This is a special Saint Podcast episode for the holiday season. It’s a two-part exploration of how Saint Nicholas evolved into Santa Claus. The story isn’t a straightforward one at all – and involves a truly motley crew of gift-givers, demons, humanoid helpers, witches, pagan legends, goddesses, gods, and animal sidekicks. The story begins with the first humans – our prehistoric ancestors – and proceeds through the first great civilisations, the birth of Christianity, the Reformation, and the advent of modern publishing and advertising. This is part I of Last Christmas: Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, and Christmas Past.