Most people have heard of Santa Claus. Knowing him as a fat, chubby, old fellow who squishes down chimneys (I’m not sure how as he’s very fat) and puts presents in the stockings of children who have been good. Then he eats the biscuits and drinks the sherry left for him in the house and squishes back up the chimney. After that he flies off in his sleigh in the sky which is pulled by his reindeers, one of them having a red nose that shines like a light bulb. And then he flies off back to his home in the North Pole and waits till next Christmas, never ageing!

 Santa Claus didn’t start off like that at all! He wasn’t a fat, chubby, old fellow who squishes down chimneys. So what was Santa really like at the start and how did he begin? 

Santa Claus all began in the country of Turkey. He is based on Bishop Nicholas who lived in the 4^th century A.D. Bishop Nicholas was a rich and wealthy man but used his money in a kind and generous way. He would buy presents and give them to children who were poor! Soon Bishop Nicholas became a saint and so his name became St. Nicholas, a name you might recognise. Soon a name was made for him Sinterklass. As you may have noticed, this name is very close to Santa Claus. Sinterklass was the German name for him.

Soon Santa Claus became well-known all around the world and is still known well now.

  By Laura Reece and Lizzy Tan