”), known for his life of charity (helping poor people in the form of secret gifts). Initially, it was on his behalf that gifts were given to children in Europe on the day of veneration of the saint according to the church calendar - December 6th. However, during the Reformation, which opposed the veneration of saints, in Germany and neighboring countries, St. Nicholas was replaced as a person presenting gifts with the baby Christ, and the day for presenting gifts was moved from December 6 to the period of Christmas fairs, that is, to December 24. During the Counter-Reformation in Europe, the character of St. Nicholas again began to give gifts to children, however, this began to occur at the end of December at Christmas. But, for example, in the Netherlands, where the name of St. Nicholas is pronounced as Sinterklaas; on his behalf, children are given gifts either on December 5, or at Christmas, or on both holidays.
It was thanks to the Dutch colonists who founded the settlement of New Amsterdam in the 1650s, now known as the city of New York, that the image of St. Nicholas came to the North American continent. At the same time, it should be noted that the English Puritans, who also explored North America, did not celebrate Christmas.
In 1809, the "History of New York" by the American writer Washington Irving was published, in which he spoke about the Dutch times of the city, mentioning the custom of honoring St. Nicholas in New Amsterdam.
In the development of Irving's story in 1823, Clement Clark Moore published the poem "The Night Before Christmas, or the Visit of Saint Nicholas", in which he spoke about a certain character who gives gifts to children - Santa Claus. This very popular poem was republished in 1844. As the History Channel, an American television channel on history, stated in the 2000s documentary program Legends of Santa: “Thanks to the pen of Clement Moore, St. Nicholas turned into Santa Claus” and “By 1840, almost all Americans knew who Santa was -Klaus. This funny old man was given to us by Clement Moore." In the same poem, eight of the classic nine of Santa's reindeer are mentioned for the first time.
1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, with Clemen Clarke, helped create the modern image of Santa Claus.
In 1863, the famous American artist Thomas Nast, who worked in the magazine Harper's Weekly, based on the book by Clement Clark Moore, used the character of Santa Claus in a series of his political cartoons, in the form of a gift-giving hero. The character became popular, and Nast later produced, including for Harper Weekly, a lot of funny drawings, but already for children, with funny scenes from the life of Santa Claus. In his drawings, Nast came up with and painted in detail the life of Santa.
The artist first mentioned that Santa lives at the North Pole, that Santa keeps a special book where he writes down the deeds of good and bad children, etc. In Nast's drawings, there was a gradual transformation of Santa's appearance from a character in the form of a fat elderly elf in a fur suit to a more realistic and cheerful character in a sheepskin coat. As the History Channel points out, "Nast copied Santa Claus from himself." Nast was a plump man of small stature, with a large mustache and a broad beard.
It should be noted that initially Santa's short fur coat in Nast's drawings was brown, but almost immediately, in the process of the release of new drawings, it began to acquire a reddish tint. The red color of Santa's sheepskin coat does not carry any semantic load, the History Channel notes in its study "Legends of Santa".
- Dasher ("Swift"),
- Dancer ("Dancer"),
- Prancer ("Prancing"),
- Vixen ("Evil"),
- Comet ("Comet"),
- Kupid ("Cupid"),
- Donner (Dander) (from German and Dutch "Thunder") and
- Blitzen (Blixem) (from the Dutch "Lightning").
These names first appeared in 1823 in the poem The Night Before Christmas. Later, another deer entered American folklore - Rudolph, who is at the head of the team and has a luminous red nose. It appeared as a result of a Chicago advertising action in 1939.
Satellites of Santa Claus
In various traditions, Santa Claus appears accompanied by other characters, good or evil. So, in the folklore of the Alpine region, the companion and at the same time the antipode of St. Nicholas is the shaggy and horned Krampuswho punishes naughty children and frightens them.
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See what "Santa Claus" is in other dictionaries:
- (The Santa Clause 2), USA, Buena Vista Pictures, 2002, 105 min. Comedy. Scott Calvin has been Santa Claus for eight years and is considered by his loyal elves to be the best Santa ever! But his life suddenly turns upside down… … Cinema Encyclopedia
SANTA CLAUS, Santa Claus, husband. In some foreign countries: a traditional character of the Christmas and New Year holidays is a gray-bearded old man who brings gifts. | adj. santa clausovsky, oh, oh. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu.… … Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov
Santa Claus- Code name for UFO sightings, first used by American astronaut Walter Schirra during the orbital flight of the Mercury 8 spacecraft. E. Santa Claus D. Santa Claus … Explanatory UFO dictionary with equivalents in English and German
In Denmark, his name is Sinterklaas, in Germany - Christmas Santa, in Russia his name is Ded Moroz. This character has many names and many countries claim that their territory is the birthplace of Santa Claus or Santa Claus. However, one of the applicant countries has recently become a step closer to the right to be called the birthplace of a beloved Christmas character.
Who is Santa?
St. Nicholas - a generous saint of early Christianity, is considered the prototype of Santa. According to historians and representatives of the church, he was a church leader in a small Roman town located on the territory of modern Turkey.
The exact place of his burial is still unknown. According to some sources, he was buried in Italy, and according to others - in Ireland. In October 2017, Turkish archaeologists discovered a tomb in the foundation of the Church of St. Nicholas in the province of Antalya, not far from the place where the city of Mira stood in the 4th century, the same one in which St. Nicholas served. Archaeologists immediately suggested that the tomb belongs to Nicholas the Wonderworker.
If Turkey succeeds in earning the title of home of Santa Claus, a new place may appear on the map of Christmas lovers. However, his “second homeland” is ready to enter into a dispute for Santa.
Finnish Santa
If you ask any Finn where he thinks Santa Claus lives, he will tell you without a shadow of a doubt that Santa is from Lapland and lives in the Korvatunturi hills.
These hills, or rather the three-headed hill, are almost always covered with snow and are home to nomadic reindeer. It is there, as the Finns are sure, that the secret workshop of Santa Claus is hidden. And, despite the fact that this place was associated with Santa only at the beginning of the 20th century, the Finnish Christmas tradition is much older.
Tradition and folklore
Before Christianity arrived in this northern country, the Finns celebrated Yule, the winter solstice festival popular among the Germanic tribes. On St. Knut's Day, January 13, which is still considered the end of the winter holidays in the Scandinavian countries, special "demons" called Nuttipukki ("St. Knut's goats"), dressed in birch bark masks and fur coats, knocked on houses and demanded gifts and festive food.
When the generous Saint Nikolaus replaced the terrorizing demons, his image was mixed with the traditional, and the Finnish Santa became known as Joulupukki (“Yule goat, or Christmas”).
Joulupukki, dressed in red, knocks on the door in the evening and asks if there are obedient children in the house. If there are children, he gives them gifts and leaves.
In November 2017, the Finnish Ministry of Culture and Education recognized this Christmas tradition as a living heritage of the state. UNESCO agreed with the decision. And even if in fact UNESCO cannot recognize Santa Claus for Finland, the recognition of its ancient traditions is still an important achievement for Finland.
christmas spirit
So why fight for the recognition of Santa Claus to compatriots? Although, it is most correct to ask why not all countries of the world are trying to make this character their property? In the end, Santa Claus personifies the spirit of Christmas - a cheerful, friendly, generous and peaceful character who does his best to ignite the fire of goodness and joy in children. And while naysayers dismiss him as just a commercial gimmick to get us to spend more money, we can't help but agree that there's no Christmas spirit without Santa.
Tourism
In addition, Santa's house attracts many tourists. According to statistics, visits to Lapland have increased by 18% this year. Of course, people come not only for Santa Claus, but also for the northern lights, the snowy beauty of Lapland and the ski resort of Rovaniemi, but Santa's house is still one of the main attractions of the region.
If St. Nicholas really comes from Antalya, Turkey will still have to give way to Finland, which not only has its own Santa, but also the perfect winter landscape that surrounds him - snow, reindeer and aurora. Even the beaches of Antalya cannot argue with this.
Do you know where Santa lives? The fact that the residence of Father Frost is located in Veliky Ustyug has long been known in Russia, but not every Russian knows where to look for his foreign "brother". Many, of course, have heard that the house of Santa Claus is located in Lapland, but the question is: where is this Lapland and does such a country really exist?
Where is Santa Claus Village located?
In fact, Lapland does exist, but it is not a separate country, but just a territory located beyond the Arctic Circle and includes parts of Russia, Finland, Norway and Sweden. This northern region is famous for the fact that in addition to the usual seasons there is a period called “midnight twilight”. The sun, which does not rise above the horizon, creates an incredible world of peace and unusual colors.
Lapland is the birthplace of Santa Claus, it is there, on the Finnish part, that Mount Korvatunturi is located, hidden from human eyes and ears by deserted snowy expanses. The shape of the mountain is similar to an ear, there is a legend that this is why Santa can hear the wishes of all the children in the world.
Considering that only his gnomes and deer helpers know the way to Santa's home, it is difficult for people to find him. Therefore, not far from the hard-to-reach mountain, the village of Santa Claus is located, where you can meet him almost every day. The Santa Claus Village in Kuhmo is a kind of office of the main New Year's hero. In addition to the opportunity to see Santa and whisper your wish in his ear, you can visit the amusement park, the main post office, where letters with wishes come from all over the world, see how the gnomes work and see many other interesting places. For example, from the central post office of the village you can send letters and parcels to relatives and friends, it is noteworthy that your shipments will have a special seal of the post office of the Arctic Circle.
Just two kilometers from the village there is a huge Santa Amusement Park, which is a cave in the mountain that shows visitors what Santa Claus's house looks like from the inside. In addition, on the territory of the village you can meet the gnomes, learn about their work and look at it from the side.
Santa's Village is a great place to buy New Year's or Christmas gifts, here you will find an incredible number of small shops where you can find a variety of handmade souvenirs, beautiful trinkets, corresponding to the general theme of the village.
New Year holidays
Now that you know where Santa Claus lives in Finland, the idea of visiting this particular country will surely become relevant for the winter holidays. The spirit of magic floating in the air, snow-covered landscapes of incredible beauty, a lot of entertainment and activities will make the celebration of the New Year bright and memorable. Children will be able not only to learn how Santa lives, but also to get acquainted with his helpers: elves, gnomes and deer harnessed to the New Year's grandfather's magic sleigh.
Travel agencies offering winter tours to Finland not only offer comfortable conditions for traveling and staying in another country, but also introduce you to the program of events, since during the New Year's time the village offers a wide range of entertainment for every taste. Transport companies cooperate with Santa's village to facilitate movement around the area, television and radio broadcasting, a large number of hotels with different prices and services, and in addition, the nearest airport is even named after Santa, because it is in it that a huge number of planes with tourists land in winter, striving to meet Santa, on board.
Santa Claus - Saint Nicholas.Santa Claus is translated from Dutch as Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas). St. Nicholas - Nicholas the Wonderworker - St. Nicholas of Myra the Wonderworker - Nicholas the Pleasant - a real historical figure. He became famous as a great saint - God's helper. He helps everyone who asks him for help and intercession.
To understand why St. Nicholas became the prototype of Santa, let's go back in time...
Saint Nicholas was born in the 4th century, in Lycia, located in southwestern Asia (the territory of modern Turkey) and was a province of the Great Roman Empire, in the seaport of Patara from wealthy parents. In his youth he traveled as a pilgrim to Egypt and Palestine, and on his return to Lycia he became a bishop in the city of Myra. Having distributed his inheritance to the poor, he visited Palestine, bowed to the holy places and returned to Patar, where his uncle was a bishop. On the advice of his uncle, St. Nicholas became a priest. Later he became the bishop of the city of Mir in Lycia, whence his name Nicholas of Myra.
Nicholas was imprisoned during the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Diocletian, but was released during the reign of Constantine the Great.
Nikolai Ugodnik is considered their patron by fishermen and sailors, they light a candle before swimming, they pray to him in a storm and a storm. There are legends where Nicholas the Wonderworker, with a prayer to God, calmed the storm and saved the sinking ship, returned the sailor who fell from the mast of the ship and crashed to death to life.
They also pray to Nikolai Ugodnik for healing from various ailments, for the patronage of the family hearth, for help in various troubles, from sadness and despondency, for children, in order to attach daughters to marriage, for help in poverty and need, for intercession for widows and orphans, oh compassion for the defenseless, captured by enemies.
In Rus', the fame of the miracles of St. Nicholas has been going on for a long time, starting with the adoption of Christianity. Numerous temples and monasteries were erected in his honor. Among the peasantry, Nicholas the Wonderworker enjoyed great respect and was considered the eldest and closest saint to God. The day of memory of St. Nicholas is celebrated twice a year: in the spring on May 22 and in the winter on December 19.
Since ancient times, Russian soldiers considered Saint Nicholas to be their special heavenly intercessor, along with other holy champions of the Russian land. This is evidenced by the cross-vests that have survived to this day, worn by our ancestors-soldiers under the shell, on which there was an image of St. Nicholas. The Streltsy guards in ancient Moscow, during the roll call, proclaimed in the third voice: "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, pray to God for us!"
Nicholas the Wonderworker became famous for performing real miracles during his lifetime.
In the hometown of Nikolai Ugodnik, there lived a certain rich man who had three beautiful daughters. This rich man went bankrupt and fell into such poverty that he decided to offer his daughters so that the family would not die of hunger, to earn a living with their beauty. To save the beauties from dishonor, Nikolai crept up to the house of the unfortunate father at night and quietly threw bags of gold through the window. The father of three girls took this as a miracle and successfully married off his daughters with the money sent down. So St. Nicholas, in the popular imagination, became the organizer of all happiness. The beneficence of the Saint to the three poor girls became the basis for turning to the Wonderworker with a prayer before entering into a marriage union. Thanks to this story, the custom of discreetly making Christmas gifts also arose. Saint Nicholas must, while no one sees him, enter the house and leave a bag of gifts under the tree.
Since ancient times, Nikolai Ugodnik has been considered the patron saint of children. There is a belief in the Netherlands that on the night of Christmas, St. Nicholas rides on a white horse and distributes gifts to good children.
A similar belief exists in other European countries. All the children on Christmas Eve are full of impatient expectation, will the “good grandfather St. Nicholas” give them something?
How did Nicholas the Wonderworker become Santa Claus?
The cult of Saint Nicholas was very widespread in Holland. Since the seventeenth century, the Dutch have been celebrating on December 6 the day of St. Nicholas (in the Orthodox Church - December 19), the famous patron saint of sailors and children.
Since St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, gifts were given to children in the evening: a wooden shoe was filled with fruits and sweets (now the shoe has been replaced by a sock hanging over the fireplace).
During the Reformation of the Church, the cult of St. Nicholas weakens and almost disappears from Europe. Only in Holland are they still celebrating the day of St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas, as they call it there. This custom, with traditional gifts for children, is brought by Dutch settlers to New Amsterdam, as New York was once called. In America, the Dutch Sinterklaas becomes Santa Claus. Under this name, the saint who became an American is now known to the whole world.
In 1823, seminary teacher Clement Clarke Moore came up with the image of Santa Claus. On Christmas eve, Clarke read to his wife and children a poem he had composed, "Christmas on the Doorstep, or the Visit of Santa Claus." He portrayed Santa Claus as a kind elf who arrives on eight reindeer and enters the house through the chimney. Moore did not intend to publish his essay, but one of his friends, without the knowledge of the author, took Moore's opus to the Sentinel newspaper.
The first image of Santa Claus was drawn in 1862 by cartoonist Thomas Nast. For 24 years, he painted him for the cover of the popular Harper's Weekly magazine. The artist settled Klaus at the North Pole (and not in Lapland). The covers were incredibly popular.
During the Civil War, Lincoln asked Nast to draw Santa along with northerners. Historians argue that the Confederate army was demoralized by the appearance of Klaus on the side of the enemy.
Santa Thomas Nast had one drawback - he was black and white. The red fur coat was presented to the fabulous grandfather in 1885 by the publisher Louis Prang. He brought to America the Victorian tradition of Christmas greeting cards, made in the technique of color lithography. So Santa Claus changed the furs in which Nast dressed him up with a solid bright red outfit.
Finally, in 1930, the Coca-Cola Company came up with a cunning publicity stunt to ensure their products were not forgotten in summer or winter - Chicago artist Haddon Sundblom depicted Santa Claus in the red and white colors of Coca-Cola.
Thus was born the modern image of Santa Claus, where he was no longer portrayed as an elf by Clement Moore, but as a giant. Sundblom introduced a ninth reindeer named Rudolph into his team. Sundblom's friend and neighbor Lou Prentice served as the prototype for Santa.
Thus, Santa Claus - a fat, cheerful old man who delivers gifts, has become an integral part of the celebration of Christmas around the world. He must have a white beard, a red jacket, pants and a hat with a white fur trim. He rides around on a reindeer-drawn sleigh filled to the brim with gifts. He enters houses through the chimney and leaves gifts under the tree or in a special sock, but only for obedient children.
America is a huge country with different climatic zones, so not everywhere Santa Claus can appear on a sleigh. He arrives in Hawaii on a Christmas ship, and in California on a surfboard.
Where does Santa Claus live?
Santa lives far in the north, but in America he has already 2 houses.
There is a Christmas village in Torrington, Connecticut where Santa and his elves distribute gifts. In Wilmington, New York, at Whiteface Mountain, a house is built in which Santa Claus lives permanently. He has a blacksmith to shoe a deer, a chapel and a post office. Over 100,000 people visit Santa's house every year. There is also a city of Santa Claus in America. More than three million letters addressed to Santa arrive annually in this city. There you will also find a multi-colored statue of the American Santa Claus, almost eight meters high.
And of course, if you want Santa Claus to drop by your house and leave you presents, don't forget to leave some milk and cookies for him - millions of kids do this before heading to bed on Christmas night.
