Santa Claus is a legendary figure who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved children on Christmas. Unknown to the people on Earth, Santa Claus was given being because of humanity's belief in the deeds of three different characters in history. These three people, whom belief in together created the true magical being of Santa Claus, are who the people of Earth think Santa Claus actually is or originated from. [1]

Legendary figure: Saint Nicholas

One theory of Earth people is that Santa Claus' origin came from a 4th-century man named Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was born near the coast of modern-day Turkey, and became the bishop of Myra in his life. Many miracles were attributed to him, and he was known to to be very kind, to be very generous, and to have a great love of children. Some of his miracles include appearing to Emperor Constantine in a dream once to save three wrongly accused soldiers from execution, and restoring three beheaded children of sailors back to life. The most famous story told of the bishop Nicholas is how he attempted to give money anonymously to a family of daughters whose father could not pay their dowries for them to get married. He tried tossing a bags of gold into their house on the nights the girls were to get married, and it is said that on the third night he dropped the bag through the chimney, where it landed in a stocking hanging out to dry. Despite Nicholas' wishes, word of his good deeds spread, and eventually whenever anyone received an unexpected gift, they began thanking Nicholas as custom. After Nicholas' death, a church was built in dedication of him.[1]

Hundreds of years later, after Myra's end, the Russian Emperor Vladimir decided to make Bishop Nicholas the patron saint of Russia after visiting Constantinople and hearing all the wonderful stories of him. These stories eventually spread to the Laplands, to the people of the reindeer sleds. In the Netherlands, the name Sint Nicholaas was contracted into Sinterklaas, which inspired the name Santa Claus. The day before the anniversary of Nicholas' death, December 5th, became a time of giving, which eventually became linked to Christmas, the December 25th Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. [1]

Legenandary: Odin

Other sources believe the origin of Santa Claus was simply inspired by the all-father of the Asgard (the realm of the gods), Odin after a special night where he saved a village's Midwinter's feast from not happening. Hundreds of years ago, an Asgardian Troll named Grylak the Greater was attempting to blackmail Odin to give him control of Asgard, threatening to destroy it with a giant asteroid otherwise. At the same time on Earth, a fisherman named Sigurd was sailing home to his village's Midwinter's feast, but was caught in a storm that blotted out the stars and stopped Sigurd from being able to navigate home. Sigurd's wife, Sia, prayed to Odin to help her husband. In answer, Odin commanded his son, Thor, to not attack Grylak but to first gather some of Asgard's finest wines, linens, and foods. Afterward, killing two birds with one stone, Odin ordered Thor to hurl his magic hammer, Mjolnir, at the Troll's asteroid; destroying it in a blinding flash of light that appeared as a bright star in the sky to Sigurd and his crew on Earth, allowing them to navigate home.

Later that night at Sigurd's village, his wife Sia heard a strange sound that caused her to rush to the hearth and find an unknown man (Odin) wearing furs and holding a huge bundle. The man vanished in a flash of light, leaving behind the goods collected by Thor, and at that same moment Sigurd returned home. Sigurd and Sia looked outside to see Odin, in furs, riding a sleigh driven by two flying rams and crying "A good Midwinter to all! And to all a good life!"[3][1]

Possible Origin: British Elders

Another theory is that the origin of Santa Claus comes from pre-medieval Britain. It is said that there was a custom among tribes for the community elder to dress up in furs as a character called "Old Winter", and go from dwelling to dwelling delivering food and drink. It was thought that if someone was hospitable to Old Winter, the winter season to be kind to them. This tradition survived for many, many, years, and after the introduction of Christianity, Old Winter began to be known as "Old Christmas", "Old Father Christmas", and eventually just "Father Christmas".[1]

The generation of Santa Claus

When humanity's belief in the three listed legends mixed together with spiritual energy, the true magical being known as Santa Claus was created. This being was the physical manifestation of giving, as that was the common aspect among all the fables believed in. After being generated into existence, Santa initially set up his base of operations in Finland's eastern frontier, at a city called Korvatunturi. He rode a horse around and began delivering gifts to people on Christmas morning. Later, he took a wife and they moved to the North Pole where they established a workshop. Santa then brought together a workforce of elves to create toys throughout the year in preparation for each Christmas. The majority of these elves were descended from the Light Elves of Alfheim, one of the ten realms of Asgard.




In December, 1943, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler had Santa Claus captured to destroy the U.S.A.'s morale, but U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sent Sgt. Nick Fury, Captain America (Steve Rogers), and Bucky (James Barnes) to rescue him.[4] On Christmas Day 1954, Santa Claus, posing as a wealthy man, instructed Smith City garage attendant Sammy Glenn, an intelligent man who had never made good on his abilities, to watch his car and luggage for six hours. On impulse, Glenn "borrowed" the car and a suit and entered an executive club, where he met an attractive woman and received a job offer. Stunned by his good fortune, Glenn returned the car to its owner not realizing that the man was Santa Claus.[5] That same year, Santa had a run-in with an unidentified burglar.[6] The following Christmas, Santa (keeping his identity anonymous) chastised wealthy miser Olvier Gombul for his selfish ways; but Santa was pleased when Gombul vowed to become a better man after the young Ned Evans, son of one of Gombul's employees, gave him a present - the first Gombul had ever received.[7]





Howard the Duck





For a time, Santa used his knowledge of who was naughty and who was nice to become the world's greatest detective as "Nick St. Christopher". In this role he aided the She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) in locating evidence for a murder investigation. Entranced by the She-Hulk, St. Christopher made a pass at her, but then Mrs. Claus arrived to corral him and to punish She-Hulk by filling her office with reindeer droppings. Before departing, St. Christopher gave She-Hulk a present, telling her to use it on Christmas for something special.[2] When she was later trapped in She-Hulk form, she opened the present, which allowed her to temporarily return to her human form to celebrate a normal Christmas evening with her father, Morris Walters.[11]



Howard the Duck Again


Great Lakes X-Men


Encounter with Deadpool

After not receiving presents, a group of kids hired Deadpool to kill Santa. Deadpool travelled to the North Pole and attempted to kill him, but was stopped when it turned out an evil elf was stopping presents from going out. Deadpool killed the elf instead, and returned home.[17]

Power Grid [19]
Energy Projection
Fighting Skills
* Teleporter; Heightened strength on Christmas Eve





Discover and Discuss


  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 Marvel Holiday Special #2006; Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Santa Claus
  2. 2.0 2.1 Sensational She-Hulk #8
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Marvel Holiday Special #1991
  4. Marvel Age #109
  5. Strange Tales #34
  6. Journey Into Unknown Worlds #34
  7. Strange Tales of the Unusual #2
  8. Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #10
  9. Howard the Duck Vol 2 #3
  10. Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #112
  11. Sensational She-Hulk #36
  12. What The--?! #10
  13. What The--?! #16
  14. Howard the Duck Holiday Special #1
  15. Generation X Holiday Special #1
  16. Great Lakes Avengers Special #1
  17. Deadpool Vol 7 #7
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #10
  19. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover Vol. 10

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