Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska The saint who inspired the legend of Sinterklaas (and thus, Santa Claus) is Saint Nicholas, who lived in the 4th Century AD and had a reputation for secret gift-giving, especially to the poor and needy, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him. [1] Different countries believe that Santa Claus lives in different places. In. Looking for Santa right now? Here's how to see where the jolly old elf is at on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus is usually good news for tourism—and locales all over the world embrace their proximity to the Christmas figure Santa Claus—otherwise known as St. Nicholas or Kris Kringle—has a long history steeped in Christmas traditions. Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red who brings toys to good. How did Santa Claus become the figurehead of Christmas? Here's a history lesson on ol' Saint Nick. Celebrate the holiday season with Google's Santa Tracker, featuring games, activities, and learning experiences for all ages throughout December. Santa Claus is a legendary figure who is the traditional patron of Christmas in the United States and other countries, bringing gifts to children. His popular image is based on traditions associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian saint. Father Christmas fills the role in many European countries. Explore festive games, activities, and educational content with Santa's elves throughout December on this interactive platform. Santa Claus is a legendary figure [1] originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve. Christmas elves are said to make the gifts in Santa's workshop, while flying reindeer pull his sleigh through the air. [2][3] The popular conception of Santa Claus originates from folklore traditions surrounding the 4th-century. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, tracks Santa's Christmas Eve flight around the world each year.