A Washington Irving Christmas: How Washington Irving Helped Bring Santa Claus to America

Today we revisit the grave of Washington Irving only this time we are not here for a Headless Horseman tale. We are he as it involves a man in the red suit. Many people are familiar with Washington Irving’s Halloween tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  What many people are not familiar with is Irving managed to play a role in American Christmas. 

Many centuries before Irving was born, early versions of Christmas took place. Saint Nicholas has been around in Dutch and German folklore for many years. The lore appeared as early as the 4th century with a man named Saint Nicholas of Myra; we revisit Washington Irving's grave, but we are not here for a Headless Horseman tale this time. We are he, as it involves a man in a red suit. Many people are familiar with Washington Irving’s Halloween tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Many people are not familiar with him, but he was known for his very generous disposition. It was said there was once that Saint Nicholas helped a poor father who had daughters who were going to be taken into slavery. He threw money through the window, which landed in shoes drying from the fireplace. With the money, his daughters were spared. On December 6th, Saint Nicholas Day was celebrated with a feast, and gifts were given to children. Church services are also held. In Europe, he is depicted as 

In earlier American years, Christmas was not celebrated as much. Some places banned it because of excessive drinking and fights breaking out. Irving believed Christmas was not just as an indulgence but a spiritual necessity. He would introduce Christmas traditions through his work A History of New York in 1812. In the story, he describes Santa as “riding over the tops of the trees, in that self-same wagon wherein he brings his yearly presents to children." In the story, Saint Nicholas is pronounced  as “Sinterklaas.” This is the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas. 

Irving was fascinated with Christmases celebrated in England. He became enamored with the holiday after spending a good chunk of time there. In 1835, he even helped found The Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York. 

While in Europe, he researched early Christmas customs by visiting libraries and museums. In 1819, he compiled a five-chapter essay on his research in The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon. It was later converted into a stand-alone illustrated book called Old Christmas.

Irving is not only responsible for creating Halloween lore but also helped popularize Santa Claus in America. Charles Dickens would later further influence the holiday as we know it today with his well-known story A Christmas Carol. Irving helped kickstart revitalizing Christmas.