You heard me! Santa has been heavily influenced by traditions surrounding Odin, the Norse god of the Norse gods, a.k.a. the Allfather. As I write this, I imagine many readers with a co*ck-eyed expression indicating a skepticism that the two seemingly different beard-laden individuals could have much in common aside from their facial hair. The truth is, there can be little doubt that Odin’s lore has factored into Santa as we know him today.
Here’s the down and dirty on the comparisons.
Santa Clause
- Flies around in December for Christmas to bring gifts to good children.
- Has eight reindeer pulling his sleigh.
- Is the most visually iconic figure of Christmas, symbolizing giving, joy, and peace.
- Before Coca-Cola popularized the jolly, jiggly Santa we all know today, Santa was depicted thin as often as chubby, and usually donned brown, blue, or red robes.
- Has elves who make toys for children.
- Sometimes referred to as Father Christmas.
Odin the Allfather
- Flew around in December for Yuletide to head off the Wild Hunt. He knew who had been bad and good and hunted down or abducted those who deserved it.
- Had an eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, that pulled his sleigh.
- Was the most iconic figure of Yuletide, a holiday that celebrated hospitality, feasting, and gift-giving.
- Is often depicted wearing either blue or brown robes.
- Elves and dwarves (Christmas elves seem to be an amalgamation of the two) originate from Norse Mythology and are known as amazing creators.
- Was referred to as Yule Father.
Though it’s quite obvious that Santa has influence from Odin, we can’t ignore some of the other obvious influences such as Saint Nicholas of Myra and the Dutch Sinterklaas.
A few other traditions that Christmas has borrowed from Norse tradition include tree decoration, mistletoe, and wreaths.
Information from this post was gathered from both my personal interest in the subject and this article. The article contains more details with comparisons between the two as well as many references to more resources on the subjects of Odin, Santa Claus, and Norse Mythology.
FAQs
Santa has been heavily influenced by traditions surrounding Odin, the Norse god of the Norse gods, a.k.a. the Allfather.
What is the Viking name for Santa Claus? ›
Santa Claus
The Norse god Odin was described as a bearded old man wearing a hat and a cloak, Odin would often ride his eight-legged horse Sleipnir across the midwinter night's sky, delivering gifts to those down below.
What was Santa's Viking name in Violent Night? ›
Nicomund the Red, Santa's brutal past life. Santa Claus (then known as Nicumond) was born around the 9th-11th Century. In his younger days, he was a barbaric viking called Nicumond the Red who used to conquer lands with his hammer "Skullcrusher" and lavishing in greed from the treasure he collected.
Does Odin give gifts on Yule? ›
During the Yule celebrated by Germanic people, many believed that ghost sightings and supernatural occurences happened much more often than during the rest of the year, such as during the Wild Hunt, which was a procession of ghosts through the sky led by Odin, who bore a long beard and brought gifts to those who ...
Is Santa a myth or real? ›
Santa is real in the sense that he was an actual person. Otherwise known as Saint Nicholas, his story goes all the way back to the 3rd century. He was a monk who was born in 280 A.D. in modern-day Turkey.
What is the true origin of Santa Claus? ›
The origins of Sinterklaas can be found in the stories of St Nicholas, a 4th-century Greek bishop from Myra, now in modern-day Turkey. St Nicholas was credited with a wide variety of miracles. According to one story, he resurrected three youths after they'd been murdered and pickled in a barrel by an innkeeper.
What is Santa's real name? ›
It is believed that the first Santa Claus was Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was a monk and therefore did not marry. The Santa Claus that we know lives in the North Pole. According to some North American sources, his original name was Kris Kringle before he changed his name to Santa Claus.
What is Santa's phone number? ›
Santa Claus' phone number
Father Christmas can be reached at 605-313-4000, his official hotline. Those wishing to call Santa can also visit FreeConferenceCall.com/Santa-Hotline to call the Santa Hotline through the official website.
What is German Santas name? ›
Santa Claus - Der Weihnachtsmann
The term Weihnachtsmann is a very generic German term for Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus. The German Weihnachtsmann is a fairly recent Christmas tradition having little if any religious or folkloric background.
What is Black Santa's name? ›
Larry Jefferson was the Mall of America's first black Santa Claus. The Minnesota shopping centre hired Larry Jefferson at a Santa convention in Missouri, where among more than 1,000 attendees he was the only African-American.
Krampus is basically the anti-St. Nicholas, the opposite of Santa Claus. He's a fugly mythical creature usually depicted with similar features as the devil. He has body hair, horns, hooves, and fangs.
Who was Santa before he became Santa? ›
The Origin and History of a Christmas Legend. The story behind Santa goes back to the third century during the time of St. Nicholas, a monk, even though some sources state that he was a bishop. Nicholas was born around 280 A.D. in Patara, in modern-day Turkey.
Is Odin Santa Claus? ›
Santa Claus - or more accurately the British figure of Father Christmas - is certainly connected to the Norse/Saxon god Oden (or Woden.) The British 'Father Christmas' first appeared in the ancient mid-winter festivals as the Holly King: a purely pagan figure who represented the coming of spring.
What does Odin sacrifice? ›
He is the one-eyed All-Father, who sacrificed his eye in order to see everything that happens in the world. He has two sons, Balder by his first wife Frigg and Thor by Jord.
Does Odin ride a reindeer? ›
In Norse mythology, the god Odin was often depicted riding an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir, which some suggest could be an early precursor to Santa's reindeer team.
What pagan god is Santa based on? ›
Santa Claus may owe his earliest influence to Odin (also known as Wodan), a god revered by Germanic peoples in Northern Europe as early as 2 B.C.E. Odin was celebrated during Yule, a pagan holiday that took place midwinter.
Who is Santa based in? ›
Nicholas: The Real Santa Claus. The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey.
What is Santa Tracker based on? ›
The program originated before the actual formation of NORAD, as an annual event on December 24, 1955. According to legend, a Sears department store placed an advertisem*nt in the Colorado Springs newspaper The Gazette, which told children they could place a call to Santa Claus and included the number ME 2-6681.
What is Santa modeled after? ›
Now firmly his own mythological figure, Santa was originally inspired by the fourth century Greek bishop, Saint Nicholas of Myra, a man renowned for his generosity and kindness.
