Santa Claus is not a modern invention, but on the contrary it comes from a very ancient tradition dating back to the 3rd century AD.

Santa Claus would have originated Saint Nicolas. We find in its representation all the symbolism of St Nicolas (white beard, red coat ...).
Santa Claus travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Saint Nicolas traveled on the back of a donkey. Despite the Protestant reform of the sixteenth century that suppressed the feast of St Nicolas in European countries, the Dutch kept their Sinter Klaas (Dutch name for Saint Nicolas) and its distribution of toys.
When they moved to the United States, Sinter Klass became Santa Claus. Santa Claus undergoes sartorial and cultural transformations to turn into a more friendly Santa Claus.