Father Christmas
8
2.0
- noun
- /ˈfɑːðə ˈkrɪs·məs/
- UK
:
Papá Noel
- Svendsen clapped me in a bear hug when he said goodbye, and for a second I felt like a little girl being hugged by Father Christmas.
- Father Christmas, Santa Claus
- Santa Claus, Father Christmas
- Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas
I love that this Father Christmas looks sheepish or asleep.
- I love that this Father Christmas looks sheepish or asleep.
- Can Mummy see a very hungry Caterpillar and Father Christmas?
- And I went, she crept off obviously to tell her mum that Father Christmas was at the cheese counter.
- So what happens is you go to see Father Christmas and the Father Christmas asks you ask the kids, what do you want for Christmas?
Examples
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But to make up for it, we are going on a special visit to see Father Christmas.
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Children eagerly wait for Father Christmas to deliver presents on Christmas Eve.
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Who wants to go and see Father Christmas?
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- We need to see Father Christmas.
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I hope Father Christmas will bring me a tool set for my bike workshop.
Blog text (9) -
You can go and see Father Christmas, give it a cuddle.
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Father Christmas, we've come to you because you are our only hope.
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The English Father Christmas was a gaunt old figure, almost a Father Time, who for centuries had served as a symbol of Christmas.
Academic text (1990) -
The real Father Christmas has always lived and still lives in the mountains of Korvatunturi, Finland.
Blog text (9) -
Father Christmas can't come if we haven't got a chimney.
Synonyms
742
1.0
A jolly old man who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve
11
1.0
A friendly old man in red who brings gifts to children at Christmas
4
3.4
A kind man in stories who brings presents to children at Christmas
3
3.6
A man in stories who brings gifts to children at Christmas
1
5.0
A man in stories who brings presents to children at Christmas
1
5.7
A 4th-century church leader who gave gifts to children and inspired Santa Claus
A Christian saint from the 300s who inspired Santa Claus and gave gifts to children at Christmas
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound combines 'father' (a male person) with 'Christmas' (the holiday), so its meaning — a personified male figure associated with the Christmas celebration — is directly inferable from the parts. This sense (the Santa-like gift-bringer) is culturally common and lexicalized in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely understand the intended referent.
Etymology
Father Christmas began as a picture of a friendly old man—the father of the Christmas holiday—who shared food and small gifts. One popular story says this kind 'father' who brought gifts and cheer became the same idea as 'Santa Claus', so today Father Christmas means the imaginary man who brings presents.