India, Dec. 22 -- Santa Claus is the spirit of Christmas. Thanks to numerous tales and pop culture references, Santa has become a dominating figure in the Western world. It is said that Santa's sleigh is pulled through the air by flying reindeer while Christmas elves make gifts in his workshop. Meanwhile, the legendary figure is always seen in an iconic red suit trimmed with white fur.

The contemporary Santa Claus is a patchwork figure assembled from several origins, reports the BBC. One of the inspirations is Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Greek bishop, who wore red robes while distributing gifts among the poor children.

The Dutch character Sinterklaas, who was originally based on Saint Nicholas and whose legend flourished in the once-D...