Kringle Santa

Kringle Santa

Home Schoolers Celebrate Christmas: Santa’s Storied History

Should Christians teach their kids about Santa Clause? That seems to be the question that many home school parents are asking themselves. There is a distinct danger that Christian kids will focus not on the birth of our Savior but on the materialism that so often permeates the Christmas season, unfortunately linked to the character of Santa Clause. Before we make this decision, we should first take a look at the history of Jack Frost, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, and Kris Kringle. Where did the big guy come from? Home schoolers (especially Christian home schoolers) should keep the following in mind when teaching their children about the meaning of Christmas. Let’s unearth the origins of Santa Clause together.

Older home schoolers will most likely recognize that Santa Clause is rooted in the character of Saint Nicholas. Saint Nick was actually a Christian Turkish bishop famous throughout his country for giving gifts to the poor. Spreading generosity across the land, Saint Nick even provided dowries for three indigent women, allowing them to achieve a proper marriage. Saving these poor girls from hopeless lives of prostitution, the legend of Saint Nicholas gradually spread across generations.

A popular Dutch folk tale developed about Saint Nicholas, here called Sinterklaas. Over time, this character spread throughout the world, to a variety of disparate cultures. Each country’s take on Sinterklaas was a little different. In places such as Iraq and Chile, Vader Kersfees and Viejo Pascuero respectively serve as Santa Clause figures. Most countries have their own personalized version of Sinterkaas.

For instance, Russian children celebrate the life of Ded Moroz, also known as “Father Frost.” Ded Moroz’s long white beard and red fur garb most closely informed the modern American “Santa Clause.” The name Santa Clause is the result of a mispronunciation of the word “Sinterklaas” among Dutch-American settlers.

Our perception of Santa Clause has been informed not so much by folk tale or tradition as by advertisement. Shockingly, early Coca-Cola advertisements did a lot to popularize the idea of Santa Clause being a chubby, jolly fellow in red and white fur. Legend has it that Coca-cola’s advertising department was looking for a way to promote their hottest beverage during the frosty winter months. Because most people weren’t looking for a cold drink during Christmas, they looked to illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop a character that could inextricably link Coca-cola to Christmas. Drawing from elements in the Christian roots of Saint Nicholas and existing pop culture imagery, Sundblom created the most recognizable Santa figure yet. This perception still holds today.

Although Santa has a clear Christian pedigree, today’s media has done much to secularize the image in order to sell products. In turn, many Christian families and Christian churches have opted to forgo teaching their children about Santa Clause, fearing that it takes the focus off of Christ. Christian Home school families have a decision to make regarding teaching their home schoolers the legend of Saint Nicholas this Christmas. It’s important to remember that informing our home schoolers about the original character of Saint Nicholas will teach them about generosity, not greediness. Don’t let modern pop culture pervert what is a beneficial lesson for the home schooler. In actuality, Santa is synonymous with Christmas giving, not receiving.

About the Author

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, author, children's rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of almost 3 decades reside with their 8 children in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. because "our current system of education has broken its promise..." Learning By Grace, Inc. delivers Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children in the United States and throughout the world.

Rothschild has authored a number of books about education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Blog contains feature stories on alternatives in education.

Kris Kringle $40 Now, Santa is coming to town with you. The Kris Kringle bead adds a sterling reminder to be nice, and fashionable all year long. Dimensions: 10.37 in x in

Zanies Kringle Club - Santa $11.99 Zanies Kringle Club dog toys are great for tugging games. They have unique bungee legs that extend when pulled. These adorable plush toys each include a squeaker. Available in three holiday characters, Reindeer, Santa and Snowman. Reindeer measures 12" and extend to 15" Santa & Snowman measure 16" (including hats) and extend to 19"

Reb Kringle $1.53 A Jewish man works as a department-store Santa in this comic tale....

Catching Santa : The Kringle Chronicles $14.92 No Synopsis Available

Zanies Kringle Club - Snowman $11.99 Zanies Kringle Club dog toys are great for tugging games. They have unique bungee legs that extend when pulled. These adorable plush toys each include a squeaker. Available in three holiday characters, Reindeer, Santa and Snowman. Reindeer measures 12" and extend to 15" Santa & Snowman measure 16" (including hats) and extend to 19"

Meet Mr. Kringle - $6.99 Christmas is decommercialized by an elderly man who thinks he is Santa Claus. ~ Rovi

kinky kringle Funny Oval Ornament by CafePress $12.5 crabby cards, crabbycards, crabbyholidays, funny, holidays, santa claus, christmas, drinking, celebration, shopping, gifts, presents, stocking stuffers, family, humor, kris kringle, seasons greetings Funny Oval Ornament Instantly accessorize bare wall-space with our Oval Ornament. Makes great room or office accessories, fun favors for birthday parties, wedding or baby shower Ornaments, or adding a unique, special touch to gift-wrapped packages. Comes with its own festive

Kris Kringle Suit Plus Costume $84.96 Get a great deal and look the part of everyone's favorite jolly old elf this Christmas with a XXL Rental Quality Santa Suit Costume for adults. This high quality Santa outfit includes a zippered jacket with belt loops, a signature Santa hat, matching pants, a blond belt with loops and buckles, and vinyl boot tops with pile cuffs. The Santa costume is available in extra-extra-large only and will fit men chest sizes 58 to 62. Add to the appeal of this Christmas Santa costume with a Santa Accessory Kit and a Santa Belly Costume Accessory comes in handy for Santa's who actually has healthy diets during the year. A Professional Santa Wig and Beard Set is a must-have accessory for this Santa ensemble that you can also use for office parties, family gatherings or children's events. Top it off with a Santa Bag with Bells to hold treats for the kids. Gender: Unisex Age: Adult Occasion: Christmas Size: XXL Color: As Shown

Genuine Chamilia Beads - Red and White Kris Kringle in Sterling Silver $40 Santa is coming to town with you. Sterling silver red and white enamel Kris Kringle charm bead. (355-NA-38) Authentic Chamilia Bead Charm More holiday charms and beads shown below View entire Euro beads collection here

Kringle $11.47 No Synopsis Available

In Search of Santa Claus (DVD) $18.99 This Smithsonian Channel program traces the origins of the man known as Santa Claus. How did he evolve from a sainted hero into the red-cheeked, jelly-bellied Kris Kringle children await today?

Old Time Santa Deluxe Suit with Hood $299.99 Kris Kringle, Saint Nick or Santa Claus, call him what you wish, he's 100% real in this classic Santa Claus costume that's authentic from the tip of the hooded jacket right down to the deluxe jingle

Wyeth: Old Kris (Kringle) $19.99 Newell Convers Wyeth Wyeth: Old Kris (Kringle) - Giclee Print

Has Anybody Seen Kris Kringle $10 Has Anybody Seen Kris Kringle - Christmas Swing

Catching Santa By Franco, Marc $24.43 This 2011 Indie Awardwinner is the first in a new series. Following a trail of mystery and mayhem to prove that Christmas is not in danger, Jakobs sixthgrade friends find themselves the target of a powerful stranger. Jakob is soon forced to play a dangerous game to save his friends and Christmas by catching Santa. Author: Franco, Marc Series Title: The Kringle Chronicles Subtitle: The Kringle Chronicles Publication Date: 2010/10/01 Number of Pages: 294 Binding Type: Hardcover Grade Level: 46 Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 5.75 Height: 8.75

3.5 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Kris Kringle Glitter Disc Christmas Ornament $4.99 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Christmas OrnamentItem #CM1902Officially licensed merchandiseEmbellished with sparkling iridescent glitterDouble-sided ornamentDimensions: 3.5"W x 3.5"H x 0.5"DMaterial(s): plasticComes ready-to-hang with a red ribbon Type: Ornaments Color: White

BIG BUDDHA Santa Tote $44.98 Big Buddah's Santa tote, with its colorful, woven pattern of playful, kissing reindeer, is sure to spark miles of smiles and good cheer wherever you go. A silver locking closure secures all your secret Kris Kringle treats and essentials, to boot.

Kringle (Hardcover) $24.05 In the fifth century A.D., as order retreats from Britain with the departing Roman Army, orphaned, twelve-year-old Kringle determines to rescue his beloved guardian from the evil goblins who terrorize the countryside by kidnapping and enslaving humans and, in the process, with the help of elves and others along the way, discovers his true destiny.In the fifth century A.D., orphaned twelve-year-old Kringle determines to rescue his beloved guardian from the evil goblins who terrorize the countryside and, with the help of elves and others along the way, discovers his true destiny.

Santa $269.99 Santa

Biography: Santa Claus - $19.99 This edition of Biography, the long running documentary series from A&E, explores the history and myth surrounding Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was superseded in much of Europe by Christkindlein, the Christ child, who delivered gifts in secret to the children. He traveled with a dwarf-like helper called Pelznickel (a.k.a. Belsnickle) or with St. Nicholas-like figures. Eventually, all three were combined into the image that we now know as Santa Claus. "Christkindlein" became Kriss Kringle. This video also includes commentary on the importance of Santa as a Christmas figure and the possibilities of a real-life St. Nicholas existing in history. ~ John Patrick Sheehan, Rovi

The Great Santa Search $10.99 This follow-up to Jeff Guinn's bestselling holiday favorites The Autobiography of Santa Claus and How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas takes readers on a sleigh ride through the history of Christmas in America that lands smack-dab in 2006, as a new reality TV show threatens to destroy the true spirit of Christmas. This third installment in Jeff Guinn's bestselling Christmas Chronicles series finds Santa facing perhaps the biggest challenge of his career. As Santa himself relates in this delightful holiday read, the trouble began in 1841, when a Philadelphia merchant named J. W. Parkinson hired a neighbor to dress as Kris Kringle in order to lure shoppers into his dry-goods store. Much to Santa's chagrin, it's been pretty much downhill since. It seems everybody wants a piece of Christmas, and through the years it has gotten worse- to the point that not a Christmas can go by without phony Santas posing on street corners across the country. But when, in 2006, it's announced that a new reality TV show called The Great Santa Search will feature a competition to find the "real" St. Nicholas, Santa knows it's time to step in! With all the rich historical detail and glorious Christmas cheer that made The Autobiography of Santa Claus and How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas treasured family favorites, The Great Santa Search is destined to become yet another Christmas classic from Jeff Guinn.