Santa Claus

The American name for the popular personification of the spirit of Christmas, derived from the Christian legend of St Nicholas and elements of Scandinavian mythology. His name comes from the Dutch ‘Sante Klaas’ for St Nicholas. The legend of the saint was brought to the New World by the Dutch; the tradition of giving presents was later transferred to Christmas Day. Santa Claus is depicted as a fat, jolly old man with a long white beard, dressed in boots and a red hat and suit trimmed with white fur. He lives with Mrs Claus and his toy-making elves at the North Pole, and on Christmas Eve he travels in an airborne sleigh, drawn by eight reindeer, to deliver presents to good children, who are fast asleep when Santa arrives. The most popular legends claim that Santa lands his sleigh on rooftops, secretly entering homes through the chimney.