Most people know the story of Santa at the North Pole, but has he always lived there? Where did Santa grow up? When did his magic begin? The answers are as much of a riddle as the jolly old man himself.

Since Santa is almost 2,000 years old, people have told stories about his childhood in many different ways over the years. Santa loves a good riddle, so he leaves it up to everyone to decide which one is true.

Plus, Santa is friends with Father Time, which adds more mystery. Father Time shared his magic with Santa to help him stay young and live a very magical life. It may seem like Santa is everywhere at once on Christmas night. Well, it's been like that his whole life!

All stories about Santa have the same things in common, though. They talk about a man who was kind, generous, and caring even when he was a kid. He was a happy man who helped his hometown, then traveled the world to help more and more people. And he eventually helped the entire world.

Santa in Ancient Greece

Some say Santa was born in a place called Myra in Ancient Greece. This is why he's sometimes called Saint Nicholas of Myra.

This area of the world has beautiful waters and natural wonders. It has caves, cliffs, and islands further than the eye can see. Horses used to run free on the beaches with the birds. Healthy soil made it a good place to grow fruits and vegetables. It was a beautiful place, but when Santa Claus lived there, the people of Myra needed some cheer.

His early life was spent in this city by the sea. This is where he began his acts of magic and kindness. He once calmed storms on the seas to save sailors. He rescued people in danger, fed the hungry, and gave away his money to the poor.

Many of the poor were too embarrassed to take his money, so Saint Nick would throw bags of money in through windows or chimneys at night. This is one of the first stories ever told of him giving presents secretly at night. Santa has always loved a surprise gift.

His gifts and kind acts caught on, and soon more and more people in Myra began doing kind deeds and giving gifts. This may have been the first sparkle of Christmas magic in the world.

The children of Myra were polite but sometimes sad. They knew him as the kind man who would give them nuts, fruit, and sweets for good behavior. To cheer them up, he would make toys and games for them to play with.

Because life was difficult in Myra at the time, Saint Nick's spirit gave people hope. It made people smile and laugh. People began to tell stories about him, many of which are still told today. The people of Myra still celebrate him with a church dedicated to him. They even have parties every year on December 6th to remember and thank him for his good deeds.

One day, Santa left his home and went on many journeys, so Myra isn't the only place that celebrates him. He traveled all through Europe, spreading cheer. Many areas of Europe have museums and churches with art inspired by him.

Santa in Burzee

Stories also tell of Santa's time in his younger years in a place called the Forest of Burzee. This forest is filled with giant trees with intertwined roots and a thick canopy that shades the ground below from the sun. The grass, plants, and flowers grow like magic. Fairy creatures live alongside squirrels, birds, and deer. The forest floor is covered in nuts and berries, and creatures gather in the nearby gardens to eat and be merry. This joyful land is the perfect place to learn about friendship, cheer, and the joy of sharing delicious foods with friends.

Santa's time in Burzee was spent doing many of the same things he does today. He spent time with the creatures of the forest and became known for his friendliness and kindness. He was always helping without being asked and expected nothing in return. He filled the forest with his friendly, booming voice and laughter.

Life was happy in Burzee, but Santa was curious, so he eventually journeyed out to see other parts of the world. Wherever he went, he saw children in need of joy. He went home to Burzee to think about what he had seen in his travels, especially those sad children. He wanted to help them.

After thinking about what he could do to spread cheer, Santa decided it was time to leave the forest of Burzee. He would miss his friends, but he knew his place was out in the world. He would travel to all of the countries, villages, and continents to spread cheer.

Santa in The Laughing Valley/North Pole

Later in his life, Santa lived in a few other places. The Laughing Valley (sometimes called Hohaho) and the North Pole are the two most famous places he's lived. This is where he built his workshops and befriended his loyal workers, the elves.

Laughing Valley was where Santa made his first toy. The Valley was as beautiful as his home in Burzee, with soft green grass and healthy trees. Some even say it had magical air that would cure sadness and worry.

His most famous home and workshop, though, is at the North Pole. It's also where he met the elves and deer who would later go on to be his friends and help spread joy around the world. He hasn't always lived in this snowy, faraway place. Santa may like to travel, but it seems that he, Mrs. Claus, and the reindeer enjoy this snowy paradise.

Where is Santa From?

Well, as his stories tell, he's traveled all over, lived many places, and spread his ideas across the world. He would be at home anywhere. And for how old he is, it's possible that he really has lived everywhere.

Kids all over the world celebrate Christmas in different ways. Some kids in the United Kingdom believe he lives in Lapland, Finland, which is snowy and home to a lot of reindeer.

Danish kids tell stories of him living in Greenland, a country known for its Christmas spirit. Some kids even send their letters to a secret address in Greenland.

The town of Drobak in Norway is where Norwegian kids send their letters to Santa. The town even has a Santa Post Office people can visit, and they celebrate Christmas all year long!

In the end, all of the stories talk about the real things he did. He spread kindness, he was thoughtful, he gave gifts, he fed people, and he made everyone else want to be just like him. People all over the world agree that Santa is welcome in their hometown.