Santa Claus

Santa Claus is the mascot of Christmas, developed in the United States as an amalgam of the story of St. Nicholas and various other seasonal folk heroes, with many aspects provided by A Visit From St. Nicholas. Santa is based largely on the Dutch holiday of "Sinterklaas" (a hastily pronounced "St. Nicholas," who comes down the chimney on the 5th / 6th of December) and the imagery of the Saint in question carried over to his North Pole incarnation.

Santa is typically depicted as a fat-bellied happy old man with a long white beard dressed in a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white gloves, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (though his outfit constantly differs), who carries a bag full of toys and gifts especially for children. He lives at the North Pole in a large workshop staffed by elves who produce toys year round. Every Christmas Eve, he sets out in a flying sleigh pulled by at least 8 reindeer, delivering toys and other gifts to the children and children-at-heart of the world out of the improbably large sack he carries with him, entering their houses by the chimney, filling their stockings, putting larger gifts under the tree, partaking of whatever food and drink the family left out for him (traditionally cookies and milk), then leaving how he came in.

Santa appears in many Christmas specials and films. His portrayal in them varies in many ways, as listed below.

Portrayals
Santa has been portrayed in many films and television specials. Here is a partial list of the actors who have portrayed him.