Many a finely crafted Amish bookcases, corner cabinets and hutches holds the glittering gatherings of an avid Christmas and Santa Claus decoration collector. Although the image of Santa Claus has varied greatly throughout the centuries today we have Christmas decoration connoisseurs who are fastidious collectors of the old and new Santa Claus and Christmas themed decorations. Some are so ardently in love with the grand old elf and the entire Christmas festivities that they decorate a room or more in their home, year round, in the Christmas theme.

Many liberties have been taken in the portrayal of 300 A.D., real-life Bishop Nicholas, aka Saint Nicholas, aka Santa Claus. Originally described as a giver of gifts to good children and a corporal punisher to the not so good kiddies, thanks to Clement Clarke Moore’s 1822 poetic portrait called “The Night Before Christmas”, we now envision him as a jolly old omnipresent elf that sneaks in and out of every house in the world on Christmas Eve.

Santa’s wardrobe has varied as much as his disciplinary techniques. The 1862 Christmas season edition of Harper’s Weekly gave birth to an icon for collectors and children alike. Robed in almost every color of the rainbow it was not until German-American illustrator Thomas Nast depicted him in the now famous red suit that the contemporary idea of Santa Claus was permanently stamped into our mind as the ideal image of St. Nick. Nast’s wife would read the artist the Night Before Christmas poem and Nast created Santa as we know by sketching the images he felt were portrayed in the words. Nast also used Santa Claus as a sort of political tool during the Civil War since many believe some of his scenes included anti-Confederate sentiments.

Nast can also be thanked for relocating Santa’s home to the far away and rather chilly North Pole because he felt Santa needed a home not controlled by any country. Note that Nast, a die-hard Unionist, did not pick the South Pole! The finishing touches on the now rosy cheeked and very well fed Claus was added by the 1930’s Coca-Cola commercial illustrator Haddon Sundblom. Coke, in an effort to increase winter-time sales became forever associated with the red and white clad Santa drinking and gifting a Coke, a smile and a wink.

Today’s collectors still seek after Santa Claus figures from the early years, especially ones clad in mohair or fur. The more unusual the color of his garments the better. A nodder Santa crafted in papier-mâché and sprouting wool hair can run in the thousands of dollars. This year you too may start a family tradition of Christmas decorating collecting by adding a vintage piece or two into your collection. Showcase your vintage Christmas Santa Claus ornament collection inside an artisan crafted Amish display piece and you too may be tempted to leave them out all year long.