<P> In the English and later British colonies of North America , and later in the United States , British and Dutch versions of the gift - giver merged further . For example , in Washington Irving 's History of New York ( 1809 ) , Sinterklaas was Americanized into `` Santa Claus '' ( a name first used in the American press in 1773 ) but lost his bishop 's apparel , and was at first pictured as a thick - bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat . Irving 's book was a lampoon of the Dutch culture of New York , and much of this portrait is his joking invention . </P>
<P> In the English and later British colonies of North America , and later in the United States , British and Dutch versions of the gift - giver merged further . For example , in Washington Irving 's History of New York ( 1809 ) , Sinterklaas was Americanized into `` Santa Claus '' ( a name first used in the American press in 1773 ) but lost his bishop 's apparel , and was at first pictured as a thick - bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat . Irving 's book was a lampoon of the Dutch culture of New York , and much of this portrait is his joking invention . </P>
when did the legend of santa claus begin
when did the legend of santa claus begin
1773
1773