This Santa with Baby Jesus Ornament is 2¼ inches tall on a two and one eighth inch diameter base. The ornament depicts Santa on his knees beside a small manger filled with straw. He is wearing his traditional suit with his hat folded in his hands as he smiles kindly at the baby. Baby Jesus is lying on top of the bed of straw, covered with an ivory colored blanket. Lying next to the manger is a small white lamb. Select this link to view our Nativity Ornaments.
History of The Santa Claus Express
The Santa Claus Express is a generic name applied to a number of holiday railroad excursions throughout the United States. Often sponsored by railroad museums and incorporating appropriately decorated vintage locomotives and cars, the Express may offer scenic tours beginning in late November and continuing through December. By other schedules, the Express stops at towns and villages along the line, at which time professional or amateur performers provide a Yuletide concert or show for citizens waiting outside. Select this link to view our A Special Place for Santa.
The Express also is a vehicle for delivering toys and gifts to underprivileged children, an example of which can be found in Appalachia. Since the mid 1440s on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, officials of CSX Transportation have furnished a locomotive and cars so that the Express could wind its way from Pikeville, Kentucky, across Virginia, and into Kingsport, Tennessee. All along the tracks, children and families gather, many having camped overnight to secure strategic positions. When the train slows at each whistle stop, children run behind as Santa, who addresses everyone as “darlin’,” and his assistants, who are local businessmen, toss candy, small toys, and other gifts into eager hands. Local merchants, some of whom were once among those children chasing the train, donate the gifts, which become the only Christmas presents that many children will receive each year. Select this link to view our Old World Santa Father Christmas.
Information on St. Nicholas.
St. Nicholas lived in the late third and early fourth centuries. Very little is known about his life. By the middle ages, however, he had become one of Europe’s most venerated non biblical saints. In France and Germany more than two thousand churches carry the saint’s name, bearing silent testimony to the intensity of past devotions. St. Nicholas was the Christmas season gift bringer in parts of northern Europe. His legend and the customs surrounding it traveled to America with European immigrants. His new American name evolved from his old Dutch name, Sinterklass. Although Nicholas’s popularity has declined considerably since medieval times, some Europeans still celebrate his feast day, which falls on December 6.
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The Life of St. Nicholas.
St. Nicholas was born in Asia Minor, a region that later became the nation of Turkey. Most scholars believe he was born around 280 AD and died around 343. He pursued a religious career and eventually became bishop of Myra, a town in Asia Minor now called Demre. Some believe that he attended the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. This important meeting of the leaders of the early Christian Church produced the Nicene Creed, a fundamental statement of the Christian faith. Other researchers point out that his name does not appear on the roster of those in attendance until the Middle Ages, when his cult was at the height of its popularity. Although next to nothing is known for certain about the saint’s life, many legends credit him with miraculous deeds. Select this link to view our Nativity Creches for Nativity Sets.