Ten Facts About Santa Claus You Might Not Want Your Kids to Learn

If you think Santa Claus is that big fat jolly person who gives our presents and comes down the chimney somehow once a year you are in for a surprise. The real Santa is not the person we have all come to know and love. In fact, some of these nuggets of information could well shock you. But what they are is interesting and so without further ado, I bring you ten amazing facts about Santa that you wouldn’t want your kids to know…

Santa is Real!

FACT: The original Santa Claus was a Bishop in Turkey around 270 AD and had a reputation for secretly giving gifts to those in need! His name was Saint Nicholas.

Santa Was Single For a Long Time

FACT: Poor Santa has in fact been a bachelor for hundreds of years, it wasn’t until 1849 when the short story, ‘A Christmas Legend’ by James Rees mentioned a spouse

Santa is a Trademark!

FACT: Whenever you see a Santa in a red coat in a TV advert, toy, book or image a small fee is paid to Coca-cola because they own the right to it!

Faster Than…Well…Anything!

FACT: It is thought that Santa has to travel over 510,000,000 km every Christmas Eve and to make it around the World in time needs to be travelling at 10,703,437.5kph!!!

Someone Had to Be First!

FACT: Whenever you see a Santa in the department stores and shopping centres all around the world, just remember that it all started in Massachusetts and they have been doing that since 1890!

Just Call Me Santa…or…

FACT: Santa Claus has many different names including Father Christmas, Black Peter, Kris Kringle, Pere Noel, La Befana and Sinterklaas! But you can call him Santa.

Can You Name Them All?

FACT: Can you name all of Santa’s nine reindeers? Well, they are: Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, but Rudolph is, in fact, the odd one out and was not included in any written list until 1939, 400 years later than the rest!

Santas Address

FACT: In Canada, Santa Claus has his own address and zip/postcode and this is not a joke, it really is HO-HO-HO! Now that is funny!

31 Hour Working Day

FACT: Poor old Santa has just 31 hours to deliver all his presents to children across the world! This is because of all the time zone differences he has to cross.

Jolly Green Santa?

FACT: Santa’s original suit is, in fact, green before the colour red was used in paintings and then believe it or not it was trademarked by Coca-cola!

Do you know of any other facts about Santa and the legend behind him? Do tell us in the comments below.