Santa Claus

What You Don’t Know About Being Santa

Rochelle Woo Christmas Opinion , 0 Comment
What You Don’t Know About Being Santa

St. Nicholas Day comes and goes every December 6th with little notice. It is a shame that the Christmas season does not do more to honor the man who is the basis for Santa Claus. Once upon a time St. Nicholas was one of the most famous and revered people in the world. He did not become that way because he wildly gave gifts or bestowed upon people their every desire. Nicholas was far removed from the modern image of Santa, a character so abused by marketers and Hollywood he actually numbers as many enemies as friends. St. Nicholas wasRead more

Santa Speaks 2016

Jeff Westover North Pole, Santa Speaks , 2 Comments
Santa Speaks 2016

Once a year — and only once a year — Santa sits down for an interview with the media. Under normal circumstances Santa will select a member of the media who usually does not get big story opportunities. But this year he took that a step further and is being interviewed by one of his own, an elf. And that elf is Crash Murphy, Kringle Radio’s own eye-in-the-sky reporter who follows Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. Crash: Thanks for talking with me, Santa. Sorry it has to be with an amateur this year. Santa: Don’t apologize for anything, Crash. You’reRead more

Five Reasons Why Santa Does Not Do Christmas in July

Jeff Westover Christmas News 0 Comment
Five Reasons Why Santa Does Not Do Christmas in July

He is perhaps the most well-known man in town. In his bright red suit folks can see him coming from a mile away. His big white beard is a head turner. In his little town he is not only the man who takes children on his knee but he embodies the spirit of the season like no other as he wanders the streets in the hours before he takes to his big chair in his village house in the town square every evening. He is Santa Claus, of course. Every Thanksgiving Day he emerges from his nearly year-long absence toRead more

Tips for Keeping Santa Special

Jeff Westover Christmas Features, Christmas History, Christmas Opinion, Christmas Traditions 0 Comment
Tips for Keeping Santa Special

In the spirit of St. Nicholas Day (December 6th) we offer a few suggestions for keeping the magic of Santa alive. The figure of Santa Claus holds a special place in the heart of anyone who loves Christmas. Belief is not measured in wanting Santa to bring things — belief is embracing the love and hope and joy and giving of the season. Famously it is said that there are four stages in life: you believe in Santa, you don’t believe in Santa, you believe in Santa again, then you look like Santa. Funny as that statement is the truthRead more

Santa Speaks 2015

Jeff Westover Christmas Features, North Pole, Santa Speaks , , 11 Comments
Santa Speaks 2015

Each year Santa takes the time to speak extensively and exclusively with a member of the media. This year Santa speaks with Naomi Carlson of The Herald Star of Blueberry, Maine: Naomi: First off, Santa — how about dem Cubs? Santa: [laughs] Hohoho, I was wondering how long it would take you to ask! Naomi: You’ve been telling us for years, Santa. Santa: Well, they have been very good boys this year, that’s for sure. Naomi: Will they win it all? Santa: I don’t know, but won’t it be fun to watch? Naomi: Santa, does Mrs. Claus get frustrated withRead more

The World’s First Christmas Movie

Jeff Westover Christmas Countdown, Christmas Features, Christmas History, Christmas Movies, Christmas Video , , , 1 Comment
The World’s First Christmas Movie

The world’s first Christmas movie dates back to 1898, an age well before even popular silent films shown in movie houses. Directed by George Albert Smith, a British pioneer of film making, this wonderful bit of film was considered a technological wonder of the time and to this day remains a cherished look back at Christmas in time: While it is a first among Christmas films it is also a first in special effects. Smith links the shots in terms of both space and time, by placing the new image over the space previously occupied by a fireplace, and continuingRead more

A Complete History of Tracking Santa Claus

Jeff Westover Christmas Features, Christmas History , 0 Comment
A Complete History of Tracking Santa Claus

Some would call the tracking of Santa a fairly recent phenomenon. After all, you need technology to follow the Big Guy. The truth is that Santa has been anticipated and tracked for centuries. Ancient stories of La Befana (Italy), Baboushka (Russia) and Black Pete (Spain) all have elements of anticipating a gift bringer and tracking his location. Clement Moore’s poem A Visit from St. Nicholas likely did more to advance the image and anticipation of Santa Claus in the home than any other piece of literature in the 19th Century. The poem was reprinted year after year in newspapers acrossRead more

St. Nicholas

Jeff Westover Christmas Features, Christmas History, Christmas Legends , , 0 Comment
St. Nicholas

The legend of Santa Claus, the image of Father Christmas, and the basis for most legendary Christmas gift bringers of old world Europe all has their genesis in the real-world figure of Saint Nicholas. His story as a benevolent religious figure and giver of gifts has led to a centuries old reputation that has influenced seasonal charity for generations. He was born of a wealthy family in the village of Patara, located now in modern-day Turkey. Legend recalls young Nicholas growing up in a privileged situation, his parents being quite wealthy Christians. But their lives were taken as an epidemicRead more

Glenn Beck’s Immortal Santa Claus

Jeff Westover Christmas Features, Christmas Movies, Christmas News , 0 Comment
Glenn Beck’s Immortal Santa Claus

The movie business is soon to release several movies showing the tough side of Santa. Sony Pictures is soon to release Winter’s Knight, a take on the Viking tradition of Santa. Other filmmakers are working The Anti-Claus, a film about the dark figure of Krampus of European tradition. But none of the big screen projects under development sounds more ambitious or image-changing for Santa that what resides in the mind of Glenn Beck, who plans to release his tale “Immortal” in 2016. Beck claims the inspiration for his based-on-nothing-real story for Santa comes from seeing his children obsess over Santa,Read more

History of the American Santa

Jeff Westover Christmas Features, Christmas History, Christmas Legends 0 Comment
History of the American Santa

Santa Claus, much like Christmas itself, is a symbol of all things sacred and secular related to Christmas. From classic Coca Cola ads from early 20th century print still remembered and revered today to modern Hollywood creations like Bad Santa that we’d rather forget, the American evolution of Santa Claus just never seems to be quite complete. While Christmas in America predates the Revolution Santa did not make a splash in America until 1810. He arrived, as many Americans do, in New York City. A local merchant and leader of a local historical society by the name of John PintardRead more