LETTER: Santa Claus takes on new ID
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr Lars Breimer
Sir: The Swedish artist Jenny Nystrom (1854-1946) created Father Christmas (Jultomten) as he appears to us, not Haddon Sundblom, as stated in Richard Halliday's letter of 15 December.
Jenny Nystrom won the gold medal of the Academy of Arts in 1881. From about 1890 she drew annual Christmas cards for Axel Eliasson, a publisher of greeting cards in Sweden. She used her father as a model.
Sundblom, like all Swedes, would have been thoroughly familiar with Jenny Nystrom's cards and illustrations of children's books. Sundblom's contribution was to make Santa more rotund and give him reindeers. In Jenny Nystrom's cards, the sleigh is pulled by a horse; reindeers are not very strong. Jultomten is also sometimes accompanied by his goat. The reason why Swedes stick straw goats under their Christmas trees is that they deliver presents to the homes which Santa cannot reach.
Yours faithfully,
Lars Breimer
Richmond, Surrey
15 December
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments