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In the early days of Christmas celebrations, Father Christmas wasn’t very child-friendly, he was often shown as a mischievous merrymaker who presided over raucous festive celebrations. In the 16th century, Father Christmas began appearing in England as a personification of the festive season. He was depicted as a jolly, rotund figure dressed in green robes trimmed with fur. He wasn’t yet associated with gift-giving but was instead seen as a symbol of good cheer and revelry. How old is Father Christmas? oooOooo The Untold Story of Father Christmas How a toymaker became a father to children around the world?
From Saint Nicholas to the jolly old elf, we know and love today, Santa has evolved over the centuries. And then Father Christmas met Santa Claus … It explains the role of the Post Office in helping Santa to reply to children in the UK every year.
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The era saw the birth of a family-friendly Christmas season and the reinterpretation of previous traditions. Santa Claus’ story begins with European immigrants bringing their traditions and tales of Saint Nicholas with them to North America and, eventually, the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam – now New York.
Later, in Tudor and Stuart times, the ‘Lord of Misrule’ oversaw Christmas festivities in aristocratic homes. Other names included ‘Prince Christmas’, ‘The Christmas Lord’ and ‘Captain Christmas’. In none of these depictions was he an old man with a white beard.The origins of Father Christmas start with the legend of Saint Nicholas in the third century who was known for his generosity and kindness. He was a Greek, living in the Roman Empire and his birthplace, Patara, is now part of Turkey. The first known depiction of Father Christmas as a gift-giver was in a 17th-century with an image that bears a striking resemblance to the modern-day version of Father Christmas. Often when a book is released in association with an existing attraction, the results can be a little disappointing. But not so for “The Untold Story of Father Christmas” which had my children absolutely spell-bound.
Today, Father Christmas is synonymous with Christmas cheer, gift-giving and spreading joy to all. He’s become an integral part of our festive traditions and has evolved alongside the changing times. After the Restoration in 1660, Father Christmas reappeared and became a mainstay of stage plays for the next 200 years. In York, another possible precursor to Father Christmas was celebrated in a festival called the ‘Yule Ridings.’ It took place on December 21st and featured a man disguised as Yule – usually a man-sized goat – carrying meat and cake through the streets and throwing nuts into the crowd. However, in 1572, the event was banned due to complaints of ‘very rude and barbarous’ behaviour. And with ever-growing numbers of children writing, the Post Office began helping Santa with his replies!
Father Christmas – the modern icon
The book called “The Untold Story of Father Christmas” has been written by the husband and wife team who created the Lapland UK experience in the Crown Estate Forest near Ascot in Surrey in 2007. Two years afterwards, Clement Clark Moore embellished the legend further in his poem ‘The Night Before Christmas’. This version of Santa was very different to the others, and he was now a ‘right jolly old elf’ with old clothes damaged by soot and ashes. He also had dimples, twinkling eyes, and a white beard. Did you know? The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s. Sinter Klaas Comes to New York Through the Victorians’ reinvention of Christmas, Father Christmas has maintained his place as a popular figure, albeit one that is now interchangeable with Santa Claus.
You might like to know what the last posting day is for children in the UK who want to write to Father Christmas. The Royal Mail can help! Once plagued by boisterous behaviour led by the ‘Lord of Misrule’ and unruly children, the festivities were redefined by the Victorians as a time for children, religion and charity. From jolly old man to winter sprite, Father Christmas has taken many forms over the centuries. But how did this allegorical figure become the iconic symbol of the festivities we know and love today? Who is Father Christmas? Father Christmas, in The Untold Story of Father Christmas, is actually just a toy maker who is very good at his job. He creates loads of toys to sell in villages, for all of the children who’s parents can afford them. He has a lovely wife called Mary who helps him create his toys, however, they both are saddened when they are unable to have a child of their own. This sadness is doubled during the winter months, when the children of their village who are unable to afford new toys are not gifted with any for Christmas.
The History of Father Christmas in English Folklore
An article in Rivington’s Gazetteer in 1773, reported that the anniversary of St Nicholas – also known as ‘St a Claus’ – was being celebrated.
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