Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. In parallel, Louis Prang (1824-1907), the man who introduced Christmas cards to the United States in 1875, also took part in developing the clich by depicting Santa in a snowy and icy setting, wearing a big coat with a hood lined with white fur, boots and a cloth bag for toys. Historians review some myths and misconceptions about the Reconstruction era. How German Refugee Thomas Nast Invented How Santa Claus Looks Back During the Civil War. This image helped to cement the idea of Santa as a jolly, kind-hearted figure who brings joy to children on Christmas. This changed in 1863, when Harper's Weekly hired a 21-year-old named Thomas Nast to draw a picture of Santa Claus bringing gifts to troops fighting in the American Civil War. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. However, his roots run deeper. IsThisthe Equal Protection of the Laws? 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); Before that, Santa had . Andrew Johnson as a repressive autocrat and characterized Southerners as vicious exploiters of helpless blacks, revealing his bitter disappointment in postwar politics. The organized violenceof the Ku Klux Klan and the White League made life "worse than slavery" for Southern blacks. Please note that deleting superseded images requires consent.requires consent. It was the 1930s, in the middle of the depression, and not a happy time for many people. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. During the Civil War, a Nast drawing from 1862 depicted Nicholas as a peddler wearing the colors of the American flag; published on the cover of Harper's Weekly, he became the hero of the Unionists (anti-slavery Yankees). Du Bois in Paris. Nast gives higher purpose to the horror of war in his multi-part depiction of the past lives of African Americans and the future Emancipation could bring them. Thomas Nast, the famous cartoonist who drew for several publications, published the book "Thomas Nast's Christmas Drawings for the Human Race" in 1890, showcasing his many illustrations of Santa with a great big belly and fermenting that image among the American public. Nast continued, however, to contribute to Harpers Weekly and other NYC-based publications until the 1880s. Thomas Nast and Santa Claus Thomas Nast was a 19th-century German-born American cartoonist and caricaturist who is considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon." He is best known for his political cartoons, which appeared regularly in Harper's Weekly and were a major influence on public opinion during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. In 1822, the American writer Clement Clark Moore featured Santa Claus/Saint Nicholas heavily in his poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas. By the end of the 18th century, at the time of the 1776 Revolution, Santa Claus became the symbol of American resistance against the British occupying forces! Here is another jolly Christmas story from us:John Callcott Horsley: the designer of the first Christmas card. A December 1930 ad by artist Fred Mizen showed a department store Santa in a crowd drinking a bottle of Coke. (Enter your ZIP code for information on American Experience events and screening in your area.). The saint appears in the dreams of a sleeping sailors and expresses the wish to see the Dutch immigrants settle and build a city on the island of Manna-hata (Manhattan). Nasts illustrations appeared as black-and-white wood engravings, so they make no reference to the color of Santas outfit. The poem was A Visit from Saint Nicholas which began, "Twas the night before Christmas.". Stay up to date with the latest content, educational resources, promotions and special news from our partners. Its widely believed that todays Santa wears a red suit because thats the colour associated with CocaCola, but this isnt the case. In fact, when Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harpers Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union. At times, though, his satire could be downright prejudiced, particularly against the Irish and the Catholics, and he used many stereotypes common in his time. Columbia asks, "Shall I Trust These Men, and Not This Man?". In Germany, where the Reformation led by the monk Martin Luther banned saint worship, Nicholas was replaced by ChristKindl (Christ Child). September 2, 1876 He then studied for a time at the National Academy of Design and when he was about 15-years-old he started working as a draftsman for Leslies Illustrated Newspaper. At times, though, his satire could be downright prejudiced, particularly against the Irish and the Catholics, and he used many stereotypes common in his time. Nasts illustrations in Harpers Weekly were printed in black and white. From his pen came the Republican Partys elephant, Tammany Halls tiger, and one of the most popular images of Santa Claus. A few years later, in December 1823, Clement Clark Moore, a professor at New Yorks Episcopalian seminary, published a poem intended for his own children called. He was appointed consul general at Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 1902. A husband and wife separated by the war (Nast, 1862). When did Thomas Nast draw Santa Claus? document.documentElement.className += 'js'; For many of us, the bearded present-giver in the red suit remains a time-honored part of the holiday season, long after were stopped believing hell have a present for us. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('interstitial-ad');}); *Membership cannot be purchased with Gift Cards. Nast said he based his Santa on a German version of Saint Nicholas, Pelze-Nicol. 1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, along with Clement Clarke Moores poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, helped to create the modern image of Santa Claus. October 24, 1874 by Jasmine Liu December 23, 2021. Even as Saint Nicholas was chased away from the Lutheran Protestant regions, he was welcomed in the Netherlands, despite its Calvinist majority. His image of Santa Clauswas the inspiration for the Coca Cola companys modern Santa Claus. One of the most famous of Nasts Santa Claus illustrations is a drawing titled Merry Old Santa Claus that appeared in Harpers Weekly in 1881. Coca-Cola may have claimed ownership of the symbol and widely circulated the image of a bearded and smiling Santa Claus, yet the brand didnt actually invent anything. The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. The book helped popularize the character of Santa Claus and give him an unprecedented profile. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The cult of Saint Nicholas did not escape Europes religious upheavals. They had five children, Julia, Thomas, Jr., Edith, Mabel, and Cyril. No. By 1885 Nasts disagreements with the editors of Harpers Weekly were becoming increasingly frequent; his last Harpers cartoon appeared in 1886. His illustrations supported the cause he believed was just, and the candidate he thought was best. Centered around a picture of a happy black family at a hearth, the image depicts slaves' miserable past in scenes of auctions and physical abuse -- and a view of a future as equals to their former masters. Your email address will not be published. She runs her own website, A Scholarly Skater, is a regular contributor to DailyArt Magazine, and has written two online courses. Harper's weekly, 1872). His wife and children made cameo appearances, and their Morristown home often served as the backdrop. Both Frank Leslies and Harpers Weekly, where Nast later made his name, were illustrated weeklies. His portrayals of Santa Claus helped to create the enduring image of a jolly, white-bearded man in a red suit who brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve. Nast would also become known for the modern representation of Santa Claus as a jolly, rotund man living at the North Pole. Did St Nicholas wear green? Please note: Unsurprisingly, the drawings from the Civil War often fell solidly in the realm of propaganda; Nast staunchly supported abolition, civil rights and the Republicans. Morristowns Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, located across the street from Nasts former home, still holds the worlds largest collection of his work. 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The Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, located about ten kilometers from Nancy, was dedicated to him in the 15th century. Nasts caricature of the fleeing political boss led to Tweeds identification and arrest in Vigo, Spain, in 1876. Thomas Nast was born onSeptember 27, 1840, in Landau, Germany. Nasts illustrations in. Nast made his living creating such images. Every December 24th millions of people are visited by a short, fat guy in a red suit. After the war, Nast continued to draw often-scathing political commentary. His clearest early ancestor was St. Nicholas, a 4th-century CE bishop from Myra, in modern-day Turkey. German-born political cartoonist Thomas Nast gave America some of its most enduring symbols: the Republican elephant, the Democratic donkey, and Uncle Sam. From the 19th century: Thomas Nast's vision of old Saint Nick. Abolitionist cartoonist Thomas Nast had a big role in manufacturing the US version of the Christmas patriarch. He is frequently credited with having originated the American political cartoon. The jovial version of St. Nick popular in the U.S. wasn . Thomas Nast attended school in New York City. Nast would complete Nicholas-Santa Clauss transformation for Harpers Weekly magazine: Between 1862 and 1886, Nast created thirty-three Santa Claus drawings. He contributed 33 Christmas drawings to Harper's Weekly from 1863 through 1886, and Santa is seen or referenced in all but one. Known as The President Maker, Nasts persuasive, and sometimes scathing, cartoons proved crucial in influencing the nations vote and affecting the outcomes of six presidential elections between 1864 and 1884. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years, changing the color of his coat from tan to the red hes known for today. In 1862 he joined the staff of Harpers Weeklywhere he focused his efforts on political cartoons. What is the connection between Nast and Santa Claus? In 1863, a drawing was made by the cartoonist Thomas Nast for the magazine Harper's Weekly. Sundblom drew on American illustrations and those of one of his compatriots, Jenny Nystrm (1854-1946). The clever Coke advertisers hired American artist Haddon Sundblom (1899-1976) to create a Santa Claus who would appear as an actual person, not a myth, magician, or an impersonator wearing a fake beard and a padded suit. Another Santa Claus forefather is the English figure, Father Christmas, also known as Sir Christmas. Discover the best of France-Amrique every week in our newsletter. He particularly targeted corrupt New York City politician William Boss Tweed, head of the powerful Tammany Hall political group. ", September 5, 1868 Thomas Nast "invented" the image popularly recognized as Santa Claus. Like many Northerners, Nast supported President Lincoln, and he made his reputation by championing the Union's cause and the dignity of black people. A strong supporter of the Republican party, African-American rights, and abolitionism, Nast vigorously attacked all that he found to be corrupt and immoral in 19th-century American politics. Prior to Nasts drawings, Saint Nicolas and later Santa Claus, had been drawn as a tall, thin man. In fact, Ulysses S. Grant later commended Nast for his powerful support of the Union, saying that Nast did as much as any one man to preserve the Union and bring the war to an end. His father was a musician in a military band with strong political opinions, and he decided the family would be better off living in America. Nast's interest in politics and Santa sometimes became intertwined. Abraham Lincoln called him our best recruiting sergeant. During Reconstruction, Nasts cartoons portrayed Pres. Other artists, including Haddon Sundblom and J.C. Leyendecker, also contributed to the development of the Santa Claus character. AKA Santa Claus. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? "Merry Old Santa Claus" by Thomas Nast (1881). This was Nast's first image of Santa holding the bag of gifts. St. Nicholas's migration to the North Pole is due most directly to Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist who submitted 33 Christmas drawings to Harper's Weekly magazine between 1863 and 1886, one of which featured a village called "Santa Claussville, N.P.". Thomas Nast's cartoon shows a donkey in a lion's skin scaring an elephant and other animals. A child weeps after receiving a stick as a present, while a little girl lovingly cuddles a miniature of the bishop saint the way she would a doll. The first recorded incidence of Christmas being celebrated actually dates all the way back to the Roman Empire in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine so technically the Romans invented it, although theres no specific person who is credited with having done so. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, More than a century had passed when the writer Washington Irving published A History of New York in 1809, comically told by the make-believe historian Dietrich Knickerbocker (Washington Irvings pen name). Every black vote became a threat to white Southerners' political power. Why did Nast draw Santa? March 14, 1874 Here's how to watch. The Fourteenth Amendment, granting black men the right to vote, was ratified in July 1868. [Got a question? You can find him in the department stores of Tokyo and Singapore as well as New York and London. It was into this world that the talented artist Thomas Nast arrived in the 1850s. Copyright 2023 Golden Peak Media. Get the latest on new films and digital content, learn about events in your area, and get your weekly fix of American history. if ( 'querySelector' in document && 'addEventListener' in window ) { But even after the war ended,. STREAM LIVE GAMES, AND MORE * Watch NESN and NESN+ from any mobile device * Live-streaming coverage of every Red Sox and Bruins game * Access to Red Sox and Bruins postgame analysis & . But Nast's racial attitudes like those of many other Americans were not without contradictions. Nast launched a relentless anti-corruption campaign against Tweed in the . Which aspect of Upton Sinclairs life best explains his reasons for writing The Jungle? Historians describe the violent conditions that prevailed in the South. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years, changing the color of his coat from tan to the red he's known for today. Corrections? His new fame spread all over the New World. The drawing became so popular that is still widely reproduced today. Nasts Santa Claus clothes were neither red (as Coca-Colas Santa Claus would later be), nor green (as those of Saint Nicholas often were), but rather brown with short bristles, in accordance with the description contained in Clement Clark Moores poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (circa 1880), more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas: He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot; And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. What was the main purpose of Thomas Nasts political cartoon? His most famous drawing of Santa Claus appeared in the January 1, 1881 issue ofHarpers Weekly. This image pairs holiday sentiment with political messaging. Nast makes it clear that Santa supports the Union, not the Confederacy. Santas Portrait (below),a color illustration by the noted German born American political cartoonist Thomas Nast, appeared in an 1881 edition of Harpers Magazine. Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas by his Dutch name, is their ships figurehead, protecting them from the storm. Discover the fascinating story of this iconic American garment. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. It features a picture of Santa Claus with a bag on his back, walking past two children sleeping in bed. More recent images, from Norman Rockwells Saturday Evening Post and Haddon Sundbloms illustrations for Coca-Cola to ubiquitous shopping mall Santas and Christmas ornaments, all trace their appearances in part back to Nasts vision. Over his career, Thomas Nast created or popularized the now-familiar images of the Democratic donkey, the Republican elephant, Uncle Sam, and Columbia (a female personification of America). At the age of fifteen, he got his first job as a professional illustrator for Frank Leslies Illustrated News. He has been especially popular in Holland, even after much of the country dropped Catholicism for Protestantism. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf., In this poem inspired by the folk legends of the German, Dutch and Norwegian communities settled in the United States, one no longer recognizes the austere Bishop of Myra! published in 1823 in the Troy Sentinental: he was "chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf"; he arrived on a sleigh drawn by flying . Did he invent the costumes red color? Omissions? Santa goes by several names in different parts of the world and the way he's depicted varies, but in most countries he's shown as a somewhat heavy man in red. What is the maximum number of students allowed per class in Georgia. The appearance of today's Santa Claus was set. In 1886, Nast left Harper's Weekly and fell on hard times. Even more than a century after Nasts death, they beautifully evoke the magic and joy of Christmas to many viewers. 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