Santa Claus

The American version of Santa Claus originally derived from the Dutch legend of Sinterklaas. The legend of Sinter Klaas was brought by settlers to New York in the 17th century.

Sinterklaas achieved his Americanized form in 1823 in the poem, The Night Before Christmas, written by Clement Clarke Moore. He included many details such as the names of the reindeer; the sound of Santa's laugh; and the mysterious way Santa goes up a chimney.

The way Santa looks was further detailed by Thomas Nast, an illustrator who depicted a round-bellied Santa for Christmas issues of Harper's magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s. Nast built onto the story of Santa Claus by adding more details. He explained to everyone how Santa's workshop in the North Pole and how Santa keeps a list of the naughty and nice children.

Although the first stories about Santa depicted him as an elf, he now is more human in appearance; and the helpers in his workshop are elves.