
Meet the Santa Claus!
The Santa Claus is a favorite imaginative character found in winter holiday stories and the North Pole.
Santa Claus grew out of the story of Saint Nicholas, a kind bishop who lived about 1,700 years ago in what is now Turkey and was known for secretly giving gifts. Dutch families brought their Sinterklaas tradition to America, and poems and pictures in the 1800s added his sleigh, flying reindeer and red suit.
Santa appears in songs, films and books such as The Night Before Christmas. Many families leave out milk and cookies for him and a carrot for his reindeer. Each year, a group called NORAD tracks Santa's journey around the world online on Christmas Eve, just for fun.
Where would you typically find a Santa Claus in stories?
Have children draw Santa's workshop with his elf helpers busy making toys, then talk about teamwork and helping others.
Write a pretend letter to Santa together and talk about how different cultures around the world have their own gift-giving winter traditions.
The North Pole, with his elf helpers.
A red suit with white fur trim and a black belt.
Delivering gifts during the winter holidays.
Yes — different cultures have their own gift-giving winter characters.
Drawing his workshop, writing a pretend letter, learning about other cultures' traditions, or coloring a printable worksheet.