The big Christmas reveal: What Santa Claus looked like 1,700 years ago

December has been synonymous with Christmas.

With holidays and celebrations right around the corner, Christmas is packed with cherished traditions, and none is more beloved than the sight of Santa Claus, the jolly figure who brings gifts to children worldwide.

Now, over 1,700 years after he first made Christmas merry and bright, scientists have finally revealed the face of the real-life bishop who inspired the concept of modern-day Santa Claus.

Here’s how scientists brought this historical figure to life.

But first, who was Saint Nicholas?

Saint Nicholas of Myra, a Christian bishop celebrated for his generosity and gift-giving, lived during the early centuries of Christianity.

Known for rewarding only well-behaved children with gifts, his legacy inspired the Dutch folk figure Sinterklaas, who later evolved into the jolly, sleigh-riding figure who brings toys to children.

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According to Britannica, Saint Nicholas’s reputation for kindness led to numerous legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy. As per one story, he allegedly restored to life three children who had been killed by a butcher and placed into pickling barrels.

The bishop died in 343 AD and was originally buried in Myra, modern-day Turkey, his bones were later moved to Bari, Italy, where they remain today.

Though Saint Nicholas was long gone before anyone could snap a picture, his legacy endured, making him one of the most adored figures among children around the world.

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How did scientists re-create Santa’s face?

Cicero Moraes, the lead researcher on the project, explained that the reconstruction process began with creating a 3D model of Saint Nicholas’s skull, based on data collected by Italian anatomy professor Luigi Martino in 1950.

The research team then used statistical projections and anatomical deformation techniques to trace facial profiles, ensuring that the final representation was both anatomically and statistically accurate.

Moraes noted that the resulting image showed a “strong and gentle face,” which he found “curiously compatible" with the descriptions in the famous 1823 poem ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’, more commonly known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’.

“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,” Moraes told The Mirror.

Moraes shared a series of photos, writing, “The forensic facial approximation of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the Santa Claus."

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The recent studies of Saint Nicholas’s remains also provided insights into his health. Scientists revealed that he likely suffered from chronic arthritis in his spine and pelvis, along with a thick skull that might have caused frequent headaches. They also suggested that he likely followed a plant-based diet,

Jos Luis Lira, the study’s co-author and an expert on the lives of saints, spoke about the significance of the real-life Saint Nicholas, saying the bishop had the “courage to defend and live the teachings of Jesus Christ, even at the risk of his life.”

“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," Lira added.

With input from agencies