The idea of Santa Claus emerged thousands of years ago before Christ in Scandinavia. The Vikings had a god named Odin who rode throughout the world in the winter on his eight-footed horse, Sleipnir, giving out gifts or punishments. In the pagan world Odin was the forefather of Santa Claus. His son Thor, god of farming, thunder and war, made his home in the far North. His weapon was lightning, his color red. While his father went about the world, Thor fought the gods of ice and snow, and conquered the cold.

During the same season , the gentle German goddess Hertha came down with her gifts of good fortune and health. As Christianity spread many of these stories and themes were forgotten but Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas keep them alive in spirit. From visions of Thor driving his goat-drawn chariot; Knecht Ruprecht with bag and switches; Father Christmas perched atop a ram; The Christ Child carrying His tree; Clement Moore's and Thomas Nast's jolly old elf, Santa Claus has come. As changing America approached the twentieth century, writers and artists began to portray Santa in numerous updated forms - from bicycles to water skis to cybersleighs - as he makes his rounds. From the United States, this benevolent Santa has traveled back to Europe, South America, Japan, to children all around the world, expressing the desire people feel at Christmas to share, to give, to show love - especially love of children; and just to think, he does it all in just one night!