Santa Claus for us is the benevolent old man who brings smiles and cheer to all with his jolly laughter. Today's Santa Claus is a combination of the Dutch Sinterklaas and the British Father Christmas — both of whom are based on Saint Nicholas of Myra who was known for giving gifts. Depictions of Saint Nicholas had little to nothing in common with the portly, bearded gentleman we know today. Iterations of the Coca-Cola ads with Santa also increased engagement with the consumer base. The depictions in the Coke ads went on to create the current lore around Santa.

Source: The Star December 25, 2023 03:59 UTC