...Santa is an American saying and Father Christmas was the UK saying...Are we still allowed to talk about Christmas with all this PC culture spewing across the west?
From Wiki..... "Father Christmas is the traditional English name for the personification of Christmas. Although now known as a Christmas gift-bringer, and normally considered to be synonymous with American culture's Santa Claus which is now known worldwide, he was originally part of an unrelated and much older English folkloric tradition. The recognisably modern figure of the English Father Christmas developed in the late Victorian period, but Christmas had been personified for centuries before then.
English personifications of Christmas were first recorded in the 15th century, with Father Christmas himself first appearing in the mid 17th century in the aftermath of the English Civil War. The Puritan-controlled English government had legislated to abolish Christmas, considering it papist, and had outlawed its traditional customs. 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. Following the Restoration in 1660, Father Christmas's profile declined. His character was maintained during the late 18th and into the 19th century by the Christmas folk plays later known as mummers plays.
Until Victorian times, Father Christmas was concerned with adult feasting and merry-making. He had no particular connection with children, nor with the giving of presents, nocturnal visits, stockings or chimneys. But as later Victorian Christmases developed into child-centric family festivals, Father Christmas became a bringer of gifts. The popular American myth of Santa Claus arrived in England in the 1850s and Father Christmas started to take on Santa's attributes. By the 1880s the new customs had become established, with the nocturnal visitor sometimes being known as Santa Claus and sometimes as Father Christmas. He was often illustrated wearing a long red hooded gown trimmed with white fur."
On my third Christmas l came in to the lounge and there was a huge box for me, l rushed and ripped all the paper off and pulled the flaps open to find it was empty, on asking my Father what is was he said "That Son is an Action Man deserter....................
lifeisadreamMexi Go, Mexico State Mexico16,713 posts
I never did believe in Santa, as a child the 3 kings (epiphany) would bring some presents to children and for every one there was a celebration with a bread having hidden plastic baby Jesus and whoever got him had to make a celebration on February the 2th.
(neither I did believe in the 3 kings but I was happy to receive a few presents, not many though)
rainbowdream2017Melbourne, Victoria Australia2,486 posts
The way I see Santa Clause is a simbol of giving unconditional love ...specially to the poor,unknown - nameless, less fortunate, it's a simbol of a family togethernes or family we find in friends,kind gesture we express in any way possible as thoughtful reminder of people who touch our life when we touch with kindness someone elses life. Santa Clause is in each of us who show care for another and I think such spirit only dies if a person stopped believing in good in the world.
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When did you stop believing is Santa Claus?(Vote Below)