Read Online The Top 40 Traditions of Christmas: The Story Behind the Nativity, Candy Canes, Caroling, and All Things Christmas by David McLaughlan - Free Book Online
Authors: David McLaughlan
Ads: Link
number one in the music charts.
Rudolph himself is, of course, Santa’s ninth and leading reindeer!
What?
Rudolph is a reindeer, but a very special one! Not many people knew that flying reindeer pulled Santa’s sleigh until Clement Clarke Moore let the secret out in his 1823 poem “ ‘Twas the Night before Christmas.”
While “ordinary” flying reindeer are quite capable of pulling a sleigh loaded with toys all around the world, they struggle a little in foggy weather—especially when the fog is so thick that Santa can’t even see the reindeer at the front of his team.
Thankfully Rudolph has a nose that glows in the dark! This peculiar feature, which used to get him teased, proved to be just what Santa needed. Now Rudolph leads his team!
Where?
Reindeer, also known as caribou, are found around the world in arctic and subarctic environs. In some countries, because of climate change and population expansion, reindeer are finding it harder to survive these days. But in Santa’s North Pole compound the reindeer are as happy as ever.
Robert Lewis May, who put Rudolph’s story into print for the first time, lived in Illinois. His brother-in-law Johnny Marks, who wrote the song that took Rudolph into the music charts, was a New York City–based songwriter. He had a fondness for Christmas songs and also wrote another song about our favorite reindeer, “Run Rudolph Run,” which was recorded by Chuck Berry.
When?
Rudolph’s story first appeared in print (in poetic form) in 1939. That first Christmas the Montgomery Ward chain gave away 2.5 million free copies, which would have made a lot of children very happy!
After the end of World War II, publishing houses looked to cash in on the story’s popularity and offered to buy the tale from Montgomery Ward. In 1947 the chairman of Montgomery Ward generously returned the copyright to Robert Lewis May, and the book was then published and made available to everyone.
The Gene Autry recording of the song based on the book was the first number-one song of the 1950s.
Why?
Rudolph never went in search of fame! Robert Lewis May was working for the department store and mail-order organization Montgomery Ward. They had a tradition of giving away coloring books to their customers’ children at Christmastime. But it cost more money than they liked to spend to buy these books. So they asked May to come up with a story so they could produce their own books. May must have heard about Rudolph and decided to write his story. The book was a huge success and is still in print today.
Rudolph does his continuing good work for the love of Santa and love of the world’s children.
28
Santa Claus
Who?
Santa Claus, as everyone should know, is a kindly old gentleman who lives at the North Pole with his herd of reindeer and his elf friends. They spend the year making toys for good little children and getting ready for Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve the elves and Mrs. Claus wave good-bye to Santa as he and his reindeer begin their epic journey around the world. They visit every house in the world where little children live (including several houses where the “children” are quite a bit older) and leave gifts.
A “stout” gentleman, he has the surprising ability to get into some houses by dropping down their chimney!
What?
Santa Claus has seen many incarnations, and even today he appears in different guises. Since pre-Christian times he has been depicted as an elderly, white-bearded paternal figure, often larger in stature than the modern Santa. He would bring gifts and cheer at a time of year (in northern Europe at least) when the land was frozen and food was hard to come by. He may also have been an embodiment of the promise of spring, being dressed in green as he often was.
In modern times Santa has refined and developed his business until he has become a worldwide operation, visiting children
Rudolph himself is, of course, Santa’s ninth and leading reindeer!
What?
Rudolph is a reindeer, but a very special one! Not many people knew that flying reindeer pulled Santa’s sleigh until Clement Clarke Moore let the secret out in his 1823 poem “ ‘Twas the Night before Christmas.”
While “ordinary” flying reindeer are quite capable of pulling a sleigh loaded with toys all around the world, they struggle a little in foggy weather—especially when the fog is so thick that Santa can’t even see the reindeer at the front of his team.
Thankfully Rudolph has a nose that glows in the dark! This peculiar feature, which used to get him teased, proved to be just what Santa needed. Now Rudolph leads his team!
Where?
Reindeer, also known as caribou, are found around the world in arctic and subarctic environs. In some countries, because of climate change and population expansion, reindeer are finding it harder to survive these days. But in Santa’s North Pole compound the reindeer are as happy as ever.
Robert Lewis May, who put Rudolph’s story into print for the first time, lived in Illinois. His brother-in-law Johnny Marks, who wrote the song that took Rudolph into the music charts, was a New York City–based songwriter. He had a fondness for Christmas songs and also wrote another song about our favorite reindeer, “Run Rudolph Run,” which was recorded by Chuck Berry.
When?
Rudolph’s story first appeared in print (in poetic form) in 1939. That first Christmas the Montgomery Ward chain gave away 2.5 million free copies, which would have made a lot of children very happy!
After the end of World War II, publishing houses looked to cash in on the story’s popularity and offered to buy the tale from Montgomery Ward. In 1947 the chairman of Montgomery Ward generously returned the copyright to Robert Lewis May, and the book was then published and made available to everyone.
The Gene Autry recording of the song based on the book was the first number-one song of the 1950s.
Why?
Rudolph never went in search of fame! Robert Lewis May was working for the department store and mail-order organization Montgomery Ward. They had a tradition of giving away coloring books to their customers’ children at Christmastime. But it cost more money than they liked to spend to buy these books. So they asked May to come up with a story so they could produce their own books. May must have heard about Rudolph and decided to write his story. The book was a huge success and is still in print today.
Rudolph does his continuing good work for the love of Santa and love of the world’s children.
28
Santa Claus
Who?
Santa Claus, as everyone should know, is a kindly old gentleman who lives at the North Pole with his herd of reindeer and his elf friends. They spend the year making toys for good little children and getting ready for Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve the elves and Mrs. Claus wave good-bye to Santa as he and his reindeer begin their epic journey around the world. They visit every house in the world where little children live (including several houses where the “children” are quite a bit older) and leave gifts.
A “stout” gentleman, he has the surprising ability to get into some houses by dropping down their chimney!
What?
Santa Claus has seen many incarnations, and even today he appears in different guises. Since pre-Christian times he has been depicted as an elderly, white-bearded paternal figure, often larger in stature than the modern Santa. He would bring gifts and cheer at a time of year (in northern Europe at least) when the land was frozen and food was hard to come by. He may also have been an embodiment of the promise of spring, being dressed in green as he often was.
In modern times Santa has refined and developed his business until he has become a worldwide operation, visiting children
Similar Books
