The origins of the finnish Santa Claus are actually quite different than most people believe. The finnish word for "Santa Claus" is "Joulupukki" which literally translates to The Yule Goat. In finnish mythology The Yule Goat was a man who was cursed to roam the land in goat or man-goat form and deliver presents as a punishment (cursed by who? punishment for doing what? I haven't been able to find out). Before Coca-Cola mainstreamed the jolly, fat and red Santa Claus, the traditional finnish Santa Claus-costume included a mask (usually made from straws), goat horns and sometimes an actual goat skin. You can only imagine how much easier it was to "persuade" kids to behave with a costume like that.