HOW-OF-WHY

In 1664, when the Netherlanders relocated to New York [New Amsterdam], they carried their customs with them. Dutch youngsters awaited a visit from Sinter Klaas (Saint Nicholas) and presents he’d leave in their wooden shoes on the eve of December 5. But by the 1820’s the Dutch political and cultural domination had been replace by Americans of English descent. Chief among them was Washington Irving and his wealthy pals who called themselves, ironically the Knickerbockers, a social and literary society which heavily represented the older and more established wealth of the city.

There was no established tradition of gift giving except the plebeian practice of MISRULE, when rowdy bands of the poor would invade the neighborhoods of the rich and powerful for one night, moving from house to house accosting people for money or food and ale.

Irving and his aristocratic pals were openly politically conservative, reactionary, and opposed to democracy. He devised a plan to invent an American Christmas that we celebrate today. He convinced his brother in law, John Pintard, to handle introducing influential society to a character called Santa Claus*, patterned after Saint Nicholas. Irving’s friend, Clement Moore was assigned to write a holiday poem. Irving even provided Moore specific written descriptions of Santa Clause in order to make it popular and honorable to make Christmas a time to keep your wealth within the family, by giving gifts to each other. The goal was to put an end to the threats, demands and needs of the growing masses of the immigrant urban poor and make a holiday dependent upon a modern concept of Christmas that could be marketed, especially since it involved the giving and receiving of gifts. A Christmas required rudimentary commercial practices - everything from advertising the idea of exchanging (purchased) gifts, and creating a safe environment in the cities where people of means could shop - which would become popular and widely accepted.

We all know the result of this substantial marketing plan. “The Night Before Christmas:, originally entitled “A Visit from Saint Nick”, was published and soon became a “tradition” of our national consumer identity.

So as you are searching the many unique shops, malls or discount stores for those last minute gifts, take a moment to silently thank those who long ago made Christmas the first capitalist holiday.

Prior to “A Visit from Saint Nick” being published, John Pintard commissioned the printing of a broadside to be distributed and posted. He got Moore

"Knickerbocker Santa Claus"

Oh good holy man! whom we Sancte Claus name,
The Nursery forever your praise shall proclaim:
The day of your joyful revisit returns,
When each little bosom with gratitude burns,
For the gifts which at night you so kinkdly impart
To the girls of your love, and the boys of your heart.
Oh! come with your panniers and pockets well stow'd,
Our stockings shall help you to lighten your load,
As close to the fireside gaily they swing,
While delighted we dream of the presents you bring.

Oh! bring the bright Orange so juicy and sweet,
Bring almonds and raisins to heighten the treat;
Rich waffles and dough-nuts must not be forgot,
Nor Crullers and Oley-Cooks fresh from the pot.
But of all these fine presents your Saintship can find,
Oh! leave not the famous big Cookies behind.
Or if in your hurry one thing you mislay,
Let that be the Rod--and oh! keep it away.