Is Father Christmas His Real Name?

For children in the UK Father Christmas is the traditional gift bringer at Christmas time. However, this is not his real name! It is generally accepted that the tall, jolly man who brings gifts is based on Saint Nicholas who was a bishop in Turkey and lived around the fourth century.

Nicholas was a generous spirit and was well known for his giving of gifts in secret to those in need such as putting coins in shoes left out for him. The feast of Saint Nicholas is on the sixth December and he appears usually in red bishopric robes, inquiring about the behaviour of children during the past year.

In Holland and other European countries he is still called Saint Nicholas but in English speaking countries the name has been modified into the more popular Santa Claus especially in America.

However, Father Christmas a well fed, bearded man wearing green is first recorded in early 17th century England but was more to do with merrymaking and drunkenness rather than gift giving.

The traditional Santa Claus (or more simply Santa) figure only really took the image he has now in 1881 with a drawing by Thomas Nast. This along with Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” in 1823 cemented the large, bearded man wearing a red fur trimmed suit, black boots and holding a sack of gifts. This poem which became “The Night Before Christmas” also introduced the idea of him having a sleigh pulled by the eight original reindeer and coming down the chimney.

The legend about him having a list of naughty or nice children comes from the popular 1934 song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”.

So by whatever name you know him let’s hope you have all been good children this year!!