Santa Collectibles - Let it Snow Globes - Christmas Dolls

Santa collectibles are favorites for so many families. We have Santa collectibles revolving around the North Pole, Singing Santa and Santa costumes. Santa Claus has changed so much from the days of Saint Nicolas to the jolly old man we know today. You can trace Santa Collectibles for America back to Saint Nicholas Eve and Washington Irving’s ‘History of New York’ in 1809 where he satires Dutch culture and Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas in Dutch). The Dutch played a very important part in American history with the pilgrims fleeing Europe from religious persecution.

Irving wrote "At this early period . . . hanging up a stocking in the chimney on St. Nicholas eve . . . is always found in the morning miraculously filled; for the good St. Nicholas has ever been a great giver of gifts, particularly to children."

Much of Santa’s collectibles themes can be traced to the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas’ which you probably know as ‘The Night Before Christmas’ published on December 23, 1823. From here we learnt Santa came "Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound" and he had a "sleigh full of Toys" and "eight tiny rein-deer". From here we have seen many Santa dolls, Santa figurines, Santa bobble heads, Santa snow globes and Santa’s dressed up in your favorite sports team.

Santa collectibles are handed down in Christian and secular families alike and bought as Christmas gifts. Another Christmas season approaches what are your favorite Christmas collectibles?  

Santa figurines are favorite Santa collectibles to be handed down through the generations. Santa figurines range from expensive China to much cheaper versions. Themes vary from Santa Claus himself, Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the Santa and his reindeer. Of course there is Rudolph and his red nose and Dunder and Blixem from ‘The night before Christmas ‘ poem. These two reindeer hail back to Donner and Blitzen in Dutch (Dunder means thunder and Blixem means lightning in Dutch.

There are serious collectors for Santa collectibles and it worth researching the antique collectors guide to see what gems your great grand parents have been handing down.

There are fun Santa figurines with blue birds, reindeer and snow bunnies. There are religious Santa collectibles with Baby Jesus and traditional Bishop’s clothing. The beauty of Santa collectibles is what they mean to the family at Christmas time. There is a family tradition every time you bring out your Christmas figurines when it 'tis the season to be jolly.

Santa and Sports are intertwined, as one would expect in the Western world. In the Northern hemisphere in particular where winter sports are more in tune with a Santa from the North Pole. In Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America winter sports are more in tune with Easter and up to September. In this part of the world a sporting Santa collectible is likely to be Santa surfing or playing cricket.

In North America most football, hockey and even baseball teams (even though it is a summer sport) have Santa sports collectibles. You can get a Red Sox or Yankees Santa Hat or from basketball a Lakers or Celtics Santa. Football, being the season is where you will find most Santa collectibles. Over in Europe most major football (soccer) teams have Santa collectibles (or father Christmas or Saint Nicolas). Whether you are a Manchester United, InterMilan or Barcelona fan there is a Santa Sports collectible.  

There was a time whenever trip you went on you got a fridge magnet and a snow globe as a memory of your trip. Santa has always been the perfect snow globe given it is a snow globe! There is Santa snow globes with Santa in his workshop with elves, Santa with his reindeer and Santa on his sleigh.

In most tourist locations in the Northern hemisphere where Santa brings joy you can find a Santa snow globe for that location. A Paris Santa snow globe, a Vancouver Santa snow globe, a Chamonix Santa snow globe and of course a Las Vegas Santa snow globe.

Snow globes can come musical, in a train of snow globes, talking Santa snow globes and working snow globes. We have come a long way from the shake to get snow Santa snow globes. Favorites among Santa collectibles are the Coca Cola Santa snow globe and the Night before Christmas Santa snow globe. 

Collecting Santa dolls has also become a family tradition. We have Saint Nicholas in Europe and in America Santa Claus dolls have been around since they were inspired by cartoonist Thomas Nast who in a 1863 edition of Harpers Weekly drew a cartoon Santa Claus in Camp of a rounder Saint Nicholas with a banner "Welcome Santa Claus". This carton is considered the first published image of Santa Claus in his political carton titled. Not only is the name Santa Claus in the title of the piece but there is a banner drawn in the picture that says as well. In the cartoon Santa wears a fur-trimmed hat and is an American patriot stars and stripes design.

There is still the red of the bishop’s clothes of Saint Nicholas and this would morph more into the traditional red and white we know today with the patriotic angle. Through time Santa has become more in the tradition we know today. From here comes the inspiration of so many Santa dolls with many becoming collectors favorites put out annually by major stores. Antique Santa dolls have become valuable to Santa collectors.  

There are many Santa collectibles in all shapes and sizes. Remember the Christian tradition of giving and sharing that Santa developed from and it will lead you to share Santa collectibles.

For your family as a tradition, for friends as a sign of friendship and cheer. You better watch out, you better not shout because Santa Claus is coming to town.