Father Christmas has probably the strongest pagan roots of all the holiday gift-givers. His earliest origins are found in the Roman god Saturn who represented food, wine and mer- riment. The English also borrowed traits from the Viking gods Thor (in charge of reward and punishment) and Odin (who rode through the skies in a chariot drawn by goats). These charac- teristics were combined to create a central figure presiding over the winter holidays. Eventually, the English blended the pre-Christian figure with that of Saint Nicholas to create Father Christmas. He is typ- ically pictured as a large robust man wearing a long, red fur- trimmed robe and a crown of holly. In addition to being in charge of holiday eating and drinking, Father Christmas is responsible for gift giving. English chil- dren tell Father Christmas what gifts they want by writing a list and throwing it in the back of the fireplace. If a draft from the fire carries the list up the chimney, the children are assured of receiving their requests. Other symbols associated with Father Christmas include the boars head, the yule log, the wassail bowl, and the flaming plum pudding.
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