Santa Claus was born in the US in the 1860's. He was named this as he had a
white beard and a belly, so he was named Santa Claus as this was the
Dutch word for St Nicholas, Sintaklaas. Although the Dutch
had bought him with them in the 17th century, he did not become an
important person at Christmas until the Novelist Washington Irving put
him in a novel that he wrote in 1809. This first Santa Claus was still
known as St. Nicholas, he did smoke a pipe, and fly around in a wagon
without any reindeer, but he did not have his red suit or live at the
North Pole, he did however bring presents to children every year.
In 1863 He was given the name Santa Claus and wore the red suit, pipe, and his reindeer and sleigh.
Now Christmas celebrations vary greatly between regions of the United
States, because of the variety of nationalities which have settled in
it.
