Mythologies?

[katkt]

I have just finished re-reading "Cold Days", and I have a question.

Early in the book, when Dresden is talking to Santa Claus, there is indication that Santa Claus was something/someone else before. Near the end of the book, there is this bit that is clearly supposed to hint at who/what that was:

And for the briefest fraction of a second, the

Comments

[gyzki]

Speaking as local Norse-mythology guy, I would say that "looks like Odin, enjoys battle, eye scar" pretty blatantly is Odin, look no further. I'm not as well specialized in Santa Claus lore, but apart from a general Scandinavian background I don't see much connection - certainly it will be harder to pin down a definitive "original," but that just means we can leave Butcher/Dresden lots of room to play in. It does start to sound reminiscent of Hogfather and/or Rise of the Guardians.

[nomadmwe]

My understanding based on what Butcher is doing (and a couple Word of God remarks from him) is this. Santa Claus as Fae Role (ie, similar to the other positions in the Fae courts) is Odin. Some of the further conversations cement this.

[spiralngphoenix]

In Norse mythology, Odin's aspect as Oski is a heavy influence on what became the Santa Claus myth (amusingly, this is surprisingly accurate for a comic thing: http://infolocata.com/mirovia/irrefutable-proof-that-santa-is-odin/).