Father Christmas

Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name (in other languages) exists in several other countries, including France  Pere Noel ,Spain  Papá Noel, Pare Noel), Portugal Pai Natal), Italy(Babbo Natale), Amenia (Kaghand Papik), Andorra(Lord Quinto).

In past centuries, the English Father Christmas was also known as Old Father Christmas, and is said to wear in Victorian and Tudor times a bright green suit a sign of the returning spring. Father Christmas was originally part of an old English  midwinter festival.

In medieval England and for centuries afterwards, the figure of Father Christmas represented the spirit of benevolence and good cheer. In the 19th century, his role changed to something more like that of the European Saint Nicholas. At about the same time, Dutch emigrants took the story of a legendary gift-bringer called 'Sinterklaas' to America, where he eventually became known as Santa Claus.

The names may be different, but there were enough similarities between all these symbolic personages to allow, by the early 20th century, Father Christmas, Santa, St Nick and others to merge.

And the resulting 'right jolly old elf' is now the universally recognised symbol of Christmas and the bringer of above gifts via reindeers and sleigh .