Rock Paintings

Discovering evidence of the true origins of the Holiday tradition, ancient rock paintings reveal ritualistic veneration of the sacred ‘Celestial Sled’ pulled by prehistoric reindeer, transporting a sort of benevolent, astrological, Neanderthal figure who appears to be dropping off gifts of fire, ceremonial headgear, rock candy, festive flint ornaments, and early prototypes of the wheel . 

Obviously this tradition pre-dated the Bronze Age and so the ‘Santa’ figure was still only called Saint Nickle-less, until ways of making such alloys as copper, tin and nickel were discovered.