This African American Santa With a List
is 3.5 inches high. The black Santa with a list is holding a teddy bear in his left hand and his list in his right hand. This African American People Ornament is wearing a red Santa clause outfit with a black belt and white trim. The Santa hat is red with a white ball on its top, white trim, and white and green candy canes on its front. The African American Santa is wearing black boots with gold buckles. This Unique Christmas Ornaments beard and hair are both black. The teddy bear is brown and wearing a green and white striped shirt over aqua colored pajamas. Select to see a complete listing of our Christmas Decorations Ideas.

History of 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 their Sinterklaas, all representing the celebration of St. Nicholas. 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.
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. On Christmas Eve, the eve of the birth of the Christ child, Santa Claus magically flew around the world in his sleigh, filled with toys and gifts and drawn by eight reindeer. Parents had their children hang their stockings by the fire, in hopes that Santa Claus would come. He stopped at each child’s home and slid down the chimney to leave special packages and surprises in their stockings. Wide eyed good girls and boys would discover wonderful gifts in their stockings, but bad boys and girls would only find a lump of coal.

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. In the United States St. Nicholas was transformed into Santa Claus. 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. Select the following link to read about Christmas Writings.

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.