Santa Claus Trivia and a Christmas Giveaway

My Little Charlie with a gang of Santas

I saw Santas!

That was my son who screamed at me while pointing at the life-size Santa Claus statues standing in a display of a mall in Cubao during one of our recent Saturday family date.

This man is a head-turner. Whether you're a kid or an old folk, you can't understand why you feel like approaching him. There's really something special about Santa.

I would like to share some trivia I got from allthingschristmas.com about St. Nick that will make us understand in a way why the world love this man in red.

1. His origins appear to be in the 4th century when Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, in Turkey, was kind to children and legend has it that he threw gifts from a window to poor children.

2. As early as 1773 the name appeared in the American press as “St. A Claus,”, later becoming Santa Claus.

3. The author Washington Irving gave Americans their first detailed description of Saint Nicholas, describing him as “a chubby little man with a jolly smile, drawn by a team of reindeer.”

4. First seen in poetry in 1823, when Clement Clarke Moore made him even more famous with “The Night Before Christmas”, including the names of eight reindeer (not including Rudolf, who was to appear in 1939 as lead reindeer). This is one of the best loved and most re-told Christmas poems.

5. Historical letters from Santa, dating back to 1849, including well kept & interesting copies for the children of JRR Tolkein, are available both online and in print.

6. First pictures & publicity, illustrator Thomas Nast, who depicted a rotund Santa for Christmas issues of Harper’s magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s, including his toy making.

7. “Is there a Santa Claus” was the title of an editorial appearing in the September 21, 1897 edition of the New York Sun, ending up with the much publicised verdict, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”

8. In 1930, an image of Santa was used by a well known drinks company in a Christmas advertising campaign-big, depicting his white beard, black boots and a big red coat. This is the image that we know and love of him today.

9. In 1939 Rudolf, the ninth reindeer, is introduced by writer Robert May. His “very shiny nose” achieves almost instant fame, through songs such as “Rudolf the Red nosed reindeer” and later, TV and movie appearances.

10. In 1999, image recorded by SETI, search for extra terrestrials monitoring, you can actually see an image of the old man himself.

Now, here's one good news to those who wants to be a Santa Claus for a day.  Electrolux Philippines is giving you a chance to win a gift for your loved ones this Christmas!

To join, visit www.electroluxman.com/santaforaday and send a letter to Electrolux containing no less than 500 words that answers the question, “What Electrolux appliance would you like to gift someone special this Christmas and why?” You can accompany your letter with a creative video or a photo. The complete list of appliances you can choose from is found on the contest website and includes a wide range of Electrolux appliances including washing machines, refrigerators, cooking appliances, air conditioners and small appliances.

NOTE: Please don't forget to indicate in the Referred by section the name of this blogger Richard Mamuyac so I can track the status of the entries by my followers.

All qualified entries will be judged and the beneficiaries of the 3 best entries will receive an Electrolux appliance.  The winner with the highest score will be given a chance to be a Santa for a Day as the Electrolux team will accompany him or her to personally deliver the prize to the nominated recipient. Deadline of submission of entries is on December 10. Share the love and make someone happy this Christmas season by nominating them in Electrolux’s Santa for a Day Contest!

To know the full mechanics of the Electrolux Santa for a Day Contest, check out Electrolux’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook. Share more of our thinking at www.electrolux.com.ph, and follow us through twitter.com/ElectroluxPH.