MR 690 Richard Rumph as Santa Claus at the Cowboy Christmas parade and celebration in Capitan, New Mexico.


Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas,Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa", is a historical, legendary and mythological figure who, in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day). A well-known folk legend associated with Santa Claus says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus says that he lives at his house on the North Pole, while Father Christmas is often said to reside in the mountains of Korvatunturi in Lapland Province, Finland. Santa Claus lives with his wife Mrs. Claus, a countless number of magical elves, and eight or nine flying reindeer. Another legend, popularized in the song Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, says that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other gifts to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.


Size: 3579px × 5413px
Location: Capitan, New Mexico, USA, United States, America
Photo credit: © M L Pearson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: Yes

Keywords: america, american, capitan, celebration, christmas, education, father, festival, kringle, kris, mexico, nicholas, parade, portrait, saint, santa, sinterklass, small, small-town, southwest, tourism, town, travel, usa, west