Today, “Father Christmas” and “Santa Claus” are one and the same; but historically, they are actually two different figures.
The historic figure of Father Christmas began somewhere around the 17th century. The figure actually emerged as a resistance to the Puritan criticism of the traditional Christmas feast. Those who objected to the criticism of the traditional Christmas feast and saw it as a good “old-fashioned” Christian celebration created the figure of Father Christmas to give a voice to their protest.
The earliest appearance in literature of Father Christmas was around the year 1616, in Ben Johnson’s “Christmas his Masque.” Father Christmas again appears in Thomas Nabbes’s “The Springs Glorie” in 1638.
Over the next couple of centuries, Father Christmas appears again and again under different names: Sir Christmas, Lord Christmas, and Old Father Christmas. Traditionally, Father Christmas did not bring gifts. He was simply a symbol of the Christmas season.
Santa Claus was actually a byproduct of the mixing of cultures, ideas, and beliefs of various ethnic groups in America. He’s a combination of St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and others. He’s a benevolent, gift-giving, jolly soul who loves children everywhere and magically brings the things they want to make their dreams come true.
America is truly a melting pot. More languages are spoken and more religions are practiced in America than anywhere else on earth. Cultures merge, and the result is an improvement of all of the individual cultures.
Father Christmas is magical. Father Christmas or Santa Claus or Saint Nick (whatever you want to call him), although not a flesh-and-blood human being, is nevertheless real. He is the symbol of all of the good that resides in the hearts of humans.
