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Where did Mrs. Claus come from??
Though no mention was made
of her, Santa Claus' wife made her debut in 1899 in
Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride, one of a set of thirty-two
books by Katharine Lee Bates, composer of "America the
Beautiful. In 1908, another story encouraged children to
start leaving a little food for Santa Claus because he
would be tired after his hard work. Carrots and other
treats were later added for his reindeer. Of course,
Santa always left a note thanking the children for their
kindness. A 1910 advertisement for Ivory Soap showed a
child sitting in front of the fireplace with a bowl of
water, a towel and a bar of Ivory soap so that Santa
could wash up after coming down the chimney. Following
the ad to the letter, soiled wash clothes and dirty
water was often found on Christmas morning. |
