View source for Santa Claus

{{Short description|Legendary Christmas figure}}
{{Redirect|Santa|other uses|Santa Claus (disambiguation)|and|Santa (disambiguation)}}
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{{Use British English|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| noinfo     = yes
| image      = Merry Old Santa Claus by Thomas Nast.jpg
| caption    = 1881 illustration by [[Thomas Nast]]
| alias      = {{flatlist|
* [[Saint Nicholas]]
* Saint Nick
* [[Father Christmas]]
* Kris Kringle
* Mr. Claus
* The Man with the Bag
* Santa
}}
| spouse     = [[Mrs. Claus]]
| gender     = Male
| occupation = [[Christmas gift-bringer|Delivering gifts]] to children on [[Christmas]]
| lbl1       = Associates
| data1      = {{flatlist|
* [[Santa's elves|Elves]]
* [[Santa's reindeer|reindeer]]
}}
| lbl2       = Attire
| data2      = [[Santa suit]]
| home       = {{flatlist|
* [[North Pole]]
** [[Santa's workshop]]
* [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]]
** [[Santa Claus Village]]
}}
}}
'''Santa Claus''' is a [[legend]]ary figure<ref>{{Cite web|title=Santa Claus: History, Legend, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Claus|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=25 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225195200/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Claus|url-status=live}}</ref> originating in [[Western Christianity|Western]] [[Christian culture]] who is said [[Christmas gift-bringer|to bring gifts]] during the late evening and overnight hours on [[Christmas Eve]]. [[Christmas elf|Christmas elves]] are said to make the gifts in [[Santa's workshop]], while [[Santa Claus's reindeer|flying reindeer]] pull his [[sleigh]] through the air.<ref>B. K. Swartz, Jr.; [http://www.bsu.edu/web/01bkswartz/xmaspub.html The Origin of American Christmas Myth and Customs] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430004539/http://www.bsu.edu/web/01bkswartz/xmaspub.html |date=30 April 2011 }}; Retrieved 22 December 2007</ref><ref>Jeff Westover; [http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/reindeer.shtml The Legendary Role of Reindeer in Christmas] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803030248/http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/reindeer.shtml |date=3 August 2012 }}; Retrieved 22 December 2007</ref>

The popular conception of Santa Claus originates from [[Saint Nicholas (European folklore)|folklore traditions]] surrounding the [[4th-century]] [[Christian]] Greek bishop [[Saint Nicholas]], the [[patron saint]] of children. Saint Nicholas became renowned for his reported generosity and secret gift-giving. The image of Santa Claus shares similarities with the English figure of [[Father Christmas]], and they are both now popularly regarded as the same person.<ref>{{cite news |title=Father Christmas, green or red? |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/york/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8394000/8394067.stm |website=BBC News |date=4 December 2009}}</ref>

Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, often with glasses, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, a red hat with white fur trim, a black leather belt and boots, carrying a bag full of gifts for children. He is popularly associated with a deep, hearty laugh, frequently rendered in [[List of Christmas-themed literature|Christmas literature]] as "ho, ho, ho!"

This image originated in the United States during the 19th century, after Dutch settlers brought the legend of [[Sinterklaas]] ("Saint Nicholas") to 17th-century [[New Amsterdam]] (present-day [[New York City]]). The 1823 American poem "[[A Visit from St. Nicholas]]", written by an anonymous author, recounts Saint Nicholas arriving at the author's home on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by flying [[reindeer]]. The poem laid the foundation for modern depictions of Santa Claus, strengthening the association between Santa Claus and Christmas. Over time, this connection has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books, family [[Christmas traditions]], films, and advertising.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guyoncourt |first1=Sally |title=The number of reindeer used by Santa Claus and their names |url=https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/how-many-reindeer-santa-list-names-2812871 |work=The i Paper |date=16 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A Visit from St. Nicholas |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/A-Visit-from-St-Nicholas |website=Britannica |language=en |date=7 December 2024}}</ref>

==Predecessor figures==
===Saint Nicholas===
{{main|Saint Nicholas}}

[[File:St Nicholas Icon Sinai 13th century.jpg|thumb|upright|A 13th-century depiction of Saint Nicholas from [[Saint Catherine's Monastery]], [[Sinai Peninsula|Sinai]]]]Saint Nicholas was a [[Greeks in Turkey#History|4th-century Greek]] Christian bishop of [[Myra]] (now [[Demre]]) in the region of [[Lycia]] in the [[Roman Empire]], today in [[Turkey]]. Nicholas was known for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three [[impoverished]] daughters of a pious Christian with [[dowry|dowries]] so that they would not have to become [[prostitutes]].<ref name=msnbc>{{cite news|title = Santa Claus: The real man behind the myth|url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34525202|work = NBC News|date = 22 December 2009|access-date = 27 December 2009|archive-date = 1 September 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200901062407/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34525202/|url-status = live}}</ref> He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In continental Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany), he is usually portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

In 1087, while the [[Byzantine Greeks|Greek Christian inhabitants]] of [[Myra]] were subjugated by the newly arrived [[Muslim]] [[Seljuq dynasty]], and soon after their [[Greek Orthodox]] church had been declared to be in [[East-West Schism|schism]] by the Catholic Church (AD 1054), a group of merchants from the Italian city of [[Bari]] removed the major bones of Nicholas's skeleton from his sarcophagus in the Greek church in Myra. Over the objection of the monks of Myra the sailors took the bones of Saint Nicholas to Bari, where they are now enshrined in the [[Basilica di San Nicola]]. Sailors from Bari collected just half of Nicholas's skeleton, leaving all the minor fragments in the church sarcophagus. These were later taken by Venetian sailors during the [[First Crusade]] and placed in [[Venice]], where a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron of sailors, was built on the [[San Nicolò al Lido]]. Saint Nicholas's vandalised sarcophagus can still be seen in the [[St. Nicholas Church, Demre|St. Nicholas Church]] in Myra. This tradition was confirmed in two important scientific investigations of the relics in [[Bari]] and Venice, which revealed that the relics in the two Italian cities belong to the same skeleton. Saint Nicholas was later claimed as a [[patron saint]] of many diverse groups, from [[archery|archers]], sailors, and children to [[pawnbroker]]s.<ref name=msnbc/><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=45|title = People: St. Nicholas—nearly everybody's saint! |website= St. Nicholas Center |access-date = 21 December 2010|archive-date = 27 December 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101227181314/http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=45|url-status = live}}</ref> He is also the patron saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=46|title=Places |website= St. Nicholas Center |access-date = 21 December 2010|archive-date = 14 December 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091214095841/http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=46|url-status = live}}</ref>

During the Middle Ages, often on the evening before his name day of 6 December, children were bestowed gifts in his honour. This date was earlier than the original day of gifts for the children, which moved in the course of the [[Reformation]] and its opposition to the veneration of saints in many countries on 24 and 25 December. The custom of gifting to children at Christmas was propagated by [[Martin Luther]] as an alternative to the previous very popular gift custom attention on Saint Nicholas, to focus the interest of the children to Christ instead of the veneration of saints. Luther first suggested the [[Christkind]] as the bringer of gifts. But Nicholas remained popular as gifts bearer for the people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Öller |first=Rudolf |year=2004 |title=Martin Luthers Christkind |url=https://scientific.at/2004/roe_0452.php |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215173835/http://www.scientific.at/2004/roe_0452.htm |archive-date=15 February 2008 |website=Welt der Naturwissenschaften und Politik|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ein Verkaufsfahrer diente als Vorbild – angeblich – manager magazin|date=24 December 2012 |url=http://www.manager-magazin.de/lifestyle/leute/0,2828,874273-2,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230183655/http://www.manager-magazin.de/lifestyle/leute/0,2828,874273-2,00.html|archive-date=30 December 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Scrooges third visitor-John Leech,1843.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Ghost of Christmas Present]] as illustrated by [[John Leech (caricaturist)|John Leech]] for [[Charles Dickens]]'s ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' (1843)]]
===Father Christmas===
{{main|Father Christmas}}
Father Christmas dates to 16th-century [[Kingdom of England|England]] during the reign of [[Henry VIII]], when he was pictured as a large man in green or scarlet robes lined with fur. He typified the spirit of good cheer at [[Christmas]], bringing peace, joy, good food and wine and revelry. As England no longer kept the [[feast day]] of Saint Nicholas on 6 December, the Father Christmas celebration was moved to 25 December to coincide with Christmas Day.<ref name="Federer">{{Cite book |last=Federer |first=William J. |title=There Really Is a Santa Claus: The History of St. Nicholas & Christmas Holiday Traditions |year=2002 |publisher=Amerisearch, Inc. |page=39}}</ref> The [[Victorian era|Victorian]] revival of Christmas included Father Christmas as the emblem of good cheer.<ref name="Simpson, Roud"/> His physical appearance was variable,<ref>A children's party given in England on 26 December 1842 featured "venerable effigies," including one of Father Christmas "with scarlet coat and cocked hat, stuck all over with presents for the guests." {{cite book |editor-last=Brett |editor-first=R. L. |title=Barclay Fox's Journal |publisher=Bell and Hyman |location=London |year=1979 |url=https://archive.org/details/barclayfoxsjourn0000foxb_t4h8/page/296/mode/2up |page=297 |isbn=978-0-7135-1865-8 }}</ref> with one image being [[John Leech (caricaturist)|John Leech's]] illustration of the "[[Ghost of Christmas Present]]" in [[Charles Dickens]]'s novella ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' (1843), as a great genial man in a green coat lined with fur who takes [[Ebenezer Scrooge]] through the bustling streets of London on the current Christmas morning, sprinkling the essence of Christmas onto the happy populace.<ref name="Federer"/><ref name="Simpson, Roud">{{Cite book |last1=Simpson |first1=Jacqueline |last2=Roud |first2=Steve |title=A Dictionary of English Folklore |year=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press|page=120}}</ref>

===Dutch, Belgian and Swiss folklore===
{{See also|Sinterklaas|Saint Nicholas}}
[[File:08 St. Nikolaas bij een Snoeper.png|upright|thumb|1850 illustration of ''[[Saint Nicholas and his servant]]'' [[Père Fouettard]]/[[Zwarte Piet]]]]

In the Netherlands and Belgium, the character of Santa Claus competes with that of [[Sinterklaas]], based on Saint Nicolas. Santa Claus is known as ''de Kerstman'' in Dutch ("the Christmas man") and ''[[Père Noël]]'' ("Father Christmas") in French. For children in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas remains the predominant gift-giver in December; 36% of the Dutch only give presents on Sinterklaas evening or the day itself, 6 December,<ref name="Davis2010">{{cite book|last=Davis|first=Derek H.|title=The Oxford Handbook of Church and State in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ypkyAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT334|access-date=20 December 2017|date=2010-11-18|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-020878-3|pages=334–|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901170254/https://books.google.com/books?id=ypkyAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT334|url-status=live}}</ref> while Christmas, 25 December, is used by another 21% to give presents. Some 26% of the Dutch population gives presents on both days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nibud.nl/over-het-nibud/pers/informatie-voor-de-pers.html?page=content&subject=persberichten&main=pe_persberichten&pag=pe_persberichten&id=100&year=2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214092530/http://www.nibud.nl/over-het-nibud/pers/informatie-voor-de-pers.html?page=content&subject=persberichten&main=pe_persberichten&pag=pe_persberichten&id=100&year=2003|archive-date=2009-12-14|title=Nibud Pers, persberichten|publisher=NIBUD|year=2003|language=nl}} Netherlands budget institute table showing money spent by households categorised into those that give gifts only on Sint (36%), only on Christmas day (21%), on both days (26%)</ref>{{failed verification|date=January 2026}} In Belgium, presents are offered exclusively to children on 6 December, and on Christmas Day all ages may receive presents. Saint Nicolas/Sinterklaas' assistants are called "[[Zwarte Piet|Piet]]en" (in Dutch) or "[[Père Fouettard]]" (in French), and they are not elves.<ref>{{cite web|title = SinterklaasEntry ~ Amsterdam, the Netherlands Mid-November|website=St. Nicholas Center|year = 2008|url = http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=105|access-date = 9 September 2014|archive-date = 17 January 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110117181712/http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=105|url-status = live}}</ref>

In Switzerland, [[Père Fouettard]] accompanies Père Noël in the French speaking region, while the sinister Schmutzli accompanies Samichlaus in the [[Swiss German]] region. Schmutzli carries a twig broom to spank the naughty children.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mclean |first1=Morven |title=Schmutzli: the Swiss Santa's sinister sidekick|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/schmutzli--the-swiss-santa-s-sinister-sidekick/7082046|website=SWI swissinfo.ch|date=5 December 2008|access-date=25 December 2017|language=en|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520205230/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/schmutzli--the-swiss-santa-s-sinister-sidekick/7082046|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Germanic paganism, Odin, and Christianisation===
[[File:Georg von Rosen - Oden som vandringsman, 1886 (Odin, the Wanderer).jpg|thumb|upright|An 1886 depiction of the long-bearded Norse god [[Odin]] by [[Georg von Rosen]]]]
Prior to [[Christianisation of the Germanic peoples|their Christianisation]], the [[Germanic peoples]] (including the English) celebrated a midwinter event called [[Yule]] (Old English ''geola'' or ''giuli'').<ref name="ORCHARD-187">{{cite book |last=Orchard |first=Andy |year=1997 |title=Dictionary of Norse Mythology and Legend |publisher=Cassell |page=187 |isbn=978-0-304-34520-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/casselldictionar00unse}}</ref> With the [[Christianization|Christianisation]] of Germanic Europe, numerous traditions were absorbed from Yuletide celebrations into modern Christmas,<ref>{{cite book |last=Simek |first=Rudolf |author-link=Rudolf Simek |translator-last=Hall |translator-first=Angela |year=2007 |title=Dictionary of Northern Mythology |publisher=[[Boydell & Brewer|D.S. Brewer]] |pages=379–380 |isbn=978-0-85991-369-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofnort0000sime}}</ref><ref name="ORCHARD-187"/> such as the [[Wild Hunt]], frequently attested as being led by the god [[Odin]] (Wodan), bearing (among [[list of names of Odin|many names]]) the names ''Jólnir'', meaning "Yule man", and ''Langbarðr'', meaning "long-beard", in [[Old Norse]].<ref>For Wild Hunt, see Simek (2007). p. 372–373. For ''Jólnir'', see Simek (2007). p.180. & Orchard (1997). p. 189. For ''Langbarðr'', see Simek (2007). p. 186.</ref>

Odin's role during the Yuletide period has been theorised as having influenced concepts of Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus in a variety of facets, including his long white beard and his grey horse for nightly rides (compare Odin's horse [[Sleipnir]]) or his reindeer in North American tradition.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McKnight |first=George Harley |url=http://archive.org/details/stnicholashis00mckn |title=St. Nicholas; his Legend and his Rôle in the Christmas Celebration and other Popular Customs |date=1917 |publisher=New York and London, G.P. Putman's sons|pages=24–26,138–139}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Springwood |first=Charles Fruehling |editor-last=Denzin |editor-first=Norman K. |chapter=If Santa Wuz Black: The Domestication of a White Myth |title=Studies in Symbolic Interaction |volume=33 |publisher=Emerald Group Publishing |year=2009 |pages=243–244 |doi=10.1108/S0163-2396(2009)0000033031 |isbn=978-1-84855-784-0 }}</ref> The folklorist Margaret Baker maintains that "the appearance of Santa Claus or Father Christmas, whose day is the 25th of December, owes much to Odin, the old blue-hooded, cloaked, white-bearded Giftbringer of the north, who rode the midwinter sky on his eight-footed steed Sleipnir, visiting his people with gifts. Odin, transformed into Father Christmas, then Santa Claus, prospered with [[Saint Nicholas|St Nicholas]] and the [[Christkind|Christchild]], became a leading player on the Christmas stage."<ref name="BAKER-62">{{cite book |last=Baker |first=Margaret |title=Discovering Christmas Customs and Folklore: A Guide to Seasonal Rites Throughout the World |year=2007 |orig-year=First published 1968 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |page=62}}</ref>

In northern Europe, the [[Yule goat]] was an earlier bearer of gifts, which has to some degree become conflated with Santa Claus, for instance in the Finnish [[Joulupukki]] tradition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20171221-does-santa-claus-come-from-finland|title=Does Santa Claus come from Finland?|last=Sirén|first=Ilkka|website=BBC|date=23 December 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-12-11|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419071218/http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20171221-does-santa-claus-come-from-finland|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
===Origins===
Early representations of the gift-giver from Church history and folklore, especially [[Saint Nicholas]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wheeler |first1=Joe |last2=Rosenthal |first2=Jim |title=St. Nicholas: A Closer Look at Christmas |publisher=Nelson Reference & Electronic |year=2005}}</ref> merged with the English character Father Christmas to create the mythical character known to the rest of the English-speaking world as "Santa Claus" (a phonetic derivation of "[[Sinterklaas]]" in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]).

In the [[English overseas possessions|English]] and later [[British colonization of the Americas|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 Anglicised into "Santa Claus" (a name first used in the U.S. press in 1773)<ref>"Last Monday, the anniversary of St. Nicholas, otherwise called Santa Claus, was celebrated at Protestant Hall, at Mr. Waldron's; where a great number of sons of the ancient saint celebrated the day with great joy and festivity." ''Rivington's Gazette''. New York City. 23 December 1773.</ref> 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 [[parody]] of the Dutch culture of New York, and much of this portrait is his joking invention. Irving's interpretation of Santa Claus was part of a broader movement to tone down the increasingly wild Christmas celebrations of the era, which included aggressive home invasions under the guise of [[wassailing]], substantial premarital sex (leading to [[shotgun wedding]]s in areas where the [[Puritans]], waning in power and firmly opposed to Christmas, still held some influence) and public displays of sexual deviancy; the celebrations of the era were derided by both upper-class merchants and Christian purists.<ref name="bloombergstory">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-12-13/how-washington-irving-influenced-the-modern-christmas-santa|title=Christmas Was Invented in New York: The strange but probably true tale of how Washington Irving and a few contemporaries created the modern holiday in the early 1800s.|first=Justin|last=Fox|work=Bloomberg|date=13 December 2019|access-date=24 December 2019|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520204746/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-12-13/how-washington-irving-influenced-the-modern-christmas-santa|url-status=live}}</ref>

Associations of the modern Western Santa's colors and magical attributes with the mushroom [[Amanita muscaria]] and shamans of the [[Sámi people|Sámi]], [[Kamchadals]], or [[Koryaks]] are unsupported by historical evidence.<ref name="Campbell 2023">{{Cite magazine|last=Campbell|first=Olivia|journal=National Geographic|date=Dec 21, 2023|title=What does Santa have to do with … psychedelic mushrooms?|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/santa-claus-magic-mushroom-legend |access-date=2023-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/12/24/132260025/did-shrooms-send-santa-and-his-reindeer-flying |title=Did 'Shrooms Send Santa And His Reindeer Flying? |date=December 23, 2010 |author=Richard Harris |publisher=[[NPR]] |work=[[Morning Edition]]}}</ref>

===19th century===
[[File:The Children's friend. Number III. A New-Year's present, to the little ones from five to twelve. Part III (1821), page 1.jpg|thumb|Illustration to verse 1 of "[[Old Santeclaus with Much Delight]]"]]
In 1821 the book ''A New-year's present, to the little ones from five to twelve'' was published in New York. It contained "[[Old Santeclaus with Much Delight]]", an anonymous poem (possibly written by [[Clement Clarke Moore]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Foster |first=Don |title=Author Unknown: On the Trail of Anonymous |publisher=Henry Holt and Company |publication-place=New York |pages=266–269}}</ref>) describing Santeclaus on a reindeer sleigh, bringing rewards to children. Some modern ideas of Santa Claus seemingly became [[wikt:canon|canon]] after the anonymous publication of the poem ''[[A Visit From St. Nicholas]]'' (better known today as ''The Night Before Christmas'') in the [[Troy, New York]] ''Sentinel'' on 23 December 1823; Moore later claimed authorship, though others have argued that the author was [[Henry Livingston Jr.]], although he had never claimed authorship of the piece and died nine years before Moore revealed himself as the author.<ref name=msnbc/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/26/books/whose-jolly-old-elf-that-anyway-literary-sleuth-casts-doubt-authorship-iconic.html|title=Whose Jolly Old Elf Is That, Anyway?; Literary Sleuth Casts Doubt on the Authorship of an Iconic Christmas Poem|last=Kirkpatrick|first=David D.|date=2000-10-26|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2017-01-08|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520204757/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/26/books/whose-jolly-old-elf-that-anyway-literary-sleuth-casts-doubt-authorship-iconic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Saint Nicholas is described as being "chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf" with "a little round belly", that "shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly", in spite of which the "miniature sleigh" and "tiny reindeer" still indicate that he is physically diminutive. [[Santa Claus's reindeer|The reindeer]] were also named: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem (Dunder and Blixem came from the old Dutch words for thunder and lightning, which were later changed to the more German sounding Donner and Blitzen).<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Are the True Names of Santa's Reindeer? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-donner-partys-over/ |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=Snopes |date=6 June 2001 |archive-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424094430/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-donner-partys-over/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 1845 "Kris Kringle" (from "Christkindl(e)", German for "Christ-child") was a common variant of Santa in parts of the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=Advertisement for Harrison's Bookstore|work=Baltimore American Republican and Daily Clipper|issue=3|date=1 January 1846}}</ref> A magazine article from 1853, describing American Christmas customs to British readers, refers to children hanging up their [[Christmas stocking|stockings]] on Christmas Eve for "a fabulous personage" whose name varies: in Pennsylvania he is usually called "Krishkinkle", but in New York he is "St. Nicholas" or "Santa Claus". The author<ref>The article is signed "Uneda", an anagrammatic pen-name used by William Duane (1808–1882) of Philadelphia, son of [[William John Duane]].</ref> quotes Moore's poem in its entirety, saying that its descriptions apply to Krishkinkle too.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Pennsylvanian Folk Lore: Christmas |journal=Notes and Queries |volume=8 |issue=217 |date=24 December 1853 |page=615 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30133/30133-h/30133-h.htm#page615}}</ref>

[[File:Santa Claus 1863 Harpers.png|thumb|upright|[[Thomas Nast|Nast's]] 1863 depiction of Santa Claus distributing gifts in a [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] army camp introduced our modern image of Santa Claus]]
As the years passed, Santa Claus evolved into a large, heavyset person. One of the first artists to define the modern image of Santa Claus was [[Thomas Nast]], a German-born American [[cartoonist]] of the 19th century who immortalised Santa Claus with an illustration for the 3 January 1863 issue of ''[[Harper's Weekly]]'' in which Santa was dressed in an [[Flag of the United States|American flag]], and had a puppet with the name "[[Jefferson Davis|Jeff]]" written on it, reflecting its [[American Civil War]] context. Nast was inspired by the [[Belsnickel]], part of the folklore in southwestern Germany, where he was born.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aktuell |first=S. W. R. |date=3 December 2023 |title=Wie ein Pfälzer Auswanderer den Weihnachtsmann erfand |url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/rheinland-pfalz/ludwigshafen/pfaelzer-thomas-nast-erfand-weihnachtsmann-in-usa-100.html |website=swr.online |language=de}}</ref> In this drawing, Santa is also in a sleigh pulled by reindeers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boissoneault |first1=Lorraine |title=A Civil War Cartoonist Created the Modern Image of Santa Claus as Union Propaganda |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/civil-war-cartoonist-created-modern-image-santa-claus-union-propaganda-180971074/ |website=Smithsonian magazine |access-date=15 December 2025 |date=19 December 2018}}</ref>

The story that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole may also have been a Nast creation. His Christmas image in the ''[[Harper's Magazine|Harper's]]'' issue dated 29 December 1866 was a collage of engravings titled ''Santa Claus and His Works'', which included the caption "Santa Claussville, N.P."<ref>Thomas Nast, [http://www.forensicgenealogy.info/images/nast_santa_and_his_works.jpg Santa Claus and His Works] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215084032/http://forensicgenealogy.info/images/nast_santa_and_his_works.jpg |date=15 December 2010 }}, 1866. The phrase "Santa Claussville, N.P." is on the curved border to the right of center, above the large word "Claus".</ref> A colour collection of Nast's pictures, published in 1869, had a poem also titled "Santa Claus and His Works" by [[George P. Webster]], who wrote that Santa Claus's home was "near the North Pole, in the ice and snow".<ref>Seal, Jeremy, ''Nicholas: The Epic Journey From Saint to Santa Claus'', Bloomsbury, 2005, p. 199–200. {{ISBN|978-1-58234-419-5}}.</ref> The tale had become well known by the 1870s. A boy from [[Colorado]] writing to the children's magazine ''The Nursery'' in late 1874 said, "If we did not live so very far from the North Pole, I should ask Santa Claus to bring me a donkey."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Armstrong |first1=Ralph |editor1-last=Seaverns |editor1-first=Fanny P. |title=A letter from Colorado |magazine=The Nursery |date=1875 |volume=18 |page=43 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tIUDAAAAYAAJ |publisher=John L. Shorey}}</ref>

The idea of a wife for Santa Claus may have been the creation of American authors, beginning in the mid-19th century. In 1889, the poet [[Katharine Lee Bates]] popularised [[Mrs. Claus|Mrs Claus]] in the poem "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride". "Is There a Santa Claus?" is the title of an iconic editorial by [[Francis Pharcellus Church]] in the 21 September 1897 edition of ''[[The Sun (New York)|The New York Sun]]'' that became the most reprinted in the US and included the famous reply, "[[Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dunlap |first1=David W. |title=1933 - P.S., Virginia, There's a New York Times, Too |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/24/insider/1933-ps-virginia-theres-a-new-york-times-too.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=25 August 2022 |date=25 December 2015 |archive-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224152836/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/24/insider/1933-ps-virginia-theres-a-new-york-times-too.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bever |first1=Lindsey |title='Is there a Santa Claus?': How a child's letter inspired the classic 'Yes, Virginia' response |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/12/22/is-there-santa-claus-how-childs-letter-inspired-classic-yes-virginia-response/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=25 August 2022 |date=22 December 2018 |archive-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317031928/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/12/22/is-there-santa-claus-how-childs-letter-inspired-classic-yes-virginia-response/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===20th century===
[[File:Joulupukki vierailee Lönnin perheen luona vuonna 1901.jpg|thumb|[[Joulupukki]] (the Finnish Santa Claus) visits the Lönn family in 1901.]]
[[File:Chicago Santa Claus 1902.jpg|thumb|A man dressed as Santa Claus [[fundraising]] for [[Volunteers of America]] on the [[sidewalk]] of street in [[Chicago, Illinois]], in 1902. He is wearing a mask with a beard attached.]]
[[L. Frank Baum]]'s ''[[The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus]]'', a [[children's book]], was published in 1902. Much of Santa Claus's mythos was not firmly established at the time, leaving Baum to give his "Neclaus" (Necile's Little One) a variety of immortal support, a home in the Laughing Valley of Hohaho, and ''ten'' reindeer—who could not fly, but leapt in enormous, flight-like bounds. Claus's [[immortality]] was earned, much like his title ("Santa"), decided by a vote of those naturally immortal. This work also established Santa's motives: a happy childhood among immortals. When Ak, Master Woodsman of the World, exposes him to the misery and poverty of children in the outside world, Santa strives to find a way to bring joy into the lives of all children, and eventually invents toys as a principal means. Santa later appears in ''[[The Road to Oz]]'' as an honored guest at Ozma's birthday party, stated to be famous and beloved enough for everyone to bow even before he is announced as "The most Mighty and Loyal Friend of Children, His Supreme Highness – Santa Claus".

[[File:Rose O'Neill - When We All Believe (Santa Claus and children illustration from the 1903 December 2 issue of Puck).jpg|[[Rose O'Neill]]'s illustration for the 1903 issue of ''[[Puck (magazine)|Puck]]''|thumb]]
Images of Santa Claus were conveyed through [[Haddon Sundblom]]'s depiction of him for [[The Coca-Cola Company]]'s Christmas advertising in the 1930s.<ref name=msnbc/><ref name=ccc>{{cite web|title = Image Gallery Santa 1931|url = http://www.coca-colacompany.com/topics/heritage#TCCC?assetId=41565&assetTag=heritage|work = Press Center|publisher = Coca-Cola Company|access-date = 28 October 2011|archive-date = 15 November 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121115001438/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/topics/heritage#TCCC?assetId=41565&assetTag=heritage}}</ref> The image spawned [[urban legend]]s that Santa Claus was invented by The Coca-Cola Company or that Santa wears red and white because they are the colours used to promote the Coca-Cola brand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mikkelson |first=David |date=18 December 2008 |title=Did Coca-Cola Invent the Modern Image of Santa Claus? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-claus-that-refreshes/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Snopes |language=en |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225094514/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-claus-that-refreshes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Coca-Cola's competitor [[Pepsi-Cola]] used similar Santa Claus paintings in its advertisements in the 1940s and 1950s. Historically, Coca-Cola was not the first [[soft drink]] company to utilise the modern image of Santa Claus in its advertising—[[White Rock Beverages]] had used a Santa figure in monochrome advertisements for [[mineral water]] in 1915, and in 1923–25, the same company used colour images of Santa Claus in adverts for drink mixers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McKay |first1=George |editor1-last=Whiteley |editor1-first=Sheila |title=Christmas, Ideology and Popular Culture |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |location=Edinburgh |pages=57–59 |chapter=Consumption, Coca-colonisation, Cultural resistance–and Santa Claus}}</ref> Earlier, Santa Claus had appeared dressed in red and white and essentially in his current form on several covers of ''[[Puck (magazine)|Puck]]'' magazine in the first few years of the 20th century.<ref>[[:File:Santa1902PuckCover.jpg|Santa Claus on the 1902 cover of Puck magazine]], [[:File:Santa1904PuckCover.jpg|Santa Claus on the 1904 cover of Puck magazine]], [[:File:Santa1905PuckCover.jpg|Santa Claus on the 1905 cover of Puck magazine]].</ref>

The image of Santa Claus as a benevolent character became reinforced with its association with charity and philanthropy, particularly by organisations such as the [[Salvation Army]]. Volunteers dressed as Santa Claus typically became part of [[fundraising]] drives to aid needy families at Christmas time.

In 1937 [[Charles W. Howard]], who played Santa Claus in department stores and parades, established the Charles W. Howard Santa School, the oldest continuously run such school in the world.<ref>{{cite news|title = Claus and effect: The ultimate Santa school|last = Susman|first = Tina|newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]]|date = 30 October 2011|url = https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2011-oct-30-la-na-santa-school-20111031-story.html|access-date = 20 February 2020|archive-date = 24 December 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171224110349/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/30/nation/la-na-santa-school-20111031|url-status = live}}</ref>

In some images from the early 20th century, Santa was depicted as personally making his toys by hand in a small workshop like a craftsman. Eventually, the idea emerged that he had numerous elves responsible for making the toys, but the toys were still handmade by each individual elf working in the traditional manner.

The 1956 popular song by [[George Melachrino]], "Mrs. Santa Claus", and the 1963 children's book ''How Mrs. Santa Claus Saved Christmas'', by [[Phyllis McGinley]], helped to standardise and establish the character and role of [[Mrs. Claus|Mrs Claus]] in the US.<ref>[https://www.kiwireport.com/santa-claus-become-popular-american-culture/ How did Santa Claus become popular in American culture?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204205320/https://www.kiwireport.com/santa-claus-become-popular-american-culture/ |date=4 December 2021 }}, Kiwi Report, by Jaime Levis, 2 January 2019</ref>

[[Seabury Quinn]]'s 1948 novel ''[[Roads (novel)|Roads]]'' draws from historical legends to tell the story of Santa and the origins of Christmas. Other modern additions to the "story" of Santa include [[Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer]], the 9th and lead reindeer created in 1939 by [[Robert L. May]], a [[Montgomery Ward]] copywriter, and immortalised in [[Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (song)|a 1949 song]] by [[Gene Autry]].

==In popular culture==
[[File:Santa1905PuckCover.jpg|thumb|upright|Santa on the December 1905 cover of [[Puck magazine|''Puck'' magazine]], v. 58, no. 150]]
[[File:Jonathan G Meath portrays Santa Claus.jpg|thumb|upright|Santa portrayed by [[Jonathan Meath]]]]
{{See also|Santa Claus in film|SantaCon}}

Elves had been portrayed as using [[assembly line]]s to produce toys early in the 20th century. That shift was reflected in the modern depiction of Santa's residence—now often humorously portrayed as a fully mechanised production and distribution facility, equipped with the latest manufacturing technology, and overseen by the elves with Santa and Mrs Claus as executives or managers.<ref name=nissenbaum><!--chapter 2-->{{cite book |last=Nissenbaum |first=Stephen |title=The Battle for Christmas |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |publication-place=New York |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-679-74038-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Belk |first=Russell |title=Materialism with the Modern U.S. Christmas |journal=Advertising & Society Review |volume=1 |issue=1 |year=2000 |pages=75–104 |doi=10.1353/asr.2000.0001 |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/2934/summary|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 1912 the actor [[Leedham Bantock]] became the first actor to be identified as having played [[Santa Claus in film|Santa Claus in a film]], ''[[Santa Claus (1912 film)|Santa Claus]]'', which he also directed. The film includes scenes photographed in a limited, two-tone colour process and featured the use of detailed models.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Santa Claus (1912) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b76640dfb |access-date=24 April 2023 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |website=BFI |language=en |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408001111/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b76640dfb}}</ref> Since then many feature films have featured Santa Claus as a protagonist, including ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]'', ''[[The Santa Clause]]'', and ''[[Elf (film)|Elf]]''.

In the cartoon base, Santa has been voiced by several people, including [[Mickey Rooney]], [[Jim Cummings]], [[Mel Smith]], [[Ricky Tomlinson]], [[Jim Belushi]], and [[Alec Baldwin]].

Santa has been described as a positive male [[cultural icon]]:
{{Blockquote|Santa is really the only cultural icon we have who's male, does not carry a gun, and is all about peace, joy, giving, and caring for other people. That's part of the magic for me, especially in a culture where we've become so commercialized and hooked into manufactured icons. Santa is much more organic, integral, connected to the past, and therefore connected to the future.|TV producer [[Jonathan Meath]] who portrays Santa, 2011<ref name=tws2DecL113>{{cite news|last = Aldrich|first = Ian|title = The Big Question: Why Should We Believe in Santa? We ask Kris Kringle, a.k.a. Jonathan Meath: Why Should We Believe in Santa?|newspaper = Yankee Magazine|quote = Santa is really the only cultural icon we have who's male, does not carry a gun, and is all about peace|date = November 2011|url = http://www.yankeemagazine.com/issues/2011-11/features/kris-kringle|access-date = 12 December 2012|archive-date = 9 February 2013|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130209205254/http://www.yankeemagazine.com/issues/2011-11/features/kris-kringle|url-status = live}}</ref>|source=|title=}}

[[Norman Corwin]]'s 1938 comic radio play ''[[The Plot to Overthrow Christmas]]'', set entirely in rhyme, details a conspiracy of [[devil|the Devil]] [[Mephistopheles in the arts and popular culture|Mephistopheles]] and damned figures of history to defeat the good will among men of Christmas, by sending the Roman emperor [[Nero]] to the North Pole to assassinate Santa Claus. Through a battle of wits, Santa saves himself by winning Nero over to the joys of Christmas, and gives him a [[Stradivarius]] violin. The play was re-produced in 1940 and 1944.

[[File:Gov. Wolf- Santa’s Reindeer Approved for Flight, Pennsylvanians Can Expect Christmas Eve Deliveries.jpg|thumb|Santa Claus with reindeer at [[Hersheypark]], [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]] 2021]]

Many television commercials, [[comic strip]]s and other media depict this as a sort of humorous business, with [[Christmas elf|Santa's elves]] acting as a sometimes mischievously disgruntled workforce, cracking jokes and pulling pranks on their boss. For instance, a ''[[Bloom County]]'' story from 15 December 1981 through 24 December 1981 has Santa rejecting the demands of PETCO (Professional Elves Toy-Making and Craft Organization) for higher wages, a hot tub in the locker room, and "Aggressive recruitment of a wider gender spectrum of employee" ("short broads"), with the elves then going on strike. [[Ronald Reagan]] steps in, fires all of Santa's helpers, and replaces them with out-of-work [[aircraft control|air traffic controllers]] (an obvious reference to the [[Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (1968)|1981 air traffic controllers' strike]]), resulting in a riot before Santa vindictively rehires them in humiliating new positions such as his reindeer.<ref>{{cite web|title=High Five! Top Five! – Bizarre Santa Claus Cameos in Comics by Robert Bazz, December 13, 2010|url=http://highfivecomics.net/2010/12/13/high-five-top-five-bizarre-santa-claus-cameos-in-comics/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221060142/http://highfivecomics.net/2010/12/13/high-five-top-five-bizarre-santa-claus-cameos-in-comics/|archive-date=21 December 2010|access-date=25 February 2011|website=High Five! Comics}}</ref> In the 2001 ''[[The Sopranos]]'' episode, "[[...To Save Us All from Satan's Power|To Save Us All from Satan's Power]]", [[Paulie Gualtieri]] says he "Used to think Santa and Mrs. Claus were running a [[sweatshop]] over there. The original elves were ugly, traveled with Santa to throw bad kids a beatin', and gave the good ones toys."

[[File:Liverpool Santa Dash 2009.jpg|thumb|2009 [[Liverpool Santa Dash]]]]
In Kyrgyzstan, a mountain peak was named after Santa Claus, after a Swedish company had suggested the location be a more efficient starting place for present-delivering journeys all over the world, than Lapland. In the Kyrgyz capital, [[Bishkek]], a Santa Claus Festival was held on 30 December 2007, with government officials attending. 2008 was officially declared the Year of Santa Claus in the country. The events are seen as moves to boost tourism in Kyrgyzstan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pannier |first=Bruce |title=Kyrgyzstan: Central Asian Country Welcomes Santa Claus To His New Home |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1079309.html |access-date=24 April 2023 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=30 December 2007 |language=en |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607023918/https://www.rferl.org/a/1079309.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Guinness World Record]] for the largest gathering of Santa Clauses is held by [[Thrissur]], Kerala, India, where on 27 December 2014, 18,112 Santas overtook the previous record.  Derry City, Northern Ireland had held the record since 9 September 2007, when a total of 12,965 people dressed up as Santa or Santa's helpers. A gathering of Santas in 2009 in Bucharest, Romania attempted to top the world record, but failed with only 3,939 Santas.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.webphoto.ro/imagini/christmas/guiness-world-record-santa-claus-costumes.html| title = {{sic|Guiness|nolink=y}} World Record Santa Claus Costumes |website = Webphoto.ro|date = 30 November 2009|access-date = 29 September 2010|archive-date = 14 October 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101014220210/http://www.webphoto.ro/imagini/christmas/guiness-world-record-santa-claus-costumes.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

Santa Claus has been featured in many video games.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://screenwanderer.com/santa-in-video-games/|title = 10 times Santa appeared in video games|website=Screenwanderer.com |date = 25 December 2019|access-date = 21 December 2021|archive-date = 21 December 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211221130836/https://screenwanderer.com/santa-in-video-games/|url-status = live}}</ref>

In Brazil, a version of Santa with green clothes instead of red became popular through television commercials for the soft drink brand [[Dolly (soft drink)|Dolly]] appearing along with their mascot Dollynho since the 2000s, as a form of [[patriotism]] adapting the character to the colours of the Brazilian flag and at the same time rivalling Coca-Cola commercials.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://adnews.com.br/as-8-campanhas-de-natal-mais-nostalgicas-de-todas/|title = As 8 campanhas de Natal mais nostálgicas de todas!|website = AD NEWS|date = 25 December 2021|access-date = 24 December 2024}}</ref> Another attempt to adapt Santa Claus to the colours of the Brazilian flag occurred in 2024 in [[Balneário Camboriú]], [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]], where a sculpture wearing yellow clothes with green gloves and bag was installed, generating controversy, being accused of making an association with the political extreme right, due to the colours being seen in protests by [[Bolsonarism|supporters of Jair Bolsonaro]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://g1.globo.com/sc/santa-catarina/noticia/2024/12/11/papai-noel-verde-dourado-balneario-camboriu.ghtml|title = Papai Noel verde e dourado em Balneário Camboriú causa discussão|website= G1|date = 11 December 2024|access-date = 24 December 2024}}</ref>

==Traditions and rituals==
===Chimneys===
[[File:Jan Steen – Het Sint-Nicolaasfeest (2).jpg|thumb|upright|''[[The Feast of Saint Nicholas]]'' by [[Jan Steen]] (c. 1665–1668)]]
The tradition of Santa Claus being said to enter dwellings through the chimney is shared by many European seasonal gift-givers.<ref>Walsh, Joseph J.. ''Were They Wise Men Or Kings?: The Book of Christmas Questions''. Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-664-22312-5}}.</ref>

===Christmas Eve===
In Hungary, Saint Nicolaus (Mikulás) or Father Winter (Télapó) comes on the night of 5 December and the children get their gifts the next morning. They get sweets in a bag if they were good, and a golden-coloured birch switch if not. On [[Christmas Eve]] "Little Jesus" comes and gives gifts for everyone.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kürti |first1=László |journal=Hungarian Studies Yearbook |date=2020 |publisher=[[Sciendo]] |volume= 2 |issue=1 |title="DO YOU WANT TO BE KRAMPUS?" Santa Claus, globality and locality of Christmas tradition |pages=128, 134|doi=10.2478/hsy-2020-0010 |s2cid=231955746 |doi-access=free  |issn = 2668-7542 }}</ref>

In Slovenia, Saint Nicholas (Miklavž) also brings small gifts for good children on the eve of 6 December. Božiček (Christmas Man) brings gifts on the eve of 25 December, and Dedek Mraz (Grandfather Frost) brings gifts in the evening of 31 December to be opened on New Years Day.

[[File:Jolly-old-saint-nick.gif|thumb|upright|An archetypal North American depiction of Santa Claus]]
[[File:Benedict XVI camauro cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Benedict XVI]] wearing a camauro, which has been likened to Santa's hat. ]]
After the children have fallen [[Sleep|asleep]], parents play the role of Santa Claus and leave their gifts under the [[Christmas tree]], which may be signed as being "from Santa Claus".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2013-12-20|title=A Parents' Guide To Christmas: Try Not To Cry|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-parents-guide-to-christmas-try-not-to-cry_b_4469967|access-date=2020-07-15|website=HuffPost|language=en|archive-date=5 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005095824/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-parents-guide-to-christmas-try-not-to-cry_b_4469967|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Lehr|first=Sarah|title=Meet the parents who don't keep Santa's secret|url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2019/12/22/these-lansing-area-parents-celebrate-christmas-without-santas-secret/2686614001/|access-date=2020-07-15|website=Lansing State Journal|language=en-US|archive-date=28 December 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211228005454/https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2019/12/22/these-lansing-area-parents-celebrate-christmas-without-santas-secret/2686614001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=Shabazz|first=Sa'iyda|date=2020-04-17|title=The Heavy Price of Holiday Magic|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/parenting/holiday-money-stress.html|access-date=2020-07-15|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222062620/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/parenting/holiday-money-stress.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Appearance===
[[File:20121123 SantaClaus-Chicago.JPG|thumb|A man dressed as Santa Claus waves to children from an [[CTA Holiday Train|annual holiday train]] in Chicago, 2012.]]

Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, often with glasses, wearing a red outfit consisting of jacket, trousers and hat all trimmed with white fur, accessorised with black leather belt and boots, and carrying a bag full of gifts for children. The 1823 poem "[[A Visit from St. Nicholas]]" popularised this image in North America during the 19th century. The caricaturist and political cartoonist [[Thomas Nast]] also played a role in the creation of Santa's image.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20091128/COMMUNITIES/91127064/1005/news01/Santa-s-arrival-lights-up-the-Green|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205232536/http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20091128/COMMUNITIES/91127064/1005/news01/Santa-s-arrival-lights-up-the-Green|archive-date=5 December 2012|title=Santa's arrival lights up the Green|website=DailyRecord.com |access-date=2 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0pnJDKfYi3QC&q=thomas+nast+santa+claus&pg=PA146|title = Christmas in America: A History|first = Penne L.|last = Restad|isbn = 978-0-19-535509-3|date = 1996-12-05|publisher = Oxford University Press|access-date = 2 November 2020|archive-date = 1 September 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230901170344/https://books.google.com/books?id=0pnJDKfYi3QC&q=thomas+nast+santa+claus&pg=PA146|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web |last=Auchmutey |first=Jim |date=10 December 2007 |title=Coke denies claims it bottled familiar Santa image |publisher= The Rocky Mountain News |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/10/coke-denies-claims-it-bottled-familiar-santa/|access-date=2023-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212071411/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/10/coke-denies-claims-it-bottled-familiar-santa/ |archive-date=12 December 2007}}</ref> Connections have been drawn between the [[camauro]]–a soft red hat with white fur trim formerly worn by the [[pope]]–and the red-and-white vesture of Santa Claus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zalonski |first=Paul |title=Beautiful Liturgy is hard work, Monsignor Guido Marini reminds |url=https://communio.stblogs.org/2010/12/beautiful-liturgy-is-hard-work.html |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Communio}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Cite news |date=23 December 2005 |title=Pope's Santa-like hat is old school |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-popes-santa-like-hat-is/171511738/ |work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-12-22 |title='Santa Pope' woos Vatican crowds |website=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4551348.stm |access-date=2025-05-05 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The traditional 1823 Christmas poem "[[A Visit from St. Nicholas]]" relates that Santa has "a little round belly&nbsp;/ That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly".

Though most often portrayed as [[white people|white]], Santa is also depicted as [[black people|black]] or of other races. His race or colour is sometimes a subject of controversy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Contreras |first1=Russell |title=Santa's Ethnicity Varies in Diverse U.S. |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/santas-ethnicity-varies-in-diverse-us/2069166/ |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |archive-date=11 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211043054/https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/santas-ethnicity-varies-in-diverse-us/2069166/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=What color is Santa Claus in Appalachia? |url=https://apnews.com/article/christmas-archive-race-and-ethnicity-622312e190704eb4bd9d63683dbf6d01 |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=AP NEWS |date=23 December 2017 |language=en |archive-date=11 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211043053/https://apnews.com/article/christmas-archive-race-and-ethnicity-622312e190704eb4bd9d63683dbf6d01 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Laugh===
{{anchor|Ho, ho, ho|Ho ho ho}}
{{Redirect|Ho ho ho}}
'''''Ho ho ho''''' is the way that many languages write out how Santa Claus laughs. "'''Ho, ho, ho'''! Merry Christmas!" It is the textual rendition of a particular type of deep-throated [[laughter|laugh]] or chuckle, most associated today with Santa Claus and [[Father Christmas]].

The laughter of Santa Claus has long been an important attribute by which the character is identified, but it also does not appear in many non-English-speaking countries.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

===Home===
{{see also|Santa's workshop#Location}}
[[File:Santa Claus Village (5306867729).jpg|thumb|The [[Santa Claus Village]] in [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] (Finland), the legendary{{brk}}"North Pole" home of Santa]]
[[File:Santa's House at Jerusalem Old City, St Peter Street 2.jpg|thumb|upright|Santa's House at Jerusalem Old City, St. Peter Street]]
Santa Claus's home is traditionally said to include a residence and a workshop where he is said to create—often with the aid of elves or other supernatural beings—the gifts he is said to deliver to good children at Christmas. Some stories and legends include a village, inhabited by his helpers, surrounding his home and shop.

Santa is traditionally said to live at the North Pole, which according to [[Canada Post]] lies within Canadian jurisdiction in the [[Postal codes in Canada|postal code]] H0H 0H0<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadapost.ca/corporate/about/newsroom/letters_editor/letters-e.asp?l=belleville|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424005801/http://www.canadapost.ca/corporate/about/newsroom/letters_editor/letters-e.asp?l=belleville|archive-date=24 April 2008|title=Canada Post – Newsroom – Letters to the Editor|date=24 April 2008}}</ref> (a reference to Santa's laugh, "[[Ho ho ho]]", although postal codes starting with H are usually reserved for the [[island of Montreal|island of Montréal]] in [[Quebec|Québec]]). On 23 December 2008, [[Jason Kenney]], the [[Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship|Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism]], formally awarded [[Canadian citizenship]] status to Santa Claus. "The Government of Canada wishes Santa the very best in his Christmas Eve duties and wants to let him know that, as a Canadian citizen, he has the automatic right to re-enter Canada once his trip around the world is complete," Kenney said in an official statement.<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 December 2008 |title=Santa Claus declared a Canadian citizen |newspaper= Toronto Sun |url=http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2008/12/23/7839591.html |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230042547/http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2008/12/23/7839591.html |archive-date=30 December 2010 }}</ref> There is also a city named [[North Pole, Alaska|North Pole]] in [[Alaska]] where a tourist attraction known as the "Santa Claus House" has been established. The [[United States Postal Service]] recommends mail to Santa's workshop are sent to 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888.<ref>{{cite news |title=FAQ |url=https://www.uspsoperationsanta.com/faqs |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=USPS Operation Santa}}</ref> [[Royal Mail]] recommends letters are sent to Santa/Father Christmas, Santa's Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ.<ref>{{cite news |title=Letters to Santa |url=https://www.royalmail.com/christmas/letters-to-santa |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=Royal Mail}}</ref>

Each [[Nordic countries|Nordic country]] claims Santa's residence to be within their territory. Norway claims he lives in [[Drøbak]]. In Denmark, he is said to live in Greenland (near [[Uummannaq]]). In Sweden, the town of [[Mora, Sweden|Mora]] has a theme park named [[Tomteland]]. The national postal terminal in [[Tomteboda]] in Stockholm receives children's letters for Santa. In Finland, [[Korvatunturi]] in [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] has long been known as Santa's home, and two theme parks, [[Santa Claus Village]] and [[Santa Park]] are located near [[Rovaniemi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/world/asia/santa-finland-rovaniemi.html|title=Santa Lives in Rovaniemi, Finland. Some of His Neighbors Are Not Thrilled.|first=Jeffrey|last=Gettleman|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=15 April 2025|access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref> In Belarus, there is a home of [[Ded Moroz]] in [[Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title={{lang|ru|Беловежская пуща – Фотоэнциклопедия Беларуси|cat=no}}|url=http://www.fotobel.by/belovezhskaya-pushha/|language=ru|access-date=12 December 2015|archive-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513065644/http://www.fotobel.by/belovezhskaya-pushha/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In France, Santa is believed to reside in 1 Chemin des Nuages, Pôle Nord (1 Alley of Clouds, North Pole). The French national postal service has operated a service that allows children to send letters to Père Noël since 1962.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-07-25|title=Quelle est la véritable adresse du Père Noël ?|url=https://www.momes.net/calendrier-fetes/noel/la-veritable-adresse-du-pere-noel-848218|access-date=2021-12-26|website=Parents Mômes|language=fr-FR|archive-date=26 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226014917/https://www.momes.net/calendrier-fetes/noel/la-veritable-adresse-du-pere-noel-848218|url-status=live}}</ref> In the period before Christmas, any physical letter in the country that is addressed to Santa Claus is sent to a specific location, where responses for the children's letters are written and sent back to the children.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Choffat|first=Axelle|title=Lettre au Père Noël 2021: date, adresse... Les infos clés|url=https://www.linternaute.com/actualite/guide-vie-quotidienne/1349506-lettre-au-pere-noel-2021-date-adresse-les-infos-cles/|access-date=2021-12-26|website=linternaute|language=fr|archive-date=26 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226014917/https://www.linternaute.com/actualite/guide-vie-quotidienne/1349506-lettre-au-pere-noel-2021-date-adresse-les-infos-cles/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Parades, department stores, and shopping malls===
{{See also|Santa's workshop#Santa Claus grottos and department stores}}
[[File:1918eatonssantaclausparade.jpg|thumb|Eaton's Santa Claus Parade, 1918, Toronto, Canada. Having arrived at the [[Eaton's]] department store, Santa is readying his ladder to climb up onto the building.]]
[[File:Representation of Santa Claus in Italy.jpg|thumb|Representation of Santa Claus in Italy]]
Actors portraying Santa Claus are present at various venues in the weeks leading up to Christmas. A concept devised by the retail entrepreneur [[David Lewis (English merchant)|David Lewis]], the first [[Santa's workshop|Christmas grotto]] opened in [[Lewis's]] department store in Liverpool, England, in 1879.<ref name="Grotto">{{cite news |title=Liverpool's record breaking Christmas grotto beloved by generations |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/liverpools-record-breaking-christmas-grotto-25517874 |access-date=15 October 2024 |work=Liverpool Echo}}</ref> The idea then took hold throughout Britain,<ref>{{cite news |title=Inside the Grotto |url=https://www.architecture.com/explore-architecture/inside-the-riba-collections/inside-the-grotto |access-date=16 October 2024 |publisher=[[Royal Institute of British Architects]]}}</ref> before extending to Australian and American department stores in the 1890s, with [[James Edgar (entrepreneur)|James Edgar]] starting in 1890 in his [[Brockton, Massachusetts]], department store.<ref name="Enterprise">{{cite web|url = http://www.enterprisenews.com/homepage/x1013044544/James-Edgar-s-Santa-Claus-the-spirit-of-Christmas|title = James Edgar's Santa Claus—the spirit of Christmas|last = Allegrini| first = Elaine|date = 15 November 2008|work = [[The Enterprise (Brockton)|The Enterprise]]|access-date = 29 November 2009|location = [[Brockton, Massachusetts]]|archive-date = 27 December 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131227050557/http://www.enterprisenews.com/homepage/x1013044544/James-Edgar-s-Santa-Claus-the-spirit-of-Christmas}}</ref> Having a Santa actor set up to take pictures with children is a ritual that dates back at least to 1918.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.squareamerica.com/sa1.htm|title = A Visit from St. Nick|website= Squareamerica.com|access-date = 21 December 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101224044032/http://squareamerica.com/sa1.htm|archive-date = 24 December 2010}}</ref> An area is often set aside for the actors portraying Santa to use for the duration of the holiday season. It usually features a chair for the actors to sit in surrounded by various holiday-themed decorations. In Canada, malls operated by [[Oxford Properties]] established a process by which [[autistic]] children could "visit Santa Claus" at the mall without having to contend with crowds.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.thestar.com/life/2013/11/25/autistic_kids_get_quiet_time_with_santa_at_malls.html|title = Autistic kids get quiet time with Santa at malls|last = DeMara|first = Bruce|newspaper = [[Toronto Star]]|date = 25 November 2013|access-date = 21 December 2013|archive-date = 24 December 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224113811/http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/11/25/autistic_kids_get_quiet_time_with_santa_at_malls.html|url-status = live
}}</ref> The malls open early to allow entry only to families with autistic children, who have a private visit with the actor portraying Santa Claus. In 2012 the [[Southcentre Mall]] in Calgary was the first mall to offer this service.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/canadian-malls-offer-quieter-calmer-visits-with-santa-for-kids-with-autism/|title = Canadian malls offer quieter, calmer visits with Santa for kids with autism|website= CTV News|date = 24 November 2013|access-date = 21 December 2013|archive-date = 20 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210520204754/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadian-malls-offer-quieter-calmer-visits-with-santa-for-kids-with-autism-1.1558284|url-status = live}}</ref> In the UK, the discount store [[Poundland]] changes the voice of its [[Self-checkout|self-service checkouts]] to that of Santa Claus throughout the Christmas retail period.<ref>{{cite news|last=Elsom|first=Jack|date=1 November 2018|title=WATCH: Elvis, Dracula and Santa entertain customers at Poundland store in Derry|work=Derry Now|url=https://www.derrynow.com/news/watch-elvis-dracula-santa-entertain-customers-poundland-store-derry/255759|access-date=30 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830085143/https://www.derrynow.com/news/watch-elvis-dracula-santa-entertain-customers-poundland-store-derry/255759|archive-date=30 August 2019}}</ref>

There are schools offering instruction on how to act as Santa Claus. For example, the children's television producer [[Jonathan Meath]] studied at the International School of Santa Claus and earned the degree ''Master of Santa Claus'' in 2006. It blossomed into a second career for him, and after appearing in parades and malls,<ref name=twsNovMc>{{cite news|author=Edward B. Colby|title=Town in the spirit: Dedham Square to be filled with song, shopping|work=Dedham Transcript|quote=DEDHAM—The fifth annual Dedham Square Holiday Stroll this&nbsp;... At 6 p.m., Jonathan Meath – better known as Santa JG, who performs with the Boston Pops – will entertain children and families at Cafe Video Paradiso with a sing-along with Santa. 'We booked him months ago because we knew that he's in demand this time of year,' Haelsen says.|date=3 December 2009|url=http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/entertainment/x1945276785/Town-in-the-spirit-Dedham-Square-to-be-filled-with-song-shopping|access-date=13 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721190925/http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/entertainment/x1945276785/Town-in-the-spirit-Dedham-Square-to-be-filled-with-song-shopping|archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> he appeared on the cover of the American monthly ''[[Boston Magazine]]'' as Santa.<ref name=twsNovM32>{{cite news|author = Mary Ann Georgantopoulos|title = Miracle on Mass. Ave.: City Santa takes suit seriously|work = The Boston Globe|quote = Santa Claus is coming to town. More accurately, he's from town—Cambridge that is. Jonathan Meath is the perfect fit for a Santa.|date = 23 December 2007|url = http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/23/miracle_on_mass_ave_city_santa_takes_suit_seriously/|access-date = 13 November 2010|archive-date = 5 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305032754/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/23/miracle_on_mass_ave_city_santa_takes_suit_seriously/|url-status = live}}</ref> There are associations with members who portray Santa; for example, Mr. Meath was a board member of the international organisation called ''Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas.''<ref name=twsNovM24>{{cite news|author=Santa Glen, secretary|title=Minutes of meeting|publisher=San Diego Chapter of F.O.R.B.S.|quote=Hello fellow Santas, Once again we had an informative and fun gathering. Ten Santas were in attendance and we were happy to welcome Karilyn Curran, the chair person of our up and coming Santa Luncheon for 2011.&nbsp;... Fashion Show: ... Jonathan Meath ...|date=October 2010|url=http://www.realsantasandiego.com/Minutes.htm|access-date=13 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022231420/http://www.realsantasandiego.com/Minutes.htm|archive-date=22 October 2010}}</ref>

Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], many Santa grottos were not operating for the 2020 Christmas season. Due to this, some companies offered [[Videotelephony|video calls]] for a fee using apps such as [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] where children could speak to an actor who was dressed as Santa Claus.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-05|title=Santa to visit virtually as Christmas grottos cancelled|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54816579|access-date=2020-11-17|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806145701/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54816579|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2021 [[Walt Disney World]] and [[Disneyland]] featured for the first time black cast members portraying Santa.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chang |first1=Rachel |title=There Are Now Black Santas at Walt Disney World and Disneyland for the First Time in History |url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/black-santas-appearing-at-disneyland-and-disney-world-for-first-time |website=Travel + Leisure |publisher=Meredith |access-date=1 December 2021 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221233723/https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/black-santas-appearing-at-disneyland-and-disney-world-for-first-time |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Letter writing===
{{Redirect|Letters to Santa|the Muppet television film|A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa|the Polish film|Letters to Santa (film)}}
Children sometimes write [[Letter (message)|letters]] to Santa Claus, often with a Christmas [[wish list]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Halkoaho |first1=Jenniina |last2=Laaksonnen |first2=Pirjo |title=Understanding What Christmas Gifts Mean to Children |url=http://www.emeraldinsight.com/promo/xmas/understanding_what.pdf |journal=Young Consumers |date=2009 |volume=10 |issue=3 |page=251 |doi=10.1108/17473610910986053 |access-date=12 December 2010 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152024/http://www.emeraldinsight.com/promo/xmas/understanding_what.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Otnes |first1=Cele |last2=Kim |first2=Kyungseung |last3=Kim |first3=Young Chan |title=Yes, Virginia, there is a gender difference: Analyzing children's requests to Santa Claus |journal=Journal of Popular Culture |date=1994 |volume=28 |issue=1 |page=23|doi=10.1111/j.0022-3840.1994.2801_17.x }}</ref> Some postal services collect and respond to letters addressed to Santa.<ref name=upu2007>{{cite web |title=Letters to Santa Claus |url=http://www.upu.int/press/en/2007/lettres_au_pere_noel_en.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206000530/http://www.upu.int/press/en/2007/lettres_au_pere_noel_en.pdf |archive-date=6 February 2009 |publisher=Universal Postal Union |date=18 December 2007 |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref> Writing to Santa can promote literacy, including reading, writing, and, in digital contexts, computer and email skills. For many children, a letter to Santa is their first experience of correspondence. With guidance from a parent or teacher, they learn about letter structure, salutations, and the use of addresses and postcodes.<ref name=upu2010>{{cite web |title=No small job for postal elves |date=5 December 2010 |url=https://www.upu.int/en/News/2010/12/No-small-job-for-postal-elves |website=Universal Post Union |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref>

[[File:Operation Santa Claus DVIDS337842.jpg|thumb|Gifts like food, toys and school supplies aboard a [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III]] flight to [[St. Paul Island, Alaska]], as part of the [[Alaska National Guard]]'s Operation Santa Claus annual outreach to the state's remote communities.]]
The [[United States Postal Service]] (USPS) operates the oldest national program for answering letters to Santa Claus.{{citation needed|date=January 2026}} [[USPS Operation Santa]], which began in 1912 at the historic [[James Farley Post Office]] in New York, organizes letters addressed to Santa and allows volunteers to adopt and respond to them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Kerry |date=December 11, 2015 |title='Operation Santa' kicks off in Manhattan post office – New York Daily News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/12/11/operation-santa-kicks-off-in-manhattan-post-office/ |access-date=October 7, 2024 |work=New York Daily News}}</ref>

According to a 2007 survey of national postal operations by the [[Universal Postal Union]] (UPU),<ref name=upu2007/> [[La Poste (France)]] received the most letters for Santa Claus (or {{lang|fr|[[Père Noël]]}}) in 2006, with 1,220,000 letters received from 126 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.xmas.co.uk/news/2007/Dec/france-answers-the-most-santa-letters.html|title = France answers the most Santa letters, 21 Dec 2007|access-date = 12 December 2010|publisher = xmas.co.uk|date = 2007-12-21|archive-date = 17 March 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317001340/http://www.xmas.co.uk/news/2007/Dec/france-answers-the-most-santa-letters.html}}</ref> In 2007 it recruited someone specially to answer the enormous volume of mail for Santa that was being sent from Russia. [[Canada Post]] replied to letters in 26 languages, [[Deutsche Post]] in 16 languages. The survey reported that although some postal operators accept messages via email, Santa receives far more letters than emails. 

National postal operators that allow children to send letters to Santa using an [[form (web)|online form]] and receive a reply include Canada Post,<ref>{{cite web |title=Write a Letter to Santa |url=https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/write-letter-to-santa.page |website=canadapost-postescanada.ca |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref>{{verify source|date=January 2026}} {{lang|fr|La Poste}},<ref>{{cite web |title={{lang|fr|A envoyer au (vrai) Père Noël|cat=no}} |url=https://www.laposte.fr/modeles-lettres/lettre-pere-noel |website=La Poste |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Father Christmas's French office open |date=17 February 2017 |url=https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/father-christmass-french-office-open/630330 |website=The Connexion |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref> and [[New Zealand Post]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Write to Santa |url=https://writetosanta.nzpost.co.nz/ |website=NZ Post |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="NZ Post to tighten net for Santa, by Alexis Grant, 30 Nov 2004">{{cite news|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=8500944|title = NZ Post to tighten net for Santa, by Alexis Grant, 30 Nov 2004|access-date = 12 December 2010|work = The New Zealand Herald|date = 30 November 2004|archive-date = 10 August 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110810055550/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=8500944|url-status = live}}</ref> In France in 2010, by December 6 a team of 60 postal employees had sent reply cards in response to 80,000 online request forms and more than 500,000 physical letters.<ref name=upu2010/>

Countries whose national postal operators received letters to Santa and other end-of-year holiday figures in 2012, and the number of letters received, include Austria (6,500), Australia (150,000), Brazil (964,315), Canada (1,350,000), Germany (300,000), Spain (300,000), United States (more than 1,000,000), Finland (550,000), France (1,700,000), Great Britain (more than 800,000), Greece (80,000), Hungary (3,000), Ireland (130,000), Italy (130,000), Lebanon (8,800), Norway (no figure available), Portugal (100,000), Sweden (30,000), Switzerland (17,000) and Russia (350,000).<ref>{{cite web |title=Letters to Santa still very popular |url=https://www.upu.int/en/news/2013/12/letters-to-santa-still-very-popular |website=Universal Postal Union |date=11 December 2013 |access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref>

From 2002 to 2014, Canada Post replied to approximately one million letters or more each year, answering a total of more than 24.7 million letters.<ref name="CanadaPost1">{{cite web|date=19 November 2015|title=Time to write to Santa!|url=https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/corporate-news/news-release/2015-11-19-time-to-write-to-santa|work=Canada Post}}</ref> As of 2015, it responds to over 1.5 million letters annually, in more than 30 languages, including Braille, with each letter answered in the language in which it was written.<ref name="CanadaPost2">{{cite web|url = https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/blogs/consumer/details.page?article=2015/11/05/create_magic_this_ch&cattype=Consumer&cat=living|publisher = Canada Post|date = 5 November 2015|title = Write to Santa and he'll write you back!|access-date = 2 August 2016|archive-date = 17 August 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160817230456/https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/blogs/consumer/details.page?article=2015/11/05/create_magic_this_ch&cattype=Consumer&cat=living|url-status = live}}</ref>

In Latin America, letters are sometimes tied to balloons instead of being sent through the mail.<ref name=letters>'Letters to Santa Claus'. (2000). In ''The World Encyclopedia of Christmas''. Gerry Bowler, Editor. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Limited. pp. 131–132.</ref>

An example of a public and private cooperative venture is the opportunity for [[expatriate]] and local children and parents to receive postmarked mail and greeting cards from Santa during December in the Finnish Embassy in Beijing,<ref>{{cite web|date=16 May 2007|title=About this site|url=http://www.finland.cn/public/default.aspx?contentid=89807&contentlan=2&culture=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711022508/http://www.finland.cn/public/default.aspx?contentid=89807&contentlan=2&culture=en-US|archive-date=11 July 2007|access-date=21 December 2010|publisher=Finland.cn}}</ref> Santa Claus Village in [[Rovaniemi]], Finland, and the People's Republic of China Postal System's Beijing International Post Office.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beijing Post Office|url=http://www.beijingyourway.com/2010/10/beijing-post-office/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707222247/http://www.beijingyourway.com/2010/10/beijing-post-office/|archive-date=7 July 2011|access-date=21 December 2010|website=Beijing Your Way}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Beijing International Post Office|url=http://vip.fesco.com.cn/bipto/en.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107083118/http://vip.fesco.com.cn/bipto/en.htm|archive-date=7 January 2008|access-date=21 December 2010|website=Vip.fesco.com.cn}}</ref><ref name="Say hello to Santa Claus, November 24, 2010 by Zhao Hongyi">{{cite web|url=http://www.beijingtoday.com.cn/tag/post-office|title=Say hello to Santa Claus, November 24, 2010 by Zhao Hongyi|access-date=12 December 2010|work=Beijing Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201062433/http://www.beijingtoday.com.cn/tag/post-office|archive-date=1 December 2011}}</ref>

===Tracking===
[[File:Weather Bureau Topics (December 1958 - front cover).jpg|thumb|upright|The Christmas issue of [[NOAA]]'s ''Weather Bureau Topics'' with "Santa Claus" streaking across a weather [[radar]] screen, 1958]]
A number of websites have been created by various organisations that have claimed to track Santa Claus's yearly journey. Some, such as [[NORAD Tracks Santa]], the [[Google Santa Tracker]], the emailSanta.com tracker<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|last1=Ribeiro|first1=Ricky|title=EmailSanta.com: How Santa Claus Went Digital|url=https://biztechmagazine.com/article/2012/12/emailsantacom-how-santa-claus-went-digital|website=BizTech Magazine|access-date=19 July 2020|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112165334/https://biztechmagazine.com/article/2012/12/emailsantacom-how-santa-claus-went-digital|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Santa Update Project, have endured. Others, such as the [[Airservices Australia]] Tracks Santa Project,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mirror.airservicesaustralia.com/santa10/santa.asp|title=Santa 2010 website by Airservices Australia|website=Mirror.airservicesaustralia.com|access-date=21 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220044335/http://mirror.airservicesaustralia.com/santa10/santa.asp|archive-date=20 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdscc.nasa.gov/features/pg_santa2005.html|title=Safe Travels Santa! We will Be Watching |date=19 December 2005|access-date=4 December 2010|website=Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216115503/http://www.cdscc.nasa.gov/Features/pg_santa2005.html|archive-date=16 February 2011}}</ref><ref name="New technology to map Santa's flight, 24 Dec 2009">{{cite web|url = http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2009/12/24/technology-to-map-santas-flight/|title = New technology to map Santa's flight, 24 Dec 2009|access-date = 5 December 2010|work = The Observer|archive-date = 6 July 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110706104932/http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2009/12/24/technology-to-map-santas-flight/|url-status = live}}</ref> the [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]]'s Tracks Santa Project,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2006/dec/18/dfw-airport-unveils-santa-tracker-website/|title=DFW airport unveils Santa Tracker website|date=18 December 2006|access-date=4 December 2010|website=Pegasus News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826144826/http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2006/dec/18/dfw-airport-unveils-santa-tracker-website/|archive-date=26 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kera/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1592516/North.Texas/DFW.Airport's.'Santa.Tracker'.Is.Operational|title = DFW Airport's 'Santa Tracker' Is Operational, by BJ Austin, 24 Dec 2009|access-date = 4 December 2010|publisher = PBS KERA|archive-date = 5 August 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110805201451/http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kera/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1592516/North.Texas.DFW.Airport%27s.%27Santa.Tracker%27.Is.Operational}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://searchengineland.com/santa-tracking-for-christmas-eve-2009-32427|title = 
The 2009 Santa Tracker Review: Your Guide To Tracking With NORAD Santa Tracker & Beyond
|first=Danny |last=Sullivan |date=23 December 2009|access-date = 5 December 2010|website= Search Engine Land|archive-date = 21 May 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521060746/http://searchengineland.com/santa-tracking-for-christmas-eve-2009-32427|url-status = live}}</ref> the [[NASA]] Tracks Santa Project,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/business/blogpost/1103523/|title=Here Comes Santa Claus! Watch it on the Web! |date=24 December 2005|access-date=4 December 2010|website=Wral.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808170053/http://www.wral.com/business/blogpost/1103523/|archive-date=8 August 2011}}</ref> and the [[Bing Maps Platform]] Tracks Santa Project,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28241481|title = Welcome to The North Pole – A Virtual Earth 3D Experience!|website= [[MSNBC]]|access-date = 21 December 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110811021732/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28241481/|archive-date = 11 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="Tracking Santa with Bing Maps in 2009, by Chris Pendleton, 24 Dec 2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.bing.com/toolbox/blogs/maps/archive/2009/12/24/tracking-santa-with-bing-maps-in-2009.aspx/|title=Tracking Santa with Bing Maps|first=Chris |last=Pendleton |date=24 December 2009|access-date=5 December 2010|website=bing.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101223315/http://www.bing.com/toolbox/blogs/maps/archive/2009/12/24/tracking-santa-with-bing-maps-in-2009.aspx|archive-date=1 January 2010}}</ref> have not.

[[File:Why NORAD Tracks Santa.jpg|upright|thumb|1955 [[Sears]] ad with the misprinted telephone number that led to the creation of the [[NORAD Tracks Santa]] program]]
NORAD Tracks Santa originated in 1955 when a [[Sears-Roebuck]] ad incorrectly printed the number for their Santa hotline and the [[Continental Air Defense Command]] received the calls intended for the Sears hotline. The program was transferred to NORAD when it was jointly founded by the United States and Canada in 1958.<ref>{{cite journal|last = Gurnon|first = Emily|date = 23 December 2014|title = How A Sears Typo Led To NORAD's Santa Tracker|url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2014/12/23/how-a-sears-typo-led-to-norads-santa-tracker/|journal = Forbes|access-date = 24 December 2014|archive-date = 20 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210520205202/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2014/12/23/how-a-sears-typo-led-to-norads-santa-tracker/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=<!--staff writer(s); no by-line-->|date=24 December 2014|title=Norad Santa Tracker: Christmas tradition began with a wrong number|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/norad-santa-tracker-christmas-tradition-began-with-a-wrong-number-1.2883284|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225053546/http://www.cbc.ca/news/norad-santa-tracker-christmas-tradition-began-with-a-wrong-number-1.2883284|archive-date=25 December 2014|access-date=24 December 2014|website=CBC News}}</ref>

In December 2000, the [[The Weather Channel|Weather Channel]] built upon these local efforts to provide a national Christmas Eve "Santa tracking" effort, called "SantaWatch", in cooperation with [[NASA]], the [[International Space Station]], and [[Silicon Valley]]–based new [[multimedia]] firm Dreamtime Holdings.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://spacenews.com/santawatch-hunt-for-santa-to-include-clues-from-the-international-space-station/|title = SantaWatch: Hunt for Santa to Include Clues from the International Space Station|author=SpaceRef|date = 18 December 2000|access-date = 11 December 2010|website=Space News}}</ref> Currently, most local television stations in the United States and Canada rely upon outside established "Santa tracking" efforts, such as NORAD Tracks Santa.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.wktv.com/news/local/80067537.html|title = Keep track of Santa thanks to NORAD |date=24 December 2009|access-date = 11 December 2010|website=WKTV.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927170902/http://www.wktv.com/news/local/80067537.html|archive-date = 27 September 2011}}</ref>

In addition to providing holiday-themed entertainment, "Santa tracking" websites raise interest in [[space technology]] and [[Space exploration|exploration]],<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Space Watch |volume=12 |issue=12 |date=December 2013|title=NORAD Tracks Santa is a Space Foundation Certified Imagination Partner|url=https://www.spacefoundation.org/2013/12/02/norad-tracks-santa-is-a-space-foundation-certified-imagination-partner/|access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref> serve to educate children in geography<ref name="BBC News - Hi-tech helps track Santa Claus, 24 December 2008">{{cite news|url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7792256.stm|title = Hi-tech helps track Santa Claus, December 24, 2008|access-date = 31 December 2009|work = BBC News|date = 24 December 2008|archive-date = 16 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210916095555/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7792256.stm|url-status = live}}</ref> and encourage them to take an interest in science.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/youd-better-not-pout-booz-allen-supports-norad-to-track-santas-approach-this-year-111116179.html|title = You'd Better Not Pout! Booz Allen Supports NORAD to Track Santa's Approach This Year|date= 1 December 2010| author=Booz Allen Hamilton|website=PR Newswire |access-date=6 January 2026}}</ref>

Many websites exist that claim to track Santa and his workshop. One particular website called [[emailSanta.com]] was created when a 1997 [[Canada Post]] [[Strike action|strike]] prevented Alan Kerr's young niece and nephews from sending their letters to Santa; in a few weeks, over 1,000 emails to Santa were received, and the site had received 1,000 emails a day one year later.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rueb|first=Emily S.|date=2019-12-21|title=Trying to Reach the North Pole? Check Your Wi-Fi|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/21/style/who-responds-to-santas-letters.html|access-date=2020-06-14|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=3 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103015812/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/21/style/who-responds-to-santas-letters.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Calgary Santa receives wishes and cries for help in emails from around the world|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-santa-receives-wishes-and-cries-for-help-in-emails-from-around-the-world|access-date=2020-06-14|website=Calgary Herald|language=en-CA|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104161957/https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-santa-receives-wishes-and-cries-for-help-in-emails-from-around-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref> Some websites, such as Santa's page on [[Microsoft]]'s former [[Windows Live Spaces]] or emailSanta.com, have used or still use "[[Internet bot|bots]]" or other automated programs to compose and send personalised and realistic replies.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ribeiro|first=Ricky|date=2012-12-19|title=EmailSanta.com: How Santa Claus Went Digital|url=https://biztechmagazine.com/article/2012/12/emailsantacom-how-santa-claus-went-digital|access-date=2020-07-19|website=BizTech Magazine|language=en|quote="It now offers kids and parents personalized messages from Santa, which run from an ASP script that Kerr built himself."|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112165334/https://biztechmagazine.com/article/2012/12/emailsantacom-how-santa-claus-went-digital|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Vnuk|first=Helen|date=2017-12-07|title=Email Santa and get a reply: the website making my kids believe.|url=https://www.mamamia.com.au/email-santa-and-get-a-reply/|access-date=2020-07-19|website=Mamamia|language=en|quote="The one thing that's convinced my daughter, more than anything else, that Santa is real is a website, emailSanta.com."|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102185519/https://www.mamamia.com.au/email-santa-and-get-a-reply/|url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft's website has given occasional profane results.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/818987/data-center-microsoft-pulls-plug-on-potty-mouth-santa.html|title=Microsoft pulls plug on potty-mouth Santa |first=John |last=Fontana |date=4 December 2007|website=Network World|access-date=6 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=For a Jolly Good Time, Chat With Santa on Windows Live Messenger |date=13 December 2006 |author=Microsoft Source |website=Microsoft |url=https://news.microsoft.com/source/2006/12/13/for-a-jolly-good-time-chat-with-santa-on-windows-live-messenger/|access-date=6 January 2026}}</ref>

==Criticism==
{{See also|Christmas controversies}}

===Opposition from some Christian denominations===
Santa Claus has partial Christian roots in [[Saint Nicholas]], particularly in the [[high church]] denominations that practise the [[veneration]] of him and other [[saint]]s. Various [[Christian denomination]]s have differing opinions of Santa Claus, ranging from acceptance to denouncement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Santa Claus: The Great Imposter |url=https://www.av1611.org/othpubls/santa.html |website=av1611.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cochran |first=Sylvia |title=To Santa or Not to Santa |url=http://www.familiesonlinemagazine.com/christian-parenting/christian-santa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605161911/http://www.familiesonlinemagazine.com/christian-parenting/christian-santa.html |archive-date=5 June 2008 |website=Families Online Magazine}}</ref> Some Christians, particularly [[Calvinists]] such as the [[Puritans]], disliked the idea of Santa Claus as well as Christmas in general, believing that the lavish celebrations were not in accordance with their faith.<ref>{{cite book|last1 = Kippenberg|first1 = Hans G.|last2 = Kuiper|first2 = Yme B.|last3 = Sanders|first3 = Andy F.|title = Concepts of Person in Religion and Thought|date = 1 January 1990|publisher = Walter de Gruyter|isbn = 978-3-11-087437-2| page = 363}}</ref> Other [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|nonconformist]] Christians condemn the [[Economic materialism|materialist]] focus of contemporary gift-giving and see Santa Claus as the symbol of that culture.<ref>{{cite book|last = Bowler|first = Gerry|title = Santa Claus: A Biography|date = 27 July 2011|publisher = Random House|isbn = 978-1-55199-608-0}}</ref>

Condemnation of Christmas was prevalent among 17th-century English Puritans and Dutch Calvinists. The [[American colonies]] established by these groups reflected this view. Tolerance for Christmas increased after the [[English Restoration|Restoration]], although Puritan attitudes toward the holiday remained unfavorable.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.apuritansmind.com/Christmas/DankoChristmasBanned.htm|title = When Christmas Was Banned: The early colonies and Christmas. How did they handle that holiday?|website=A Puritan's Mind |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100108033515/http://www.apuritansmind.com/Christmas/DankoChristmasBanned.htm|archive-date = 8 January 2010}}</ref> In the Dutch [[New Netherland]] colony, season celebrations focused on New Year's Day.

[[File:FatherChristmastrial.jpg|thumb|upright|Excerpt from Josiah King's ''The Examination and Tryal of Father Christmas'' (1686), published shortly after Christmas was reinstated as a holy day in England]]
Following the Restoration of the monarchy and with Puritans out of power in England,<ref>{{cite web|date=13 March 2005|title=Ten Ages of Christmas|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/ten_ages_gallery.shtml|access-date=21 December 2010|website=BBC}}</ref> the ban on Christmas was satirised in works such as Josiah King's ''The Examination and Tryal of Old [[Father Christmas]]; Together with his Clearing by the Jury'' (1686).<ref name=nissenbaum/><!--chapter 1-->

In 1958 Reverend Paul Nedergaard, a clergyman in Copenhagen, declared Santa a "heathen goblin" ([[Danish language|Danish]]: {{Lang|da|en hedensk trold}}) after Santa's image was used on the annual Christmas stamp ({{Lang|da|Julemærke}}) for a Danish children's welfare organisation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Clar|first=Mimi|date=October 1959|title=Attack on Santa Claus|journal=[[Western Folklore]]|volume= 18|issue=4|page=337|jstor=1497769|doi=10.2307/1497769|doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[Mary Baker Eddy]], the founder of the [[Christian Science]] movement, wrote: "the children should not be taught that Santa Claus has aught to do with this [[Christmas]] pastime. A deceit or falsehood is never wise. Too much cannot be done towards guarding and guiding well the germinating and inclining thought of childhood. To mould aright the first impressions of innocence, aids in perpetuating purity and in unfolding the immortal model, man in His image and likeness."<ref>{{cite book|last = Eddy|first = Mary Baker|title = Prose Works other than Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures |url=https://archive.org/details/proseworks0000unse/page/n7/mode/2up |year=1925 |publisher=Trustees under the will of Mary Baker G. Eddy |location=Boston |page=261}}</ref>

===Opposition under state atheism===
Under the [[Marxist–Leninist atheism|Marxist–Leninist]] doctrine of [[state atheism]] in the Soviet Union after its foundation in 1917, Christmas celebrations—along with other religious holidays—were prohibited as a result of the Soviet [[Anti-religious campaign during the Russian Civil War|antireligious campaign]].<ref name="Connelly2000">{{cite book|last = Connelly|first = Mark|title = Christmas at the Movies: Images of Christmas in American, British and European Cinema|year = 2000|publisher = I.B.Tauris|isbn = 978-1-86064-397-2|page = 186|quote = A chapter on representations of ''Christmas'' in Soviet cinema could, in fact be the shortest in this collection: suffice it to say that there were, at least officially, no Christmas celebrations in the atheist socialist state after its foundation in 1917.}}</ref><ref name="MIG">{{cite book|title = Echo of Islam|year = 1993|publisher = MIG|quote = In the former Soviet Union, fir trees were usually put up to mark New Year's day, following a tradition established by the officially atheist state.}}</ref> The [[League of Militant Atheists]] encouraged schoolchildren to campaign against Christmas traditions, among them being Santa Claus and the [[Christmas tree]], as well as other Christian holidays including [[Easter]]; the League established an antireligious holiday to be the 31st of each month as a replacement.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://psmag.com/social-justice/whats-real-war-christmas-look-like-70524|title = What a Real War on Christmas Looks Like|last = Luzer|first = Daniel|date = 26 November 2013|work = [[Pacific Standard]]|access-date = 12 November 2014|quote = There were several anti-religious campaigns, the most dramatic of which occurred in the 1920s. According to a piece published by the School of Russian and Asia Studies: In 1925, Christmas was effectively banned under the officially atheist Soviet government, and never returned to Russia until 1992. The New Year celebration usurped the traditions of a Christmas Tree (Ёлка), Santa (known in Russian as "Дед Mopoз" or "Grandfather Frost"), and presents. In the Russian tradition, Grandfather Frost's granddaughter, the Snow Maiden (Снегурочка), always accompanies him to help distribute the gifts. Elves are not associated with the holiday. The state prohibited people from selling Christmas trees. There were even festivals, organized by the League of Militant Atheists, specifically to denigrate religious holidays. Their carnivals were inspired by similar events staged by activists after the French Revolution. From 1923 to 1924 and then again from 1929 to 1930 the "Komsomol Christmases" and Easters were basically holiday celebrations of atheism.|archive-date = 14 November 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221114030311/https://psmag.com/social-justice/whats-real-war-christmas-look-like-70524|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="Ramet2005">{{cite book|last = Ramet|first = Sabrina Petra|title = Religious Policy in the Soviet Union|date = 10 November 2005|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn = 978-0-521-02230-9|page = 138|quote = The League sallied forth to save the day from this putative religious revival. ''Antireligioznik'' obliged with so many articles that it devoted an entire section of its annual index for 1928 to anti-religious training in the schools. More such material followed in 1929, and a flood of it the next year. It recommended what Lenin and others earlier had explicitly condemned—carnivals, farces, and games to intimidate and purge the youth of religious belief. It suggested that pupils campaign against customs associated with Christmas (including Christmas trees) and Easter. Some schools, the League approvingly reported, staged an anti-religious day on the 31st of each month. Not teachers but the League's local set the programme for this special occasion.}}</ref>

In December 2018, the city management office of [[Langfang]] in [[Hebei|Hebei province]], China, released a statement stating that people caught selling Christmas trees, wreaths, stockings or Santa Claus figures in the city would be punished by authorities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Santa Claus won't be coming to this town, as Chinese officials ban Christmas |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2178532/santa-claus-wont-be-coming-town-chinese-officials-ban-christmas |work=South China Morning Post |language=en |date=18 December 2018 |quote=Christmas is not a recognised holiday in mainland China – where the ruling party is officially atheist – and for many years authorities have taken a tough stance on anyone who celebrates it in public. ... The statement by Langfang officials said that anyone caught selling Christmas trees, wreaths, stockings or Santa Claus figures in the city would be punished. ... While the ban on the sale of Christmas goods might appear to be directed at retailers, it also comes amid a crackdown on Christians practising their religion across the country. On Saturday morning, more than 60 police officers and officials stormed a children's Bible class in Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong province. The incident came after authorities shut down the 1,500-member [[Beijing Zion Church|Zion Church in Beijing]] in September and Chengdu's 500-member [[Early Rain Covenant Church]] last week. In the case of the latter, about 100 worshippers were snatched from their homes or from the streets in coordinated raids. |access-date=23 December 2018 |archive-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112085857/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2178532/santa-claus-wont-be-coming-town-chinese-officials-ban-christmas |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2025|reason=We have consensus in [[WP:RSP]] that while South China Morning Post is a RS, "there is a rough consensus that additional considerations may apply for the newspaper's coverage of certain topics, including the Chinese Communist Party and the SCMP's current owner, Alibaba. Editors may apply higher scrutiny when dealing with the SCMP's coverage of such topics", as in this case.}}

===Symbol of commercialism===
[[File:Santa 1933 clr SLNSW FL18911182.jpg|thumb|upright|Santa Claus, Sydney, 1933]]
Jeremy Seal, author of the 2005 book ''Nicholas: The Epic Journey from Saint to Santa Claus'', said in an interview that Santa's 19th-century elements, like reindeer, a sleigh, and bells, were reminiscent of the real world.<ref name=Seal>{{Cite web|title=Interview: Jeremy Seal|url=https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas/origin-of-santa/jeremy-seal|access-date=2023-01-01|website=St. Nicholas Center|language=en-us|archive-date=1 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101193404/https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas/origin-of-santa/jeremy-seal|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Relevance inline|date=December 2023}}

Writing in ''[[Mothering (magazine)|Mothering]]'' magazine, Carol Jean-Swanson makes similar points, noting that the original figure of Saint Nicholas gave only to those who were needy and that today Santa Claus seems to be more about [[conspicuous consumption]]: "He [...] mirrors some of our highest ideals: childhood purity and innocence, selfless giving, unfaltering love, justice, and mercy. [...] The problem is that, in the process, he has become burdened with some of society's greatest challenges: materialism, corporate greed, and domination by the media."<ref name="Mother">{{cite web |last=Swanson |first=Carol-Jean |title=In defense of Santa Claus |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0838/is_n65/ai_12694470/print |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071226135150/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0838/is_n65/ai_12694470/print |archive-date=26 December 2007 |access-date=7 September 2016 |magazine=Mothering |year=1992}}</ref>

In the Czech Republic, a group of advertising professionals started a website against Santa Claus, a relatively recent phenomenon in that country.<ref name="Czech">{{cite web|last=Hoy |first=Hilda |date=13 December 2006 |title=Better Watch Out, Better Not Cry|url=http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/12/13/better-watch-out-better-not-cry.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070120090521/http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/12/13/better-watch-out-better-not-cry.php|archive-date=20 January 2007|access-date=2007-12-13 |website=[[The Prague Post]]}}</ref> In the Czech tradition, presents are delivered by [[Ježíšek]], which translates as [[Baby Jesus]].<ref name="Czech" />

A law in the [[US state]] of [[Ohio]] prohibits the usage of Santa Claus or his image to sell alcoholic beverages.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spuds Can't Promote Beer Dressed as Santa|url=https://apnews.com/46558bab3fdc7f357896effdc47163f2|access-date=23 November 2012|work=Associated Press News|date=2 December 1987|archive-date=29 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929234527/https://apnews.com/46558bab3fdc7f357896effdc47163f2|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Representation to children===
{{see also|Paternalistic deception}}
[[File:Christmas list for Santa (Unsplash).jpg|alt=A young boy looks at Santa Claus|thumb|Parent-initiated activities, like visiting a Santa actor at a shopping centre, promote belief in Santa Claus by young children.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=Kapitány |first1=Rohan |last2=Nelson |first2=Nicole |last3=Burdett |first3=Emily R. R. |last4=Goldstein |first4=Thalia R. |date=2020-06-17 |editor-last=Jong |editor-first=Jonathan |title=The child's pantheon: Children's hierarchical belief structure in real and non-real figures |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=15 |issue=6 |article-number=e0234142 |bibcode=2020PLoSO..1534142K |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0234142 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=7299553 |pmid=32555692 |doi-access=free}}</ref>]]
Psychologists generally differentiate between telling fictional stories that feature Santa Claus and actively deceiving a child into believing that Santa Claus is real. [[Imagination|Imaginative play]], in which children know that Santa Claus is only a character in a story, but pretend that he is real, just like they pretend that superheroes or other [[fictional characters]] are real, is valuable. Actively deceiving a child into believing in Santa Claus's real-world existence, sometimes even to the extent of fabricating false evidence to convince them despite their growing natural doubts, does not result in imaginative play and can promote [[credulity]] in the face of strong evidence against Santa Claus's existence.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/plato-pop/201212/say-goodbye-the-santa-claus-lie|title=Say Goodbye to the Santa Claus Lie|last=Johnson|first=David Kyle|website=Psychology Today|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-12|archive-date=27 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227231420/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/plato-pop/201212/say-goodbye-the-santa-claus-lie|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Christmas – Philosophy for Everyone: Better than a Lump of Coal|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4443-3090-8|editor-last=Lowe|editor-first=Scott C.|location=Malden, Mass.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/christmasphiloso0000unse/page/143 143–147]|oclc=539086689|url=https://archive.org/details/christmasphiloso0000unse/page/143}}</ref> Children will eventually know that Santa is a fictional character.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/we-asked-five-experts-should-i-lie-to-my-children-about-santa-106930|title=We asked five experts: should I lie to my children about Santa?|first=Sophie|last=Heizer|website=The Conversation|date=9 December 2018|access-date=1 January 2023|archive-date=1 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101193431/https://theconversation.com/we-asked-five-experts-should-i-lie-to-my-children-about-santa-106930|url-status=live}}</ref>

Babies and toddlers do not understand the concept of a fictional character, but most children become developmentally able to "believe in" Santa Claus around age three or four.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Jacqueline |date=2017-12-19 |title=How many kids still believe in Santa? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/19/health/kids-santa-claus-belief-parent-curve-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6" />  The prevalence of belief in Santa Claus is high at age five, and declines precipitously when children are seven or eight years old.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khazan |first=Olga |date=2014-12-21 |title=When Do Kids Stop Believing in Santa? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/12/when-do-kids-stop-believing-in-santa/383958/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-17 |title=Children stop believing in Santa Claus by age of eight: Survey |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sex-and-relationships/children-stop-believing-in-santa-claus-by-age-of-eight-survey/story-uhKxmgTgGg58xZq5EV4PdM.html |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=When do kids stop believing in Santa? Is your kid ready? |url=https://www.boston.com/culture/parenting/2014/12/24/is-your-child-ready-to-have-the-santa-talk/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Boston.com |date=24 December 2014 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Daley |first=Jason |title=When Do Children Give Up on Santa? |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/kids-give-santa-age-8-adults-still-want-believe-180971063/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref>  Although the age at disillusionment has been fairly stable for decades – in 1978, 85% of American five year olds believed that Santa was real, but only 25% of eight year olds still did – it may be getting slightly lower over time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Victor |first=Daniel |date=2018-12-25 |title=Kids, Please Don't Read This Article on What Trump Said About Santa Claus |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/25/us/politics/trump-santa-claus-believer.html |access-date=2023-09-04 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[Age-inappropriate]] belief in Santa is seen in some older children and teenagers who have [[autism]] or other [[neurodevelopmental disorders]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Matson |first1=Johnny L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-tDR9c7kOxkC&pg=PA68 |title=International Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders |last2=Sturmey |first2=Peter |date=2011-06-16 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-1-4419-8065-6 |page=68 |language=en}}</ref>

The psychology professor Jacqueline Woolley helped to conduct a study that found that children seemed competent in their use of logic, evidence, and comparative reasoning even though they might conclude that Santa Claus or other fanciful creatures were real. According to Woolley, the existence of Santa Claus is affirmed to children by "friends, books, TV and movies" and by "hard evidence" of "half-eaten cookies and empty milk glasses".<ref name="Woolley2">{{Cite news |last=Woolley |first=Jacqueline |date=2006-12-23 |title=Opinion {{pipe}} Do You Believe in Surnits? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/23/opinion/23woolley.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328224121/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/23/opinion/23woolley.html |archive-date=28 March 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Typical objections to presenting Santa Claus as a literally real person, rather than a story, include that:
* [[Lie|lying]] is [[Moral philosophy|normally bad]];<ref name=":1" />
* parents intentionally lying to their children promotes distrust;<ref name=":1" />
* it promotes [[selfishness]], [[greed]], and [[materialism]];<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Vines |first=Gail |year=2011 |title=The Santa Delusion |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626351-500-the-santa-delusion/ |url-status=live |journal=New Scientist |language=en-US |volume=210 |issue=2809 |page=29 |bibcode=2011NewSc.210Q..29M |doi=10.1016/S0262-4079(11)60920-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520205000/https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626351-500-the-santa-delusion/ |archive-date=20 May 2021 |access-date=2018-12-12}}</ref>
* it associates good behavior with being materially rewarded with presents from Santa Claus;<ref name=":2" /> and
* tricking children into believing falsehoods interferes with the development of [[critical thinking]].<ref name="Cline" /><ref name=":0" />
Some have argued that Santa Claus prioritises parents' short-term happiness in seeing children excited about Santa Claus, and their nostalgic willingness to prolong the age of [[magical thinking]], over children.<ref name=":1" /> The philosopher [[David Kyle Johnson]] wrote, "It's a lie, it degrades your parental trustworthiness, it encourages credulity, it does not encourage imagination, and it's equivalent to bribing your kids for good behavior."<ref>{{cite web |date=25 November 2016 |title=Lying To Kids About Santa Can Erode Their Trust, Psychologists Say |url=https://www.vocativ.com/378177/lying-to-kids-about-santa-is-a-big-mistake-psychologists-say/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119122646/https://www.vocativ.com/378177/lying-to-kids-about-santa-is-a-big-mistake-psychologists-say/ |archive-date=19 January 2021 |access-date=6 December 2018 |website=Vocativ}}</ref>

Others see little harm in the belief in Santa Claus. The psychologist Tamar Murachver said that because it is a cultural, not parental, lie, it does not usually undermine parental trust.<ref name="SantaTrust">{{cite news |title=How to deal with the 'is Santa real?' |work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]] |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/archive/national-news/186155 |url-status=live |access-date=7 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219085719/http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/archive/national-news/186155 |archive-date=19 December 2010}}</ref> Woolley posited that it is perhaps "kinship with the adult world" that causes children not to be angry that they were lied to for so long. In one study, it was found that children did not trust their parents less and adults did not recall an increase in lack of trust.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Mills |first1=Candice M. |last2=Goldstein |first2=Thalia R. |last3=Kanumuru |first3=Pallavi |last4=Monroe |first4=Anthony J. |last5=Quintero |first5=Natalie B. |date=2023-11-13 |title=Debunking the Santa myth: The process and aftermath of becoming skeptical about Santa. |journal=Developmental Psychology |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=1–16 |language=en |doi=10.1037/dev0001662 |pmid=37956037 |s2cid=265157363 |issn=1939-0599|doi-access=free }}</ref> Austin Cline argued that, to get children's belief in Santa Claus, a complicated series of elaborate lies and defenses over time is needed, rather than a few single-time lies.<ref name="Cline">{{Cite news |last=Cline |first=Austin |date=30 July 2018 |title=Why Parents Shouldn't Let Their Children Know About Santa Claus |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/should-parents-perpetuate-the-santa-claus-myth-249579 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414223550/https://www.thoughtco.com/should-parents-perpetuate-the-santa-claus-myth-249579 |archive-date=14 April 2019 |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=ThoughtCo |language=en }}</ref> Most children do not remain angry or embarrassed about the deception for very long.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Kutner |first=Lawrence |date=21 November 1991 |title=Children can learn the wrong lessons from little lies |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/21/garden/parent-child.html |url-status=live |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208090445/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/21/garden/parent-child.html |archive-date=8 February 2023}}</ref>  They are most likely to have a positive feeling about it if they are able to figure it out logically (e.g., by realising the impossibility of one person visiting every home in a single night) and gradually.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" /> According to the psychologist John Condry, "The most common response to finding out the truth was that they felt older and more mature. They now knew something that the younger kids did not".<ref name=":8" /> In other studies, a small fraction of children felt betrayed by their parents, but disappointment was a more common response.<ref name=":1" /> Some children have reacted strongly, including rejecting the family's [[religious beliefs]] on the grounds that if the parents lied about the existence of Santa Claus, then they might lie about the [[existence of God]] as well.<ref name=":1" /> The [[NZ Skeptics|New Zealand Skeptics]] also see no harm in parents telling their children that Santa is real. The spokesperson [[Vicki Hyde]] said, "It would be a hard-hearted parent indeed who frowned upon the innocent joys of our children's cultural heritage. We save our bah humbugs for the things that exploit the vulnerable."<ref name="SantaTrust" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|Holidays|Mythology}}

===Related figures===
* [[Amu Nowruz]]&nbsp;— "Uncle New Year"; Iranian gift-bringing figure associated with spring and the new year in the traditional Iranian calendar
* [[Ayaz Ata]]&nbsp;— Grandfather Frost in Turkic folklore
* [[Befana]]&nbsp;— a friendly witch who delivers gifts to children on 5 January
* [[Christkind]] — a popular giftbringer in Central Europe for Christmas
* [[Companions of Saint Nicholas]]
* [[Ded Moroz]] — [[Russia|Russian]] equivalent
* [[Father Christmas]] — British equivalent
* [[Joulupukki]]&nbsp;— Finnish Santa Claus
* [[Moș Gerilă]]&nbsp;— name of a character from Romanian communist propaganda
* [[Nicholas|Nikolaus]] — Gift bringer popular in [[Central Europe]] and the [[Benelux]]
* [[Olentzero]]&nbsp;— traditional Basque character who has recently been transformed into a Santa-like figure
* [[Saint Basil#Commemorations|Saint Basil]]&nbsp;— who is believed to bring Christmas gifts for children in [[Greek Orthodox]] tradition
* [[Sinterklaas]] — [[Netherlands|Dutch]] Nikolaus
* [[Biblical Magi#Hispanic customs|The Three Kings]]&nbsp;— The Biblical three wise men brings gifts on 6 January in Spain

===Other===
* [[Jack Frost]] and [[Old Man Winter]]&nbsp;— Mythical characters associated with winter
* [[Christmas controversy]]
* [[Flying Santa]]&nbsp;—A [[northeastern US]] tradition of pilots delivering presents to families in remote lighthouses
* [[Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas]]
* [[Pancho Claus]], a [[Tex-Mex]] version of Santa Claus
* [[Santa Claus, Indiana]]&nbsp;—A small [[Midwestern United States]] town named after the figure, home to [[Holiday World & Splashin' Safari|Holiday World]] [[amusement park]]
* [[SantaCon]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===General and cited references===
{{refbegin}}
*  Belk, Russell (2000). "Materialism with the Modern U.S. Christmas". Advertising & Society Review. 1 (1): 75–104.
* Bowler, Gerry, Editor (2004). ''[http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771015359 The World Encyclopedia of Christmas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028083103/http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771015359 |date=28 October 2012 }}'', Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Limited. {{ISBN|978-0-7710-1535-9}} (0-7710-1535-6)
* Bowler, Gerry, (2007). ''[http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771016684 Santa Claus: A Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028083107/http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771016684 |date=28 October 2012 }}'', Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Limited. {{ISBN|978-0-7710-1668-4}} (0-7710-1668-9)
* Crump, William D. Editor (2006). [http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-2293-7 ''The Christmas Encyclopedia'', 2nd edition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309143618/http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-2293-7 |date=9 March 2012 }}, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, {{ISBN|978-0-7864-2293-7}}
* Nissenbaum, Stephen (1997). The Battle for Christmas. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. {{ISBN|978-0-679-74038-4}}

{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|url = https://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/12/19/167570321/without-magic-santa-would-need-12-million-employees|title = Without Magic, Santa Would Need 12 Million Employees|last1 = Joffe-Walt|first1 = Chana|date = 19 December 2012|work = [[All Things Considered]]|publisher = [[NPR]]|access-date = 20 December 2012}}<!-- Integrate into article if possible. -->

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=yes|v=no|s=no|b=no}}
* [http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/ An article on the History of Santa Claus from the St. Nicholas Center]
* [http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/xmas/ The History of Santa Claus and Father Christmas]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110424032843/http://jfpl.org/NJHistoryPathfinders.cfm?doc_Id=31 Research guides for Thomas Nast and Santa Claus at The Morristown & Morris Township Public Library, NJ]
* [https://archive.org/details/TheKnickerbockersRescueSantaClausJamesKirkePaulding "The Knickerbockers Rescue Santa Claus: 'Claas Schlaschenschlinger' from James Kirke Paulding's ''The Book of Saint Nicholas''" (1836)]
* [https://www.noradsanta.org/ NORAD Tracks Santa]
* [https://www.emailsanta.com/ emailSanta.com Tracker]

{{Christmas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Santa Claus|Santa Claus]]
[[Category:Christmas characters]]
[[Category:Christian folklore]]
[[Category:Christmas gift-bringers]]
[[Category:Christmas traditions]]
[[Category:Drink advertising characters]]
[[Category:Christian saints]]
[[Category:Toy inventors]]
[[Category:Folk saints]]
[[Category:Holiday characters]]
[[Category:Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints]]
[[Category:Male characters in advertising]]
[[Category:Childhood]]