Some people, including Wakeman, compare Father Christmas directly to Odin, the Norse god. Father Christmas, or figures that closely resemble him, made a renaissance in the early 19th century ...

It's been suggested that the seasonal character of "Santa Claus" or "Father Christmas" was influenced by the Norse god Odin. Odin was the head of the Norse pantheon and the god of death and magic ...

was Odin. Instead, some historians posit that the old, white-bearded god on horseback or seated in a cart drawn by reindeer was transformed into Santa Claus, otherwise known as Father Christmas or ...

Originally, Father Christmas was actually a pagan figure representing ... Then, the Vikings added to the tradition with their own. The Norse god Odin took on the character of Jul, a portly old ...

Some Christmas traditions mirror pre-Christian festivities, but some pagan influences may have been overstated. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.