December 4#: Santa’s List Day

“He’s making a list and checking it twice.
He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.”

Imagine being Santa, knowing who’s been naughty or nice!
Santa’s List Day is on this day, December 4 every year.
In a world of excessive list-making, this is the list that really counts and this is the day when Santa puts together his list of naughty or nice children.
The ones on the nice list receive toys, candy, and other presents on Christmas Eve, while naughty children may find coal in their stockings or not much at all!
But how can one single man pull this off?
He has his help, of course, Santa’s trusty elves who keep watch all year and make toys for nice children.
Despite the two lists, Santa remains jolly and generous, in keeping with the season’s spirit.
Thus being nice is always a good thing!

The story of Santa’s List Day and how it began has several versions. Perhaps like the story of the man himself, is an amalgamation of numerous histories and folklore traditions.
The idea of Santa Claus bringing presents to children is believed to have begun around the 4th century BC in the area that is now modern day Turkey.
As story goes a religious man, called Saint Nicholas, was kind and generous toward children, giving them gifts.
He went on to become the patron saint of many countries, but the Netherlands seems to be the place where many of the cultural beginnings that led to our modern Santa Claus began.
By the 18th century, the legend of St Nicholas made inroads into American popular culture when Dutch families gathered to honor the death anniversary of “Sinterklaas”, Dutch for St Nicholas.
Gift-giving and Santa Claus’ role in all of it became a part of Christmas tradition in the 19th century. Santa Claus was everywhere – from the streets of New York to shopping malls and advertisements.
However, the idea for Santa bringing gifts may have developed partially from the 1823 poem by Clement Mark Moore, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, and it was some years later that the idea of Santa’s List got started.
The poem describes a jolly old man flying from house to house, shimmying up and down chimneys with ease to leave presents for nice children – also known as the ones on his nice list.

No one knows actually how the idea started, but it may be also linked to the song Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.
Originally recorded in 1934, it has been super popular for many decades and has been recorded by dozens of different artists.
“Now it’s time for Santa’s List Day!”

Either way, celebrating Santa’s List Day is a fun way to get started on the celebration of the Christmas holidays with children, friends and family members.
Think about the ways that you’ve observed people being nice this year and create a list of your own!
Once the list is made, think of different ways to be an encouragement to the people, whether it’s writing a nice card or playing Santa Claus with a small gift.
Santa’s List Day is also a great day to put on that beloved holiday music.
You can listen particularly to songs that mention Santa’s list or the gifts he’ll bring to children, including “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” by Bruce Springsteen (1975), Santa’s List by Cliff Richard (2003), or Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt (1953). The artist is convinced that she’s been a good girl this year, and expects Santa to bring her a whole list of gifts!

Images from web – Google Research