2007-12-21 04:43:16 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
My daddy's father christmas......duh!! : )
2007-12-21 12:10:58 · answer #1 · answered by Becca 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The symbolic personification of Christmas as a merry old figure begins in the early 17th century, in the context of resistance to Puritan criticism of observation of the Christmas feast. He is "old" because of the antiquity of the feast itself, which its defenders saw as a good old Christian custom that should be kept. Allegory was popular at the time, and so "old Christmas" was given a voice to protest his exclusion, along with the form of a rambunctious, jolly old man.
The earliest recorded personification of Christmas appears to be Ben Jonson's creation in Christmas his Masque[1] dating from December 1616, in which Christmas appears "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", and announces "Why Gentlemen, doe you know what you doe? ha! would you ha'kept me out? Christmas, old Christmas?" Later, in a masque by Thomas Nabbes, The Springs Glorie produced in 1638, "Christmas" appears as "an old reverend gentleman in furred gown and cap".
The character continued to appear over the next 250 years, appearing as Sir Christmas, Lord Christmas, or Father Christmas, the latter becoming the most common. A book dating from the time of the Commonwealth, The Vindication of CHRISTMAS or, His Twelve Yeares' Observations upon the Times[2] involved "Old Christmas" advocating a merry, alcoholic Christmas and casting aspersions on the charitable motives of the ruling Puritans.
The traditional Father Christmas was neither a gift bringer, nor associated with children. However, during the Victorian era, when Santa Claus arrived from America, he was merged with the character called "Sir Christmas", "Lord Christmas" or "Old Father Christmas" to create Father Christmas, the British Santa which survives today. Nowadays, most Britons use the expressions Father Christmas and Santa Claus as synonyms
2007-12-21 04:46:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many people today think that Father Christmas is just the British name for Santa Claus. Father Christmas is a completely different person entirely, with a much longer history.
The American Santa Claus has one source. He originated from Dutch settlers' stories about Sinter Klass, the Dutch name for St Nicholas, and how he gave presents to girls and boys.
St Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, in Turkey in the 3rd century AD, who would travel in his red bishop's robes and give gifts to the poor. He was believed to have been particularly kind to children. Apparently, he was also very shy. Legend has it that one day, wanting to give money to a family in secret, he dropped some gold coins down the chimney, where they landed in a girl's stocking. St. Nicholas didn't 'arrive' in Britain until after the Norman invasion, and when he did arrive his story was quickly absorbed into the legend of Father Christmas. By this time, our Father Christmas had already been around for centuries!
2007-12-21 05:01:54 · answer #3 · answered by Tazz 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Father Christmas is another name for Santa Claus
2007-12-21 04:57:47 · answer #4 · answered by nickearth1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different cultures have different names for their Santa's. People from England call their Santa, Father Christmas. Germany and other European countries have Chris Kringle or St. Nicholas Merry Chrismas, Santa!!
2007-12-21 04:47:42 · answer #5 · answered by fh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saint Nicholas... aka Papa Christmas or Father Christmas. That's what they call him in Europe.
Santa Clause (in German, French or Italian... that I'm not certain) is short for Saint Nicholas.
2007-12-21 04:51:24 · answer #6 · answered by partydudette52 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's the dad of the Christmas children.
2007-12-21 04:45:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is actually a bad holiday it came from nimrod when nimrod was dieing the told his wife to cut off his head and plant it under a tree ( the tree is the kind we use for christmas) so the next day she came back and there was presents under the tree he said it was suposed to be his rebirth. the chatholics thought that day was when jesus was born so they named it christmas CHRIST-MAS ( MAS=More).
Santa clause- We all now jolly old saint nick but before he was santa clause he used to bring stuff for children who where in orphaniges on christmas and agian the chatholics made him a saintof christmas.
2007-12-21 04:51:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Father christmas is somone who is real to those who believe in him. Simple.
2007-12-21 04:47:07 · answer #9 · answered by Onlylilme37 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
father christmas is a dude who brings presents the 25 of december,but only for little kids.And he works with elfs.
2007-12-21 04:47:06 · answer #10 · answered by William Z 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is a symbol of the Christmas Spirit.
2007-12-21 04:51:25 · answer #11 · answered by aimsthelakerdiva 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋