[1] . One of the most common names for him today is Santa Claus. He ordered the sea to be calm, the storm died away, and they were able to sail their ship safely to port. He was often illustrated wearing a long red hooded gown trimmed with white fur. St Nicholas - We are, of course . Interview of Santa Claus before Christmas for Families. Laura Steele, of education resource experts PlanBee, told Newsweek: "His BMI score might be a cause for concern, but he seems affable and the kids love him. During the Middle Ages, many churches were built in honor of Saint Nicholas. From what region of the earth or air this benevolent Santiclaus takes flight I have not been able to ascertain "[87] Lees received several responses, linking 'Santiclaus' with the continental traditions of St Nicholas and 'Petit Jesus' (Christkind),[88] but no-one mentioned Father Christmas and no-one was correctly able to identify the American source. One of Odin's most popular titles is that of the word Allfather. Santa was first used in Coke adverts in the 1931, with the classic 'Coke Santa' being drawn by artist Haddon Sundblom. Father Christmas (British Santa Claus) 16. [74] The first retail Christmas Grotto was set up in JR Robert's store in Stratford, London in December 1888,[73] and shopping arenas for childrenoften called 'Christmas Bazaars'spread rapidly during the 1890s and 1900s, helping to assimilate Father Christmas/Santa Claus into society. His children are identified as Roast Beef (Sir Loin) and his faithful squire or bottle-holder Plum Pudding; the slender figure of Wassail with her fount of perpetual youth; a 'tricksy spirit' who bears the bowl and is on the best of terms with the Turkey; Mumming; Misrule, with a feather in his cap; the Lord of Twelfth Night under a state-canopy of cake and wearing his ancient crown; Saint Distaff looking like an old maid ("she used to be a sad romp; but her merriest days we fear are over"); Carol singing; the Waits; and the twin-faced Janus. The tradition of giving children gifts on the evening of 5th December (the day before St Nicholas' Day) became popular. The custom of merrymaking and feasting at Christmastide first appears in the historical record during the High Middle Ages (c 11001300). In The Netherlands and some other European Countries, children leave clogs or shoes out on the 5th December (St. Nicholas Eve) to be filled with presents. Rudolph then had a cartoon made about him in 1948 and the famous song 'Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer' was written in 1949. [18], The Arraignment, Conviction and Imprisoning of Christmas (January 1646) describes a discussion between a town crier and a Royalist gentlewoman enquiring after Old Father Christmas who 'is gone from hence'. This was the first time we found out the names of the reindeer. Father Christmas is our version of Santa Claus. Father Christmas was described originally as wearing a doublet, long stockings and a high hat. He has different names in different countries as given below: The most famous name of our Father Xmas is Santa Claus. He travels on a reindeer-driven sleigh and on the midnight of 25 December he delivers gifts and presents to the good children around the world. Dates: November 19 - December 24. The classic illustration by the US artist Thomas Nast was held to be "the authorised version of how Santa Claus should lookin America, that is." Consequently, by the 1880s, Santa Claus and Father Christmas had all but merged into the much-loved modern-day festive figure recognized the world over. They have rhyming names in pairs: Flossie and Glossie, Racer and Pacer, Fearless and Peerless, Ready and Steady, Feckless and Speckless. The idea of Sinterklaas arrived in the U.S. via the Dutch in the 17th century, where his name was changed to Santa Claus and his story was quickly assimilated into the culture. [2] This almost certainly represented a continuation of pre-Christian midwinter celebrations in Britain of whichas the historian Ronald Hutton has pointed out"we have no details at all". In 1822, Clement Clark Moore, a poet and professor of theology, published the poem A Visit From St. Nicholas (also known as The Night Before Christmas). He is reputed to have helped a poor family by secretly dropping a bag of gold down the chimney for them to find. [79] The older shoe custom and the newer American stocking custom trickled only slowly into Britain, with writers and illustrators remaining uncertain for many years. Father Christmas is the traditional English name for the personification of Christmas.Although now known as a Christmas gift-bringer, and typically considered to be synonymous with Santa Claus, he was originally part of a much older and unrelated English folkloric tradition. Image Courtesy: poohadventures.wikia.com, greentulip.co.uk. By the late 18th century Father Christmas had become a stock character in the Christmas folk plays later known as mummers plays. [58], In Britain, the first evidence of a child writing letters to Father Christmas requesting gift has been found in 1895. (I hope you're sitting down. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Did you know? The gifts are made by Santa and his elves in Santas toy factory in the North Pole. Royalist political pamphleteers, linking the old traditions with their cause, adopted Old Father Christmas as the symbol of 'the good old days' of feasting and good cheer. [4] In Norwich in January 1443, at a traditional battle between the flesh and the spirit (represented by Christmas and Lent), John Gladman, crowned and disguised as 'King of Christmas', rode behind a pageant of the months "disguysed as the seson requird" on a horse decorated with tinfoil. [78] Alternatively, the hostess could "have Father Christmas arrive, towards the end of the evening, with a sack of toys on his back. I am glad my God doesn't change like this fictional . In 1995 they also introduced the 'Coca-Cola Christmas truck' in the 'Holidays are coming' TV adverts. so if any abuse this old man, they are bad for abusing him, not he bad, for being abused." The notion had a profound influence on the way that popular customs were seen, and most of the 19th century writers who bemoaned the state of contemporary Christmases were, at least to some extent, yearning for the mythical Merry England version. Have a look at this exclusive interview with Santa Claus filmed in his Post Office in Rovaniemi, Lapland. [48], The January 1848 edition of Howitt's Journal of Literature and Popular Progress, published in London, carried an illustrated article entitled "New Year's Eve in Different Nations". I that am the King of good cheere and feasting, though I come but once a yeare to raigne over bak't, boyled, roast and plum-porridge, will have being in despight of thy lard-ship. English: Santa Claus / Father Christmas. Santa Claus dates as far back as the 3rd or 4th century. During Victorian times and before that, he wore a range of colors (red, green, blue and brown fur) but red was always his favorite! There are, however, lots of reindeer in Lapland, Finland. The anniversary of his death, 6 December, became a day to exchange gifts. You choose! they would not let me in: I must come another time! Tags: father christmas, santa, sinterklaas. And the gap between Santa Claus and Father Christmas seems to be starting to widen again. Where: Romford Shopping Hall, 43 Market Place, Romford, RM1 3AB. The Cornish Quaker diarist Barclay Fox relates a family party given on 26 December 1842 that featured "the venerable effigies of Father Christmas with scarlet coat & cocked hat, stuck all over with presents for the guests, by his side the old year, a most dismal & haggard old beldame in a night cap and spectacles, then 1843 [the new year], a promising baby asleep in a cradle". For the correspondingly-named character in other countries and languages, see, For modern usages in which Father Christmas is treated as synonymous with Santa Claus, see, 15th centurythe first English personifications of Christmas, 16th centuryfeasting, entertainment and music, Puritan revolutionenter 'Father Christmas', List of Christmas and winter gift-bringers by country, "Textual Analysis of English Quack Doctor Plays: Some New Discoveries", "The Truro Cordwainers' Play: A 'New' Eighteenth-Century Christmas Play", "Truro [Formerly Mylor]: "A Play for Christmas", 1780s", "Daily Archives: December 24, 2014 - Mummers Mumming", "Gifts And Stockings - The Strange Case Of Father Christmas", "First letter to Father Christmas discovered from girl requesting paints in 1895", "Christmas Rhymes: Santa Claus and the Children", "Gifts Placed in the Stocking at Christmas", Virginia O'Hanlon ("Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Father_Christmas&oldid=1126829797, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, hare comes i ould father Christmas welcom or welcom not, This page was last edited on 11 December 2022, at 12:44. The storm was raging around them and all the men were terrified that their ship would sink beneath the giant waves. So to bed my bairnies dear. Father Christmas character is associated with feasting, hospitality and generosity to the poor rather than the giving of gifts. The Puritan-controlled English government had legislated to abolish Christmas, considering it papist, and had outlawed its traditional customs. As early as 1773 St. Santa Claus portrayed by Jonathan Meath in 2010. Until Victorian times, Father Christmas was concerned with adult feasting and merry-making. Isabel Tumblin Oct 28, 2022. Google serves cookies to analyse traffic to this site, and to optimize your experience. Christmas, old Christmas? In 1809, Washington Irving (the author of Tales from Sleepy Hollow) wrote about Sinterklaas in his A History of New York. Irving described Sinterklaas as a rotund little man in a typical Dutch costume, with knee breeches and a broad-brimmed hat, who traveled on horseback on the Eve of Saint Nicholas. He is considered as a jolly man that dons a red coat lined with white fur. Each year he added more details to his version of the Santa legend, including the home-workshop at the North Pole and the Naughty & Nice list. . "[61], In 1851 advertisements began appearing in Liverpool newspapers for a new transatlantic passenger service to and from New York aboard the Eagle Line's ship Santa Claus,[62] and returning visitors and emigrants to the British Isles on this and other vessels will have been familiar with the American figure. Steele added there are compelling claims to suggest Santa Claus is the same as our modern-day idea of Father Christmas. The recognisably modern figure of the English Father Christmas developed in the late Victorian period, but Christmas had been personified for centuries before then.[1]. "[27] Hutton also found "patterns of entertainment at late Stuart Christmases are remarkably timeless [and] nothing very much seems to have altered during the next century either. Greetings from Santa in Finnish Lapland - Chri. [1][9] But as Victorian Christmases developed into family festivals centred mainly on children,[57] Father Christmas started to be associated with the giving of gifts. [11] The most powerful Mutant ever detected in the Marvel universe is Santa Claus. His dress "was a long brown robe which fell down about his feet, and on it were sewed little spots of white cloth to represent snow". [9] A New York publication of 1821, A New-Years Present, contained an illustrated poem Old Santeclaus with Much Delight in which a Santa figure on a reindeer sleigh brings presents for good children and a "long, black birchen rod" for use on the bad ones. Displayed with a beard and red festive hat. Suddenly, he was standing on the deck before them. Santa Claus is known by different names all over the world; Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Sinterklaas or Kris Kringle. A writer in the Illustrated London News of December 1888 suggested that a Sibyl should dispense gifts from a 'snow cave',[77] but a little over a year later she had changed her recommendation to a gypsy in a 'magic cave'. Santa Claus, Father Christmas, and Father Frost In many countries, the bringer of gifts at Christmas is a stereotypical old wise man with a long white beard and a red cloak. There are several legends about St. Nicholas, although we don't know if any of them are true! St. Nicholas is not only the saint of children but also of sailors! He had a long white beard that fell all over his chest, a round stomach, and had a cheery presence. Santa speaks all of them fluently! "[19], The character of 'Christmas' (also called 'father Christmas') speaks in a pamphlet of 1652, immediately after the English Civil War, published anonymously by the satirical Royalist poet John Taylor: The Vindication of Christmas or, His Twelve Yeares' Observations upon the Times. In the festive production, "Old Christmas" was portrayed as a jolly, well-nourished, bearded man dressed in a fur-lined robe. Santa Claus, sometimes referred to as Father Christmas, brings joy to children at Christmas time. "[14], This sort of character was to feature repeatedly over the next 250 years in pictures, stage plays and folk dramas. In 1931 Haddon Sundblom presented Santa as a plump human rather than an elf, with a jovial face and big beard in a Coca-Cola advertisement. [73], Sometimes the two characters continued to be presented as separate, as in a procession at the Olympia Exhibition of 1888 in which both Father Christmas and Santa Claus took part, with Little Red Riding Hood and other children's characters in between. In the United States he is a fat man in red. Santa Claus and Father Christmas from Around the World in Different Languages Santa Claus is the Gift Bringer. Most American children below the age of eight believe in him and more than half of Americans also believe in Santa according to at least one poll.. He did not bring gifts. This is an outdated version of Santa's Village! Moore's poem became immensely popular[1] and Santa Claus customs, initially localized in the Dutch American areas, were becoming general in the United States by the middle of the century. In reality, both are from different origins representing different meanings. The elves will send you a safe, funny email closer to Christmas or on Christmas Eve. Welcome to meet Santa Claus in Christmas House in Rovaniemi Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, crossed by the Arctic Circle, is a unique place to meet Santa Claus, also called Father Christmas. Description: Miguel saw Santa at the Christmas shop. Name: Miguel Ortiz, age 9. The mythical Santa is clearly founded in a man who honored Jesus Christ with his life and his possessions. Only female reindeer keep their antlers throughout winter. (Coca-Cola was a client of Sundbloms advertising agency from 1924 to until his death in 1976.) It is told that the first Crusaders visited Bari and carried stories about Nicholas to their homelands. if at any time any have abused themselves by immoderate eating, and drinking or otherwise spoil the creatures, it is none of this old mans fault; neither ought he to suffer for it; for example the Sun and the Moon are by the heathens worshipd are they therefore bad because idolized? "[70] Discussing the shops of Regent Street in London, another writer noted in December of that year, "you may fancy yourself in the abode of Father Christmas or St. Nicholas himself. He personified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas. He was also a very kind man and had a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to people who needed it. Now, Santa Claus in addition to bring presents for children is also responsible for bringing merry and cheer to all the people. In the early USA his name was 'Kris Kringle' (from the Christkind). In 1927, the great secret of Santas address was revealed by Markus Rautio (Uncle Markus) who compered the popular Childrens hour on Finnish public radio. St. Nicholas was a Bishop who lived in the fourth century, in a place called Myra in Asia Minor (now called Turkey). They also believe that if they leave some hay and carrots in their shoes for Sinterklaas's horse, they will be left some sweets. (Images of 'St Christmas', 'Father Christmas' and 'Old Man Christmas' often had him wearing a green 'open' robe trimmed with white. In it a team of 10 reindeer are listed. Widening her eyes she skated that way, and saw that it was Santa. Home christmas Father Christmas or Santa Claus. Father Christmas has a British origin and is a figure that was originally associated with Christmas during the 15 th Century. This was also the inspiration for 'The Ghost of Christmas Present' in Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol'.). But welcome or not welcome, I am come." He concludes with a verse: "Lets dance and sing, and make good chear, / For Christmas comes but once a year. See details Ok. Copyright 2000 - 2022 James Cooper | About | Cookies & Privacy | Accessibility | Site Map | Other Links | Support Us, whychristmas?com answers your Christmas questions! He eventually became Saint Nicholas, the protector saint of children. would you ha'kept me out? A frontispiece illustrates an old, bearded Christmas in a brimmed hat, a long open robe and undersleeves. Nast depicted Santa in a red, fur-trimmed suit and a wide leather belt. On St.Nicholas feast day (6th December), the sailors of Bari still carry his statue from the Cathedral out to sea, so that he can bless the waters and so give them safe voyages throughout the year. a good jeast, as if I could come more then once a yeare; why, I am no dangerous person, and so I told my friends, o'the Guard. In the UK, US and Canada, "Santa Claus" or " Father Christmas" is believed to travel around the world sporting a red suit on his sleigh, pulled by reindeer. In another country, he is slender and in green. Today, it is Sundbloms Santa that slips down chimneys around the world. Perhaps it was his generosity or kind heart that turned him into Saint Nick on December 6th, 343 AD. Christmas laments the pitiful quandary he has fallen into since he came into "this headlesse countrey". A. Claus was mentioned in the American press. He should wear a greatcoat down to his heels, liberally sprinkled with flour as though he had just come from that land of ice where Father Christmas is supposed to reside. St. Nicholas putting the bag of gold into a stocking is probably where the custom of having a tangerine or satsuma at the bottom of your Christmas stocking came from. [48][89], By the 1880s the American myth had become firmly established in the popular English imagination, the nocturnal visitor sometimes being known as Santa Claus and sometimes as Father Christmas (often complete with a hooded robe). In Thomas & Friends, Sir . This enchanting book whisks children to the North Pole. He hailed from a rich home and became well known for supporting the needy. Santa Claus coloring pages. You'll have the chance to chase the northern lights*, go for a sleigh ride through the snow, and meet Father Christmas himself. [4], In most of England the archaic word 'Yule' had been replaced by 'Christmas' by the 11th century, but in some places 'Yule' survived as the normal dialect term. Location: Miami, Florida. Who is Father Christmas? He would often be seen, clad in red and white bishops robes and riding on a donkey, handing out gifts to children. What's the difference? "[91] The commercial availability from 1895 of Tom Smith & Co's Santa Claus Surprise Stockings indicates how deeply the American myth had penetrated English society by the end of the century.[92]. Father Christmas's counsel mounts the defence: "Me thinks my Lord, the very Clouds blush, to see this old Gentleman thus egregiously abused. In today's world, Father Christmas and Santa Claus have been merged together. In some countries including parts of Austria and Germany, the present giver became the 'Christkind' a golden-haired baby, with wings, who symbolizes the new born baby Jesus. Korvatunturi literally Mount Ear is in the Savukoski county, Lapland, Finland, on the Finnish-Russian border. [82][83], Aspects of the American Santa Claus myth were sometimes adopted in isolation and applied to Father Christmas. Santa Claus has become an icon that is often used to represent Christmas. But as later Victorian Christmases developed into child-centric family festivals, Father Christmas became a bringer of gifts. Although originally not addressed as father, a carol attributed to Richard Smart, Rector of Plymtre represents Christmas as "Nowell", "Sir Christemas" and "my lord Christemas". The Father Christmas Experience at Marsh Farm. Father Christmas comes to Fulham Palace Father Christmas pitches up in the luxurious surrounds of Fulham Palace for a selection of meet and greet sessions. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, Santa Claus is looking very good for his age in 2021, Christmas 2021 is all about bringing joy to children and the young at heart alike and the father figure of the tradition is Saint Nick himself, Santa Claus' origins can be traced right back to the monk Saint Nicholas, Herschel's Lifestyle Contradicted What He Allegedly Stood For | Opinion, Lack of Experience To Blame for GOP Loss in Georgia | Opinion. By the 18th century he wore a red or green fur-lined robe, with holly or ivy around his head, and carrying the Yule log and a bowl of punch. Father Christmas and his elves make all the toys for Christmas in his home in the North Pole. The legend evolved over the centuries that on December 6th . Check out our santa claus father selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Comparison between Santa Claus and Father Christmas: Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle Santa. No one is really knows when St Nicholas died, it was on 6th December in either 343 (which seems to be the most probable), 345 or 352. In 1572 the riding was suppressed on the orders of the Archbishop, who complained of the "undecent and uncomely disguising" which drew multitudes of people from divine service. On the other hand, Santa Claus symbolizes charity and gift-giving rooted in Dutch and German origins. The center for all things Christmas EmailSanta.com claims to have calculated the age of Saint Nick. They started calling him as "Old Christmas" or "Father Christmas". The Coca-Cola Company. [22][23], Following the Restoration in 1660, most traditional Christmas celebrations were revived, although as these were no longer contentious the historic documentary sources become fewer. [49], An illustrated article of 1866 explained the concept of The Cave of Mystery. Behind his bower he had a large selection of fancy articles which formed the gifts he distributed to holders of prize tickets from time to time during the day Father Christmas bore in his hand a small Christmas tree laden with bright little gifts and bon-bons, and altogether he looked like the familiar Santa Claus or Father Christmas of the picture book. In different books, TV shows, films and songs, other reindeers have been named. Our kids love this one! Laura Steele added: "By the 19th century, he had become the figure that we are familiar with today, thanks to an illustrated poem in 1821 that described Santa's red coat, reindeer and sleigh, and changed the evening of gift-giving from the 5th to the 24th December. The name Santa Claus is the English form of the Dutch name for St. Nicholas Sinterklaas. The following year, another anonymous poem about Santa Claus was published under the name, "A Visit From St. Nicholas." Today this story is better known as "The Night Before Christmas." There is still debate regarding who the original author of this piece was. (Some scholars now believe that it was actually written by Henry Livingston, Jr., who was a distant relative of Dr Moore's wife.) Most children receive their presents on Christmas Eve night or early Christmas morning, but in some countries they get their presents on St. Nicholas' Eve, December 5th. Santa Claus had just been reimagined and the New World loved it. Where did he come from? Father Christmas was a huge man who wore a red robe (as red as hollyberries), with a hood and fur lining. Every Christmas Eve the elves at emailSanta.com track Santa on his fun and famous flight. But yet some other markes that you may know him by, is that the wanton Women dote after him; he helped them to so many new Gownes, Hatts, and Hankerches, and other fine knacks, of which he hath a pack on his back, in which is good store of all sorts, besides the fine knacks that he got out of their husbands' pockets for household provisions for him. Father Christmas appeared in many 20th century English-language works of fiction, including J. R. R. Tolkien's Father Christmas Letters, a series of private letters to his children written between 1920 and 1942 and first published in 1976. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. [41] In Hervey's personification of the lost charitable festival, "Old Father Christmas, at the head of his numerous and uproarious family, might ride his goat through the streets of the city and the lanes of the village, but he dismounted to sit for some few moments by each man's hearth; while some one or another of his merry sons would break away, to visit the remote farm-houses or show their laughing faces at many a poor man's door." - Privacy and Cookies - @didyouknowtv - Sitemap, Did you know? "[85] On the other hand, when The Preston Guardian published its poem Santa Claus and the Children in 1877 it felt the need to include a long preface explaining exactly who Santa Claus was. Under 1 Free. [67] Characters in the book include both Santa Claus (complete with sleigh, stocking and chimney),[67] leaving presents on Christmas Eve andseparatelyOld Father Christmas. Father Christmas is based on the Christian saint, St. Nicholas, who was known for giving presents to children during Christmas time. The answer might surprise you! "[9][90] The French writer Max O'Rell, who evidently thought the custom was established in the England of 1883, explained that Father Christmas "descend par la chemine, pour remplir de bonbons et de joux les bas que les enfants ont suspendus au pied du lit." [48] There were some early adoptions in Britain. "[71], During the 1860s and 70s Father Christmas became a popular subject on Christmas cards, where he was shown in many different costumes. 1. Another pre Christian link is Father Christmas's first name, 'Father'. By the 1880s the new customs had become established, with the nocturnal visitor sometimes being known as Santa Claus and sometimes as Father Christmas. [29], David Garrick's popular 1774 Drury Lane production of A Christmas Tale included a personified Christmas character who announced "Behold a personage well known to fame; / Once lov'd and honour'd Christmas is my name! [17] In the hands of Royalist pamphlet writers, Old Father Christmas served as the symbol and spokesman of 'the good old days' of feasting and good cheer,[1] and it became popular for Christmastide's defenders to present him as lamenting past times. / A merry carol would have graced thee well; / Thy ancestors have used it heretofore. [comes down the chimney, to fill with sweets and games the stockings that the children have hung from the foot of the bed]. At 500 m (1,640 ft) high, it actually is only a big hill. [98][99] The respective characters are now to all intents and purposes indistinguishable, although some people are still said to prefer the term 'Father Christmas' over 'Santa', nearly 150 years after Santa's arrival in England. Wig and beard can be cheaply hired from a theatrical costumier, or may be improvised from tow in case of need. Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Present is probably Father Christmas. A Scottish reference has Santa Claus leaving presents on New Year's Eve 1852, with children "hanging their stockings up on each side of the fire-place, in their sleeping apartments, at night, and waiting patiently till morning, to see what Santa Claus puts into them during their slumbers". In 1885, Nast sketched two children looking at a map of the world and tracing Santas journey from the North Pole to the United States. Father Christmas or Santa Claus The figure of Father Christmas (Santa Claus) is based on the patron saint of children, Saint Nicholas (270-310AD), who became one of the youngest bishops ever at age 17. However, every country has also given a unique name to him in their local language. Surrounded by guards, Christmas asserts his rightful place in the Protestant Church and protests against attempts to exclude him:[12] "Why Gentlemen, doe you know what you doe? Folklorist Margaret Baker stated the following, "the appearance of Santa Claus or Father Christmas, whose day is the 25th of December, owes much to Odin, the old blue-hooded, cloaked, white-bearded Giftbringer of the north, who . In his 1808 poem Marmion, Walter Scott wrote: Scott's phrase Merry England has been adopted by historians to describe the romantic notion that there was a golden age of the English past, allegedly since lost, that was characterised by universal hospitality and charity. Proof of Santa is the existence of presents in people's homes on Christmas morning. His character was maintained during the late 18th and into the 19th century by the Christmas folk plays later known as mummers plays. [6], Such personifications, illustrating the medieval fondness for pageantry and symbolism,[5] extended throughout the Tudor and Stuart periods with Lord of Misrule characters, sometimes called 'Captain Christmas',[1] 'Prince Christmas'[1] or 'The Christmas Lord', presiding over feasting and entertainment in grand houses, university colleges and Inns of Court. [15] For 15 years from around 1644, before and during the Interregnum of 1649-1660, the celebration of Christmas in England was forbidden. Santa Claus is the American pronunciation of Sinterklaas. In affect, the Coca-Cola Company has, over the decades, brought joy to millions of children around the world. The character was also celebrated in popular songs, including "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake (1974) and "Father Christmas" by The Kinks (1977). As punishment for eating children, Father Christmas forced Pre Fouettard (aka Father Whipper) to become his assistant and beat naughty children with sticks. here come I, old father Christmas, welcome or not " He wore a crown of yew and ivy, and he carried a long staff topped with holly-berries. Seymour's illustration shows Old Christmas dressed in a fur gown, crowned with a holly wreath, and riding a yule goat. By Christmas time most males have discarded their antlers and are saving their energy ready to grow a new pair in the spring. Category: christmas. Did you know that Rudolph and Santa's other reindeers might well be all girls!? The history of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, dates back to the 4th century, when a priest from the area that is now Turkey came on the scene. He must have a white head and a long white beard, of course. In Finland, they say that he lives in the north part of their country called Lapland. "[64] A poem published in Belfast in 1858 includes the lines "The children sleep; they dream of him, the fairy, / Kind Santa Claus, who with a right good will / Comes down the chimney with a footstep airy "[65], A Visit from St. Nicholas was published in England in December 1853 in Notes and Queries. At age 30 he became the Bishop of Myra, a port town on the Mediterranean Sea, that is part of modern-day Turkey. In the United States, Santa Claus is often depicted as flying from his home to home on Christmas Eve to deliver toys to children. [60] In 1823 came the famous poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, usually attributed to the New York writer Clement Clarke Moore, which developed the character further. The figure of Father Christmas (Santa Claus) that we know today was introduced by artist Haddon Sundblom in advertisements for the Coca-Cola Company. The current Santa-ish version of Father Christmas is still evolving. When: From 3 December 2022. Santa Claus is described as a big-bellied man with a white beard and a pair of glasses. 02/09/2010. Is he a Christian saint or a corporate stooge? A mummers play mentioned in The Book of Days (1864) opened with "Old Father Christmas, bearing, as emblematic devices, the holly bough, wassail-bowl, &c". The biggest Christmas stocking was 51m 35cm (168ft 5.65in) long and 21m 63cm (70ft 11.57in) wide (from the heel to the toe). Santa Claus Santa Claus, legendary figure who is the traditional patron of Christmas in the United States and other countries, bringing gifts to children. The most famous story about St. Nicholas tells how the custom of hanging up stockings to put presents in first started! Known as Christmas pixies or Christmas elves, the Julenissen were traditionally barn devils who would act as spirit guardians over farms. The Stocking of the title tells of how in England, "a great many years ago", it saw Father Christmas enter with his traditional refrain "Oh! [66], 1854 marked the first English publication of Carl Krinkin; or, The Christmas Stocking by the popular American author Susan Warner. [21] King portrays Father Christmas as a white-haired old man who is on trial for his life based on evidence laid against him by the Commonwealth. He was a very rich man because his parents died when he was young and left him a lot of money. This is clearly a fundamental Christian principle, as we see care for the poor proclaimed throughout Scripture (e.g., James 2:1-17 ). The whole place is fantastically. Father Christmas is a figure associated with Christmas-time. He arrives in Germany about a fortnight before Christmas, but as may be supposed from all the visits he has to pay there, and the length of his voyage, he does not arrive in America, until this eve. The poem is typically known as ' Twas The Night Before Christmas and was written by Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore for his three daughters. Roman Catholics will celebrate on Tuesday, Dec. 6, the feast day of one of the primary figures of Christmas -Saint Nicholas - more popularly known worldwide as Santa Claus. He wore a great furry white coat and cap, and a long white beard and hair spoke to his hoar antiquity. [9], Responding to a perceived decline in the levels of Christmas hospitality provided by the gentry,[10] Ben Jonson in Christmas, His Masque (1616) dressed his Old Christmas in out-of-date fashions:[11] "attir'd in round Hose, long Stockings, a close Doublet, a high crownd Hat with a Broach, a long thin beard, a Truncheon, little Ruffes, white shoes, his Scarffes, and Garters tyed crosse". On January 1st 1881, Harper's Weekly published Nast's most famous image of Santa, complete with a big red belly, an arm full of toys and smoking a pipe! A carol attributed to Richard Smart, Rector of Plymtree in Devon from 1435 to 1477, has 'Sir Christemas' announcing the news of Christ's birth and encouraging his listeners to drink: "Buvez bien par toute la compagnie, / Make good cheer and be right merry, / And sing with us now joyfully: Nowell, nowell. So get your merry reminder right away! DOWNLOAD VOICEMOD FOR FREE. [42], In an extended allegory, Hervey imagines his contemporary Old Father Christmas as a white-bearded magician dressed in a long robe and crowned with holly. In 1902 the author L. Frank Baum (who wrote the Wizard of OZ) wrote a book called 'The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus'. In France, he was then known as 'Pre Nel'. [10], It was in this context that Royalist pamphleteers linked the old traditions of Christmas with the cause of King and Church, while radical puritans argued for the suppression of Christmas both in its religious and its secular aspects. I'll bet you want to know when Santa was born now too! Dutch tradition had St Nicholas leaving presents in shoes laid out on 5 December,[80] while in France shoes were filled by Pre Nol. / Will he come at all tonight? [32][51] A spectator to a Worcestershire version of the St George play in 1856 noted, "Beelzebub was identical with Old Father Christmas."[52]. in 1066, before he set sail to England, William the Conqueror prayed to St. Nicholas asking that his conquest would go well. 22. Father Christmas or Old Christmas, represented as a jolly-faced bearded man often surrounded by plentiful food and drink, started to appear regularly in illustrated magazines of the 1840s. - fascinating facts and interesting stories about people, places and history, with top lists and trivia facts 2022. Santatelevision video for kids: best of the video messages of Santa Claus Father Christmas - Lapland Finland - Rovaniemi official home town of Santa Claus - Santa Claus Village at. "[100], This article is about the Christmas character of English folklore and myth. He is dressed in a red * suit outlined in white. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright 2022, Difference Between | Descriptive Analysis and Comparisons. Santa Claus Voice Changer. If people couldn't afford gold, some golden fruit was a good replacement - and until the last 50 years these were quite unusual fruits and so still special! The figure of Father Christmas (Santa Claus) is based on the patron saint of children, Saint Nicholas (270-310AD), who became one of the youngest bishops ever at age 17. Father Christmas will be returning to his Grotto in the east of town over at Romford Shopping Hall and you're all invited to take unlimited pics and bag a gift for the kids from the Big Man himself. Many people today think that Father Christmas is just the British name for Santa Claus who is just a modern version of Saint Nicholas. This still happens in some countries, even today.) Following the Restoration in 1660, Father Christmas's profile declined. He has had various names all over the globe, such as Pre Nol in France and Pap Noel in Spain. This was repeated later with the second daughter. In the 16th Century in northern Europe, after the reformation, the stories and traditions about St. Nicholas became unpopular. Father Christmas's common form for much of the 20th century was described by his entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. Santa Claus - The popular name for Father Christmas comes from the Dutch "Sinter Klaas". [1] His costume became more standardised, and although depictions often still showed him carrying holly, the holly crown became rarer and was often replaced with a hood. Since the Germans (and the Dutch) brought many of their customs to America directly or indirectly, we need to look first at Europe in order to understand the American and worldwide Christmas celebration of today. He comes down the chimney the night before Christmas (between 24 and 25 . Explore, play and learn with Santa's elves all December long. St. Nicholas was exiled from Myra and later put in prison during the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Diocletian but he was released in the time of the later Emperor Constantine, who was a Christian. In a short fantasy piece, the editor of the Cheltenham Chronicle in 1867 dreamt of being seized by the collar by Father Christmas, "rising up like a Geni of the Arabian Nights and moving rapidly through the aether". [32] Hundreds of villages had their own mummers who performed traditional plays around the neighbourhood, especially at the big houses. [24], In The Country Squire, a play of 1732, Old Christmas is depicted as someone who is rarely-found: a generous squire. In England, he has had three names: Lord Christmas, Old Father Christmas, and Sir Christmas. United Kingdom Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringler, Kris Kringle; United States Santa Claus; Vietnam ng gi Noel (Christmas Old Man) As I mention above, Santa's appearance changes. Kilvo Elf's video message before Christmas to children. Moore even named the reindeer by the names we know them today, and the method by which Santa returns up the chimney. These are the original eight reindeer that were described in the poem 'A Visit from St. Nicholas': In 1939 we first learnt about Rudolph, when he was written about in a book by Robert L May for the Montgomery Ward department stores. The name carries a somewhat socially superior cachet and is thus preferred by certain advertisers. Modern dictionaries consider the terms Father Christmas and Santa Claus to be synonymous. One story tells of him helping some sailors that were caught in a bad storm off the coast of Turkey. But should you call him Father Christmas, St Nicholas or Santa Claus? The first known English personification of Christmas was associated with merry-making, singing and drinking. During the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, Martin Luther tried to stop the venerating of saints and the feast of Saint Nicholas was abolished in some European countries. [94] The caption reads: In 1951 an editorial in The Times opined that while most adults may be under the impression that [the English] Father Christmas is home-bred, and is "a good insular John Bull old gentleman", many children, "led away by the false romanticism of sledges and reindeer", post letters to Norway addressed simply to Father Christmas or, "giving him a foreign veneer, Santa Claus". Santa Claus and Christmas at the North Pole CLOSE X We need your help, friend! Some people say that Santa lives at the North Pole. // I, English hearts rejoic'd in days of yore; / for new strange modes, imported by the score, / You will not sure turn Christmas out of door!"[30][31]. [97] Other 20th century publications include C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950), Raymond Briggs's Father Christmas (1973) and its sequel Father Christmas Goes on Holiday (1975). The oldest extant speech[36][37] is from Truro, Cornwall in the late 1780s: During the Victorian period Christmas customs enjoyed a significant revival, including the figure of Father Christmas himself as the emblem of 'good cheer'. Finally, determined to discover the person who had given him the money, the father secretly hid by the fire every evening until he caught Nicholas dropping in a bag of gold. Nast designed Santa's look on some historical information about Santa and the poem 'A Visit from St. Nicholas' and the illustrations from 'Old Santeclaus with Much Delight'. Santa Claus (aka.Father Christmas) is a nice man who brings presents to children who have been good each year. Santa Claus (St. Nick), as drawn by Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly in 1881. The Elf added by explaining Santa Claus' origins can be traced right back to the monk Saint Nicholas, who was born between 260 and 280AD in the village Patara, now in modern-day Turkey. "[28] Similar opinions were expressed in Round About Our Coal Fire with some curious Memories of Old Father Christmas; Shewing what Hospitality was in former Times, and how little there remains of it at present (1734, reprinted with Father Christmas subtitle 1796). There are more than 2,700 languages in the world, with more than 7,000 dialects. The recognisably modern figure of the English Father Christmas developed in the late Victorian period, but Christmas had . [72], From the 1870s onwards, Christmas shopping had begun to evolve as a separate seasonal activity, and by the late 19th century it had become an important part of the English Christmas. Santa Claus: The Magical World of Father Christmas (Y) Hardcover - October 7, 2014 by Rod Green (Author) 208 ratings See all formats and editions Hardcover $58.97 13 Used from $54.99 1 Collectible from $31.01 Come visit the magical world of Santa Claus! 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