What tartan does Santa Claus wear

[macwilkin]

Although Sinter Klaus is the root of Santa Claus, the two characters don't have that much in common. Most of our ideas about Claus come from "The Night Before Christmas".
But if you still want a Continental tartan, then how about the German Heritage Tartan? Many of America's Christmas celebrations are German in origin, like Christmas trees and whatnot.

Then again, can't believe no one's mentioned the Arctic Tartan

"The Night Before Christmas" was written by Clement C. Moore, was originally titled "A Visit from St. Nicholas". Moore based his story on the Dutch Tales found in Washington Irving's "Knickerbocker Tales" of New York. (Before it was New York, New Netherland was a Dutch colony) So, while the modern Santa doesn't have a lot in common with St. Nicholas/Sinter Klaus, you simply cannot dismiss the Dutch origins of the "jolly old elf", since most scholars credit Irving and the Dutch tales of Old New York with inspiring Moore.

The man who really gave us our modern image of Santa, btw, was the famous cartoonist, German immigrant Thomas Nast, so I would agree with your suggestion that one of the German tartans would also be appropriate, as well as the fact that, as you mentioned, many of our traditions are German in origin.

The Arctic tartan would also do, since Santa/St. Nicholas is reported to live above the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland:

http://www.santaclausvillage.info/eng/main.htm

Regards,

Todd