A Victorian Santa Claus

from Harpers Bazaar, December 1867

Directions for Making Santa Claus

• Take five large pine cones, two for the Santa Claus arms, two for legs, and one for the body; glue them together, and wind them round with wire.
   
• Cut the Santa Claus boots out of wood, set them on a block, sharpen the upper ends, and insert them in holes bored in the legs.
   
• Glue the Santa Claus head and hands of an ordinary jointed doll on the body and arms; make the beard and hair of flax, and fit a fur cap on the Santa Claus head.
   
• Put a girdle of dried moss round the Santa Claus waist, to conceal the wire, and knit tippet on the neck.
   
• Fasten a paste-board basket, filled with candies and toys, on the Santa Claus back; throw a netted bag with nuts and lady-apples, over one shoulder; and put a miniature Christmas tree in one hand, and a nut-cracker and switch in the other.