According to Phyllis Siefker, in her book Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men, the tradition of the winter gift-giver handing out goodies to the good children and punishments (or threats of punishments) goes back to at least medeival Germany, and that this tradition was brought to North American shores by the German immigrants to Pennsylvania.

Most early accounts, though, report simply the giving of generic treats -- apples, nuts, candy, hand-carved wooden toys. As I understand it, advertising of specific toys directly to children didn't begin until the 1950's, when Mattel realized the power advertising during children's programming could wield in sales.

So -- where and when did the sitting down and making out a list of specific demands begin? Nasty habit, if you ask me, but, like most things, its start was probably benign, at least in intent. And it's now as ingrained in our Christmas/Santa Claus myth as those 8 reindeer, or that Claus's home is at the north pole.

The question just popped into my head, and now I'm wondering ...

It can't be any better to give than to receive. But it's far better to receive than to demand.