Beyond the myth: the enchanting origins of Santa's secret address at the North Pole

So we’ve all heard it growing up: “Santa lives at the North Pole!” Like some epic VIP address that makes every other “world famous” spot look sad by comparison. 

But how did this icy little point on the globe become the festive hotspot in our imaginations? It all starts with a guy named Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from what’s now Turkey. Known for secretly gifting the needy, he became the OG Santa.

Fast forward a few centuries, and Dutch settlers brought Sinterklaas to America, which slowly morphed into the Santa we all know and meme about today.

First up, the real Saint Nicholas (yeah, the OG Santa) wasn’t frolicking around icebergs. The historic figure was a fourth‑century bishop in what’s now Turkey, known for giving gifts to kids and the needy.

That kindness turned into legend, and the legend kept shifting, like a really dramatic Snapchat filter, until someone decided he should have a permanent mailing address far, far away from the sun.

So how did the North Pole become Santa’s postcode? Surprisingly, it wasn’t a Google Maps moment.

In 1866, American cartoon genius Thomas Nast drew illustrations of St. Nick with a little label that read something like “Santa Claussville, N.P.” With time, the “N.P.” became shorthand for North Pole, and boom, that icy dot at the top of the world became Santa’s official home.

The real North Pole, the one on globes and in atlases, is not land. It’s a floating layer of sea ice over the Arctic Ocean.

That means no cosy cottages, no gingerbread streets and definitely no tiny toy shops tucked between glaciers. Just very, very cold water and spectacular views that make your lungs feel alive. If you want snow, silence, and a sense of scale that’s humbling in the best way, this is it.

But Santa tourism? That exists!

In places like Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, you can visit Santa Claus Village, meet the man in red (yes, the original influencer), send postcards stamped from the “official Arctic Circle,” and see reindeer (the real ones, not just the name on your stocking).

There are snow safaris, Northern Lights tours, igloo hotels, and enough festive experiences to fill your December feed without filters. The village is open year-round, but it is especially magical during the Christmas season, when the village is adorned with millions of Christmas lights and decorations.

More than 700,000 people visit the village annually, and records show the broader area welcomed over 1.2 million overnight visitors in 2023, nearly 30% more than the year before, as tourists flocked north to experience snow, Northern Lights and a dose of Christmas spirit.