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Santa Claus appeared in the January 3, 1863 issue of Harper’s Weekly wearing this patriotic attire. This issue was read by thousands of sick and wounded Union soldiers in hospitals across the nation. No doubt the rendition boosted their waning spirits while their bodies struggled to heal. The starred and striped, red, white, and blue Santa’s creator was Thomas Nast, a man of German decent, who is considered the “father of American Political Cartoonists.” (Nast also created the Democratic Donkey, Republican Elephant, and Uncle Sam.) Nast was pro Union; therefore, the illustration naturally depicts Santa Claus visiting “in camp” with Union soldiers. In the drawing, Santa Claus is passing out delicious treats and gifts to them. The gifts included a Meerschaum pipe, and a Jack-in-the-box (given to a young drummer boy). Additionally, Santa Claus entertains the soldiers with a wooden Jefferson Davis puppet. This illustration introduced the concept of Santa’s workshop for the production of toys, and his account book for keeping accurate records of children’s behavior. Also, as a result of Nast’s illustration, the image of Santa became linked with the Christmas tree in American culture. In one of his later drawings of Santa Claus, published in an 1866 issue of Harper’s Weekly, Nast depicted Santa’s global residence. Ironically, Nast chose the North Pole for Santa’s domicile so no country could claim Santa as their own; although in 1863, he had used Santa Claus himself for Union Propaganda.
