{"type":"link","asset_type":"article","version":"1.0","cache_age":3600,"provider_name":"CANVAS Arts","provider_url":"https:\/\/artscanvas.org","title":"How the character and traditions of Santa Claus evolved over centuries","publication_date":"December 25, 2025","summary":"This Christmas, many children welcomed a familiar visitor – a jolly man in a red suit and a sleigh full of gifts. But the bearded figure Americans recognize today as Santa Claus is a relatively modern creation, shaped over centuries by folklore, art and evolving tradition. Stephanie Sy reports. And a warning for parents and younger viewers: this story contains some spoilers about Santa Claus.","author_name":"By Stephanie Sy, Mary Fecteau, ideastream","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/cdn.artscanvas.org\/static\/2025\/12\/dab97e68d1b9acebfb0fc80e9bd3afca-SantaUnwrapped-1024x697.jpg","thumbnail_height":697,"thumbnail_width":1024}