Father Christmas

 Father Christmas or "The Old Christmas" - from the book 'Peter's Christmas', with drawings by Otto Haslund and Pietro Krohn, 1866.

Perhaps the best-known figure of Christmas, Santa Claus, is an amalgamation of several different figures.

Part of the inspiration for the Santa we know today comes from Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the fourth century in what is now Turkey.

In 1823, one could read in an American weekly that Santa Claus came from the high north in a sleigh with reindeer harnessed to it.

The first time 'Santa Claus' appeared in Denmark was in 'Peter's Christmas', which was first published in December 1866 - and the story is by Johan Krohn with partly hand-coloured drawings by Otto Haslund and the author's brother Pietro Krohn.

Here he was called 'Den gamle Jul' - and did not come with gifts - but with Christmas joy itself.

'Den Gamle Jul' had a candle in his hat and went around listening at the town's doors - and the places where the children had been naughty - he passed.

But in the places where the children had been nice, he went in - took the candle down from his hat and lit the Christmas tree - so that the Christmas spirit spread.

In 'Peter's Christmas' it was also stated that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole and spends the whole year making toys, which he distributes at Christmas with the help of Santa and the Christmas Angel.

"Old Christmas" therefore has many similarities with Santa Claus, even if he does not bring presents.

The first time Santa appears as a gift-giver in Denmark is in Louis Moe's 'Santa's Book' from 1898.

Here the children can read how Father Christmas sits high up in the north and paints toys all year round, which he distributes on Christmas Eve together with his two helpers the Santa and the Christmas Angel.

The old pre-Christian story about the gnomes was thus allowed to live on - side by side with Santa Claus in Denmark.

It was not until the interwar period that it became common for a member of the family to dress up as Santa Claus and hand out presents to the children on Christmas Eve.