Santa Claus

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Did you know? In the Middle Ages, Saint Nicholas was the patron saint of pawnbrokers, which is why he is often depicted with three gold balls that later became the symbol for pawn shops. elaborate

Fact 1 of 30

30 facts about Santa Claus

1
In the early 19th century, the famous poem A Visit from St. Nicholas gave Santa Claus his eight flying reindeer, but the famous ninth reindeer, Rudolph, was not added to the story until a department store marketing campaign in 1939.
2
Santa Claus is not just a person but also an official citizen of the country of Canada, which granted him honorary status back in 2008.
3
If Santa were to visit every home on Earth with children, his sleigh would need to travel at roughly 650 miles per second to complete his route in time.
4
In Italy, there is a tradition called La Befana where an old woman who looks like a witch delivers gifts to children on the eve of the Epiphany instead of Santa Claus.
5
Many people believe that Santa Claus is entirely based on pagan winter gods, but his character is actually rooted in the life of a real historical bishop who lived in the fourth century.
6
The modern idea that Santa lives at the North Pole is physically impossible because the North Pole is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean on shifting sea ice, meaning there is no land there to build a house.
7
It is a common misconception that Santa Claus was created by a marketing company, but he has been evolving in literature and folklore for over a thousand years.
8
While we know him as Santa Claus today, the name actually comes from the Dutch name Sinterklaas, which evolved through pronunciation changes in early America.
9
In some countries, Santa Claus is actually a female character or a grandmother figure who brings gifts to children instead of a man.
10
Santa's official workshop address in Finland is located right on the Arctic Circle, making it a very popular tourist destination for elves and humans alike.
11
In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas is said to arrive every year by steamboat from Spain rather than by sleigh from the North Pole.
12
Many people think Santa has always worn red, but he was frequently depicted wearing green, blue, or even brown robes before Coca-Cola advertisements in the 1930s helped standardize his look.
13
Santa Claus has a dedicated postal code in Canada, H0H 0H0, which was chosen because it sounds like his signature laugh.
14
In the Middle Ages, Saint Nicholas was the patron saint of pawnbrokers, which is why he is often depicted with three gold balls that later became the symbol for pawn shops.
15
Saint Nicholas's bones were stolen by Italian sailors in 1087 and moved to the city of Bari to preserve them.
16
Many children assume Santa eats only cookies, but in many cultures, he is also offered carrots for the reindeer and sometimes even a shot of whiskey.
17
In the 1950s, a Sears department store advertisement accidentally printed a phone number that connected children directly to the top secret Continental Air Defense Command instead of Santa.
18
The name Santa Claus is derived from Sinterklaas, the Dutch pronunciation of Saint Nicholas.
19
Most people assume Santa's elves are small, but early folklore actually described them as various sizes of magical forest spirits.
20
The original St. Nicholas was a Greek bishop living in what is now modern-day Turkey.
21
Santa's sleigh is often described as having magical physics that allow it to fit down chimneys that are far too narrow.
22
In the United Kingdom, Santa is historically referred to as Father Christmas.
23
Santa receives over a million letters every year from children all around the globe.
24
It is a common misconception that Santa Claus has always worn red, as he was frequently illustrated wearing green, blue, or brown coats in the 19th century.
25
Saint Nicholas was originally the patron saint of sailors and pawnbrokers, not just children.
26
In some parts of the world, Santa has a companion who is tasked with punishing naughty children rather than just delivering presents.
27
Santa has his own dedicated postal code in Canada: H0H 0H0.
28
In the early 1900s, Santa was sometimes depicted as a slim, elf-like figure rather than the jolly, round man we know today.
29
In the Netherlands, there is a traditional belief that Sinterklaas arrives by steamboat from Spain every year, rather than by a sleigh from the North Pole, which is why he is often depicted wearing a bishop's robe instead of a fur-lined suit.
30
The modern image of Santa Claus in a red suit was not created by Coca-Cola, but rather solidified by cartoonist Thomas Nast in the 1860s, long before the famous beverage advertisements appeared.

Elf (movie) Holidays

The iconic costume worn by Will Ferrell was intentionally designed with a slightly short hemline on the pants to make his long legs look even more awkward and exaggerated while he walked around the city. elaborate

Christmas Trees Holidays

In the early 1900s, some people were so worried about the fire hazards of real candles on trees that they tried to use slices of raw potatoes as candle holders, hoping the moisture would keep the branches from catching fire. elaborate

Christmas Around the World Holidays

In Japan, it is a popular tradition to eat a full Christmas dinner from KFC, with many families placing their orders weeks in advance to ensure they get their festive fried chicken. elaborate

Times Square Ball Drop Holidays

During World War II, the ball drop was suspended for two years in 1942 and 1943 due to wartime dimout regulations, so revelers observed a minute of silence instead. elaborate

Mistletoe Holidays

Mistletoe is actually a partial parasite that steals water and minerals from trees, meaning the plant we kiss under is technically a bit of a freeloader. elaborate

Christmas Carols Holidays

In the 1600s, Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans banned the singing of Christmas carols in England, declaring them sinful and a distraction from religious devotion. elaborate

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30 facts about Santa Claus

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30 facts about Santa Claus

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