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Thursday 29 December 2011

Santa Claus


As we say goodbye to Christmas 2011, I leave you with one final window from Saltaire's Living Advent Calendar.  In fact I think this was a 'first' for Saltaire, in that it was not just one static image but a series of projected images, showing different depictions of Santa Claus.   I don't know where the original images came from... perhaps old Christmas cards, postcards or magic lantern slides, but they had a lot of charm.  I am showing a collage of just four of them but there were several more and the website has a short video showing them all.

Santa Claus is of course a person wreathed in myth, legend and folklore, said to relate to Saint Nicholas, a 4th century Greek Bishop with a reputation for secretly giving gifts.  This led via the Dutch elision 'Sinterklaas' to the modern name Santa Claus.  I have to say that I find these old drawings rather more appealing than the popular portly red and white fellow we see these days.

Anyway, I hope you were well-behaved enough during 2011 that he left you some gifts!
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10 comments:

  1. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"29 December 2011 at 07:11

    But there's only one Father Christmas!

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  2. John29 December 2011 at 08:00

    I like the old interpretations of 'Santa', as they have here, rather than the silly fat jovial ones we use today. Nice one.

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  3. Mo29 December 2011 at 11:22

    These are wonderful images. I also prefer them to the fat jolly man in red.

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  4. RedPat29 December 2011 at 19:05

    He seems to have more character in these pics!

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  5. Jack29 December 2011 at 19:11

    Four very nice interpretations of St. Nick. But I like the modern chubby guy with white beard, too. I am not real fussy so long as the Christmas spirit is present.

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  6. Michael and Hanne29 December 2011 at 22:41

    I am so glad these Santas show no signs of portliness whatsoever. Their colors are great! Maybe you could be so kind as to post a link to the others?

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  7. Wayfarin' Stranger30 December 2011 at 01:32

    Thanks, Jenny. I've enjoyed the Advent windows. I clicked on the link you provided and saw all of the Santa windows. I noticed a few of the Santas/Father Christmases were smoking a pipe - no longer politically correct! They must be antique or vintage cards! Did you notice that 4 of the figures were wearing blue? Maybe Rugby's Father Christmas, Fuzzy Orange, isn't so far off base after all. Jim

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  8. Betsy Brock30 December 2011 at 03:43

    I've enjoyed these so much! I bet they are gorgeous in person~!

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  9. Reena30 December 2011 at 04:11

    I'm liking this Claus much better as well! I've enjoyed my year with you and wishing you the best of what the new year will bring!

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  10. Lili13 January 2012 at 00:33

    I must prefer these images to the traditional fat jolly ones. ~Lili

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