Santa stands about 9 inches tall with the snowscape being about 8 inches long. He is wearing his traditional red coat with white trim and red stocking cap with a gold bell on it and a black belt to hold in his big tummy. He also has his black boots with blue/green pants on. Santa is ringing in the Christmas season with a gold bell in his left hand and his favorite walking stick with 3 gold bells hanging from the top of it in his right hand. On his right shoulder is a dark brown satchel and a home made Christmas wreath. Next to Santa on this wintry scene is a small friendly polar bear wearing a collar with gold bells on it. Select this link to view our Collectible Santa Figurines.

Old World Christmas Santa Claus.
Santa Claus truly represents a veritable melting pot of cultures, beliefs and traditions. As immigrants arrived in the New World centuries ago, along with their hopes and dreams for a better future, they brought with them their beliefs and customs surrounding the holidays. The Germans brought their Belznickel and Christkindl, the Scandinavians their gift giving elves and the Dutch introduced the Sinterklaas, all representing the celebration of St. Nicholas. The American legend of Santa Claus embodies childhood innocence and magical delight, as Santa Claus is the bearer of gifts and treats for children everywhere. With his home at the wintry North Pole, he and his merry elves created the toys that put the magic into the holidays. He was a kind and gentle figure, and starry eyed children awaited his annual visit with spirited anticipation.

The legend of Santa Claus is derived in part from the benevolent European figure St. Nicholas, and in part from American writers who wrote children’s poems in the nineteenth century. Clement Moore, who wrote “A Visit From St. Nicholas” in 1822, and Thomas Nast, the famed political cartoonist who depicted Santa Claus in the 1860’s as an elfin figure, contributed greatly to this fantasy. Their descriptions of the jolly man clad in red and white created the folk hero children around the world dream about on Christmas Eve. This American patron saint of children certainly brings joy and delight to all during the holidays. Select this link to view our Christmas Figurines.

History of the Modern American Santa Claus
Born in the United States of mixed ethnic and religious heritage, Santa Claus embodies the American ideal of the nation as a great melting pot of cultural identities. Santa Claus became an important folk figure in the second half of the nineteenth century, about the time when Americans were beginning to celebrate Christmas in large numbers. Santa Claus bears a good deal of resemblance to his closest relative, the old European gift bringer St. Nicholas. Indeed “St. Nick” serves as one of Santa’s nicknames. Many popular songs tell of his North Pole and Christmas Eve activities. Nearly every American child can tell you that Santa is a plump, old man with a white beard who wears a baggy red suit and cap trimmed with white fur. Many send letters to his North Pole workshop describing the gifts they would like to receive for Christmas. They eagerly await Christmas Eve, when he loads his sled with toys for good girls and boys and flies around the world, sliding down chimneys to place the presents under decorated Christmas trees. As if to confirm this Christmas fairy tale, men in Santa suits regularly appear on street corners, at office parties, and in department and toy stores around Christmas time. Select this link to view our Collectible Santa Claus Gifts.

Kinds of Bears.
Several of the best known kinds of bears live in North America. Among them are the black bear, the grizzly bear, the Kodiak bear and the Alaskan brown bear. The polar bear lives in the Arctic regions of the far north. Another kind of brown bear lives in Europe and northern Asia. In southern Asia and the East Indies are found the sloth bear and the sun bear. The atlas bear is the only kind of bear found in Africa. The only South American bear is the spectacled bear of the Andes. Select this link to view our Unique Christmas Gifts.