Why Democrats to this day continue to embrace the donkey as their party symbol escapes me. The masque gave Father Christmas the identity of ‘Captain Christmas’ – and also gave him 10 children, including Misrule, Carol and New Year’s Gift – and featured the good Captain battling to save the festive season in the face of attacks by Puritans, people who (like Governor Bradford) preferred no festivity at all. Then said a simple German youth, fresh from the Zyder-Zee, “The Hall of Fame does not have a political correctness policy when it comes to its nominations,” he declares. ( Log Out /  But even more important has been the international domination of American media. Another, right behind him, has got a meerschaum pipe, just what he has been wishing for ever so long. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln referred to Nast as “our best recruiting sergeant.” Later, Ulysses S. Grant said that he owed his election “to Nast’s pencil.”. Given Nast’s importance in American history, one wonders why he hasn’t gotten more recognition from New Jersey, the state he called home for much of his adult life. […] In the Archives: Thomas Nast and Santa Claus (1862-1890) […], […] In the Archives: Thomas Nast and Santa Claus (1862-1890) (humorinamerica.wordpress.com) […]. How well Mr. Nast has seized the spirit of the great festival in the elaborate and beautiful picture which we publish this week! MORE ARTICLES BY THE NORTH JERSEY HISTORY & GENEALOGY CENTER.

[xii], [i] Russell Roberts, “Thomas Nast: Santa’s Artist,” Austrian, Swiss, and German Life, LaVale, MD; Zeitgeist Publishing, December 2002, pg34, [ii] Jeffrey Eger, “Clement Moore and Thomas Nast: Santa Claus in the Big Apple,” Journal of the Thomas Nast Society, Vol 13, No. Nicholas’ story inspired the custom of hanging stockings by the fire, first in Asia Minor before the Bishop of Myra also became the patron saint of Russia who delivered gifts to children by horse. And the first page I opened had a caricature of two men, in nightgowns, with nineteenth-century facial hair, collecting clocks. Irving’s St Nicholas or Sinterklaas, to give him his Dutch name, would surely have met with Governor Bradford’s strict disapproval. For the next 30 years Nast continued to draw Santa changing the color of his coat from tan to the red he’s known for today. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The most relevant of these refers to the professor, Clement Clarke Moore, for in the very same year as the publication of Old Santeclaus, Moore wrote a much more famous Christmas poem that focused on a completely benevolent central character. It presents Santa flying on a reindeer-drawn sleigh and coming down the chimney with the familiar bundle of toys on his back, now familiar parts of Santa lore. Clark says no. ( Log Out /  Since which time nothing has been attempted in that way, at least openly [author’s italics].”. [xi] In the Netherlands, children left empty shoes outside overnight to be filled with gifts by Sancte Klaas’ horse. See how nicely the soldiers have decorated the encampment with greens in honor of the day! Did Charles Dickens invent Christmas as we know it today?