So many Santas

Jerry Hale | Special to Laker Weekly

This wooden reindeer and sleigh was crafted by Carol Miekina's father in the early 1950s.

Jerry Hale | Special to Laker Weekly

Carol Miekina with one of the many Santa Clauses displayed at her home in The Waverly.

Santa Claus -- actually, lots of them -- is back in town, specifically at Carol Miekina's home in The Waverly. The mantle over the living room fireplace is filled with Santas. When asked how many there are, she quickly counted 38 perched there and then pointed to several more carefully situated on shelves and tables.

In the kitchen, there's a display of antique metal Santa candy molds. The den, dining room and various bedrooms also have displays featuring multiple miniatures of the jolly old man. Her curiosity piqued, Miekina began a count and came up with 150 placed around the house.

"I used to have about 200," she said, "but I have given quite a few to our niece."

Several in her collection are Belsnickles, prized Christmas collectible figures made in Germany from 1870 until World War I. The name, derived from Pelz Nichol, meaning "fur-dressed Santa," was changed to Belsnickle by German immigrants in the United States. These figures were candy containers most often made of papier-mache or chalk. Their characteristics include a stern face and a tall thin body with one arm holding a sprig from a feather tree (early Colonial Christmas trees were made of feathers, brought to the country by German immigrants) or wooden switches to punish naughty children.

The inscription on an authentic Belsnickle reads: This limited production 'papier mache' is hand-made in the original antique mold in Germany by [signed by the artist] Ino Schaller.

"The truth is that in the last 10 to 15 years, there have been marvelous Chinese reproductions made using original molds. They look just the same, and I have a lot of those, too," said Miekina.

She doesn't recall the Santa that started her collection.

"I actually don't remember," she said. "I'm into antiques and old-looking things. Actually, I was born on St. Nicholas Day [Dec. 6], so maybe that was why I was drawn to these things."

One early piece in her collection was made by her father, Johannes Branstrom, a Swedish immigrant who settled in Jamestown, N.Y., where Miekina grew up.

"My dad loved to work with wood, and in the early '50s, he made a sleigh and reindeer. He actually made a lot of these that we mostly gave away to other people. Now, of course, this is very special to me."

Many of the Father Christmas figures were purchased at high-quality craft shows that Miekina frequented along with husband Gil, who admitted, "I actually liked nosing around those shows for interesting things to add to the collection."

Miekina knows her collection well. She can randomly pick up a bearded figure and rattle off its history. She simply can't resist relating the details of her treasures.

"This one is from Michigan and made by Vaughn and Stephanie Rawson," said Miekina as she casually picked up a carved wood folk art Santa.

Another special piece is a Victorian Father Christmas made by Norma DeCampe of Charleston, S.C. Every Father Christmas made by this artist is special: This one wears pants made from a carriage blanket and his cloak is made of old Russian tapestry embellished with fur. All the toys he carries are hand-made.

Reflecting her Swedish heritage, Carol has a Yuletomten, a mischievous Santa elf who delivered gifts to children on Christmas Eve. He is nestled next to her Christmas tree, which is decorated with Swedish ornaments made mostly of straw and wood.

The real St. Nicholas, Miekina explained, was the bishop of Myra, Turkey (today Demre, Turkey). He grew up wealthy, but gave away his worldly goods and later became a bishop. He died on Dec. 6, 341 AD, hence St. Nicholas Day is observed on Dec. 6.

The Miekinas visited Demre expecting to see a statue or replica of St. Nicholas. Instead they were disappointed to find a fat American-style Santa in the city square.

"So much for tradition," said Miekina.

Miekinas puts out her collection just after Thanksgiving and doesn't put the it away until the end of January. That's plenty of time for the Miekinas and their holiday guests to enjoy a taste of St. Nicholas' history.