Santa Claus really started to get famous when American author Washington Irving published stories about Santa Claus, referring to him as Saint Nicholas who arrived on Christmas Eve bringing presents for children. Santa Claus changed and became more famous when writer Clement Clarke Moore wrote a poem in 1823 about a Christmas Eve visit from Saint Nicholas, better known as "The Night Before Christmas" (listed below). Millions of children now could have a consistent description of Santa Claus and his eight flying reindeer.
Santa Claus has been called by several different names throughout the years. Traditions and legends of Santa Claus for the evolution of the modern-day Santa may have been based on the early Dutch legend of Sinterklaas, originating in the 1600's. 
Santa Claus is Popular!
American magazines picked up on the popularity of Santa Claus, and many different versions of Santa Claus were published over the next 50 years. Santa Claus even began to appear in advertisements for popular products.
The most famous reindeer, red nosed Rudolph started to appear in the late 1930's.
Santa Claus, Rudolph, and the other reindeer would get periodic boosts in popularity when songs, stories, movies, or videos were released about them. Some of the more significant of there were:
Santa Claus is coming to Town.
Around the world Santa Claus is known as:
English - Kris Kringle or Father Christmas = The Santa Claus name more likely evolved from the name of Saint Nicholas.
Belgium - De Kerstman (Christmas Man) is celebrated on Dec. 26th
note: Sinterklass (which is derived from the Dutch name Sint Nicolaas) is celebrated on December 6th
Italy - Babbo Natale
Germany - Weihnachtsmann or Sankt Nikolaus
Sweden - Jultomten, or Christmas Brownie
Hawaii - Kanakaloka
Chile - Viejo Pascuerro
France - Pere Noel
Japan - Hoteiosho - a priest who bears gifts or Santa Kurohsu
Russia - Ded Moroz - or Grandfather Frost who is accompanied by his grand daughter
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