The First Ride: the Real Story of Santa Claus

Forget Kris Kringle, Sinterklaas, and St. Nick. It’s about time you learned the truth. In the 1870s in rural Hopeville, Connecticut, the Clauses came to work at Max Pepin’s farm. Christmas hasn’t been the same since. This is a Christmas story you’ve been waiting for. Everyone has their own version of the Santa Claus story. Whether it’s reindeer, a trip down the chimney, or elves crafting handmade toys,The First Ride: The Real Story of Santa Claus breathes new life into the old myths surrounding everybody’s favorite saint: St. Nick! n its fifth edition (2025) since 1992, we read Max Pepin’s diary of life at his quiet, country homestead, we witness the arrival of a quirky new farmhand: Nicolas Claus. Along with his extended family, mysterious Nicolas turns life on the farm upside down!Told through the eyes of Max’s grandson, this charming story is set amid the snowdrifts of Max’s farm in Connecticut. Today, this farm is a part of the Hopeville State Park in eastern Connecticut. “Hopeville doesn’t exist anymore,” pines the narrator, for times long gone, but “you can still park your car along the road and wander through trails and trees that were once the temporary home of Santa Claus.” Come along! Take the journey and discover the real story of Santa Claus for yourself.