You better watch out, and you certainly better not cry! Though, you may just gasp when you find out how old Santa Claus actually is. 😳
Let's think about it: Father Christmas has been around since you were a kid, since your parents were kids—heck, even since your great, great grandparents were kids! The sweet old man doesn't just dress in red from head to toe. He's notorious for traveling the world on his sleigh led by his famous reindeer in *checks notes* just one night! Delivering gifts on Christmas Eve in record speed year after year will add a toll on any regular person. But for Santa? It doesn't seem to phase him!
Things would make a bit more sense if the role of Santa was taken over by a new person every couple of decades. But when it comes to the world of Christmas magic, nothing makes sense, nor does it have to! So, considering Santa has been only one person this entire time, you might be wondering how old he is! As you prepare to make Christmas cookies this year, read on for everything we know about Santa's age and birthday.
How old is Santa's real age?
The most concrete answer to this is that Santa is currently 1,752 years old as of 2023, according to Email Santa! That might sound crazy, but it makes sense when you remember that the origin of Santa stems from the story of Saint Nicholas—a monk who was born all the way back in between 260 and 280 A.D., which would more or less match the time frame of his current age!
To give you a brief history lesson: Saint Nicholas, though not confirmed to be a real person, rather a legend, was a man thought to have committed many generous acts, spreading kindness and the spirit of giving to many different communities of people.
Saint Nicholas officially became associated with Christmas in 1823, when Clement Clarke Moore's poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," was published, telling the story of St. Nick and describing the Saint as the holiday figure we're all familiar with today.
When is Santa's birthday?
You might be surprised to learn that Santa's birthday isn't on Christmas. Instead, Santa’s birthday is on March 15 every year, according to SantaClaus.com. Mark it on your calendar—it’s a great excuse to make Santa's cookie plate throughout the year!
Josiah Soto is the assistant editor of news and social for The Pioneer Woman. He helps manage the website’s social channels, in addition to writing high-performing news and entertainment content daily.
