Thomas Nast, probably was the illustrator that started the image of Santa we have today. I don't think all of Nast's Santa's wore a red outfit, but just about all the images I recall usually show him in a practical winter weather two-piece fur-trimmed suit, suited for a jolly old elf" and a stocking cap. The earlier(1820's) "The Night Before Christmas" probably really was the starting point that took the European St. Nicholas and made him Santa Claus. If I remember correctly, this Claus was derived more from the slightly Protestanized Dutch Sinter Claaus, than St. Nicholas. I think that the present Santa Claus is a blend of Sinter Claaus(bad kids got a bunch of switches in their wooden shoes), The Night Before Christmas" jolly old elf leaving tons of gifts, with the sleigh and reindeer, Scrooge post-three spirits visit, Thomas Nast's artwork, and the big Depression era start point of commercializing Christmas to drum up sales during a traditionally slow economic time of year. A great big very well-fed guy in a cheery and confident color red with grandfatherly white beard and whiskers was just the visual ticket to lift the economically stressed consumer.
See if your library has any histories on Santa Claus(not the kids' fiction books). Amazon.com has Wonderworker: the history of Santa Claus, which has a pic of one of Thomas Nast's Santa's on the cover--with a very present-day politically incorrect pipe between his lips! Many dollmakers have made their own Santas and St. Nicholas' and I think there is a book out there somewhere just full of them as a great idea board for you. Cindy Abel But put your Santas in whatever. The brocade could be used as linings or trims, as well as waistcoats. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 3:42 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [h-cost] Dressing Santa Claus Okay, this may seem like the wrong time of year for this question, but I'm making a bunch of Santa dolls for a craft show in November, and I got to wondering what kind of garment Santa's traditional costume is supposed to be? You know, the one that was made popular by the early 20th Century Coca-Cola ads. I know Santa became really popular for the first time in the 1880s or so, but who invented his get-up? Did anyone ever really dress like that, or is it a Victorian concoction? My Santas, for what it's worth, will be dressed in mid-19th Century waistcoats and jackets, mainly because I have some cool brocade I want to use on the waistcoats. Tea Rose _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
