Who is Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a character that brings Christmas presents to the children. Santa Claus is based on a Catholic notion that the children’s patron saint, St. Nicholas, brings presents to well-behaved children on December 6, “St. Nicholas’ Day”, while the bad-mannered and naughty children are punished by his servant. The date and custom originate from the 13th century.

Santa Claus’ clothes

The way Santa Claus is dressed does not originate from the legend of St. Nicholas. On chalk paintings etc., St. Nicholas is never depicted in red and white. The red clothes, the reindeer sleigh, the winter background, and his home at the North Pole are all modern additions and stem from “Christmas books” and the like for children. To give an example, in the first American versions, Santa Claus wore a skin doublet, later he got his current clothes, but not until the 20th century did the clothes change colour into red and white.

Santa Claus’ home

The fact that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole is a “modern” invention originating from ‘Christmas books’ etc. for children. In “Father Christmas’ book”, written by Louis Moe in 1898, the author places him so far up north that not even Fridtjof Nansen, the famous Norwegian scientist and explorer, had seen the smoke from his house. This is where we for the first time encounter the Santa Claus character we know today, as well as the idea that he lives at the North Pole and makes toys all year. - Danes are of the conviction that Santa Claus lives in Greenland.