It’s easy to imagine Saint Nicholas as just as mythical as the modern-day Santa Claus -- but he actually was a real person.

While Santa Claus is a beloved Christmas figure, not many know that he was actually inspired by a real life Saint Nicholas who

Certain legendary figures are actually rooted in history, and Saint Nicholas, otherwise known as Santa Claus, is one of them.

Parents can begin this narrative early on when children are very small, to enforce the concept of Santa being steeped in real legend and history. When questions about his existence arise, children can be told that everyone is Santa, and those who celebrate Christmas come together to keep that message alive in a collaborative way.

Who was real Santa Claus? Santa Claus, the jolly figure of Christmas, has roots in Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from Turkey. He was known for selfless acts of charity. Over centuries, his story evolved through European traditions and American art.

It is, perhaps, the most famous editorial ever written. One that has been reprinted year in,, year out in newspapers around the world. It first appeared in the Sept. 27, 1897, edition of the New York Sun as a response to a letter from a little girl just 8 years old.

If your child does begin to show curiosity around whether Santa is real, Leatherbarrow recommends answering their questions truthfully – after all, if they’re not satisfied with your answer, they will probably look online, or ask others, instead. “When children start asking direct questions, resist the urge to deflect or lie outright,” she said.

Baltimore-area journalist Rona Kobell grew up in a largely Jewish community where believing in Santa was not the norm. Though she was living in a Christian-dominated area by the time she and her husband had children of their own, she said, “I kind of just thought we would ignore it, like my parents did.”