You may know him by many names—but the truth is, Santa was once a boy named Chris. This site is where you'll discover his secret past—hidden in books, videos, letters, and messages passed down from previous generations.
The Kringle family has always been a mystery. But now, their secrets are ready to be shared. Santa's birth name was Christopher Clause Kringle—and for the first time, he's opening up about his life. Every "Santa Secret" will be revealed... including why "Claus" sometimes has an "-e" and why "Chris" is often "Kris."
As a boy, Christopher never knew he was a descendant of St. Nicholas of Myra (AD 270–343), the patron saint of children and sailors.
St. Nicholas secretly gave gifts to the kind and is remembered as the first Santa in history — a legacy Christopher was destined to carry forward.
125 years ago, Christmas looked very different: no malls, no Amazon, no toy stores, and no credit cards. Families gathered for meals instead of shopping.
Also, there were no presents under the tree. For children, a penny, a small toy, or a piece of fruit felt like magic — the world Christopher Kringle was born into.
When Christopher Kringle was a little boy, his parents often said, “It’s better to give than to receive.”
When he was six, Christopher secretly hid the very first gifts "under the tree" for his family.
No one knew then knew how important those first few presents would become.
Santa’s dad, Luke Kringle, once found an old map of Manhattan. It showed the northern wall of wooden posts which never changed its name: Wall Street.
The wide road running north to south? Broadway. Still there. Still famous.
Who knew a boy from the lower east side would one day change Christmas forever.
Just north of where the old Dutch fort once stood, this neighborhood became home to thousands of immigrant families.
The Kringles lived in a tenement on Bayard Street—half a block west of Mulberry.
This is where young Christopher learned kindness. And where his story—and Wally’s—truly began.
Most people don’t know Santa even had a big brother. Wally has been a Kringle family secret for years — and for good reason.
Ask yourself this: Why would Christopher Kringle, one of the nicest boys in the world, keep his brother a mystery?
The truth has been in plain sight all along.
And their story will amaze you.
Chris and Wally want everyone to understand one thing: the world needs more peace.
It doesn’t matter where you live, what you believe, or what you look like.
What matters is kindness — helping and giving to others. Because "being nice" leads to something greater.
That’s the lesson Chris carries every Christmas Eve.
His mailbox is always open — and he loves hearing from kids (and grown-ups too!).
A: After World War II, Santa divided the globe into 8 regions called Drop Zones. Each has secret locations where gifts are hidden ahead of time.
Deliveries begin in Drop Zone #1 (Russia) and end in Drop Zone #8 (Western US, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska). Thanks to the Earth’s rotation, Santa has a full 24 hours to complete his mission.
It’s not so different from how FedEx works — packages “absolutely, positively” have to arrive overnight. Santa’s team has used this Drop Zone Theory since 1955, when the number of children grew rapidly during the baby boom.
A: Chris Kringle’s mission has always been to bring peace, end hate, and treat people with kindness and respect.
Throughout history, others have tried — people like Jesus Christ, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and John F. Kennedy. They stood for compassion and unity, but many were silenced or even killed for their efforts.
That’s why the Kringle family lives in hiding. The North Pole is one of the safest — and most magical — places on Earth. But there is also a group of powerful men called the Confraters. They have existed since ancient times, seeking control. Santa stands for freedom, peace, and liberty.
And that’s why the North Pole must remain hidden… for now.
A: That’s a great question, Roald — and one I hear a lot.
The short answer: not always. Many homes today don’t have chimneys. Families live in apartments, warm places, or even boats! I always look for the safest, quietest way to enter a home and leave a gift behind.
Sometimes it’s a chimney, sometimes a back door, or even a window left open just a crack.
What matters most isn’t how I get in — it’s that I prepare carefully before every Christmas. That’s why I use my 364-day planning calendar: elf check-ins, toy audits, and weather briefings. December 25th isn’t just magical… it’s a masterclass in preparation and care.
Santa Secret: Wally and I sometimes joke that I always use chimneys because it makes for a great story. But the truth? I’ll find a way in no matter what.
If you’re kind, giving, and full of wonder — I’ll never miss your house.
A: Wonderful question, Madison — and I’m happy to answer honestly.
As a child, I was actually smaller than most kids my age. I didn’t eat much, and I was always on the move — helping on the farm, exploring the city, or chasing my big brother Wally in Columbus Park.
But when I married Mrs. Claus and moved permanently to the North Pole, things changed. Just like people in the Arctic, my body naturally stored more warmth and energy to live in extreme cold. It wasn’t cookies — it was science!
Still, I stay very active. Flying around the world in a single night isn’t easy — it takes endurance, focus, and strength. I treat it like a marathon every year.
Santa Secret: In my 20s and 30s, I was especially strong — I even had to protect myself from the Confraters (that story comes later…). So no, I haven’t always been chubby. I’ve always tried to stay balanced, joyful, and ready to help others. That, in my opinion, is the healthiest way to live.
Kid-Only Summary: I wasn’t always chubby — I got rounder living in the cold North Pole! ❄️🍪
