Our North American Santa has
appeared in each of the three sets, so varied has his visage become since
he was first introduced by the Dutch in the 1650s as
«Sinterklaas», now anglicized to Santa Claus. It was Clement
Moore in his 1822 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas which gave him a
sleigh and a round little belly that shook when he laughed, like a bowl
full a jelly. The last major characterization took place in the 1930s when
Haddon Sundblom, a Scandinavian-American commercial artist, was
commissioned by Coca-Cola to do series of Christmas ads. Modelled after a
retired salesman, «his» Santa Claus was portrayed in the
now-familiar red fur-trimmed suit with a big belt and boots.
Santa Claus Village
Merry Christmas from Santa Claus at the North Pole
Welcome to The North Pole - Santa Claus Place
Santa´s Lapland and Christmas Club
Le Père Noël sur Internet - Site Officiel
