November 13 History of Santa to be presented at Historical Society

The November meeting of the Knox County Historical Society will celebrate the season
by highlighting the long history of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus. The meeting will be held
on Wednesday evening, November 13, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at the Historical Society
Museum, 875 Harcourt Road in Mount Vernon.
The program will be presented by the noted Santa historian, Craig Garrelts, who will tell
of the ancient beginnings of the story and the spread of the legend throughout Europe and
beyond, adapting itself to many cultures and customs over the centuries. More recently, the
transformation of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus has influenced our literature, art, music
and commercialism in many ways, especially in the United States.
Mr. Garrelts’ engaging presentation and portrayal are designed to celebrate both the
history and the joy of the holiday season. The program is free and open to the public.
Visitors may tour the Museum both before and after the 7:30 presentation, and to end this
year’s series of Historical Society monthly presentations we will be offering light
refreshments during the evening.
The Museum will be open by appointment only during the coming months of December,
January and February. For more information, call the Museum at 740-393-5247 or visit
our website at www.knoxhistory.org.