Why does Santa climb down chimneys?

Along with Santa Claus, we spend a lot of our time working on rooftops. But why does Santa climb down chimneys at Christmastime? Have you ever wondered where the tradition of hanging stockings by the chimney comes from? In our special festive article, we thought we would explore the legend of Santa and the reason behind his annual rooftop antics.

The legend of Santa Claus

The idea that Santa Claus climbs down our chimneys with gifts dates back several centuries and combines a number of different legends. In the Norse religion, the god Odin would enter chimneys around the Winter Solstice. In Italian mythology, there was a witch who journeyed down a chimney on Epiphany Eve to deliver gifts. So how did this legend become associated with Santa and his festive rooftop deliveries?

Firstly, we need to get to know the real Santa Claus. His name is a Dutch translation of the name ‘Sinter Klaas’ from ‘St. Nicholas’, a 4th century Christian bishop. St. Nicholas was known for his good deeds and giving gifts to the poor. Famous for his kindness, especially towards children, he gave away most of his inheritance and rescued women from servitude.

After his death, St. Nicholas was given his own day to celebrate his kindness, which included giving gifts and a special feast. Over the years, his legend has morphed into the modern Santa Claus we know today, which combines ‘Father Christmas’, an English folklore figure. A common myth is that Coca-Cola invented Santa’s red costume, but this is down to St. Nicholas himself, who was famous for wearing red robes when he gave to the poor.

Why Santa delivers gifts down the chimney

Why is there a tradition of hanging stockings up by the chimney? According to one theory, this started when a poor man didn’t have enough money for his three daughters’ dowries. After the daughters had hung up their freshly washed stockings to dry by the fire, St. Nicholas took pity on the family and dropped a bag of gold down the chimney.

There is also an old tradition relating to elves, Santa’s Little Helpers, who used chimneys to enter houses. In addition to this, a more recent depiction of Santa climbing down the chimney to deliver gifts appeared in a 18th century poem called ‘A Visit From St. Nicholas’. Together, all of these legends have combined into modern folklore. We now think of Santa delivering gifts down the chimney every Christmastime.

Why you should keep your roof clean

As well as ensuring Santa’s sleigh can land safely on your roof without any delay, our process cleans and protects your roof for years to come.

Here’s a reminder of some of the key benefits of what we do:

• We’re a professional roof cleaning company, who won’t blast your roof with high pressure jets or walk on your roof tiles. Our careful cleaning process limits the risk of broken roof tiles. We also move plant pots and garden furniture safely out of the way.
• A fungicidal wash is applied to your roof, which enables us to remove any moss, lichen or algae. If left untreated, this can cause damage to your roof tiles.
• After we have thoroughly cleaned your roof tiles, we then apply two coats of RENOTEC® Roof Coat. 100% acrylic, this waterproof coating has a fungicidal quality to protect your roof, and it comes with a 10-year guarantee.

Once we have cleaned and treated your roof tiles, they will look as good as new, and you can rest assured that your roof will be protected against the elements. So, after Christmas, if you notice any dirt or debris caused by the wintry weather (or reindeer hooves), speak to our team. Our roof cleaning services will give your roof a new lease of life in the new year.

We would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!