FATHER CHRISTMAS

                                                               Santa Claus 

  Santa Claus also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklass, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. 

     Santa Claus is generally depicted as a portly, joyous, white-bearded man --- sometimes with spectacles --- wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films. 

     According to a tradition traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with many magical elves and nine flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularised by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.