odin: The original santa Claus?
The pagan influence behind the jolly old man loved today
The Nazis appropriation of Odin for their Christmas celebrations has some basis in fact. Pre-christian Germans celebrated Yule. During this time, Odin would go on his ‘wild hunt’ in the sky. Children would leave their boots filled with straw for his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, and when Odin flew past he would leave them gifts like toys and sweets in return — much like how children today put food out for Santa’s reindeer when he visits their homes to leave them presents.
Gift giving is not the only way in which Odin and Santa Claus are similar characters. Odin is frequently portrayed with a long, white beard, just like Saint Nicholas, and he rode his horse across the sky much like how Father Christmas rides with his reindeer and sleigh.
Also, Odin had the uncanny ability to always know if someone had been good or bad. For those who were bad, he would hand out punishments and many feared that he was watching them at all times. This is a skill that Santa Claus also possesses, although it would seem that worst punishment from him would be a lump of coal.
Pagan traditions became assimilated into Christian ones as Christianity took hold across Europe. It is reasonable to suggest that Santa, a Christian figure, supplanted Odin’s place as worship of pagan deities was eventually banned and, in doing so, he also took on a few of Odin’s characteristics.