I have read the first 4 books. They're ok for kids' literature, not more than that, and this notion that they're among the greatest literary works I can only attribute to a lack of reading on behalf of the general public. LOTR they certainly are not.
I think you rather seriously misunderstand *why* they are highly regarded. Most people know they're not literary masterpieces, but they're very imaginative, they're a lot of fun, and they get people who otherwise don't read much excited about reading. I have a degree in English and I've read most of the Russian masters and classic literary canon. And I think Harry Potter is awesome.
It's... complicated. During the Protestant Revolution of the late 16th/early 17th centuries, Martin Luther wanted to discourage people from praying to saints, and part of that was to disassociate Saint Nicholas and Christmas. Instead, he started the idea that the Christmas gift-giver was actually Jesus as a baby: the Christ-child (or Christkindl). They also changed the gift-giving day from December 6 (St. Nicholas' Day) to Christmas Eve to strengthen the association. Ironically, the Christ-child especially caught on with the Catholic community in Germany in the 19th century, and ended up spreading to many Catholic countries in Latin America, where he is still popular as the main gift-bringer.
It ALSO spread to the Pennsylvania Dutch (who were actually German) in the US, where Christkindl got corrupted into "Kriss Kringle." That spread and got conflated with the actual-Dutch Sinter Klaas (Saint Nicholas) which had itself become "Santa Claus."
The association became especially popular and widespread after the 1947 movie Miracle on 34th Street, where the character who presents himself as the actual Santa Claus uses Kris Kringle as his "real" name.
Anyway, the name is used in a number of other countries, sometimes as another name for Santa Claus, sometimes still as the Christ-child (who may or may not be partners with Santa in gift-giving). But yes, using "Kris Kringle" as another name for "Santa Claus" is primarily a North American thing.
Alliteration is the repetition of consonantal sounds. Repeating vowel sounds is assonance. Therefore the title of this quiz needs changing - or else the questions dealing with a, e, I, o and u should be excluded.
REALLY? Is that from a film, or an Americanism that hasn't made it over the pond, cos i have never heard that before in my life.
It ALSO spread to the Pennsylvania Dutch (who were actually German) in the US, where Christkindl got corrupted into "Kriss Kringle." That spread and got conflated with the actual-Dutch Sinter Klaas (Saint Nicholas) which had itself become "Santa Claus."
Anyway, the name is used in a number of other countries, sometimes as another name for Santa Claus, sometimes still as the Christ-child (who may or may not be partners with Santa in gift-giving). But yes, using "Kris Kringle" as another name for "Santa Claus" is primarily a North American thing.