A sampling of the different style Santa Claus graphics on some of our antique printers blocks. They range in size up to 6” and include both metal alloy and electrotype copper face mounted on solid boxwood bases. Used in the past to print Christmas Holiday greeting cards and advertisements. Our Western version of Santa Claus is a mythical character that brings gifts to the homes of the good children on Christmas Eve, December 24th. He is also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or simply Santa. Belsnickel is the fur-clad Santa of the Palatinate (Pfalz) in northwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald region of Baden-Württemberg. In Pennsylvania Dutch communities, it is also a mythical being that visits children at Christmas time. If they have not been good, they will find coal and/or switches in their stockings. The Belsnickel was a scary creature not well loved except by parents wanting to keep their children in line. Among some families of German descent, Belsnickel delivers socks or shoes full of candy to children on the feast day of St. Nicholas, December 6. Enjoy some of the variations depicted on the below cuts / blocks.