THE LIBRARY

ABOUT SANTA
REGARDING SANTA'S SLEIGH
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
IS HE REAL?

Santa Claus is known by many names, including Saint Nick. Historians claim that the history of Santa starts with the tradition of Saint Nicholas, a 4th century Christian priest who lived in the Middle East and became famous for his kindness. He was known for giving gifts to the less fortunate, sprinkling gifts of gold down people's chimneys, and for hiding surprises in their stockings.

It may be that the Santa we know today emerged from the legacy of Saint Nicholas. Clearly, Santa's basic approach to gift giving is strikingly similar. Could they be the same person? Only Santa Claus knows for sure!

Virginia's letter, written in December 1897, is the most famous example of a child wanting to know about Santa.

Listen to Virginia's famous letter

Listen to the Editor's response to Virginia's letter

Based on historical data and more than 50 years of NORAD tracking information, we believe that Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of children throughout the world

HIS MAGICAL JOURNEY

Santa keeps a long list of children who have been good throughout the year. His list grows longer each year due to the world's increasing population. Check out the world's population right now

Though his list gets longer, Santa still has to deliver all of the presents in the same amount of time. If one were to assume he works in the realm of standard time, he would need to limit his stay to about three ten-thousandths of a second per home!

Santa would never rush the important job of distributing presents to children and spreading holiday cheer to everyone, so the only logical conclusion is that Santa functions within a different time-space continuum than the rest of us. Santa is a true mystery to us all!

Long before the Wright brothers flew the first airplane or the Montgolfier brothers launched the first hot air balloon, Santa had to find a way to travel from house to house at great speed. We know from our Santa Cam images that Santa�s choice for quick transportation was a herd of flying reindeer. Detailed information on these reindeer remains elusive; we do know, however, that Santa enlisted the reindeer to help him with his worldwide mission of gift-giving. A veil of sweet mystery hides the rest.

Probable First Flight
Dec. 24, 343 A.D.
Home Base
North Pole
Weight at takeoff
75,000 gd (gumdrops)
Passenger weight at takeoff
Santa Claus 260 pounds
Weight of gifts at takeoff
60,000 tons
Weight at landing
80,000 gd (ice & snow accumulation)
Passenger weight at landing
1,260 pounds
Propulsion
Nine (9) rp (reindeer power)
Armament
Antlers (purely defensive)
Fuel
Hay, oats and carrots (for reindeer)
Emissions
Classified
Climbing speed
One "T" (Twinkle of an eye)
Max speed
Faster than starlight

Santa's Sleigh

Length
75 cc (candy canes) / 150 lp (lollipops)
Width
40 cc / 80 lp
Height
55 cc / 110 lp
Note: Length, width, and height are without reindeer
Designer & Builder
K. Kringle & Elves, Inc.
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  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Mexico
  • France
  • Japan
  • China
  • Russia
  • Brazil
  • Australia
  • Israel
  • India
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Kenya
  • Sweden
  • England
  • Ireland
  • Canada
  • United States
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Germany

There is so much celebrating that it has to begin on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day. As in many other European countries, on the eve of Dec. 6th children place a shoe or boot by the fireplace. During the night, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, hops from house to house carrying a book of sins in which all of the misdeeds of the children are written. If they have been good, he fills the shoe or boot with delicious holiday edibles. If they have not been good, their shoe is filled with twigs.

Italy

On Christmas Eve, Italian children hang their stockings by the chimney where it remains empty until Jan. 6, the Befana day (also known as the Epiphany,) when the befana (during the night) fills it with sweets or coal, depending on whether the children were good or naughty. (The Befana is an old woman (witch) that flies on a broom; she is considered nice and kind.)

Spain

Christmas dinner is never eaten until after midnight. Christmas Day is spent at church, at feasts and in more merry-making. It is not Santa who comes to Spain bearing gifts, but the Three Wise Men. [Children stuff their shoes with straw for the Magi's camels and receive gifts in return.]

Mexico

On Christmas Eve, small children dressed as shepherds stand on either side of the nativity scene while members of the company kneel and sing a litany, after which the Christ Child is lulled to sleep with the cradle song, "El Rorro" (Babe in Arms). At midnight the birth of Christ is announced with fireworks, ringing bells and blowing whistles. Devout worshipers surge into churches to attend the famous "Misa de Gallo" or "Mass of the Rooster." Following Mass, families return home for a tremendous dinner of traditional Mexican foods. Christmas Day has no special celebration though many have adopted the American style Christmas with a Christmas tree and Santa Claus.

France

Family celebrations begin with the decoration of the Christmas tree a few days before Christmas; candles and lights, tinsel and many colored stars are attached to it. On Christmas Eve when the children are asleep, little toys, candies and fruits are hung on the branches of the tree as a supplement to the gifts Santa Claus has left in the shoes before the fireplace. Puppet shows are also given every year for Christmas. At midnight everyone attends the Christmas mass. When the family returns home after midnight mass, there is a late supper known as "le r�veillon." Ordinarily, young children do not attend midnight mass with their parents, but go to bed early to dream of their Christmas gifts. Before going to bed, they put their shoes by the fireside for a gift from "le p�re de No�l" or "le petit J�sus."

Japan

The Nativity scene is given a corner in every Christian house. They also have turkey for Christmas dinner, Christmas trees, evergreens and mistletoe in their stores and homes and even Hoeiosho, the Japanese equivalent of Santa Claus, who is a Buddhist monk bearing gifts for the children. The family members exchange gifts and send cards with the true heart of giving. Japan�s Christmas traditions for Japanese Christians are to spend the day for worship, and charity for the poor and sick. The children perform plays re-enacting the Nativity scene on Christmas Eve. Unique Christmas traditions of Japan are Christmas Cakes, Fried Chicken, and Daiku.

China

Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Chinese children hang muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas Old Man."

Russia

Brazil

Australia

Israel

India

Saudi Arabia

Kenya

Sweden

England

Ireland

Canada

United States

Courtesy of Getty Images
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