Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle is a mythical figure who is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children on 24 December (Christmas Eve - the night); however, in some European countries children receive their presents earlier. Today's Santa Claus is derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas. Santa Claus is generally depicted as a portly, joyous bearded man with spectacles—wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image was popularized in the 19th century due to the 1823 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. Children believe that he delivers toys to all the well-behaved children on Christmas Eve carried by his flying reindeer working out of his workshop at the North Pole with the aid of the elves
Santa showed up in Sheldon's dream in "The Santa Simulation" and Sheldon sat on a mall Santa's lap in "The Clean Room Infiltration". Both Santas were played by Dakin Matthews.