All over the world Santa Claus has different names - for example some English-speaking people call him Father Christmas, in other languages he is called Papa Noel, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Babbo Natale and many, many more names.
Santa Claus or as his proper name Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children. There are stories of him spreading back many, many hundreds of years.
The first tale of him is that he heard of a very poor family in his hometown in Asia, whose father could no longer afford to feed his family and was thinking of selling his daughters. So, for three nights in a row, Santa Claus went by their open window and threw three purses of money in it, the money each night landed in the girls' stockings. This is why we put stockings up. After the family received the money, they could stay together and afford food.
Gradually over time Santa Claus becomes increasingly generous especially towards children and this is why he is the patron saint of children.
How he came to move to the north pole and live such a long life no one really knows. It can only be that he was gifted his magic because of his kindness to others, and it is believed that the more people, especially children, who believe in Santa Claus and the “Spirit” of Christmas the stronger his powers become.
What is the spirit of Christmas I hear you ask?
Well, this is when we wish to spend time with those people we love and we want to spread some happiness, usually by giving gifts. This is why it is important for children to remember that they are very lucky if they get lots of Christmas gifts as not everyone does. The spirit of Christmas can be felt as we listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas movies, when we go out with our family to buy gifts for other people, the exciting of trying to find just the right gift for brothers / sisters / grandparents etc.
Many children ask if Santa makes all the gifts?
Santa and his many, many Elves work very hard all year round to make toys for the children of the world. Santa designs many new toys every year and makes sure that the toys you receive are ones that you will like. He has to remember that he is making toys for children of all ages from all over the world and what a child in Clackmannan can or wants to play with might not suit a child who lives in a village which has no electricity or internet. There are all different types of workshops in Santa's villages so that the Elves can make any toy that is required.
Nice & Naughty Lists
These are kept by Santa Claus and updated daily by the Head of The Naughty and Nice List Elves, Alabaster Snowball. They use the lists to make sure the children who behave all year round are rewarded for their efforts, if you stay on the nice list, you will get presents from Santa. BUT if you do things that you shouldn't be doing and don't pay attention to those who love and care for you, well you just might find yourself on the naughty list. If your name goes on the naughty list, it is said that Santa only gives you a lump of coal, (I don't know for sure because I've never met anyone naughty enough to stay on the list for a long time).
Does Santa really live at the North Pole?
This is a question a lot of people ask, because when you go to the north pole there is nothing there to see. My understanding is that a lot of Santa's very special magic is involved, and we will explain that on the North Pole and Santa's Village pages.
Is Santa married?
This is another big question everyone asks, and the answer is YES. He and Mrs Claus have been married a very long time now and she is affected by his magic, and this is why she has lived such a long time. She helps him care for all the Elves as well as helping in several departments. She helps the Elves in the Sweet Treats Department and the Clothes Designing Department. She says all the children in the world are their children. Unfortunately, she is a rather shy lady and doesn't like her photo taken, hopefully we will find one of her though.
