Front Cover:- 'Father Christmas”
The origin of  Father Christmas started a long time ago when, in children’s plays, he was a jolly old fellow giving out gifts and described as wearing a long blue or green coat and having a long white beard.

On the continent St Nicholas was celebrated on December 6th and it is said that he tamed the devil, depicted as Black Peter, to come and punish any naughty children and to do the dirty work of taking presents down chimneys.

In the sixteenth century, after the Reformation, saints went out of favour in Europe. However someone was needed to take the place of St Nicholas and give presents at Christmas. In England, Father Christmas, took over the job.  France has Pere Noel, and in Germany the Christkind, or Christ child, gave gifts. In the United States of America his name became Kris Kringle.

Dutch settlers in America took St Nicholas with them. They shortened his name to Class and called him Sinta Class, which soon became Santa Claus in English. He became very popular with everyone and American writers and artists gradually transformed the bishop in his robes and mitre into the familiar figure with white beard and robes and hat. For several years Coca Cola used images of the now familiar Santa Claus in Christmas adverts both here and in America. Our Father Christmas came to look more and more like his American counterpart, and now Father Christmas and Santa Claus have become one and the same person.

For more information see:
http://www.happychristmas.org.uk/santa/father-christmas.htm
http://www.benbest.com/history/xmas.html#nicholas