Origin of the story element of coming down chimneys

[salemfan]

I was wondering why the story tells that Santa Claus comes down the chimney. This detail was used in The Three Little Pigs when the wolf comes down the Third Little Pig's chimney, and in Alice in Wonderland when Bill the lizard is sent down the White Rabbit's chimney to get Alice out. Can anybody tell me where the origin of Santa coming down chimneys is from?

 

[BEAR]

I actually can. I have a book about all that Christmas tradition history stuff. Its really neat. I will try and find the book and see if i can answer you.

 

[RedDragon]

b/c he was an outlaw, I believe the story goes. And people were told to lock the doors to prevent him from coming in. But I wouldn't take my word on that, wait for other answers.

 

[salemfan]

Was there ever a time when chimneys used to be wide enough for people to fit down?

 

[abiraniriba]

sort of

Yes and no. Chimneys were never wide enough for an adult human to fit down, and certainly not one as wide as Santa is supposed to be. However, back in the days before the child labor laws chimney sweeps often used to employ young children to help them in the cleaning of chimneys by going down them. It was a dirty and dangerous job with very little pay, but somebody had to do it and unfortunately it fell to the defenseless little child to perform this act.

BTW There have been some recent stories in the news about adults who came down chimneys as a method of breaking and entering for the purpose of burglary. Unfortunately these dumb crooks have gotten stuck, and wound up doing time in the hospital as well as the jail cell

 

[salemfan]

BEAR, have you found the book that tells the origin of Santa coming down the chimney?

 

[salemfan]

BTW There have been some recent stories in the news about adults who came down chimneys as a method of breaking and entering for the purpose of burglary. Unfortunately these dumb crooks have gotten stuck, and wound up doing time in the hospital as well as the jail cell

Well, if they didn't get stuck, they probably got their bottoms burned.

 

[salemfan]

Here's a website with the origin of Santa coming down chimneys:

http://www.i-mockery.com/shorts/xmas-history/default.php

 

[Blue Weirdo]

The site is I-mockery- the stores are BS. If you honestly believe this stuff is true read the entry on the origin of Santa's reindeer.

In truth I think this is one of those things that we may never be able to ascertain the true origin of. Santa's one of those figures whose origins are so mixed up in legends from many cultures that it's nearly impossible to tell where it first came from.

 

[anytimepally]

Yes and no. Chimneys were never wide enough for an adult human to fit down, and certainly not one as wide as Santa is supposed to be.

but Santa's a tiny wide guy not a big wide guy.. it probably makes a difference

"but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver..."