A Santa’s grotto is a place where children can meet Santa Claus and receive gifts. The term “grotto” refers to a picturesque natural cave near water, which has been associated with magic and religion throughout history.
The tradition of Santa’s grottos began in Britain in 1879, when David Lewis, a Liverpool-based retail entrepreneur, created a “Christmas Fairyland” grotto in his department store to attract customers. The idea spread to other department stores in the UK, Australia, and America in the 1890s.