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The true face of the man who inspired Father Christmas has been revealed for the first time in nearly 1,700 years, thanks to a scientific reconstruction of his skull.
Saint Nicholas of Myra, an early Christian bishop known for his generosity, became the inspiration for the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which later evolved into Santa Claus.
Over time, the mythical figure merged with England’s Father Christmas, originally associated with feasting and games, to form the modern version of the beloved character.
Although no portraits of Saint Nicholas exist from his lifetime - he died in 343 AD - experts have now forensically recreated his face.
Cicero Moraes, the study's lead author, described it as a “strong and gentle face” that was “curiously compatible” with the 1823 poem A Visit from St Nicholas, commonly known as ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.
He said: “The skull has a very robust appearance, generating a strong face, as its dimensions on the horizontal axis are larger than average.
“This resulted in a ‘broad face’ curiously compatible with the 1823 poem.
“This characteristic, combined with a thick beard, is very reminiscent of the figure we have in mind when we think of Santa Claus.”
José Luís Lira, Mr Moraes’ co-author and an expert on the lives of saints, described the significance of the real Nicholas of Myra.
He said: “He was a bishop who lived in the early centuries of Christianity and had the courage to defend and live the teachings of Jesus Christ, even at the risk of his life.
“He challenged the authorities, including the Roman Emperor, for this choice.
“He helped those in need so frequently and effectively that when people sought a symbol of kindness for Christmas, the inspiration came from him.
“His memory is universal not only among Christians but among all peoples.”
The transformation of Saint Nicholas into today’s Santa Claus stems from the Protestant Reformation.
Moraes noted that while many countries lost their devotion to Saint Nicholas, the Netherlands preserved the legend of Sinterklaas.
The tradition spread to New Amsterdam - modern-day New York - where “Sinterklaas” evolved into Santa Claus: “He was described as an old man who punished misbehaving children and rewarded those who behaved well with gifts.”
Moraes added that the contemporary image of Santa Claus emerged from Thomas Nast’s 1863 Harper's Weekly illustration, which was heavily influenced by A Visit from St. Nicholas.
The poem popularised Santa’s rosy cheeks, reindeer, sleigh, sack of toys, and his famously “broad face.”
The reconstruction process relied on data collected in the 1950s by Luigi Martino with permission from the Centro Studi Nicolaiani.
Moraes explained: “We initially reconstructed the skull in 3D using this data. We then traced the profile of the face using statistical projections.
"We supplemented this with the anatomical deformation technique, in which the tomography of a living person's head is adjusted so that the virtual donor's skull matches that of the saint.
"The final face is an interpolation of all this information, seeking anatomical and statistical coherence.”
The team produced two sets of images: a greyscale version for objectivity and an artistic rendition featuring a beard and clothing inspired by Saint Nicholas' iconography.
The analysis of his remains also revealed aspects of his health and lifestyle.
Moraes noted that Saint Nicholas suffered from severe arthritis in his spine and pelvis, bone thickening likely causing frequent headaches, and a diet that appeared mostly plant-based.
As Bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey, Saint Nicholas was credited with miraculous deeds, such as saving three girls from prostitution by paying their dowries and resurrecting children who had been pickled in brine by a butcher.
His bones, originally interred in Myra, were later relocated to Bari, Italy, where they remain today.
Moraes, Lira, and co-author Thiago Beaini published their findings in the journal OrtogOnLineMag.
When: 17 Dec 2024
Credit: Cicero Moraes/Cover Images
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2024-12-17
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