Christmas History in America

That is not how he started. This has turned many people away from celebrating Christmas. However, if they took a look at who St. Nick was, they would find something worth celebrating.

St. Nicholas lived during the 16th century Protestant Reformation which took a dim view of saints. Both reformers and counter-reformers tried to eliminate St. Nicholas customs. The common people loved St. Nicholas. He meant hope and love. In Europe people place nuts, apples, and sweets in shoes left beside beds, on windowsills, or before the hearth.

John Pintard, founded the New York Historical Society in 1804. He promoted St. Nicholas as patron saint of society and city. In January 1809, Washington Irving published the satirical fiction, Knickerbocker's History of New York, with numerous references to a jolly St. Nicholas character.

This was the first introduction to an elfin Dutch burgher type character with a clay pipe. These delightful stories changed the image of St. Nick forever.

The New York Historical Society held its first St. Nicholas anniversary dinner on December 6, 1810. John Pintard commissioned artist Alexander Anderson to create the first American image of Nicholas. Nicholas was depicted as a gift-giving man putting treats in stockings that hung from a fireplace.

The jolly elf image received a big boost in 1823, from a poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," now known as "The Night Before Christmas."

The current Santa was born in a Coca-cola advertisement.

This is why many people give baskets full of nuts and other treats on Christmas, to remind their children of America's past, and bring alive 'our' cultural roots. The best place to find specialty gift baskets is online from websites that sell Gift Baskets & Christmas Gifts