Some Christmas traditions mirror pre-Christian festivities, but some pagan influences may have been overstated.

But how did Nicholas become Santa Claus? It’s fairly obvious that part of Santa resides in the pagan past ... Something of his divided origin may be detected in the diverse roles he plays ...

Pagan myths from the north The contemporary Scandinavian version of Santa Claus has various origins, generally predating Christianization, when people celebrated midwinter, called Yule.

Over time, his story travelled to Northern Europe, where it merged with local pagan traditions. On the first Saturday after November 11, Sinterklaas, the jolly precursor to Santa Claus ...

"This story in particular, it really kind of humanised him for me and made him a far more interesting character than I think ...

Santa Claus, the iconic figure who brings holiday ... ivy, or mistletoe. This pagan symbol of nature and renewal brought joy to the public during the dark winter months. Over time, this character ...

Santa Claus is a name derived from Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas. Along with pagan elves and gnomes, another element in the long and very complex history of Santa is the Christian bishop St ...

Santa Claus is a name derived from Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas. Along with pagan elves and gnomes, another element in the long and very complex history of Santa is the Christian bishop St ...

Santa Claus is a name derived from Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas. Along with pagan elves and gnomes, another element in the long and very complex history of Santa is the Christian bishop St ...

Santa Claus is a name derived from Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas. Along with pagan elves and gnomes, another element in the long and very complex history of Santa is the Christian bishop St ...