Everybody loves lights going on and off, the snow coming down to the music — Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow — or Santa coming down the chimney with his gifts … Of course, he’s the real protagonist of this ritual story.
Also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus is a legendary character originating in Western Christian culture who is said to make lists of children throughout the world, categorising them according to their behavior, and bringing gifts on Christmas Eve of toys and candy to well-behaved children, and coal to naughty children. He is said to accomplish this with the aid of Christmas elves, who make the toys in his workshop at the North Pole, and flying reindeer who pull his sleigh through the air.
By the end of the 20th century, the reality of mass mechanized production became more fully accepted by the Western public, and the tributes, funny or blasphemous, to his figure are certainly not lacking.
Around 800 participants at the Santa Claus running competition, known as Nikolaus Run, hosted by the Laufclub Michendorf running association, in the East German town of MichendorfRunners gather at the start line for the annual “Santa Speedo Run,” a charity race through the streets of the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, December 14, 2013 – Photo: REUTERS/Gretchen ErtlSantas ran a mile through Annapolis Saturday afternoon December 20, 2014 for the Santa Speedo Run, an annual charity event in which hundreds run for a mile across the Spa Creek Bridge and up and down Annapolis’ Main Street – Photo: Matthew ColeSanta & Samara (from The Ring movie)Christmas Souvenir Picture – Taken at MWD Photography in Illinois on December 6th 2012That – Jim BentonSanta – Dan PiraroJesus vs Santa – DranGift Thrower (Banksy inspired)Nymphs and Santa – Ed WheelerSanta Claus – Carl KleinerPaul “Fashion Santa” Mason in Burlington, Ontario – Photo: Andy VanderkaayA new present for little Jim Carrey (Christmas, 1966)Freddie & Santa – Queen in Inglewood, CA (December 22, 1977)John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Mary Hopkin at the Apple Christmas party, 3 Savile Row, London (December 23, 1968)Merrilyn Christmas – Marilyn Manson feat. Santa ClausChristmas at Elvira’s House of Mystery from Elvira’s House of Mystery Special #1 (DC, 1987) by Paul GulacyMerry Christmas – Toni GreisDead Santa – Stefan KoidlThe Presence of Man – Robert CenedellaThe Presence of Man by Robert Cenedella displayed outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in New York City, on Christmas Eve (2017) – Photo: Helayne SeidmanCrooks – Pavel MatuskaRecycling Christmas – Matthew “Matt” PritchettXmas Scream – Dan Reynolds (The Scream inspired)Santa Cafe (Nighthawks inspired)Merry Christmas – Jean JullienA Shining Christmas – feat. Jack Torrance from The ShiningA Scarface Christmas – feat. Tony Montana from ScarfaceHigh Altitude Accident – SCI FIPettson and Findus – Sven NordqvistLittle Girl Looking Downstairs at Christmas Party – Norman RockwellSorry, Timmy – Nick DownesGift-giving – Jean JullienPissing Santa 2020Merry Christmas – Lolnein (Missing Socks)