The Real Story Behind Santa Claus

The Santa Claus that my little boy is learning about- the one decked out in red and white-is synonymous with Christmas, flying reindeer, a hearty laugh, and presents galore. But do you know what is believed to be the real story of how Santa got his start?

The legend of Santa Claus actually evolved over time. Saint Nicholas of Myra was a very real man and is the person the modern-day Santa Claus is based on- this virtually all historians can agree on.

History is a bit murky on the details of Nicholas of Myra’s life, but we're fairly sure that this man lived in Myra (hence his name), which is now located in Turkey, and that he helped a lot of people in need.

One popular story is that Saint Nicholas threw sacks of gold into the window of a poor man who didn't have funds for his daughters' dowries. His actions apparently saved the girls from having to work in brothels, which saved the family's honor. From that once simple act of kindness, the folk tale of Saint Nick as a man who gives presents to the deserving got started.

From the very real history of Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus was born. Over the years, the big man's name has changed and the story of sleigh rides through the skies and dropping down people’s chimneys were added on by various cultures. It seems that pretty much every society who celebrating Christmas wanted to contribute a little something to the story of the man known as Santa Claus.

Curious what the real life Saint Nicholas looked like? Liverpool University thinks that they have the answer. The also think his nose was broken, which healed in an asymmetrical manner. See the photo here.

While the story of the real Saint Nicholas is a beautiful one, there are some who believe he was actually a bit of a bad boy and that the story of Santa wasn't created to encourage kids to behave, but rather to keep adults in line.