If you like HISTORY, POSTCARDS, GEOGRAPHY & SANTA CLAUS, you're gonna love this jolly gentleman.  A good friend of my grandparents, Regis Nale, from Claysburg, Pa has been playing Santa for over 50 years.  In his time, he has become a collector of  St. Nick knacks.  Rege has an interesting heap of postcards of Santa Claus, with some dating back to Civil War times.  They are from all around the globe.

They are almost all artists and cartoonists depiction of the Kringle.  He has postcards from the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the UK, France and Italy.  Each of these cards showing what Father Christmas looks like in their native land.  The one thing I really love about these postcards is the words Merry Christmas and Santa Claus are written in that particular language.  Regis has taken these cards and made them into a slide show presentation, and goes to various schools and senior centers throughout the region during this time of year.  He's been doing this kind service for about 20 years.

There are 3 really neat features about his presentation of St. Nicholas.  One is the many alternate means of transportation Santa had 'pre reindeer'.  These drawings are my favorite.  There are pictures depicting Santa coming to town by way of hot air balloon, polar bear, model T, bicycle, airplane, motorcycle, horse driven sleigh, dog driven sleigh, and get this, a sleigh of two little bunnies pulling the big old elf.  You first think, " Rabbits on Roids".  There are many other, but I don't want to spoil it, just in case you get to see the presentation.

The other neat thing Rege talks about is St. Nick had an accomplice in several other countries, who apparently took care of the Naughty list.  These antagonists are known as Krampas and Black Peter. These creatures are downright freaky looking. But, leave it to us Germans to scare the living sauerbraten out of ya.  And, when children today hear the word, 'switches', they are a bit confused.  OUCH!

The 3rd and final highlight of Rege's presentation is Santa's different outfits over the past 150 years.  He accredits famous cartoonist Thomas Nast for being the artist who gave us our present day looking Santa.  Nast also drew Uncle Sam and the Elephant and Donkey for the political parties.  If you recall, Santa in TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS was not even wearing red.  He was decked out in fur from head to toe. Being a cartoonist myself and a huge Santa fan, Coca Cola Santas are my absolute favorite. Even though I like Pepsi better.

Rege's " AN INTERNATIONAL  LOOK AT SAINT NICHOLAS THROUGH THE YEARS IN POSTCARDS" is very educational for the young and the young at heart.  You have to see his presentation, especially at this time of the year.

Here is a few minutes from Rege's presentation.  Wait till you see the artist's drawing of Krampas in this video clip.          DOUBLE CLICK ON VIDEO IMAGE TO PLAY