Lovely Vintage Photos Prove That Mr. Santa Is Also a Normal Person

The best-known (at least in modern times) mascot of Christmas, developed in the United States as an amalgam of the story of St. Nicholas of Myra and various other seasonal folk heroes, with many aspects provided by the classic poem A Visit From St. Nicholas (popularly known by its first line, Twas the Night Before Christmas). Below is a collection of 16 vintage photographs of Santa Claus as a normal person...

Subway Santa Clauses, 1954

A crowd of happy youngsters chase Father Christmas along a London street, 1926

Christmas surprise, 1955

Mr.Santa chatting with a woman on New York street, 1949

Mr.Santa chatting with children

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27 Lovely Vintage Photos of Hollywood Beauties Dressed as Santa Clauses on Their Holidays

Santa Claus is not always a man...

Anita Page

Janet Leigh

Ann Miller

Anna Maria Alberghetti

Bette Davis

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20 Funny Vintage Photos Prove That Not Every Child Would Love Mr. Claus

Sometimes Santa Claus is not always welcome...

For some families a Christmas tradition is taking the kids to visit Santa Claus for the now infamous photos. Children love Saint Nick bringing them gifts, but not all of them are very happy to be anywhere near the man in the red suit for a photo op.

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These 30 Creepy Vintage Santa Claus Photos That Will Give You Nightmares

Here are some creepy vintage Santa Claus photos sure to put trauma in your stocking this year. These incredibly creepy Santas don't care if you're naughty or nice.

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These Vintage Photographs From a Santa Claus School in 1961 Reveal Some of the Secrets of Being a Good Santa

So you thought you’d be a great Santa, didn’t you? Well, think again. It’s actually pretty tough work. You have to know how to squint your eyes into a Santa twinkle, how to talk to kids and even how to put on a little act.

Such was the fate of those who, for years, chose to take instruction at Charles Howard’s Santa Claus School in the upstate New York town of Albion, not far from Rochester. In fact, the school still exists today, it was founded by Howard in 1937; since the mid-1960s, it has operated out of Midland, Mich., and remains the world’s oldest Santa school.

In 1961, LIFE’s Alfred Eisenstaedt visited Howard’s school for would-be Santas, and made a series of photos chronicling the evidently quite fun process of learning to be all the Santa Claus one can be.

On third day of school, Marine John Ray learns how to squint his eyes into a Santa twinkle. His wig and beard are of yak hair. Ray will work at the W. G. Swartz store in Norfolk, Va.

Santa Claus school, 1961.

Santa Claus school, 1961.

Santa Claus school, 1961.

Santa Claus school, 1961.

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25 Outrageous Vintage Tobacco Advertisements Featuring Santa Claus

Cigarette ads featuring the kid-friendly figure of Santa Claus have been numerous from the past. The idea of St. Nick pushing coffin-nails may seem horrific today – but was a regular sight a few decades ago. So, check out these vintage cigarettes and tobacco ads featuring Santa Claus as a smoker.

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