FATHER CHRISTMAS - THE ORIGIN OF AN ENGLISH CHRISTMAS TRADITION

[@davidd6171]

Wonderful, as always, Allan! I look forward to you achieving 100,000 subscribers on KZbin in 2025! Well done, and you deserve it!

[@allanbarton]

Thank you David, I can't believe how close it is now. I am so very grateful to you and other loyal subscribers. Happy Christmas.

[@homahak]

Thank you so much for this video explaining the real difference between our own Father Christmas and the American version. I derived my understanding from my own father born in the Victorian period. Even the mode of dress separates them. It’s become so blurred over the last 70 years that I assumed the distinction had gone for ever. I’m very grateful to see my understanding confirmed so late in my life.

[@Lucernare]

Fascinating! I did a study some years ago of the origins of Old Father Christmas, the Lord Christemass which I published on my old blog. I have that image of Fr Christmas on trial framed, and it hangs in my dining room at Christmas presiding over the festivities. Happy (new kalendar) Christmas!

[@allanbarton]

It is a wonderful image. Happy Christmas Patrick.

[@ddoyle11]

Your videos are a joy to watch. Thank you for sharing them.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting. Have a happy Christmas.

[@Marowyn]

Thank you for this delightful telling of the origins of Father Christmas - blessings to you as well.

[@torcal47]

Thanks Allan. Happy Christmas to you and your family.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you and to you too.

[@Lionstar16]

'Po-faced misers they were' OMG, I laughed at that!

[@allanbarton]

I am not a fan of Puritanism!

[@MikeMagTech]

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

[@allanbarton]

Happy Christmas.

[@hugolandheer7008]

I so love those Christmas stories,,,, Thanks for sharing and A merry Christmas to you too!

[@roywixson849]

Your scholarly and well researched videos are a joy. Congratulations on your fine work from the American side of the Atlantic.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much and a happy Christmas to you and yours.

[@rev1775]

Happy Christmas to you and your family!! Thank you for all the wonderful content you provide!

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure and a Merry Christmas to you too.

[@mheuman]

Thank you for your wonderful work, It's inspired myself and my family to celebrate the 2 days if Christmas this year. Happiest Christmas to you and yours , Allan.

[@theeweemo]

Wishing you and your family Dr Barton a Merry and a Healthy Christmas and a Happy New Year, looking forward to watching and learning a lot more from your videos!

[@torfrida6663]

Fascinating. Thanks so much and a merry Christmas to you and 🎄🇬🇧👍

[@allanbarton]

Merry Christmas.

[@crallo66]

Many thanks, and a very happy feast to you all.

[@allanbarton]

Happy Christmas.

[@ronnieright4935]

Merry Christmas Allan to you and your family.

[@JangianTV]

Fascinating and eye-opening, and very well told! Merry Christmas, Allan! 🎄

[@allanbarton]

Thank you kindly! Happy Christmas.

[@jimcabezola3051]

Mahaho for marking the season in this way! Mele Kalikimaka to all of you out there.

[@allanbarton]

Happy Christmas to you and your family.

[@incubism]

Fantastic! Merry Christmas to you and yours.Thank you for all the great content, I have learn’t quite a lot.

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@lianefehrle9921]

Merry Christmas to you and your family. May you find health a plenty in the coming year.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much Liane, happy Christmas to you too.

[@JosephRHuber]

Happy/Merry Christmas to you also!!

[@christopherstephenjenksbsg4944]

Excellent and fascinating video! The connection between Father Christmas and Santa Claus goes a long way back. In the early 1820s, Clement Clarke Moore, composer of the poem "A Visit From St Nicholas" ("T'was the night before Christmas..."), basically invented the modern American Santa Claus. Being a New Yorker when Dutch traditions and folklore were still strong in the area, he combined the Dutch-inspired tradition of St Nicholas with the English tradition of Father Christmas, and Voila! We got Santa Claus. While Santa Claus may be supplanting Father Christmas in the UK, Father Christmas played a large role in the Santa Claus origin story. I grew up in 1960s New York City, where my dad served as vicar of a church founded by Moore. He also built the vicarage where I grew up. Needless to say, the church went a little overboard every Christmas with Santa Claus-themed plays and pageants. I was sick of Santa Claus by the age of six.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Thank God for a sensible factually based video on one of our Christmas traditions. I've just come across someone who believes that Father Christmas is part of the 'Green Man archetype' along with Peter Pan, the Green Knight and Robin Hood!

[@allanbarton]

Oh. It it is always much more fun to stick to the evidence than make things up. However, it seems fiction has more appeal than fact!!!

[@Micktyb]

Excellent 👌 happy Christmas God Bless 🙏🎄🎅

[@allanbarton]

Happy Christmas.

[@roywixson849]

Thanks!

[@DragonsAndDragons777]

I'm watching this wearing a santa hat

[@allanbarton]

You'll have to get a Father Christmas hat for next year! Happy Christmas.