2007-12-21 00:19:32 · 14 answers · asked by six p 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
He's also been known as Santa Claus long before Rudolph got his red nose.
And for your further Knowledge he is actually also known as
St Nicholas !
2007-12-21 00:31:32 · answer #1 · answered by bl_fkt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Santa Claus" is a mixture of a LOT of different legends and traditions. He doesn't evolve directly from St Nicholas or any other single source. And Coca-cola didn't invent Santa Claus, the modern image of Santa as a fat, jolly man in a bright red and white suit was already the predominant one by the time Coke used him in an ad campaign in the 1930s.
"Father Christmas" on the other hand came about when Puritans were trying to get rid of the Christmas holiday. He is a personification of the holiday and was used by those trying to defend its practice. He has become pretty much merged with the image of Santa Claus by now (as things become more "global") and the two are thought to be the same. Which I don't like either because I much rather prefer Father Christmas to Santa Claus....
2007-12-23 06:29:50 · answer #2 · answered by Morbid_Little_Girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Santa Claus is derived from Sinter Klas, a Scandanavian name for Father Christmas.
A coca cola add brought "Santa Claus" to America, and basically to the world thereafter. The popularity of the drink made the name stick. Before then, American's had either Saint Nicholas or Father Christmas deliver the goods.
The main difference between Father Christmas and Santa Claus is the color and cut of their clothes...Father Christmas (and Saint Nicholas and Sinter Klas) wore green robes, and Santa Claus wears a red jacket and pants. All of them wear the pointed wizard hat.
Hope that helps.
2007-12-21 00:30:47 · answer #3 · answered by Flowerlady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Ireland the Reverse is the case People have always used the word Santy Claus in regards to their Children and Santa Claus when talking to Adults.It is only in Modern Times that People started using Father Christmas and sometimes Saint Nicholas, which I think they got from looking at to many American Sit Coms and Pictures or Movies as the Yanks like to call them.
2007-12-21 00:31:37 · answer #4 · answered by janus 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Santa Claus comes from Spanish doesn't it? I assumed it was an Americanism. We've been calling him Father Christmas in England all along, but now all the festive films are coming out, kids are calling him Santa. What's that about? In Europe they call him St Nicholas (or St Nick)
2007-12-21 00:23:46 · answer #5 · answered by English Rose (due 2nd May) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Father Christmas is a British name for Santa. Most of the rest of the world calls him Santa
2007-12-21 01:47:04 · answer #6 · answered by Queen of the Jungle 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Santa Claus is older than Father Christmas (A Coca-Cola invention!)
Santa Claus is a bastardisation of St Nicholas.
2007-12-21 00:24:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Santa Claus literally means Saint Nicholas and he of course is Father Christmas....so one and the same thing and not new.
Merry Xmas
2007-12-21 00:23:52 · answer #8 · answered by dragondrums 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume its another import from the USA to us in the UK.
My grandchildren always refer to Father Christmas. They have never used the name Santa Claus. But I gather that many of their friends do (especially the more sophisticated ones), because they think its more trendy to call Father Christmas by that name.
2007-12-21 00:38:15 · answer #9 · answered by howualldoing2day 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would assume that we call him santa due to all the xmas movies released.
Also, for some reason, English kids like to talk like an American...have a listen to them, it's quite funny
2007-12-21 00:22:44 · answer #10 · answered by Dave 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋