The Hero at the Heart of Santa’s Magical Origin Story
Long before sleigh bells echoed across snowy rooftops, before the red suit and reindeer became holiday icons, there was simply a boy. A boy with nothing but a loyal dog, a heart full of questions, and a path he never imagined walking. His name? Nicholas of Lycia.
In The Rise of Nicholas the Noble, the new middle grade fantasy novel from the creators of The Elf on the Shelf®, Canadian readers are invited to journey into Santa’s epic origin story.
Meet Nicholas the Noble, not the Santa Claus we know today, but the brave, curious, and deeply human boy who came before.
Before He Became a Hero
Nicholas is only twelve years old when his story begins. He’s sturdy, though not yet strong, with wind-tangled brown hair, travel-worn clothing, and a borrowed cloak.
After being shipwrecked in icy waters, Nicholas arrives in a strange land of fantastical creatures and ancient magic. Exhausted and close to death, he shows just how human he is, and that’s exactly what makes him relatable to readers of all ages.
Nicholas doesn’t have superpowers or a magical weapon. He doesn’t even have a group of sidekicks waiting to save him. What he does have is something much more profound: grief interwoven with determination, and the quiet resilience of someone who has lost almost everything but refuses to stop hoping.
A Heart in Search of Belonging
Nicholas isn’t just the central character in this magical tale. He is its emotional heart. When we meet him, he is reeling from the loss of his parents. Orphaned and alone for the first time, Nicholas clings to the one companion he has left, Barry, his faithful Saint Bernard.
For Canadian readers, Barry’s loyalty may feel especially familiar, as Saint Bernards have long been known as gentle giants in snowy regions across the country. His bond with Nicholas isn’t just touching, it’s a symbol of the love and resilience needed to carry on in the face of hardship.
Even as he grieves, Nicholas holds tightly to the values his parents instilled in him: kindness, curiosity, and courage. They taught him to stand up for what’s right, to look for light even in dark times, and to honour those around him. These lessons shape him into the noble figure he is destined to become.
Nicholas doesn’t see himself as noble. Not at first. But though he’s sometimes unsure of himself, his instinct to help others runs deeper than fear. Whether it’s volunteering to fight for a cause he doesn’t even fully understand yet or charging into battle, Nicholas proves again and again that nobility isn’t something you’re born into. It’s something you choose.
“A choice to be righteous. Good.
Honorable. By choosing these things
you have chosen to behave nobly, Nicholas. . .
You will have to choose to be the chosen one.”
Relationships that Shape Him
At the centre of Nicholas’s journey is his unwavering relationship with Barry. Barry is more than a pet, he is a protector, confidant, and the source of Nicholas’s strength. When Barry goes missing, Nicholas’s determination to find him fuels much of his quest.
Along the way, Nicholas forms unexpected relationships with elves, ice gnomes, and other allies he meets in One True North. These connections challenge him, inspire him, and remind him that he is capable of far more than he believes. Slowly, these bonds help him find belonging in a world that initially felt foreign, and his mission expands beyond rescuing Barry to protecting others as well.
What Makes Nicholas Unique
In the enchanted land of One True North, Nicholas serves as a bridge between the ordinary and the extraordinary. He represents the link between our world and a realm filled with magic.
It isn’t just that fate finds Nicholas, it’s how he responds to it. With awe, responsibility, and a willingness to fight for others. The elves of One True North are guardians of the Lumistella Stone, the powerful source of Christmas magic, and they soon see that Nicholas may be central to protecting its light.
Perhaps he is even the fulfillment of their ancient prophecy:
“A son of Adam, quite noble indeed,
will usher in peace and fight against greed.
The downfall of kingdoms will certainly come
if ever to folly the stone does succumb.”
What sets Nicholas apart isn’t simply what he does, it’s the choices he makes. He is surrounded by magic, yet his true strength comes from within. He doesn’t give up, even when he feels uncertain.
He is the kind of character you cheer for not because he is flawless, but because he is growing, learning, and bravely stepping forward.
Nicholas is the kind of character you want to cheer for, not because he’s perfect, but because he’s trying his best to grow, to learn, and to be brave.
