noun
the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas
• Syn: ↑Santa Claus, ↑Santa, ↑Kriss Kringle, ↑Saint Nicholas, ↑Saint Nick, ↑St. Nick
• Instance Hypernyms: ↑patron saint, ↑imaginary being, ↑imaginary creature
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noun [singular]
Brit :
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Word Origin:
of obscure origin. His conventionalized image is comparatively recent; in late medieval Europe he became identified with St Nicholas (Santa Claus); in England Father Christmas was a personification of Christmas, a genial red-robed old man who appeared in many 16th-cent. masques and in mummers' plays, which were plays without words. There was a great revival of the celebration of Christmas in the 19th cent. and Father Christmas acquired (from St Nicholas) the association of present-bringing.
Culture:
Santa Claus, also called simply Santa or, in Britain, Father Christmas, is a fat, cheerful old man with a long white beard who brings children their presents on ↑Christmas Eve. Traditionally, he wears a bright red suit, a red hat lined with white fur and shiny black boots. Santa Claus is said to live at the North Pole and to have a workshop there where he and his elves makes toys. Santa Claus is also called St Nick and identified with St Nicholas, who lived in the 4th century AD and is the patron saint of children
In the period before Christmas children write letters to Santa telling him what gifts they would like. In Britain these letters are ‘posted’ up the chimney or sent to local newspapers, which arrange for Santa to send a reply. Children are careful to behave well, because Santa only brings toys to good children.
During this time Santa can also be found visiting many large shops, so that children can tell him what presents they would like. In Britain children have to pay to enter Santa’s grotto and in return receive a small gift from him; in America visiting Santa is free.
On 24 December, the night before Christmas, children hang stockings (= long socks) at the end of their beds. Santa leaves the North Pole with a sled or sleigh. Santa’s sled is pulled by reindeer called Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, who know how to fly. They travel through the air stopping on the roof of every house where a child is sleeping. Santa slides down the chimney and leaves big presents under the Christmas tree and small ones in the stockings. He usually finds that the children have left him a plate of Christmas cookies or, in Britain, a mince pie (= a small pastry containing dried fruits), and possibly salt or a carrot for his reindeer.
Santa Claus is an important symbol of Christmas, and pictures of him appear on Christmas cards and decorations. He is mentioned in poems and Christmas songssuch as ↑Night Before Christmas and ↑Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer. As children get older they realize that Santa Claus cannot be real and stop believing in him.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.