NORTH POLE, Alaska — Why do we leave milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve? What's the history behind the tradition?
No matter what kind of cookies or milk you leave out for Santa Claus, historians suggest that in America, this sweet Christmas Eve custom took off in the 1930s, during the Great Depression.
It came at a time of great economic hardship, some of the hardest times this country has ever seen.
A lot of parents taught their children the importance of giving to others, and showing gratitude for presents, if they were fortunate enough to get any..
But the custom goes back even further in other countries. We're talking ancient Norse mythology.
Odin, the most important Norse god, was said to have an eight legged-horse he rode, and during Yule season, kids would leave food for that horse, hoping Odin would leave gifts in return.
Other countries continue the tradition today -- only they believe horses, not reindeer, carry Santa's sleigh.
That's the history behind the custom of leaving cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve.
What about Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolf? Santa says, "Rudolf's getting a little tired of carrots. He said if maybe everybody could leave out just one banana. People don't realize it, but reindeer love bananas!"