Oral history and ancient artifacts passed down through the centuries between Iceland, Greenland and Scandinavia strongly suggest that Santa and his elves and reindeer were once on the run.

   Beginning in about A.D. 790 Scandanavians burst from their deep cold fjords in fine tuned long boats and struck boldly across the northern Atlantic. Soon Viking settlements were established in Iceland.

   Philip N. Cronenwett is the director of Special Collections at Dartmouth College's Baker Library. By putting together the pieces of his fine collection of artifacts and literature he has come to the conclusion that Santa did not choose to live in the North Pole; he fled there.

   Originally, according to Cronenwett, the Claus clan lived in Iceland and Greenland but fled in A.D. 982 when Viking chieftan, Eric the Red, was exiled into the far reaches of Greenland where the Claus community resided.

   An expert translator of old Icelandic, Einna Gustavsson, a northern Iceland native has read many ancient texts and says that it is clear that Santa's first village was in Iceland and that he made a great escape. He says, "Santa Claus was then, as he is today, the most knowlegeable navigator on earth".