How old is Santa Claus?

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   Billrrrrposted 10 years ago

   How old is Santa Claus?
   
   In the 1800s, Artist Thomas Nash drew the illustrations that are used to this day to depict Santa.  He's a jolly, chubby old man, but  what age did Nash envision for  his creation?
   
   Since we are living longer lives than people in the Victorian era, I suspect we will judge Santa as much older than Nash intended.  I suspect Nash thought his cartoon man to be in his late forties or fifties.  Today, I imagine people will say that he is in his 70s or 80s.
   
   What do you think?  Is he forever 49 or 73 or what?

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   JThomp42posted 10 years ago

   He is old as a child wants him to be.

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   1. 86

      Billrrrrposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think that Nast saw him as 50.  I see him as 85 and the next generation will think he's 100.  Our perception of aging is changing and soon in the U.S., retirement age will be about  75.  I am all for it (speaking as a 70 year old)

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      JThomp42posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed.

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   Justsilvieposted 10 years ago

   Interesting question. To me he has always looked like a grandfather and I never thought about his age. However, after considering all the people I know who are older I can only say Santa will have remain ageless to me since I can no longer guess someone age these days because looks can be so deceiving.

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   1. 86

      Billrrrrposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes he looks like a grandfather, but that's my point.  My grandfather was ready for a rocking chair at 55, while I was still running in road races and doing five miles in under an hour at the same age.  Now, at 70 I still  work 3 - 5 days per week.

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      Justsilvieposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      My perception of him as grandfather was from childhood stories I never had one I could compare him to and when I look at my young and hot 67 year old husband I so no resemblance.

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   Lisa HWposted 10 years ago

   Santa Claus is ageless and timeless, and no mere artist's rendering will ever adequately or completely portray him.  He's as old as kindness and generosity, and as young as the magic that can only be felt in the youngest of hearts.  He's as old as good will and caring, and as young as imagining forever and everywhere both at the same time.  One thing's for sure:  He's not 49.  If he were he'd be younger than I am, and - I'm sorry - that isn't (as they say) happening.   

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   1. 86

      Billrrrrposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I like your answer.  He is absolutely not 49, but when he was first depicted, I believe the artist thought him to be 50.  That was quite old, a few centuries ago.  Today, 49 is barely middle aged.  Nice comment kid!

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   Samith Jhonposted 10 years ago

   The original Saint Nicholas was born in the year 270 A.D. Using that date, Santa Claus would be 1742 years old in 2012.

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   1. 86

      Billrrrrposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I know that he never ages, I'm just measuring our perception of how old he seems to be in the common illustrations of him.  It is part of a study on what year constitutes the start of old age.

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   2. 68

      ladydeonneposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Santa Claus is the spirit of Christmas and therefore ageless.  As a spirit he has no beginning or end.  He just exist in the hearts and imaginations of all those who believe he is, myself included. For your study I'd say he is as old as the planet.

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