Santa Claus: A Biography

December 18th, 2005

Bad SantaDec. 12, 2005 – Santa visits millions, but what do we really know about the guy? Gerry Bowler, author of the new “Santa Claus: A Biography,” talked to Elise Soukup about the jolly old fellow.

NEWSWEEK: When was Santa “born”?
Gerry Bowler: Santa Claus—by that name, wearing the clothes he wears and with reindeer—first shows up in 1821 in New York with the poem “The Children’s Friend.”

So he wasn’t invented by Coke?
No, but after seeing the Coke ads you can’t think of Santa looking any other way.

Santa has hawked all sorts of things. He had some vices.
There’s hardly a vice he didn’t indulge! Cigarettes, of course, and alcohol. I’ve heard it said that Santa will sell beer, but not the hard stuff. Hardy-har—I found lots of Santa Scotch ads.

He’s also hit the big screen. What’s the worst Santa movie?
For badness so bad that it is good, it is “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.” That’s really a genuine turkey.

You conclude the book by saying Santa is “necessary.” Why?
He represents an intergenerational act of love. For years, when children are at their sweetest and most grateful, parents give credit to Santa Claus. It’s remarkable.

Does Santa exist?
Of course he does. Who else eats the cookies?

© 2005 Newsweek, Inc.

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