The large whimsical Santa decorations are 49 inches tall and 24 inches at the widest part. Our woodsy Santa decorations are wearing a tan, red and green plaid Santa hat with a matching long sleeved, button down jacket, green corduroy pants, brown, lace up boots and brown gloves. Santa Claus is carrying a metal lantern that will hold a votive candle in one hand and a bundle of sticks in the other. Select this link to view our Flickering Votive Battery Operated LED Candles. Over one of Santa’s shoulders are his snow shoes, he also has a leather pack hanging from his shoulder. Santa has a very kind face, made of rubber, with a full, cottony, beard and mustache. The large Santa decorations stand on an 18x14 wood base.
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.
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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 outdoor Christmas decorations.