A Visit From St. Nicholas and the Santa Claus myth
The article traces Clement C. Moore’s 1822 poem A Visit From St. Nicholas origin of Santa Claus images, noting early engravings by Reese and Darley, Nast’s 1868 illustrations, and subsequent evolution into the modern Santa. It also surveys ancient and English Christmas hymns by Ambrose, Prudentius, Sedulius, Jonson, Milton, Wesley, Tate, and Brooks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clement ©. Moore
General Theological Seminary
New York City
St. Nicholas
Doctor Moore
New York
Chelsea Village
West Twenty-third Street
Moores
Professor Moore
Troy
N. Y
Santa Claus
America
John Reese
St. Nick
Moore
Chelsea
Reese
Christmas
F. C. C. Darley
Darley
United States Army Engineer Battalion
Grenada
Nicaragua
Mary Christmas
Boston
Mass
Hoover
Thomas Nast
Harper’s Weekly
Nast
Ambrose
Milan
Prudentius
Sedulius
Jesus
Ben Jonson
George Wither
Jonson
Lfe
John Milton
Charles Wesley
Nahum Tate
Phillips Brooks
Bethlehem
Christmas Traditions and Puritan Restrictions Across America
In a nostalgic roundup, the piece contrasts yuletide legends from St. Nicholas appearances to Mrs Claus plus classic Christmas hymns. It then surveys early American attitudes, noting Massachusetts laws against Christmas observance in 1659 and Cotton Mather’s 1711 diary entry about Christmas frolics and their perceived moral impact.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New England
William Bradford
Plymouth Plantation
Govr
Massachusetts
General Court
Boston
Bay
Cotton Mather
Western Newspaper Union
Christmas roots and modernization in American observance
Professor William Warren Sweet discusses how Christmas blends pagan customs with Christian meaning. He notes Saturnalia and Kalends of January influences, the shift from spiritual rite to commercialized celebration, and early American Puritans’ opposition before 1880 when religious publications began embracing Christmas again.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William Warren Sweet
Divinity School
University of Chicago
Bond Chapel
Doctor Sweet
Europe
America
Rome
Saturn
Italy
Earth
Church of England
Sweet
General Court
Colony of
Massachusetts
Baptists
Congregationalists
Presbyterians
Forest Wanderings in British Guiana Describe Trees and Bearings
Maj. R. W. G. Hingston notes how easy it is to lose bearings in the British Guiana forest where featureless scenery and hidden horizons hinder navigation. He highlights stilted, fluted, and mora trees with towering trunks and expansive buttresses, plus varied bush ropes used for support, as described in National Geographic Magazine.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
British Guiana
Channel Island
R. W. G. Hingston
National Geographic Magazine
Creomulsion Health Claim for Persistent Coughs and Colds
An advertisement promotes Creomulsion as a treatment for persistent coughs and colds. It claims two fold action to soothe inflamed membranes and inhibit germs, with creosote as the active ingredient and a money back guarantee if relief is not achieved.
Palm Leaf Volumes Presented to UNC Library
Dr W P Jacobs of Colombo Ceylon presents three East Indian palm leaf volumes to the University of North Carolina library. The works are in Singhalese and add to the collection from a North Carolina native.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
University of North Carolina
W. P. Jacobs
Colombo
Ceylon
North Carolina
Parsnip Recipe Mix Up Causes Humorous Confusion
A lighthearted Home Hints exchange features a speaker confessing they mixed up parsnip ingredients. The other person reassures that parsnip recipes are forgiving and jokes about the mishap. The mood stays playful and domestic.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Elmo Scott Watson
Wasik
Nikolas
Divastas
Ghorstinnad
Aairmany Sath
Cary Sa Jsp
St. Micheles Joos
Kong Wintr
Ama
Hon Baskin
Bomslen
Bliozan
St. Micheles
Sis
Martin
Rounel
Tom Sarclaion
Austin
Texas
Superior
Wis
Herbert A. Ronn
Pittsburgh
Edward C. Claus
Claus Avenue
Christna
LD Javies
St Joseph's
St. Joseph's
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!