圣诞老人源于欧洲的基督教圣人典故。他拥有9只名字各不相同的驯鹿，最大的烦恼是有烟囱爬的房子越来越少了。通常父母们会对他们的子女解释他们在圣诞节收到的礼物是圣诞老人送的。
圣诞老人以一位神秘人物带给小孩子们礼物的概念衍生自圣尼古拉。尼古拉是一位生活在4世纪小亚细亚的热爱施舍的慈悲主教，荷兰人在圣尼古拉斯节（12月6日）便会模仿他送礼物。
每年圣诞节，圣诞老人骑在驯鹿上，圣童手持圣诞树降临人间，随着世事变迁，作家和艺术家开始把圣诞老人描述成我们今日熟悉的着红装，留白胡子的形象。同时不同的国度和文化对圣诞老人也有了不同的解释。
在许多国家里，圣诞节前夕，孩子们会准备好空的容器，以便圣诞老人可以装进一些小礼物，如玩具、糖果或水果。
在美国，孩子们圣诞夜会在壁炉上悬挂圣诞袜，因为圣诞老人说过要在圣诞前夜从烟囱下来把礼物放到袜子里。他们会在壁炉附近的桌子上放上几块姜坚果饼干（gingernut cookies），据说圣诞老人在送来礼物的同时也会吃掉这些饼干。
在其他国家，孩子们把空鞋放到户外，以便圣诞老人可以在圣诞夜送礼物。在德国，传说他可以把坚果和苹果放在孩子们的鞋里。
他乘双轮马车四处漫游，观察人们的行为，尤其是小孩，如果表现好，将会得到苹果、坚果、糖等诸多奖品。坏孩子则挨一鞭子。家长们灵机一动纷纷采用此传说来鼓励孩子们听话。
英文翻译：
Santa Claus originated from the Christian sages in Europe. He has nine reindeer with different names.
The biggest worry is that there are fewer and fewer houses with chimneys. Usually parents will explain to their children that the gift they received at Christmas was sent by Santa Claus.
The concept of Santa Claus giving a gift to children by a mysterious character is derived from St. Nicholas.
Nikolay is a compassionate bishop who loves alms in the 4th century Asia Minor. The Dutch will imitate him at the St. Nicholas Festival (December 6th).
Every Christmas, Santa Claus rides on the reindeer, and the holy child holds the Christmas tree to the world.
As the world changes, writers and artists begin to describe Santa as the image of the red dress we are familiar with today, with a white beard.
At the same time, different countries and cultures have different interpretations for Santa Claus.
In many countries, on Christmas Eve, children will prepare empty containers so that Santa can pack small gifts such as toys, candy or fruit.
In the United States, children hang Christmas socks on the fireplace on Christmas Eve, because Santa Claus said that he would put the gift in the sock from the chimney on Christmas Eve.
They put a few gingernut cookies on the table near the fireplace, and it is said that Santa will also eat the cookies while they are giving them.
In other countries, children put empty shoes outdoors so that Santa can give gifts on Christmas Eve. In Germany, it is said that he can put nuts and apples in children's shoes.
He roamed around in a two-wheeled carriage to observe people's behavior, especially children.
If they performed well, they would get many prizes such as apples, nuts and sugar.
A bad boy is a whip. Parents have used this legend to encourage children to listen.
扩展资料
圣诞老人的习俗各个国家有所差异：
1、德国
在德国中部和北部地区，尼古拉斯被称为“圣诞老人”，德国的圣诞老人也带着一个叫做Knecht Ruprecht、Krampus或Pelzebock或是称作“黑彼得”的助手，肩上背着个装着礼物的大袋子，手上拿着一根棍子。好孩子可收到他的礼物，顽皮的孩子却要给教训几棍子。
2、法国
法国与圣诞老人类似的形象是Père Noel，他和圣诞老人几乎完全一样，其红白相间的衣服曾经使可口可乐公司获得灵感。圣诞老人原来的形象是个精灵，穿着兽皮又高又瘦。
3、英国
英国的圣诞老人和法国一样也叫Father Christmas（圣诞之父），他的形象比其它圣诞老人更庄严，更清瘦一些。
4、北美
形象和名字来自于荷兰传说，17世纪由移民者带入纽约。在荷兰的传说中，圣诞老人Sintirklass还带了一个叫Black Peter的助手。北美的圣诞老人便是乘着驯鹿拉的雪橇来给孩子们送礼物的。
参考资料来源：百度百科-圣诞老人