As I was sitting and reading your comments and suggestions. I came across a site where people recounted their experiences with Santa Claus. The question was of course is he real or just our human illusions. Maybe a tale that brings us all together as a reminder of the joys and warmhearted family and friends, that in fact it’s a season of giving and loving.
Then of course I started reading more and suddenly found great interest at a total different subject. Where did this legend first start out with Santa and his reindeer I wondered? Why did my mother always tell me to put carrots into my shoes on Christmas eve for Santa when I was little?
And most importantly do you believe in him? Of course not!! Or maybe?
If you do, I’d like to know you’re encounters if any and of course childhood memories of this.
However here is the interesting part, The modern figure of Santa actually derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas.
But did you know there is another theory?
In fact there is and his name is Odin! Numerous parallels have been drawn between Santa Claus and the figure of Odin, a major god amongst the Germanic peoples prior to their Christianization. Since many of these elements are unrelated to Christianity, there are theories regarding the pagan origins of various customs of the holiday stemming from areas where the Germanic peoples were Christianized and retained elements of their indigenous traditions. Odin was sometimes recorded, at the native Germanic holiday of Yule, as leading a great hunting party through the sky.
Odin is actually described as riding an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir that could leap great distances, giving rise to comparisons to Santa Claus’s reindeer. Furthermore, Odin was referred to by many names in Skaldic poetry, some of which describe his appearance or functions. These include Síðgrani-Síðskeggr- Langbarðr (all meaning “long beard”) and Jólnir (“Yule figure”).
According to traditions, children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin’s flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would then reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir’s food with gifts or candy. This practice still survives in Germany and rather made me understand as to why I filled my shoes with carrots as a child in Germany.
Of course I would experience the different aspect culturally spoken with Sinterklaas en de zwarte Pieten ( Saint Nicholas ) in the Netherlands where he’d throw candy through the window only to find out it was my own father’s doing..
But nonetheless a sweet memory for any child..