It my household, Father Christmas even brought the tree! Little did I realize that my mum could not afford a tree and would wait until Christmas eve when she could go to the lot and get a scruffy little tree for a dollar! When we woke up, there was the little tree all decked out with ornaments, construction paper chains that we had made, tinsel, and a cardboard star wrapped in tin foil. It was the most magical thing we could possibly imagine. Because my mum could not afford much for gifts, our stockings were the most fun part. They always included an orange, candy, pencils, an eraser, shoe laces, mostly things we needed for school. As a joke, she would put in a piece of coal to signal that Father Christmas had been watching and knew the naughty deeds we had done throughout the year. This is a custom I continued with my sons until they left home. It was a glorious time at Christmas, with the feeling of the season pervading the day. I have come to eschew the commercialization of the day, especially with children being overloaded with unnecessary piles of toys and teens getting thousands of dollars worth of electronics, complaining if they don't get the right thing.

I miss my kids, having that sweet innocence and excitement, waiting for Santa. Driving home after church on Christmas eve, they would always, be scanning the skies for Santas sleigh. Such treasured memories for me as a Dad.

This video makes me smile. Your family is a blessing. I never wanted to lie to our children so we never did Santa. I also didn't want them to think I lied about Jesus and wonder if He is also made up. We try to make everything point to Jesus during this time as best as we can. We have done other years without a Christmas tree, but this year decided to get one. We got a Jesse tree ornament set and are using that to keep the focus on all that God has done for us. A friend just shared with me how she shows how the Jesse tree ornaments and their family ornaments show how Jesus weaves our story into His story of the Bible. We used a red tree skirt this year covered in a white one to remind us of our sin that was scarlet and now covered by him is white as snow. We talk about how this lush green tree can symbolize God in all His glory would come to die and just like the tree would be stripped bare to become a cross for Him to carry. He too was stripped bare for us. We have each kid write letters to each member of our family and put them in each family members stocking. We spend Christmas reading them. This year someone gave us an idea to make a stocking for Jesus and write a letter to him of something you want to give to him or work on. You can revisit this throughout the year and make a new one and check how you are doing with the goal. We like to celebrate that day with a birthday cake for Jesus and we try to serve others during this time as a gift for Him.

One day my son returned from school looking quite sad and said that some children had told him Santa didn't exist and that it was the parents who really brought the presents for Christmas. I asked him: Do those children who said that have an imagination? He replied: not really. To believe in Santa, I said, people require to have an imagination because he is a magical creature who once had lived in Turkey under the name of Saint Nicholas. He was a good person who used to give presents to children and help those in need to mark the birth of Christ. And because he had been such a good person, all the parents around the world carried the spirit of St Nicholas in their hearts. For this reason, they buy presents for their kids in his name. My son, who was still quite small, seemed quite pleased with the explanation.

I love this with the PERFECT narrator for a documentary.

When I was little I always believed that Santa was real and every year my dad would always remind me and my sister to write our lists every year and we would always drop them off at the mailbox but overtime me and my sister started to face the reality that our parents would buy the presents but it’s fun that every now and then my parents still write on the presents each year “From: Santa” which always warms my heart because no matter how old we are it’s always good to remember our fun childhood memories :)

I'm from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I learned the truth about Santa when I was 11 years old, now as a 35 year old I still believe in Santa Claus, Papa Noel, Chris Kringle, (+ many other names) and hope to share the magical time of Christmas with my Nephew's and the rest of my family. Merry Christmas everyone! 🎅

Of course Saint Nicholas exists! He lives in all of us. Santa will never die as long as each of us remember love and kindness toward others.

My family were all big fans of Coco Cola it was and is our favorite soft drink. We had a bottling plant where my dad went to when I was a little girl back in the 50’s where they sold a big red metal box meant to carry iced cokes to picnics but it was our tradition to always bring it out on Christmas filled with our cold cokes. It was one of our Christmas traditions.

When I was little my dad & mom would tell my 2 eldest brothers & I that Santa had a special elf named Twinkle Toes who would keep watch over us 3 all year long & if he felt we were good the whole year he'd tell Santa & Santa would tell his elf that if we were good to leave a special candy cane on our bed. I remember my second eldest brother didn't get his candy cane one year. But I'd get one every year. The last one I got it was December 24, 1991. I was 20. Even though my dad knew I stopped believing in Santa when I was 10 years old. I never stopped believing in the spirit of Yule for my religious beliefs or the joy of Christmas for my dad's religious beliefs.

I really enjoyed this documentary, esp about the wise men in Spain and the Spanish colonies. Very interesting.

I know Santa isn't alive anymore but I still believe in him. I know he "isn't real" but I still hold on to that part of my childhood because I've been obsessed with Christmas my entire life. I don't care much about presents, just the idea makes me happy.

i loved this. as a Professional Santa it was lovely to see my history, as a catholic I can see the value behind St Nicholas, and in Santas growing he becomes a jolly old man. Well done.

Watching this on the Winter Solstice 2019!

Love this doc! No drama. No aliens. Easy to watch, but very informative. The part about the drawings at 25:00 was especially interesting

It was nice seeing all the different Santa traditions from all over the world.

I believe in Father Christmas 🎄 & I’m from England.

It's so nice that people want to learn about me. Hope you're all ready next month.

Santa is in all of us

BELIEVE 🎅🏻

I never did belived in such thing,but i sure do have the Christmas spirit.BLESS

No lie I was 15 till I found out he was fake . It was magical to wake up on Christmas morning to see presents and thinking santa came at night and was in your house it was amazing I was lucky to have a great childhood

Love this documentary. Funny that the narrator, Sir Richard Attenborough, had also played Santa in a movie. It must have been great fun to him to do tjis. RIP

I portray Santa and I love this!

My little sister and I had a great childhood with Santa, but I found out the truth about Santa by accident when I found all of my gifts stored in my parents basement when I was around 7 yrs old. I'm 19 now but I still love the story and the spirit of Santa Claus at Christmas. My sister just turned 10 and she still believes. I just can't bring myself to tell her that he isn't real. I love seeing kids faces light up and get excited about Santa Claus.

So many wonderful Christams celebrations.

For all those not knowing the origins of 'Black Pete(r)' (Zwart Piet) in the Netherlands; He was introduced in 1850 by Jan Schenkman, who was an abolitionist, in a childrens book he wrote, as a (not so) suble way to share his ideas. Raising his status (by riding a horse for example, and specifically calling him a 'knecht' (paid worker, just as any proffession had them) and portraying him as a normal, decent, equal human being. Later, the clothes were upgraded to the more elaborate and colorful high-society clothes with the puffed sleeves, ruffles/collars etc, again emphasizing his 'value'(yuck..value on people..but you get my drift). Then there's also the legend of Saint Nicolas (being a patron of children), saving a young black slaveboy and taking him on as a 'knecht' (as said; paid job as a free man). So in that light one could say Black Pete actually is a symbol AGAINST racism. For the last X-amount of years(7-10 or so I think), Black Pete has already been transformed to a degree, losing the scruff, the big golden earrings, the accent, the bit of submissive attitude towards St.Nicolas, the exaggerated pitchblack+deepred lips (though, personal idea; I'd think it would've been better to keep 'em pitchblack(without the lipstick though), supporting the link to Odin's ravens and some say a link to Krampus, opposed to the brown used by many in later years....yeah, just turn them more into ravens :) ), toning down the outfit. The last couple of years there's a big discussion in NL, about losing the dark make-up all together (or at the max a few smears to look like chimney-grime), unfortunately becoming quite heated and disrupting the fun for the children during the arrival-parades. Please, keep reactions civil...and no need to attack me personally, I'm quite neutral in this discussion (as long as it works for the kids I don't care), just wanted to give a bit of background info as I saw a lot of questions about it.

I could never get sick of watching this documentary !

great programme, disappointed it didn't feature the Celtic Father Christmas/Holly King figure as best personified in A Christmas Carol as The Ghost of Christmas Present

Santa Claus, or St. Nicholas, or Kris Kringle, whatever you call him, is a symbol of hope, love, and kindness and good cheer in Christmastime.

I know now but as a child I really love Xmas.

Wonderful! Thanks for posting! and a most Merry Christmas!

I love Santa Claus. In my heart, he is real. It bothers me tremendously, however, when children ask for such expensive gifts and we as parents feel obligated to buy them.

No mention of the old English Mr. Christmas traditions. The character that Dickens' ghost of Christmas present was based on. That character was integral to the development of Father Christmas.

I love these histories....

I never believed in Santa Claus and was surprised to hear my classmates truly thought he was real. Growing up my mother told us stories of Saint Nicholas and how he paid the dowry of three sisters so they could marry. Also, we believed heavily in the 3 wise men. We had a nativity on one side of the living room and the 3 wise men figurines would start out on the other side of the living room and would get closer and closer to the nativity scene until they got there on Jan 6th. Then we'd have the Rosca. But that's a whole other story.

It’s funny how some of the first drawings were of Santa being small! I always in envisioned Santa larger then life!

I am not Christian don't celebrate Christmas 🎄🎄⛄⛄ never got gifts on Christmas but I don't know from childhood I believe in Santa Claus . Deep down I feel very happy and blessed. Hez fake or real I don't know but I am happy with the thought of his existence . So I think happiness what I get it's a gift what we all are celebrating 🎉🎉. That's the most important gift 🎁🎁 we ever got . MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE LOTS OF LOVE TO EVERYONE 😘😘😘😘😘😘

This was an AMAZING story!!! Very well edited, nice interviews. I love all the cultures represented.

*If you Believe you receive.*

All the world is blessed with santa The prophesy of Daniel is fulfilled At the end of times the saints will come to the world to help us...Santa really doing a lot in Asia

December 2021: What's everyone's Christmas wish? Santa list? 😁 Mine is to be able to afford a decent Christmas for my 4 children. My youngest has cerebral palsy & autism. She cant walk at all, only 5yrs old. I also have a 12,13 yr old daughters and 14 years old son too. I'm fighting stage 4 cervical cancer with mets to my bladder & into my left hip bone. Chemo, daily radiation. no insurance would cover me, to expensive. I wasnt approved for Medicaid to help either so all our money, which isnt alot goes to try to help me stay alive. I'm ok, I just worry for them. They deserve better & at least a Christmas gift, I pray they can forget being scared for their moms life and be kids again even for a day and hopefully have a present under the tree. That's my Christmas wish. I hope your all safe and well and have a very Merry Christmas. Hold onto the ones you love, keep them close , and always treat each other with kindness. You never know what someone's going through. God bless you all and Merry Christmas. Xox Thank you for reading this. Xox

I like Spain's traditional idea of the three wise men representing different parts of the world giving gifts. It's different. I like it. The wise men kissing the kids may not be so readily acceptable anymore in 2021 Britain though. And our health and safety would have a field day with people going up ladders into people's houses. Alas, too much red tape over here. I hope it still exists over there though. Never lose your traditions. Be proud of them.

The costumes are amazing and I love the music!

Father Christmas was a wizard who used a time-turner to make it to all the houses to deliver gifts all in one night lol

I think of Santa Claus and all his other names as a collective spirit of goodness that lives for as long as people choose to perpetuate this pursuit of kindness and friendship. A symbol for such desired behavior, based on a possible ancient act of kindness, is not an issue for me. I choose to believe in the goodness of humanity and think it natural to teach by example, even if that example was ancient and morphed for fun. Someday, I will be ancient and hope that if I leave some positivity, that it could serve the world in some good manner.

We also call him father Christmas in New Zealand aswell

Seeing the parts of Christmas in Germany brought back many warm-fuzzy memories :) :D

Worth watching. Good documentary.

I love santa very nice person

Very awesome video! I love Christmas!

That was glorious! Thank you!

Really enjoyed this documentary on the history of Dear ole St. Nick! ❤️🎄❤️

Love these sorts of Movies!

hi santa i love your video.i believe in you santa,even thpough people tell me you don't exist.i want to be either mother nature for christymas,or be mrs.claus for cxhristmas santa.

From end of November to December 24 I once had Santa as my boss lol I played an elf in his grotto as a holiday job when I left school I loved the job and guy playing Santa was so so nice

That was really interesting and I absolutely loved it. Merry Christmas 🎄

Love this 😊

As a child it’s important to believe in the small harmless lies; like Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. That way, when you get older, you will believe in the big lies; like equality, fairness and justice.

Very nice,love Christmas always

Best time of year

Thank you!

Such a great documentary, excellent timing with the upload, much appreciate. It's really lovely to see all these different but same customs, they finally make sense to me :)

That was legit!! Best Drunk History I've ever seen!!

Once I was listening to a baseball game played at Dodger Stadium. When there was a break in the action, the radio announcer commented, "Right now, there's a Santa Claus walking around the stands giving away gifts to all the kids (even though it's the middle of the summer.) Now, would anybody like to guess what color the Santa's suit is?"

It breaks me I found out Santa wasn’t real at 10!! And wish I found at 30 my childhood was rekt.

Love Christmas my favorite time of year

Really enjoyed this video 😊 thx for sharing.... smiles

I was like 8 or 9 when I found out I cried for ages but it’s nice to pretend he’s real for the sake of the young kids and when I see him in town or that I always shout hi Santa and wave to him and he shouts hello their back also heard a lot of people are trying to ban Black peter saying he’s racist as it’s really a white guy or girl with black face paint

Brilliant and Interesting...Thank you :D

Lovely documentary. Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thank you real stories and Sir David Attenborough 💚

my mom always used to play that old black and white video for us when we were kids. i have not seen this since i was a kid

Thanx a lot for an amqzing film!)

It's still nice that there is ELEMENTS of truth to the story. It's not all fake. You can still believe in the spirit of kindness and generosity.

I love 🎅

Attenborough sounds like he’s been on the ale

The narrator is perfect fitting here

I still believe in Santa Claus, and I'm 53. He is magic and all that seek magic will find him.

great stuff

BELIVEN IN SANTA, THE EASTER BUNNY, FARIES ETC,IS WHAT GOT ME THROUGH CHILDHOOD. BESIDES GOD.HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING GOOD AND FUN TO BELIVE IN, IT DIDNT HURT ANYTHING

Beautiful history, all to develop and evolve over the years to realize that in reality, there are no naughty children, never were. Just unhappy, unfulfilled, unobserved or stifled kids, behavior is communication when language doesn't serve.

This is a very good and enjoyable documentary. It explains the different traditions of Christmas involving various Santa Claus-like characters and other holiday traditions however, primary in Europe and the US only. The are other countries that celebrates the holidays in their own unique traditions. Why not produce a documentary about those?

Dang I got so excited thinking I was the first to comment 😢 love the channel

12:37 these dutch children are sing the same song as the child in "the Miracle of 34th st" in their native langaugge as kris kringle did with the dutch child in the movie !@!@!@ how wonderful ~!~!

Dank u, Sinterklaasje!

Interesting Story!!!!

Glory be! I had absolutely no idea! 😳

"He knows when you've naughty or nice" - well in his old age he's had to outsource those tasks to Palantir & Google.

Very interesting.

Leaving hay in boots for Odin's 8 legged horse is also another tradition that ties the stockings and gifts of Christian Christmas to our Pagan past. The 8 legged horse became 8 reindeer. The Misteltoe is also a Pagan tradition.

The real Santa is a man of color! Wow how about that!

Great documentary! Santa Claus being a blending of all the world's Christmas traditions!

wow good work

Sounds like David attenborough has been on the Christmas drinks before narrating this documentary. 🤣🤣

Love this channel

Love this channel. Aww this is getting me in the mood for Christmas 😍

i loved the santa coke cola

I love the video

Has me seeing red! Ho ho ho!!! Merry Christmas🎄