Letter: Santa Claus - the Real Thing
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mrs Gretchen Mason
Sir: Concerning Jonathan Leckie's assertions about Santa Claus, his origin and personality (Letters, 13 December), my Webster's dictionary confirms what I have always heard: that Santa Claus is "US, [a] colonial corruption of Dutch Sant Nikolass". Coca-Cola, being an American company, simply followed an American usage of long standing. As for Santa's personality, Clement Moore's well-known 19th-century poem "The Night Before Christmas" refers to him as a "jolly old elf".
Yours faithfully,
Gretchen Mason
Norwich
13 December
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments