| The true story of Santa Claus remains one of | | | | Belsnickle, or Furry Nicholas ) that snuck |
| the biggest mysteries of all time. Stories | | | | into homes at night to kill village children |
| and legends of this jolly, red-clad symbol of | | | | violently and stuff them up the chimney, or |
| kindness and Christmas cheer have been passed | | | | drag them away to be eaten later. A saint |
| around for centuries in countries all over | | | | traps the demon with magic shackles, forcing |
| the world. Some believe Santa Clause has his | | | | him to bring the children toys and candy |
| roots in Christianity while some believe that | | | | instead, to make up for how many of them he |
| he was really based on the mythological god, | | | | ate. In some stories, the demon persuades |
| Odin. Others think that he was invented by | | | | imps and other creatures to help him, similar |
| the Coca Cola companies in the early 1900s | | | | to Santas elves, and in others, he chooses |
| to sell more pop. | | | | to go back to Hell instead. |
| | | | |
| Below are a few different explanations for | | | | Britain The Brits rendition of Santa Claus, |
| the history of Santa Clause. | | | | dating back to the 17th Century, is most |
| | | | similar to ours. Santa, or Father Christmas, |
| Early Christianity One story of Santa Claus, | | | | was a bearded man in a green, fur-lined robe, |
| or St. Nicholas as he is often referred to, | | | | that starred in the Charles Dickens story, A |
| says that he was a Christian bishop named | | | | Christmas Carol, as the Ghost of Christmas |
| Saint Nicholas of Maya. As this account has | | | | Present no pun intended. |
| it, Saint Nicholas was a bishop who gave | | | | |
| wedding dowries to poor women, allowing them | | | | Early America America, called the melting pot |
| to catch husbands and avoid lives of | | | | of modern civilization, is also the melting |
| prostitution. This Saint Nicholas can still | | | | pot of Santa Claus mythology. British, Dutch |
| be seen on German holy cards. | | | | and early American influences came together |
| | | | to give us the Santa Claus that most of us |
| Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands In | | | | are familiar with today: the jolly old man, |
| Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, Santa | | | | distributing gifts yearly with the help of |
| Claus is thought to be based on the Norse god | | | | his entourage of elves and reindeer. The |
| Odin (or Woden), god of wisdom, war and | | | | Coca Cola/Santa Claus myth stems from when |
| death. Legend was that Odin would throw a | | | | companies in the early 1900s, like White Rock |
| party around Christmastime for other gods and | | | | Beverages and Coca Cola began using Santas |
| dead warriors, and that he would ride to the | | | | image to promote their productsand of |
| party on his horse, Slepnir. Children in | | | | course, his distinctive red and white colors |
| these countries leave straw, carrots or sugar | | | | didnt help dispel the rumor. |
| in their shoes for Odins flying horse, which | | | | |
| are replaced with treats or gifts during the | | | | The only thing were really sure of is that |
| night. | | | | Santa Claus was not invented by Coca Cola, as |
| | | | the urban legend states. But no matter where |
| Austria and Italy Early folk tales in | | | | the real Santa hails from, what he stands for |
| southern Austria and northwest Italy tell of | | | | remains the same throughout every country: |
| a holy man who reforms a hideous child-eating | | | | kindness, goodness and the generous, giving |
| monster. As the story goes, there was a | | | | spirit associated with Christmas. |
| large demon, covered in furs (known as | | | | |