Episode Details

Ever wonder about the story behind Santa? I’m pulling back the curtain on what many don’t know about Santa and the Goddess of Winter Solstice in this episode of the Breathe Love & Magic podcast.

The jolly man in a red suit flying through the sky and dropping gifts isn’t quite what he seems. In fact, his story has deep roots intertwined with myths, folklore, and the winter solstice—dating way back before Christmas as we know it today.

The Surprising Origins of Santa

Did you know that Santa’s tale is borrowed from a myriad of myths and legends, particularly those that were female-oriented? That’s right! Our beloved Santa owes his origin to the ancient Goddess of Winter. These goddesses were believed to bring back the sun after the long, dark days of winter.

One enlightening discovery was about reindeer. Contrary to the tales of Rudolph and his male companions, the female reindeer actually lead the herds during the harsh winter months. In fact, the males lose their antlers for winter!

These insights come from Danielle Proham Olson’s wonderfully researched blog, GatherVictoria.com. Her holiday posts paint a vivid picture of winter traditions linked to sacred goddesses and the solstice. Listen to the first podcast I did about Santa being a woman, relying on her research

Fascinating Winter Solstice Myths

Let’s delve into some fascinating winter solstice myths from around the globe. This year, a legend from Italy came to my attention on Instagram. Two Italian men were telling the tale of La Befana, a witch who would swoop through the sky on her broom to drop gifts down chimneys.

This tradition is celebrated on the Christian holiday of Epiphany, January 6th, and was when people exchanged gifts before World War ll, instead of on Christmas as others do.

Take the Nordic goddess Beavi, a sun deity associated with fertility who traveled in a sleigh made of reindeer bones. In Lapland, ceremonial hats from medicine women were discovered, adorned in the familiar red and white that Santa sports today.

Across different cultures living close to the Arctic Circle, the Deer Mother was revered for bringing the sun back on the Winter Solstice, and taking care of the herds, vital for any tribe’s survival.

Japan’s Amaterasu is the Sun Goddess, aligned with the winter solstice. Her retreat into a cave for winter was the reason for darkness and the sun’s return happened as she came out of the cave.

Winter Goddesses Across the Globe

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