Oliver Whitcomb was awake in his bed, watching the snow drift past his window, which was dark with the December night. He had brushed his teeth, said his prayers, been tucked in tight and listened for his mom’s footsteps on the last creaky stair. Then he got up, changed his alarm and fell asleep with the clock tucked snug under his pillow.

As Christmas approaches, many await the arrival of Santa. The man who’s responsible for millions of Christmas mysteries every year has been around for more than 200 years in America, but his origins date back much farther around the world.

It was Christmas, 1934. The Great Depression was in full bloom and my mother was an 18-year old school teacher in Coolidge, GA. After graduating from high school at 16 […]

Who was real Santa Claus? Santa Claus, the jolly figure of Christmas, has roots in Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from Turkey. He was known for selfless acts of charity. Over centuries, his story evolved through European traditions and American art.

Santa Claus has travelled through centuries, cultures, and belief systems to become one of the most recognisable figures on the planet. His name alone evokes wonder, nostalgia, and meaning — raising powerful questions about how stories shape values in today’s world.

Though the traditions of Christmas extend for more than a millennium, the internet age has brought with it a confounding new development of the holiday season: Santa Claus — yes, the white-bearded, red-suited North Pole resident responsible for delivering gifts around the world on Christmas Eve — is officially an influencer.

The series began with “The Last Christmas,” which was published by the Villager newspaper in 1997, Barr says. With the exception of 1998, there had been a new Bartholomew story in the Villager every year until 2020, when the tradition moved to the Pioneer Press.

Fox News correspondent Madison Scarpino reports on President Trump taking part in NORAD’s Santa Tracker, fielding calls and helping follow Santa’s journey around the world on ‘The Story.’