SANTA CLAUS

legendary figure who is the traditional patron of Christmas in the United States and other countries. His popular image is based on traditions associated with a 4th-century Christian saint. See Nicholas, Saint. town, Spencer county, southwestern Indiana, U.S. It lies 38 miles (61 km) east-northeast of Evansville. Laid out in 1846, it was jocularly called Santa Claus after the preferred name of Santa Fe was found to be that of another Indiana community (and because it was the Christmas season). Its post office annually remails more than 1 million pieces of Christmas mail with the Santa Claus postmark. The village contains Santa Claus Land, a children's park with amusement rides and displays of toys from many countries. The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, 4 miles (6 km) west, commemorates the childhood farm home of Abraham Lincoln and is the burial site of his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Lincoln State Park and Lincoln City are nearby. Pop. (1990) 927.