We’ve already explored the legend of St. Nicholas’ generosity while relating the history of hanging stockings. That same penchant for giving relates to Santa Claus’ sack.

The fourth-century bishop is said to have carried a bag with filled with apples and other snacks he would give to the needy.

The 1823 Night Before Christmas poem built on the legend. But, now it was filled with presents.

Santa’s sack is said to use elfin magic enabling it to hold an infinite number of presents allowing the big guy to take care of his yearly trip without returning home for refills.

Even Tony Stark’s tech can’t equal the magic of Santa, but it doesn’t mean he can’t try.

…if for no other reason than to thank the Atlanta-based soft drink giant for giving us the Santa Claus we know and love today.

That jolly elf whose belly is rumored to shake like a bowl of jelly wasn’t always red and round. Much like Wolverine before Hugh Jackman, St. Nick was a more economical size, maybe to better fit down those chimneys.

And, he wore robes.

As a Saint of the Catholic Church, St. Nicholas was depicted in the more traditional robes of gold, red and blue.

When Santa made his way to America in the 19th century he was known to wear fur-trimmed clothing, but in Earth tones or with a patriotic flavor.

Thomas Nast, German-American cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly, is credited with giving Santa his red, fur trimmed suit. It is believed he chose red to contrast with the white snow.

The Santa Claus we know and love today is the by-product of advertising. Artist Haddon Sunblom’s depiction, based on his friend Lou Prentiss, came about in the 1930s.

Sundblom would base many of the characters in his holiday Coca-Cola paintings on those around him. From his neighbor’s daughters to the neighborhood florist’s poodle in 1964.

Here the Man of Steel shows he’s one of Santa’s helpers during his busiest time of the year.

And, if you’re you remember the carbonated nod to an old advertising jingle from the top of the page, I don’t feel so old.

For all the people who have risked life and limb hanging lights on the house eves, today’s offering is for a you.

Today we explore origins of exterior illumination.

Like so many of our current habits, decorating with lights began with the Germans who took it to England and then brought it to the new world.

The tradition began with the Yule log some time in the 12th century. It’s design was to ward off the long, cold winter nights.

The Yule log was later replaced by candles on a fir tree. While pretty, decorators soon discovered flames and dry trees were a combustible combo.

It would be Thomas Edison’s friend, Edward H. Johnson, who was the game changer. In 1882 he wrapped a string of electric lights around a Christmas tree and plugged them into a wall socket.

The practice would take almost another decade to catch the eye of President Grover Cleveland who lit up the White House tree with electricity.

By the dawn of the 20th century strings of 24 lights were available to rent. In 1903 they cost an equivalent of almost $350 making private ownership prohibitive.

As with all technology, lights have become affordable and available to everyone.

Funko shows a little whimsy with Wonder Woman and her version of the holiday tradition.

….underneath the mistletoe last night.

Like most traditions, mistletoe is a holdover from before Christmas. Mistletoe has its origins in Saturnalia, when  the tradition of kissing under the plant began.

In 18th century England the tradition was expanded to include plucking a berry from the mistletoe after each kiss. It also stated those who kissed under the holly would marry.

The custom of smooching under the sprig continues to symbolize love and peace as it did when first hung.

Poison Ivy is the perfect host for today’s tradition, though her kisses have little to do with love.

He really is the most famous reindeer of all. How hard is it to remember Dasher, Donner, Vixen, Comet, Cupid and, okay, I admit, I can’t name the others off the top of my head. 

They are, after looking them up, Prancer, Dancer and Blitzen. Sorry guys.

Of course we’re talking about Rudolph.

Rudy has his origins in advertising. The red-nosed reindeer was introduced in 1939 as part of a Montgomery Ward department store in Chicago promotion.

To save money, the store commissioned an original story as a present to customers. The prior practice had been to purchase published books to pass out.

Robert L. May, the youngest of nine, offered a tale that may have been born In the author’s youth. Often picked on as the runt of the litter, Rudolph’s early misfortunes mirrored some of May’s troubles.

The glowing nose was inspired by a fog settling over Lake Michigan as viewed by May from his office window.

A decade later May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks turned the tale to tune and Gene Autry recorded it. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer became a number one hit on the Billboard pop singles selling 2.5-million copies the first year.

Over time, the song has sold 25-million copies and continues to climb.

Here Flash dons the beacon nose and antlers to spread good cheer for the season.

A fir tree symbolizes the season and holiday in a way no other totem can. We’ve looked in wonder, put out presents under it and sang songs in honor of the Christmas tree.

Origins began with just branches to give hope and remind spring would return during the long, cold nights of winter solstice.

In the eighth century, German missionary St. Boniface began to cite it as a symbol of Christ’s eternal life. In doing so, it became a Christian artifact for the season.

The legend was further embedded in religious tradition through a story in which a family helps the Christ child. In turn, Jesus grows a tree from a fir branch bearing golden apples and silver nuts. The lesson demonstrates helping others honors Christ.

A starry night is credited with inspiring Martin Luther to add candles to the tree. This symbolized the divine light.

The tree and lights immigrated to the New World with the Germans. So did adorning the tree with fruit and other foods.

Of course the humble beginnings morphed into what we celebrate today.

The uglier the better. The more spirit it shows, the more fun it symbolizes.

Ugly Christmas sweaters began as an accompaniment to entertainers like Pat Boone, Andy Williams and Bing Crosby as we invited them into our homes during early televised holiday specials.

They would be adorned with festive bells to compliment reindeer and Yule tide trees that decorated the woolen eyesores.

As the 1950s became the turbulent 60s and Me decade that followed and fashion mirrored the technicolor now invading living rooms via the cathode ray tube, so did the sweaters.

By the 1980s, these same festive fashions were revealed for what they truly were: gaudy accessories. Maybe 1989’s Christmas Vacation outed the long held secret.

With the new millennium came a honesty. Wearers admitted these abominations were just that and reveled in the truth. Ugly Christmas Sweater parties were hosted and prizes awarded to the crowd favorite.

Join Thanos in the fad cum tradition.

Yesterday the Hulk helped explain the tradition of hanging stockings on the fireplace, Today his cousin, She-Hulk, will explain how elves came to work for Santa.

These diminutive helpers began as a hearty and beefy lot of Germanic and Norwegian heritage. Later they were wed with European sprites or gnomes who offered help to farmers.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas introduced elves into Victorian folklore by describing Santa as one. Later, Harper’s Ferry featured a poem, The Wonders of Santa, that mentioned elves helping the fat one that continued to build on the myth.

Not Spock ears

In 1873 Santa was portrayed surrounded by elves on the Christmas cover of Godey’s Lady’s Book which offered an early visualization.

By the 20th century, the concept was cemented enough main stream artists like Norman Rockwell and others put brush and oil to canvas to further the legend. Today the belief is almost fact

Hanging stockings by the fireplace is a story that has evolved over centuries until, now, a jolly fat man puts presents in them each Christmas Eve.

Based on the generosity of real life St. Nicholas, the tradition allegedly began in the fourth century. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, was a Turk of some wealth. Legend has it he would gift the needy, not just one night a year, but when needed.

How, then, did this transfer into stockings by the hearth?

The story has St. Nicholas helping a man of little means with three daughters who he had no dowry for. The tradition of the times dictated to be married, women must enter the marriage with something of value.

So the daughters could marry, Nicholas was to have dropped gold coins down the chimney. The coins supposedly landed in stockings and so began the tradition.

Join Hulk as he perpetuates the legend.

Deadpool makes with a beefcake pose as he sports his green cap and usual red togs making with the Christmas colors.

Of all the hues in the color spectrum, only a few symbolize the holiday and only two are unmistakably Christmas.

Red and green date back to pre-Christmas and solstice. Celtics believed holly wreaths brought prosperity and good fortune. The colors continued even after the plants became nostalgia.

For the believer, the wreath became symbolic of the “crown” of thorns forced on Christ’s head prior to his crucifixion. The red symbolized the blood spilt.

In the 1930’s, the Coca-Cola company commissioned Michigan-born artist Haddon Sundblom to create a (then) modern Santa Claus. His red suit mirrored the Coke can while green lettering spelled out ad copy.

In addition to red and green are gold, blue and white. Gold represents the gift to the Christ child, blue Mother Mary’s robes and white the purity of Christ.