One of the numerous stories of Santa Claus’ origins leads to Siberia. During a mid-winter festival, a shaman enters the yurt through the central smoke-hole, carrying a bag of dried fly agaric mushrooms. Santa wears the colours of the toadstool and rides reindeer which appear to be flying. When people are zonked on these ‘shrooms’, their faces, especially cheeks and nose, turn ruddy. No prizes for guessing what Santa and Rudolph are high on while riding through the sky!
