If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 535

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St. Nicolas

 

The two unused postcards shared this week come from Dick Thompson’s Scrapbook Collection and have reproductions of Victorian Christmas greetings.  They are products of Merrimack Publ. Corp. of New York and printed in Hong Kong.  The originals were most likely from around 1900.

 

Santa Claus, Father Christmas, or Saint Nicolas, by whatever name we choose to call him he is often featured in holiday greeting cards.  When the Dutch established New Amsterdam they brought the legend and traditions of Sinterklaas with them.  We get the name Santa Claus from the Dutch Sinterklaas.

 

Traditionally Nicolas is thought to have been born in 15 March 270 and died 6 December 343 at the age of 73 years.  His parents were wealthy Greek Christians who both died of plague when Nicolas was a boy.  Accounts show him living a devout life and using his inherited wealth to help the poor and suffering.  He was made Archbishop of Myra, a harbor city near where he was born, when he was in his twenties.  During his life there was much persecution and torture of Christians.  It is believed that he was tortured and imprisoned during that time.  Many miracles have been attributed to him although it is not possible to tell how many of the events occurred as they were recorded long after he died.  His habit of secretly giving gifts became a tradition of gift giving in his honor after his death December 6.

 

 

 

 

Also depicted on the cards is holly.  Some scholars believe the name holly came from the word holy and is sometimes referred to as “Christ’s Thorn.”  The sharp, prickly nature of the leaves is to remind us of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus.  The bright red berries are reminders of the drops of blood.  Another account says that the shape of the leaves resemble flames and can serve as reminders of God’s burning love for his people.  Because the holly tree remains green with red berries during the Christmas season it has naturally become associated with Christmas. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicolas

https://www.celebratingholidays.com