One of my favorite questions to ask when meeting new acquaintances - both personal and professional - is "How did you and your spouse meet"?  It's a question to which folks always have an answer and about which they like to share.  When both spouses are present, it's fun to see the similarities in what they remember and to compare "both sides of the story".  It's a conversation which can go on for hours.

With Santa and Mrs. Claus, there never was and never will be (I don't think) that opportunity.  As a couple, they are simply part of a wonderful, enduring, global legend ... a double vision in ermine-trimmed red suits ... as seen in the vintage image below.  (Of course, when Mrs. Claus is "at home" and baking mounds of cookies for all the elves, she dons her ruffled mobcap and apron.)

(I, Janet, actually have an extenisve collection of Santa Claus postcards ... fun to collect and a very good investment.  This postcard is from the early years of the 20th century.)

If Santa's origin as a personage is attributed to St. Nicholas, the 3rd century Bishop of Myra in what is modern day Turkey, then Santa was a die-hard bachelor for about 1,700 years.  It wasn't until 1849, in "A Christmas Legend" by Christian missionary James Reese, that the idea of a Mrs. Claus was born.  

In 1851, Mrs. Claus is given mention in the Holiday issue of the Yale Literary Magazine.   The author describes the attendance of Santa and his bride at a party (College students lived to party even then.):  "In bounded that jolly, fat and funny old elf, Santa Claus. His array was indescribably fantastic. He seemed to have done his best; and we should think, had Mrs. Santa Claus to help him."

Mrs. Claus' existence was noted by Harper's Magazine in an 1862 "Editor's Easy Chair" column and in 1864 we get yet more detail from "The Metropolites", a comic, satiric novel written by Robert St. Clar.  Here she appears as a formidable female figure, clad in "Hessian high boots, a dozen of short, red petticoats, an old, large straw bonnet, and bringing the woman a wide selection of finery to wear".

While we may never know Mrs. Claus' real first name (according to different stories and legends from various cultures, she has gone by the names:  Mary, Annalina, Jessica, Layla, Ahoop, Seeki, Martha, Kasey, Juliana, Gretchen, and Santarina ... to name just a few), the first real picture of her as a "Good Wife" or "Santa's Mrs." emerged in "Goody Santa Claus Goes on a Sleigh Ride", a poem written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1889.

As the story goes, Goody sweet talks Santa into taking her along for the big Christmas Eve sleigh ride as a reward for all the hard work she does all year tending the "toy and bonbon laden Christmas trees" , the Thansgiving turkeys, and their "rainbow chickens" that lay colored Easter Eggs.  A none-too happy Santa agrees and off they go.  Goody proceeds to help as she always does.  While Santa goes down chimney after chimney, Goody holds the reins, minding the reindeer while they "idle" on rooftops across the world. 

(From Goody's words, we also catch a glimpse of what constituted an early "true feminist":  "Home to womankind is suited?" ... "Take the reins and let me show you what a woman's wit can do.")

Goody tries to persuade Santa into letting her go down a chimney to fill a stocking.  She's not getting too far with her campaign until, lo, they come upon a stocking that has holes in it that will keep it from holding the gifts that Santa brings.  So - down the chimney goes Mrs. Claus.  She darns the stocking using an icicle for a needle and moonbeams as thread and fills it with gifts.  The evening's sleigh ride over and the "rose" of Christmas dawn "blooming", Santa and his "Goody" return to the North Pole, their Artic home.

The image painted in that poem of Santa and Mrs. Claus as a couple "all round and rosy"..."looking like two loving snowballs" in their "fuzzy Arctic furs" stuck and it's an image that has held for 125 years.  So while we may never know how they met (although their Fairyland Wedding is referenced) or what Mrs. Claus' given name really is ... we do know that Santa and his "Goody" will always be with us, laboring the year through to bring us happiness - via sleigh - on that one special night of the year:  Christmas Eve.

Below is the complete text of Goody's adventures with Santa.  The young ones will love it - introduce the reading of it into your Christmas traditions.  The original poem was included in: Fairy Gold (New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1916) along with four other Christmas poems penned by Bates.  It's a rare find in the "antique" version.  (There are non available on the market at present.) 

Goody Santa Claus Goes on A Sleigh Ride

Santa, must I tease in vain, Deer? Let me go and hold the reindeer,
    While you clamber down the chimneys. Don't look savage as a Turk!
Why should you have all the glory of the joyous Christmas story,
    And poor little Goody Santa Claus have nothing but the work?

It would be so very cozy, you and I, all round and rosy,
    Looking like two loving snowballs in our fuzzy Arctic furs,
Tucked in warm and snug together, whisking through the winter weather
    Where the tinkle of the sleigh-bells is the only sound that stirs.

You just sit here and grow chubby off the goodies in my cubby
    From December to December, till your white beard sweeps your knees;
For you must allow, my Goodman, that you're but a lazy woodman
    And rely on me to foster all our fruitful Christmas trees.

While your Saintship waxes holy, year by year, and roly-poly,
    Blessed by all the lads and lassies in the limits of the land,
While your toes at home you're toasting, then poor Goody must go posting
Out to plant and prune and garner, where our fir-tree forests stand.

Oh! but when the toil is sorest how I love our fir-tree forest,
    Heart of light and heart of beauty in the Northland cold and dim,
All with gifts and candles laden to delight a boy or maiden,
    And its dark-green branches ever murmuring the Christmas hymn!

Yet ask young Jack Frost, our neighbor, who but Goody has the labor,
    Feeding roots with milk and honey that the bonbons may be sweet!
Who but Goody knows the reason why the playthings bloom in season
And the ripened toys and trinkets rattle gaily to her feet!

From the time the dollies budded, wiry-boned and saw-dust blooded,
    With their waxen eyelids winking when the wind the tree-tops plied,
Have I rested for a minute, until now your pack has in it
    All the bright, abundant harvest of the merry Christmastide?

Santa, wouldn't it be pleasant to surprise me with a present?
    And this ride behind the reindeer is the boon your Goody begs;
Think how hard my extra work is, tending the Thanksgiving turkeys
    And our flocks of rainbow chickens — those that lay the Easter eggs.

Home to womankind is suited? Nonsense, Goodman! Let our fruited
    Orchards answer for the value of a woman out-of-doors.
Why then bid me chase the thunder, while the roof you're safely under,
All to fashion fire-crackers with the lighting in their cores?

See! I've fetched my snow-flake bonnet, with the sunrise ribbons on it;
    I've not worn it since we fled from Fairyland our wedding day;
How we sped through iceberg porches with the Northern Lights for torches!
    You were young and slender, Santa, and we had this very sleigh.

Jump in quick then? That's my bonny. Hey down derry! Nonny nonny!
    While I tie your fur cap closer, I will kiss your ruddy chin.
I'm so pleased I fall to singing, just as sleigh-bells take to ringing!
    Are the cloud-spun lap-robes ready? Tirra-lirra! Tuck me in.

Off across the starlight Norland, where no plant adorns the moorland
    Save the ruby-berried holly and the frolic mistletoe!
Oh, but this is Christmas revel! Off across the frosted level
    Where the reindeers' hoofs strike sparkles from the crispy, crackling snow!

There's the Man i' the Moon before us, bound to lead the Christmas chorus
    With the music of the sky-waves rippling round his silver shell —
Glimmering boat that leans and tarries with the weight of dreams she carries
    To the cots of happy children. Gentle sailor, steer her well!

Now we pass through dusky portals to the drowsy land of mortals;
    Snow-enfolded, silent cities stretch about us dim and far.
Oh! how sound the world is sleeping, midnight watch no shepherd keeping,
    Though an angel-face shines gladly down from every golden star.

Here's a roof. I'll hold the reindeer. I suppose this weather-vane, Dear,
    Some one set here just on purpose for our teams to fasten to.
There's its gilded cock, — the gaby! — wants to crow and tell the baby
    We are come. Be careful, Santa! Don't get smothered in the flue.

Back so soon? No chimney-swallow dives but where his mate can follow.
    Bend your cold ear, Sweetheart Santa, down to catch my whisper faint:
Would it be so very shocking if your Goody filled a stocking
    Just for once? Oh, dear! Forgive me. Frowns do not become a Saint.

I will peep in at the skylights, where the moon sheds tender twilights
    Equally down silken chambers and down attics bare and bleak.
Let me show with hailstone candies these two dreaming boys — the dandies
    In their frilled and fluted nighties, rosy cheek to rosy cheek!

What! No gift for this poor garret? Take a sunset sash and wear it
    O'er the rags, my pale-faced lassie, till thy father smiles again.
He's a poet, but — oh, cruel! he has neither light nor fuel.
    Here's a fallen star to write by, and a music-box of rain.

So our sprightly reindeer clamber, with their fairy sleigh of amber,
    On from roof to roof , the woven shades of night about us drawn.
On from roof to roof we twinkle, all the silver bells a-tinkle,
    Till blooms in yonder blessèd East the rose of Christmas dawn.

Now the pack is fairly rifled, and poor Santa's well-nigh stifled;
    Yet you would not let your Goody fill a single baby-sock;
Yes, I know the task takes brain, Dear. I can only hold the reindeer,
    And so see me climb down chimney — it would give your nerves a shock.

Wait! There's yet a tiny fellow, smiling lips and curls so yellow
    You would think a truant sunbeam played in them all night. He spins
Giant tops, and flies kites higher than the gold cathedral spire
    In his dreams — the orphan bairnie, trustful little Tatterkins.

Santa, don't pass by the urchin! Shake the pack, and deeply search in
    All your pockets. There is always one toy more. I told you so.
Up again? Why, what's the trouble? On your eyelash winks the bubble
    Mortals call a tear, I fancy. Holes in stocking, heel and toe?

Goodman, though your speech is crusty now and then there's nothing rusty
    In your heart. A child's least sorrow makes your wet eyes glisten, too;
But I'll mend that sock so nearly it shall hold your gifts completely.
    Take the reins and let me show you what a woman's wit can do.

Puff! I'm up again, my Deary, flushed a bit and somewhat weary,
    With my wedding snow-flake bonnet worse for many a sooty knock;
But be glad you let me wheedle, since, an icicle for needle,
    Threaded with the last pale moonbeam, I have darned the laddie's sock.

Then I tucked a paint-box in it ('twas no easy task to win it
    From the Artist of the Autumn Leaves) and frost-fruits white and sweet,
With the toys your pocket misses — oh! and kisses upon kisses
    To cherish safe from evil paths the motherless small feet.

Chirrup! chirrup! There's a patter of soft footsteps and a clatter
    Of child voices. Speed it, reindeer, up the sparkling Arctic Hill!
Merry Christmas, little people! Joy-bells ring in every steeple,
    And Goody's gladdest of the glad. I've had my own sweet will.

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Hope you enjoyed meeting Mrs. Claus.  After all, as Santa's Helpmate, she has much to do with Christmas Dreams coming true!

Meanwhile, on behalf of Santa and Mrs. Claus, we wish you "all the bright, abundant harvest of the merry Christmastide" ... and stockings full of "gifts and goodies"!

• antiquarian books
• children's literature
• Goody Claus
• Mrs. Claus
• Santa Claus
• Mrs. Santa Claus
• The North Pole