During the Christmas season, we often hear the song Santa Claus is Coming to Town! As a child, I waited for him but never saw him. Was I being deceived? Is Santa Claus real? As it appeared, I wasn’t the only one asking those questions.
The idea of Father Christmas is deeply rooted in the celebration of Christmas where I grew up. Yes, it was obvious to us that Jesus Christ was the central figure of the story, especially His birth. But there was another person called Santa Claus, a loving, caring giver who was said to have surprise packages for children.
Sometimes we were told that Santa Claus was coming to town, so we went to church hoping that he would show up first at the House of God. And a few times, we saw a figure dressed in a red and white costume with strange-looking black shoes and a big bag. I guess that was the surprise bag!
Honestly, I thought I had seen Santa Claus but did not know which one it was, as there were many "Fathers of Christmas" dressed as Santa. regarding that, I’ve gotten sweets a number of times from some of them. So who cares? Oh, I do.
I have come to think about the idea of a Santa Claus existing and why there were many figures claiming to be Santa. So, I asked again: Is Santa Claus real or not? Let’s find out!
Is Santa Claus Real?
To know whether or not Santa Claus is real, it is essential to ask: Who is Santa Claus? And how did Santa Claus start? You might have noticed that I had a preconceived idea about a Santa that I never really met, so where did that come from?
Well, it was part of the stories I was told at Christmas. It is a popular one! But how did the story come about, and how true is it? I went on a hunt for the answers to these questions and will share what I found out with you for free!
The story of Santa Claus is believed to be an invention of the 18th century. It is a legend that was created after a significant figure that existed around the 3rd to 4th century AD: Saint Nicholas.
A History About Saint Nicholas
Who was Saint Nicholas?
He was a prominent Christian in the early common era. Tradition has it that he was born around March 15, 270 AD, in a city called Patara in ancient Lycia, and grew up to become the Bishop of Myra. That Lycia is believed to be part of modern-day Turkey.
The Bishop, Saint Nicholas (also called Nicholas of Bari), was well-known for being kind and generous. Sooner or later, he became the inspiration for many legendary stories, including miracles he performed and kind acts toward the poor, earning him the title of a wonder-worker.
It is believed that Nicholas became an orphan at a young age, inheriting wealth from his parents. At the time, he was inspired by the story of the young rich man in the Bible who asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus told the rich man to sell his properties and help the poor. Nicholas decided to follow this path, using his inheritance to assist the needy.
Later in Nicholas’ life, he was elected as a bishop, exiled and imprisoned during the Great Persecution under Emperor Diocletian, and later freed. He participated in the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. It is told that it was at that meeting that the "good guy" got angry and slapped Arius, a Cyrenaic presbyter, in the face over doctrinal issues!
Saint Nicholas died on December 6, 343 AD, and was buried in his church. Later, people began to pay homage to him, setting aside a day in his memory. As history records, his remains were recovered in 1087 and returned to Italy, where they were enshrined in the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, southern Italy.
When is Saint Nicholas Day?
December 6 was the day set aside for Saint Nicholas, and it coincides with the season in which Christmas is celebrated. That sounds like a lead to the legendary depiction of his character! So is Santa Claus real? Yes. But the real Santa Claus differs from the ones you watch on TV.
The Invention of the Modern Santa Claus
The Dutch are often credited with the invention of the Santa Claus moniker. The idea spread in the 19th century when Dutch immigrants brought the legend of Sinterklaas to New Amsterdam (now New York City).
The idea evolving into the modern-day Santa Claus is believed to have been shaped by the artistic works of several creators, including Thomas Nast, Clement Moore, Norman Rockwell, N. C. Wyeth, and Haddon Sundblum.
In addition, some attribute aspects of Santa Claus to Odin, a mythological figure believed to have flown in the sky with a horse. The depiction of Santa Claus flying in a sleigh is found often in Christmas movies today.
However, the common outlook on Santa Claus remains: a man dressed in a red and white coat with black shoes, a red cap with a white rim, a waist belt, and a sack of gifts. So what are the gifts for?
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Remember the song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town? The lyrics of the pre-chorus say:
He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad and good. So be good for goodness sake.
We see that the gifts were for children who did good, encouraging morals against immoral behaviors among the young ones. Those who want to be rewarded by Santa Claus have to do good, knowing that Santa is watching. How true! Haha.
How Old Is Santa Claus in 2025?
This is a popular question! In previous years, I've tried to calculate this based on letters and legends, but let's look at the historical math for this year.
If we look at the historical figure of Saint Nicholas, he was likely born in 270 AD. Since we are currently celebrating Christmas in 2025, we can do the math:
2025 - 270 = 1,755
So, to give a definite answer: If we go with Saint Nicholas being born in 270 AD, Santa Claus is approximately 1,755 years old in 2025. He looks pretty good for his age, doesn't he?
Where Is Santa Claus Right Now?
The concept of Santa Claus is alive and well in the minds of those who believe in the spirit of giving. As for the historical person behind the name?
Saint Nicholas passed away around the year 343 AD. While his physical body is no longer with us, and we may still see people imitating Santa around the world, the spirit of the man lives on.
In conclusion, we can agree that Santa Claus is an invention inspired by a real person. The modern-day Jolly Santa Claus is a legendary depiction of a very real, generous Bishop known as Saint Nicholas of Myra.
Let me know what you think!
