Santa Claus Greeting Cards

I remember reading somewhere that the name Santa Claus (from St. Nicholas) was actually first given in Coca Cola ads... I have seen Coca Cola greeting cards with pictures of Santa. Can somebody confirm or deny this? I don't want funny answers to this one please...

Santa Claus is a variation of a European folk tale based on the historical figure Saint Nicholas, a bishop from the region that is now present-day Turkey, who gave presents to the poor. This inspired the mythical figure of Sinterklaas, the subject of a major celebration in the Netherlands and Belgium, Germany (where his alleged date of death, December 6, is celebrated the evening before on December 5), which in turn inspired both the myth and the name of Santa Claus (actually a mispronunciation of the Dutch word "Sinterklaas" by the English settlers of New Amsterdam (later renamed New York)), in those countries Saint Nicholas is celebrated as a distinct character with a religious touch, Santa Claus is also celebrated on Christmas eve.

There is also the urban folk legend that the red-suited Santa was created by Coke. The modern Santa had "elbowed aside all comers" long before the 1940s, and well before Coca-Cola co-opted him as their wintertime advertising symbol.

2006-07-16 08:10:29 by Wrobinhood

Please send this link to others: Tinyurl.com I just made the graphic into a card: www.cafepress.com representativepress.blogspot.c om A message ...

Direct from the USPS:

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsr oom/localnews/ca/ca_2007_1203a.htm

After writing Santa's response letter, place it in a stamped envelope addressed to the intended recipient. “Santa, North Pole, Alaska,” should be included as the return address in the upper left corner of the envelope. This envelope should then be placed into a larger, properly stamped First-Class Mail or Priority Mail envelope with your correct return address and mailed to:

North Pole Christmas Cancellation
Postmaster
5400 Mail Trail
Fairbanks AK 99709-9998

North Pole postmark requests must arrive in Fairbanks, AK, before Dec. 15, 2007. Please mail your request by Dec. 10.

Customers interested in obtaining the North Pole Postmark on greeting cards should mail them to the address above, following the same directions. Please make sure that the stamped envelopes are sealed and contain cards or other inserts (empty envelopes can be damaged by high-speed sorting equipment).

Why did you have to contact the Post Office to find out your own address?

2007-12-17 19:41:43 by Saint Nick