Scientists reveal Santa Claus’ 'real face' for the first time in 1,700 years

Scientists have recreated the 'real face' of Santa Claus for the first time in almost 1,700 years.

Often depicted as a jolly old man dressed in red and sporting a long, white beard who lives in the North Pole, Santa Claus - or Father Christmas if you're feeling particularly British - has been an omnipresent part of our festive traditions for as long as anyone alive can remember.

He's typically used as a method to scare naughty children into line though out the year lest they want to wake to coal on 25 December.

Santa also has the magical ability to keep an eye on us for the entire year, with classic song 'Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town' featuring the lines: "He sees you when you're sleeping / He knows when you're awake."

Children who are especially anxious about getting in ol' Father Christmas' good books will also leave offerings out to him as though he were some mythical pagan deity.

But have you ever stopped to wonder what the man we all spent our younger years trying to impress actually looks like?

Well, it seems now we know.

Where did Santa Claus come from?

Before we reveal the face of Santa it's time for a quick history lesson.

The legend we all know today can be traced back to Christian monk Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in what is now modern day Turkey between 270 and 343 AD, and had a reputation for his gift giving.

Over the years Saint Nick became closely associated with giving gifts to children in Christian culture, later morphing into Sinterklaas in the 17th century Netherlands.

The story was transported over to New York (then New Amsterdam) and was anglicised into Santa Claus and merged with the existing English Father Christmas figure. Add in some typical American consumerism and we have the man we all know and love today.

"He was described as an old man who punished misbehaving children and rewarded those who behaved well with gifts," Cicero Moraes, co-author of a new study, said.

The study has now put a face to the myth, which you can view below:

Co-authored by Moraes and José Luís Lira, the study, published in OrtogOnLineMag, rebuilt Saint Nick's face from his skull, with Moraes describing the face as 'strong and gentle'.

"The skull has a very robust appearance, generating a strong face," Moraes said.

"This resulted in a ‘broad face’ curiously compatible with the 1823 poem [A Visit From St Nicholas].

"This characteristic, combined with a thick beard, is very reminiscent of the figure we have in mind when we think of Santa Claus."

Explaining the broader significance of Saint Nick, Dr Lira added: "He helped those in need so frequently and effectively that when people sought a symbol of kindness for Christmas, the inspiration came from him.

"His memory is universal not only among Christians, but among all peoples."