This Western Santa Claus is 10½ inches tall including his chili pepper lasso twirling over his head. His head has a spring under it to allow it to “bobble”, hence the name Bobblehead, as does his right arm which is holding the lasso. This Cowboy Santa is made of resin and his lariat is made of braided wire with red chili peppers hanging from the lasso. Our Redneck Cowboy Santa is riding a large chili pepper over some cacti with a small blue and yellow striped lizard looking up to see the excitement. He has a jonquil colored cowboy hat, pulled down so low on his head its covering his eyes, with a red and white hatband on it. The Cowboy Santa is also wearing a dark blue shirt with a sea foam green vest and a red kerchief around his neck. Of course he has the full white beard and a kindly look about his face. Select this link to view our Collectible Santa Claus Gifts.
History of Cowboy.
A cowboy is a man who takes care of large herds of cattle. American cowboys ride over the western plains, watching the cattle and hunting for animals that are lost. The jingle of their spurs and the hiss of their twirling ropes are notes in the song of their trade. Their work is the beginning of the American meat and leather industries. Cowboys, sometimes called cowpunchers or cowhands, came to the West many years ago with the cattle raisers. Select this link to view our Unique Christmas Ornaments. Before the days of modern transportation, cowboys had to drive cattle many miles to market towns. Today, most ranches have loading chutes from which cattle are loaded into trucks and taken to market. Select this link to view our Santa Ornament.
Another job of the cowboy is to round up the cattle to be branded and culled, or divided into separate groups of prime beef cattle and cattle unsuitable for sale. Some ranches brand and market beef all year round, other ranches have spring and fall roundups where they cut out or select, beef for market during both roundups. The ranchers mark or brand is burned into the skin of each calf. Each rancher has his brand registered with the State Sanitary Board, as being placed on a certain side and portion of his animals. For example, the brand may be described as Right side, Flank or Left side, Jaw. Select this link to view our Western Christmas Ornaments.
The cowboys’ songs and type of dress are known throughout the world. Cowboys would ride herd for days at a time. They would get lonesome out on the range and at times their work seemed dull. Many of them would sing to pass away the hours and to keep the cattle calm. Singing, also warned the cattle of his presence. Sometimes, if the sleeping animals were approached without warning and startled, the whole herd might become frightened enough to stampede. When this would happen the cowboys had to know each others positions so they could work together to turn the herd.
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Cowboys usually wore denim trousers, chambray shirts and a jacket. The trousers were often tight fitting. A sturdy jacket would be worn in rough brush country. Trousers often were covered with leather chaps, which serve as a protection against cacti and brush. Cowboys wore felt hats, but not necessarily the big “ten gallon” ones shown in the movies. Select this link to view our Christmas Figurines.
Cowboys were used to breaking and riding all kinds of horses, most were tough and wild. The saddle had to be heavy and comfortable, could weigh thirty or forty pounds and curved up at the front and back. The rope or lariat was coiled over the saddle horn. It would be thrown to lasso a cow or horse and would be thirty to seventy feet long and made of hemp, rawhide or nylon. It would have a Honda knot or fixed loop in one end. Through this would pass the other end of the rope to form a loop which enabled the rope to be pulled tight or slacked off, after the animal was lassoed. Select this link to view our Collectible Santa Figurines. Cowboys usually lived in bunkhouses on the ranch where they worked. Meals were prepared by the ranch cook and served on a long table. When cowboys rode too far to return at night they slept out in the open or in tents. A ranch foreman would direct their work.