Where did Santa Claus really come from? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the true origins of Santa Claus, tracing his evolution from ancient winter myths to the modern holiday icon we know today. Long before reindeer and chimneys, Santa’s roots stretch back to Norse mythology, including Odin and the Wild Hunt, and to the real-life Saint Nicholas of Myra, a 4th-century bishop whose secret gift-giving inspired centuries of tradition.

We explore how European folklore shaped Santa across cultures — from Sinterklaas in the Netherlands and Father Christmas in England to darker figures like Krampus, and global gift-bringers such as La Befana, Ded Moroz, J ...