The legend of Santa Claus appeared in thousands of years ago. God of war in Northern European legend, during the winter, riding the eight-legged horse sprint to the end of the sky over the sea, punishing evil and praising the good, share the prize. At the same time, the son of God of Thunder is a red dress with lightning as a weapon to fight with all the snow gods in the darkness of night, which ended with the victory.

There is also a legend that says that Santa Claus comes from the St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas therefore also called St. Nicholas, because these stories rekindle the spirit of the Christian majority, place of origin, the story line has been mostly forgotten, but instead of Santa Claus in the eternal spiritual world of many people. Every year at Christmas, Santa Claus riding on top of the constellation Aries, the boy holding the sacred evergreen tree (Christmas tree) down to the human world, but along with the changes in human life, writers and artists began to depict the shape of Santa Claus Santa Claus dressed in red and white beard that we know it today.

Simultaneously there is also a different explanation of the different countries and cultures. The origins of Santa Claus in Germany based on the story of god Woden (from here also the term 'Wodenesday' or the day of Woden, where we call it Tuesday (on Wednesday). Woden important for the residents in what we now know as Germany and the the ancient Teutons, in addition to English people. Woden, which is a figure in history, is described in mythology as riding a white horse through the air, by dressing robes flowing. He has a long white beard and a big hat kerana He is also believed to have wisdom, and he carried a book in his hand.

This Santa Claus makeup became a saint who put the hard-skinned fruit and apples in the children's shoes. He was driving a hansom cab around in all directions, observe attitudes and behaviors of people, especially children, if it shows good behavior, will get a gift of apples, hard-skinned fruit, candy and a large number of other prizes. Meanwhile, bad boy behavior will only get the whip. This is what inspires parents to use the legend as the driving spirit of the children.

In Italy, the figure of Santa Claus emerged from the story about a witch named Befana. He received his assignment from the angels to give gifts to the Lord Jesus when Jesus was born, like the Magi, but because of negligence he had come too late. Therefore Befana punished every year before the birth of Jesus, he must give a gift as much as possible to small children who can not afford. This belief is shared by many people, so the religious leaders in Italy took the decision to trust is transferred to Santa Claus. This is the beginning of the belief that Santa Claus is always giving gifts to children.

In the Netherlands, Santa Claus known as Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas is a bisop who wear hats and have a book that records good deeds and sins. He has a shepherd's staff and riding a white horse on the tube-tube home. Sinterklaas has a slave named Black Peter. In the Netherlands, the children sang songs around the chimney to Santa Claus. Black Peter heard above the chimney is to determine as there are kids singing songs that very well and provide the appropriate gifts to the horse Santa Claus, namely Karot and Straw. The gifts then given to the children through the chimney.

When the Dutch colonialists arrived in the Americas, they also brought along their bishop Sinterklaas, depicted wearing a red kasaya, and riding a white horse. Recent American Santa Claus figure gradually becomes a wise Sinterklaas. Initially, the American writer Washington Owen in the drama comedy (History of New York) depicts Santa Claus as a fat Dutch grandfather and round. 1823, the poet Clement Moore's poem and song "Impression of St.Nicholas" dramatize the figure of Saint Nicholas, grandfather's Christmas (Santa Claus). In the 1960's cartoon movie producer Thomas Nash's painting of a grandfather Christmas (Santa Claus) is a social and fat as an illustration.

As time passes, the figure of Santa Claus to spread to all corners of the world. A large number of countries also stores legend associated with it. Sinterklaas from France named Father Christmas or Pere Noel, Sinterklass from Switzerland named Christkindl or Christ Child, and Santa Claus from the English name is the same with France is Father Christmas, more reverent figure compared with other Sinterklaas, a little thinner. And the Santa Claus of North America is driving a reindeer sled pull snow handing out gifts.