“…With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick…” According to the “Twas the Night Before Christmas” poem, Santa Claus has aged well, still getting around the world in one night, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
But I am in my (cough, cough) 40s, and he has been a staple in my life at Christmastime for as long as I can remember. If he was old then, he must be even older now, but it sure doesn’t show.
Maybe St. Nick holds some secret to keeping up appearances and aging gracefully. After all, the Santa we see in books, in the movies and at the malls is a white-haired, elderly old gentleman who surely couldn’t make a trip around the world delivering presents to all of the good little boys and girls in just one night—right? Is it all just a myth to be debunked?
So, how old is Santa? Prepare to be amazed.
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How Old Is Santa Claus?
By all calculations and endless internet searches, Santa is 1,754 years old this year. Yep, that’s right. He isn’t 80 or 90 years old. Not even 100 years old. That jolly, old fella is (an unbelievable) 1,754 in 2024!
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What Is the Real Story Behind Saint Nicholas?
“…His eyes – how they twinkled! His dimples how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke; it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf…”
This passage from the same Christmas poem paints a perfect picture of the “classic” Santa Claus we have all grown to love over the years. But where did this depiction come from?
Santa Claus, St. Nick or Kris Kringle are names given over the years to the monk from the 3rd century whom the legend is based on. On March 15, around 270 or 280 A.D., St. Nicholas was born into this world in Patara (modern-day Turkey) and would grow into a man known for his character, kindness and generosity.
He came from inherited wealth, and legend has it, he gave it all away, traveling the countryside helping the poor and sick. The tales of St. Nick morphed over the years, and soon, he became the “protector of children and sailors.” His popularity continued to grow, even after the Protestant Reformation, which led to discouraging people’s worshiping of saints.
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Where Does Modern Day Santa Claus Come From?
As the years have changed, so too has Santa’s look, character and legend. Our modern-day shopping mall Santa was first depicted by Thomas Nast, a cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly from 1859-1886. Soon to follow would be an evolution in Santa’s appearance after 1931, when the beloved Coca-Cola ads began appearing annually.
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Santa will continue to thrive as long as we continue to believe in the magic of mystery, kindness and generosity (just like St. Nicholas). Maybe his secret to ageless years is that he is refueled by the positivity and loving energy given by so many people around the holidays. One thing’s for sure—for my kid’s kids, and even their kids and beyond, Santa will be forever timeless.
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