Who is the real Santa Claus?

The Santa Claus story has its origins in a man named Nicholas who was born during the third century in what is now modern day Turkey. According to legend, he performed acts of kindness and generosity. News of his good work spread in different forms around the world.

How old is Santa Claus?

Saint Nicholas was born around 270 AD, so he is about 1,750 years old.

Where does Santa Claus Live?

While the original St. Nicholas lived in Turkey, his move to the North Pole is credited to the German-born cartoonist Thomas Nast. Influenced by the cold New England weather, Nast envision Santa in Arctic. Additionally, Nast may have been influenced by expeditions to the Arctic during the 1840s and 1850s.

Does Santa Claus have a phone number?

Here is Kris Kringle's direct line: (951) 262-3062.

To reach all the boys and girls on Christmas night, Santa's sleigh needs to travel at 650 miles per second, which is 3,000 times the speed of sound.

How much can Santa's sleigh carry?

According to NORAD, Santa's sleigh can carry about 60,000 pounds.

47 Jolly Santa Claus Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published October 9, 2017Updated December 4, 2025

Santa Claus is one of the world's most iconic figures, but behind the red suit and laughing belly is a story of saints, scandals, science, mythology, and centuries of reinvention. From flying reindeer physics to ancient bishops, these surprising facts show just how wild, weird, and powerful the history of Santa Claus is.

The Real St. Nicholas (History & Archaeology)

The Figure of Santa Claus is Based on a Real 4th-Century Bishop
St. Nicholas was a real person who lived during the fourth century in Patara, or what is now Turkey. He was known for his generosity, especially towards children._[10]
He Became Famous for Secretly Funding Three Sisters' Dowries
The act of generosity prevented the girls from being sold into servitude and inspired the tradition of anonymous gift-giving._[10]

The Santa Claus narrative is based on an actual bishop from modern-day Turkey, St. Nicholas

Looters Stole Half of St. Nicholas's Skeleton
His remains were taken from Turkey by Italian sailors in the 11th century and later partially stolen by looters._[10]
Scientists Reconstructed St. Nicholas' Face and Discovered He Had a Broken Nose
He likely received it during the persecutions of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian._[11]
The Real St. Nicholas Almost Certainly Had Olive Skin, Brown Eyes, and Dark Hair
This reflects his Greek/Mediterranean ancestry, which is probably not quite like the modern Arctic jolly person we see in images today._[11]
He's the Patron Saint of Nearly Everything
St. Nicholas is also the patron saint of banking, pawnbroking, scholarship, pirating, butchery, sailing, thievery, haberdashery, orphans, royalty, and New York City. Few saints have such an extensive resume._[10]

The Norse god Odin's long beard, cloaked figure, and his penchant for flying his 8-legged war horse through the sky influenced modern manifestations of Santa

Pagan, Norse, & Medieval Origins
Odin, the Norse God, Influenced Santa' s Appearance
As Europe became Christianized, the figure of Santa Claus appropriated several pagan elements, including the narrative of the god Odin, who sported a long white beard, listened at chimneys, and rode a massive war horse with eight legs_[10]
The Naughty-and-Nice list Has Dutch and Norse Roots
Santa's list of "naughty" and "nice" children has its roots in Belgium and the Netherlands where their version of Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, kept a similar list. The Norse god Odin kept two ravens that would listen at people's chimneys to find out who was good or bad._[10]
Gift Giving Took Place on December 6 for Centuries
In Europe, before the 16th century, gifts were exchanged on December 6th, the feast of St. Nicholas. Later, German protestants began celebrating Christkindl on December 25, a feast day for the Christ child._[10]
Krampus Night is celebrated on December 5th
In Central European folklore, Krampus is a horned "half-goat, half-demon", who punishes children who have misbehaved the night before St. Nicholas visits._[4]
France Has a Cannibal Santa Helper
According to French tradition, Santa Claus has a helper—who also happens to be a cannibal. As punishment for eating children, Father Christmas forced Père Fouettard (aka Father Whipper) to become his assistant and beat naughty children with sticks._[12]

Before Santa, there was a Yule goat

Before Santa, Scandinavia Had a Yule Goat
The magical yule goat wandered from house to house to ensure that families were preparing for Yule, and it demanded gifts on the side._[10]
Early European Santa Figures Could Be Stern or Even Scary
In Russia and other regions, he appeared as a strict Orthodox bishop known for "cruel correcting."_[5]
Santa During the Reformation
During the Reformation, the very Catholic St. Nicholas became merely a sidekick to Jesus. Santa was known as Ru-laus (Rough Nicholas), Aschenklas (Ashy Nicholas), or Pelznickel (Furry Nicholas)._[10]
The American Reinvention of Santa

The Dutch Name "Sinterklaass" Became "Santa Claus" in America
Dutch settlers brought the tradition to New York in the 1600s, and the name transformed into "Santa Claus"_[10]
Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," (a.k.a."The Night Before Christmas") Changed Santa Forever
The poem helped popularize Santa as jolly, plump, and the owner of eight reindeer. Moore did not claim ownership of the poem until 20 years after its publication, and its true authorship is debatable._[11]

Thomas Nast is the reason Santa Claus looks the way he does today. Even Coca-Cola drew heavily on Nast's illustration of Santa as jolly, chubby, and dressed in red. So, while Nast didn't invent Santa, he did invent the Santa we recognize today

Illustrator Thomas Nast (1840-1902) Popularized the Modern Image of Santa
Nast's 19th century drawings established Santa as a plump, jolly, bearded man in a red suit. He also placed Santa's home in the North Pole, even though the original saint lived in Turkey. Nast most likely chose the North Pole because, at the time, there were several scientific explorations to the North Pole, a region that was seen as a type of fantasy land, mysterious, and just out of reach._[10]
Today's Santa is Partly Victorian Imagination, Part Commercial Icon
Coca Cola, the Hollywood movie industry, Walmart sales, shopping mall photo ops, and the Internet amplified the modern image of Santa in the 20th Century._[9]
Coca-Cola Didn't Invent Santa, but It Cemented His Image
Their 1931 ad campaign made the red-coated, rosy cheeked Santa globally iconic._[9]
The First Description of Santa in America
Writer Washington Irving (1783-1859) wrote the first description of Santa Claus in America in his famous 1809 Knickerbocker's History of New York._[10]
Santa by the Numbers (Math & Science Facts)

Santa Must Visit about 842 Million Homes in One Night
With over 2.1 billion children in the world and an average of 2.5 children per household, Santa must make 842 million stops on Christmas Eve._[19]
Santa Claus Must Travel 218 Million Miles on Christmas Eve to Reach Everyone
This means that Santa must travel 1,280 miles per second to reach everyone._[16]
He Would Only Have a Millisecond per Chimney
Researchers calculate that if Santa is to reach every child on Christmas Eve, he has only a millisecond to go down each chimney, eat cookies, and distribute presents._[16]
Santa's Sleigh Would Weigh over 400,000 Tons
Carrying gifts for billions of children would also require 360,000 reindeer._[16]
Santa Drinks A Lot of Milk
If all 2 billion children Santa visits left a glass of milk (8 oz) for him, Santa would need to drink 4 million gallons of milk every hour, or about 137 million gallons of milk overnight. A human stomach can hold about 2–4 liters of liquid._[22]
Santa Would Consume 374 Billion Calories if He Ate Every Cookie
Assuming each household in the whole world leaves out two chocolate chip cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, he would eat 374 billion calories, 33,000 tons of sugar, and 151,000 tons of fat in one night. If Santa could run an eight-minute mile, he would have to run for 109 centuries (109,000 years) to burn off all those treats._[23]
Santa Would Need to Visit 2 Billion Children on Christmas Eve
Thanks to different time zones and the rotation of the Earth, he would have 32 hours to work with._[25]

As you listen for the sound of reindeer hooves on your roof this Christmas, marvel at the science that allows so much to happen

Santa Would Experience Superhuman Physics
At these speeds, his sled would heat hotter than molten lava, requiring a sci-fi heat shield._[21]
Santa Needs about 1.6 Million Miles of Wrapping Paper
If Santa needs presents for nearly 2 billion children globally, and if, on average, each child's presents take 31.5 inches (80 cm) of wrapping paper, Santa needs about 1.6 million miles of wrapping paper. That is enough to wrap around the world over 60 times._[25]
Weird, Wild, & Just Plain Fun Santa Facts

The Most Powerful Mutant Ever Detected in the Marvel Universe is Santa Claus
Cerebro detected him while the X-men were celebrating Christmas._[14]
The Benefits of Believing Santa
Believing in Santa Claus cultivates a child's imagination and ability to think of possibilities and potentialities._[26]

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

- Francis Pharcellus Church

Mrs. Claus First Appeared in an 1849 Short Story
The first mention of Mrs. Claus was in the 1849 short story A Christmas Legend by James Rees. She was popularized in Katherine Lee Bates's 1889 poem "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride." The term "Goody" is short for "Goodwife," or "Mrs."_[5]
Santa's Reindeer are Likely Female or Castrated Males
Male reindeer shed their antlers before December, so Santa's reindeer, which are depicted WITH antlers, are most likely female._[2]
The NORAD Santa Tracker Was Created By Accident
A 1955 Sears ad misprinted Santa's phone number, and the calls went to a U.S. military command center. Officials played along, which launched a global Christmas tradition._[17]

The log doesn't drop larger presents; the Three Wise Men are believed to bring those (Toniher / Creative Commons)

Global Santa Traditions

In Spain's Catalan Region, Children beat a Tio de Nadal--"the poop log"--until it "poops" presents.
After they collect their treats, some families may burn the log for warmth, but most keep the log year after year._[15]
The Official Hometown of Santa Claus
Rovaniemi, Finland (located on the Arctic Circle) is the official hometown of Santa Claus. He lives in the Santa Claus Village there, which hosts significant annual celebrations._[24]
Copenhagen, Denmark Hosts the Annual Santa World Congress
Since 1957, Copenhagen, Denmark has hosted the annual Santa World Congress. Santas from all over the world gather to exchange ideas, parade through the streets of Copenhagen, and celebrate the festive season together._[1]
NASA Astronauts Celebrate Christmas in Space
Some bring small stockings; others receive surprise packages launched on cargo rockets._[18]
Sending Letters via Balloons
In Mexico and Latin America, in addition to letter writing, children will also put their letters in a helium balloon. The balloon then flies magically to Santa Claus._[13]
Iceland has 13 Santas, and Some of Them Cause Mischief
The Yule Lads include Spoon-Licker, Door-Slammer, and Candle-Stealer._[7]
In the U.S., All Letters Addressed Simply to "Santa" go to Santa Claus, Indiana
The town even has a team of "official elves" who read and answer them._[3]
Not Everyone Loves Santa
In some places of the world, such as Austria, Latin America, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, Santa is on the naughty list. In an effort to protect themselves from what they see as American commercialization, and to protect their own native Christmas traditions, these countries have cultivated strong anti-Santa sentiments._[11]
Santa Claus University
In Colorado, there is a Santa Claus university that teaches people how to become professional Santas. Courses include media training, posing, beard shaping, dressing, and more._[6]
In Canada, Santa's postal code is H0H 0H0.
Every hero needs a postal address._[20]
A man who was legally named Santa Claus was elected to a city council in North Pole, Alaska.
In 2015, a man legally named Santa Claus won a three-year term._[8]
The Figure of Father Christmas First Appeared in 1616 Masque Written by Ben Jonson, and He Wasn't Alone
In the festive play, Father Christmas is accompanied by his 10 children, whose names include Wassail, Carol, Misrule, and Minced-Pie._[9]

Ultimate Santa Claus Guide INFOGRAPHIC

Whether he is a mutant, a bishop, a Norse god, or a cookie-powered speed machine, Santa is a reminder of the generosity, wonder, and how wildly creative human traditions can be. Share these facts with someone who needs a little extra Christmas magic._[5]