Op kerstavond vliegt hij in een door rendieren getrokken arrenslee door de lucht. Hij stopt cadeautjes in de klaarhangende kerstsokken. Maar is er historisch bewijs dat deze man ooit écht heeft bestaan?
Ik zocht het voor jullie op!
De kerstman is in Amerika ontstaan, nochtans heeft Amerika die invloed te danken gehad aan de Nederlanders! Ten tijde van de kolonisten zijn veel Nederlanders naar Amerika getrokken. Deze kregen rond 6 december hoog bezoek van Sinterklaas. In het Amerikaans werd dit Santa Claus. Ze adopteerden dus als het ware Sinterklaas, maakten er hun eigen versie van en heel even was hij zelfs de beschermheilige van New York!
De Kerstman heeft echter pas gestalte gekregen door een gedicht geschreven door Clement Moore : "it was the night before christmas"
It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Het gedicht werd enkele jaren na het publiceren nog eens gepubliceerd met een tekening van een goedlachse man bij. Deze tekening werd de basis voor de Kerstman zoals wij hem nu kennen.
Ook coca-cola maakte rond kerst reclame met een man, de Kerstman. Hij droeg toen nog een groen pak maar werd bekend in onze omstreken. Nu kunnen we ons geen Kerst meer voorstellen zonder hem!
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