Santa Claus. A shaman?

I think I was around seven when I realized Santa Claus wasn’t real. It happened after our school’s December 6th Santa visit, where every kid got a gift. I got this gorgeous hand-painted wooden box, and something about it seemed too familiar. It clicked: the painting style looked just like my mom’s. From there, the magic of Santa faded a bit, but the traditions stayed strong.

Even after figuring it out, we still had cozy family evenings with surprises, singing, and lots of laughter. For me, Christmas was more about the traditions and spending time together than about the Santa story. Honestly, Santa always felt like a random, slightly odd character—like, why does he even bring gifts?

Then there’s the Coca-Cola connection. Everyone says Coca-Cola invented the modern Santa to sell soda, which isn’t entirely true but also not far off. The chubby, rosy-cheeked Santa we know today was definitely popularized by Coke ads in the early 1900s. Before that, Santa was more of a wiry, dwarf-like guy who might’ve creeped you out. But even then, he rocked a red suit, white fur trim, and a big bag of gifts.

Turns out, there’s way more to Santa’s story than Coke ads and presents. Dive deep enough, and you’ll find some wild theories—like the one about Santa being inspired by Siberian shamans tripping on red-and-white Amanita muscaria mushrooms (yes, the ones with the spots). These mushrooms are tied to ancient shamanic traditions, where people used them to connect with spirits, especially during the harsh winter months.

Shamans would forage these mushrooms, dry them out, and deliver them to their communities during rituals. The shamans, often dressed in red and white (sound familiar?), would visit homes and bring “gifts” in the form of dried mushrooms. Sometimes, they even entered through the smoke hole of a yurt—a detail that might’ve morphed into the chimney myth.

Even the reindeer have a trippy connection. In Siberia, reindeer are known to eat Amanita muscaria, and some say shamans or villagers who consumed the mushrooms would hallucinate reindeer flying through the air. Pretty out there, right?

While the idea of Santa as a shaman is mostly speculative, the parallels are fascinating. From the red-and-white suit to the “flying” and gift-giving during winter, it’s not hard to see the connections. Whether you believe it or not, it definitely gives a new perspective on those festive traditions.

What do you think—could Santa Claus have been a shroom-tripping shaman, or is that just a wild holiday theory? 🎅🍄