What is the difference between Santa Claus and Father Christmas?

I think that Father Christmas is often used in the UK to mean the same person that Americans call Santa Claus.

Santa Claus is a Dutch invention. It's Dutch for Saint Nicholas.

Depending on the country or culture, Santa Claus assumes different guises and names.

Historically, Nicholas of Myra was a 4th century bishop (hence the appearance of bishop's robes on some versions of Santa).

According to the website at the end of this commentary, as early as the 1300's Nicholas was portrayed as having a short dark beard, as bishops of the Eastern church were so portrayed... but images of Odin as an old man with the long white beard were superimposed on Nicholas.

In the 1500's in Europe, parades were held in December by a man dressed in bishop's robes.

In 1647, apparently as an act of rebellion on the government banning Christmas, a character called "Father Christmas" came around to towns taunting the government... "In comes I, Old Father Christmas, Be I welcome or be I not, I hope that Christmas will ne'er be forgot"

In 1773, the New York Gazette published the name "St. A. Claus".

In 1821, a professor, Clement Moore, gathered together the elements of Christmas folklore and wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas" which was also known as "The Night Before Christmas." From this we have a very complete description of Santa as he appears today.

Shortly thereafter, while Santa was being popularly depicted by Thomas Nast in the United States, Britain was importing images of Santa from Germany, calling him Father Christmas, portrayed as tall and stern in bishop's robes as opposed to the "Jolly Elf" of the Americans.

Most of the forgoing comes from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

This website lists several other names by which this character is known... I wonder if he's in the witness protection program for some reason? *grin*

http://www.christmas-day.org/multiculturism-santas.html


This website does not mention "Sinterklaas" which is the Dutch name for St. Nicholas...

Originally called Father Winter or Old Man Winter, he was a popular part of the Midwinter festivals that took place in the British Isles and Northern Europe. An elder of the village would dress up to personify winter and would visit each house within the village or community. The family would provide him with food and drink, thereby appeasing the winter elements and providing luck for the coming year.

It wasn’t until the Nineteenth Century and the arrival of the Santa Claus tradition in England that the two characters began to become merged as one. As both characters were said to visit all houses at Christmas, the merging was an obvious one.

For some British and Europeans, the distinction of Father Christmas over Santa Claus is defended, but many now use the two names interchangeably. Even so, there can still be seen traces of the original Father Christmas if you know where to look.

In certain parts of the British Isles, for example, Father Christmas is often not depicted as the popular Coca-Cola Santa Claus of today, but as a thinner, long cloaked and hooded old man more in keeping with the old tradition. Sometimes, the colours may be the same in a further merging of traditions, but he may also appear in all manner of bright colours and accessories, distinguishing Father Christmas even more from the commercialised Santa of today.

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/fatherchristmas.shtml

Our Puritan forefathers were dead set against Christmas.
http://www.biblicalfoundations.org/?p=80

Today's Santa Claus is mainly the evolved American product of Clement Moore, Thomas Nast, and the Coca-Cola Company.
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/santa.asp

The idea that the Coca Cola company was significant in creating the image of the American Santa Clause is an urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/santa.asp