This time of year everyone fawns over Santa Claus while Mrs. Claus doesn’t get recognition she deserves. If it weren’t for Mrs. Claus, Santa would go unfed, the elves unsupervised and toys unfinished. Some fun tidbits about the Mrs. that warrant sharing.
· Mrs. ClauS Origins Are Questionable
Santa’s wife is first referenced in 1849 short story A Christmas Legend by James Rees. In the tale, an old man and woman are given shelter on Christmas Eve as weary travelers. The following morning children of the house find gifts left for them.
· Mrs. Claus Was Once The Reindeers Bodyguard
While we see her as portly and wholesome these days, Mrs. Claus earlier portrayals were that of a ballbuster. In writer Katharine Lee Bates 1889 poem Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride, the matriarch of Christmas demands she accompany her hubby around the world to care for sleigh and reindeer while he delivers gifts.
· Mrs. Claus Was an Early Feminist
In 1914 play, Mrs. Santa Claus, Militant and 1963 How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas, Lady Christmas tosses gender roles to the wind, commands the sleigh and delivers presents without Santa’s permission.
· Mrs. Claus Goes to Space
It’s believed Mrs. Claus first film appearance was in Sci-Fi movie Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
· Mrs. Claus is Very Easily Seduced
In both 1970’s Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and 2002 The Santa Clause 2, Santa wins over future Mrs. Claus by presenting her with a childhood doll.
· Mrs. Claus Doesn’t Have a First Name
While Santa is generally regarded as Kris Kringle, Mrs. Claus has gone by many monikers, including: Mary Christmas, Gertrude, Carol, Martha, Jessica, and so on.
· Mrs. ClauS Duties Are Woefully Outdated
Instead of growing more progressive with time, Mrs. Claus role at North Pole has gradually regressed to dated gender roles. Since 1889, Mrs. Claus duties are generally limited to baking cookies and assisting in toy production.
· Mrs. Claus is The Reason Why Santa is So ‘Jolly’
In 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Mrs. Claus pesters her husband to eat, lest he become a “skinny Santa”. She likes her men thick!
