Santa Claus is the mythical figure. He is portrayed as a fat, jolly man with a white beard, dressed in a red suit outlined in white and the fur boots. Santa is also known by names such as Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas. He was born in the 4th century in Lycia, Anatolia. It is believed that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with his wife Mrs. Clause, a crew of industrious elves, and a stable of magical, flying reindeer. These elves make toys.
On 24th December, Santa is said to drive a sleigh full of toys drawn through the air by nine reindeer namely Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder, Prancer, Vixen, and Rudolph. Rudolph, the ninth reindeer is with a shiny nose. Throughout the year elves make toys and on the night of December 24 i.e. on Christmas Eve, Santa enters houses of good children through the chimney to deliver gifts under the Christmas tree and in the stockings.
Many legends and miracles are attributed to him:
- When he was an infant, his mother only nursed him on Wednesdays and Fridays; he fasted the remaining days.
- He halted a storm at sea to save three drowning sailors.
- His father left him a fortune that he used to help poor children.
- He grabbed the sword of an executioner to save the life of a political prisoner.