If you happened to drop by a Build a Mini station in a LEGO® Store during the run up to Christmas in 2025, you may well have found the parts for a Golden Santa Claus. If you were lucky, the staff had already assembled them for you. If you have been following some of the long-running minifigure play sets, you have probably seen the tendency of golden minifigures to turn up in commemorative sets during anniversary years, in both Ninjago (10 years, 2022) and Harry Potter sets (20 years,2021).
While golden Santa appears very similar to the current Santa minifigure, which debuted in 2024, he didn’t always look so fine. Read on to find out more.
LEGO City first appeared in 2005, and its first Advent calendar arrived later in the year. Santa’s Advent Calendar debut was a simple affair: a plain red torso, a smiley face, and dark, bluish grey legs. He had a pirate’s scarf instead of a traditional hat and Majisto’s beard. The 2006 version is similar but uses a slightly different head print, a raised eyebrow, and light bluish-grey trousers. Another 2006 version appeared with a couple of magnet sets, along with the Vintage Minifigure Collection #4, with block hips and red legs.
In the 2010 Advent calendar, we saw not 1 but 2 Santa figures: one hard at work driving the sleigh, while the other is enjoying a nice warm shower.
The most significant change to the Santa minifgure came in the Series 8 Collectable Minifigures in 2008. We see the arrival of the classical Santa Hat and beard, and a printed torso. Santa’s Jacket is lined with fur on the front, extending up to the collar, as well as a printed belt with a copper buckle. White hands cap off the look. At this stage there is no other printing. He appears in the 2013, 2014 and 2016 LEGO City Advent Calendars, along with 10245 Santa’s Workshop.
We see this style minifigure alternate with variations on the classic Santa figure for a couple of years, but after 2014, this is his standard form for a few years.
The 2017 figure has a new face print, with glasses on his face and a candy cane tucked in his belt. The fur has gone from the vertical seam of his coat, and printing now around the to the back.
The candy cane on the back of the jacket is short-lived, and is replaced with a simpler print. In 2020, the Santa figure is portrayed by Police Chief Wheeler(in disguise!)
In 2021, Santa Claus finally got dual moulded legs. (10293 Santa’s Village; 2023 LEGO City Advent Calendar) The 2022 version in the 60352 LEGO City Advent Calendar sees Santa with this jacket, but only red legs. The 2024 version is shown here – appearing in 5 sets so far, including the 2024 and 2025 LEGO City Advent Calendar, as well as 10339 Santa’s Post Office and 40809 Festive Gingerbread house.
In 41843 Family Christmas Tree Decoration, the creases on the back of the front and back of the jacket are printed in black. Unfortunately, this isn’t available in our household this year.
This brings us to the golden variant: – This figure is essentially the version with black creases on the torso, except the torso is pearl gold.
So, Happy 20th Anniversary to Santa Claus’s appearances in LEGO City Advent Calendars. I hope you have enjoyed this quick trip down memory lane.
It now remains only to wish you all Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays from the team here at the Rambling Brick. Have a Merry Christmas if that’s your thing. The Knoller-in-Chief, Branko, and I would like to thank you for your support this year. We are currently working towards completing reviews of the Dreamzzz, Creator 3in1 and Botanical sets due for release in January 2026, and there are some exciting things coming up in the next month or two, including a trip to Brickvention 2026. This is the 20th Anniversary of Australia’s Premiere LEGO Event.
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Do you want to see more historical reviews? Let us know in the comments below. Until then, we wish you and yours happy holidays and a wonderful new year.
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Until Next Time,
Play Well!