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A ramble through the various myths and history associated with Father Christmas, from the original Greek Bishop and Saint, to various medieval links with other customs, the beings in other countries who carry out similar roles, up to the more modern traditions like dressing him in red, and tracking his flight on the NORAD website. How has he been used to promote various other means of spending your money? Speaking of the flight, what’s up with those (female) reindeer? And what pulls the sleigh in Australia, in the middle of summer?

This may well be a comforting nostalgic journey through traditions you already know and love (and why not?) or maybe you will learn something new.

(Concerned parents may be reassured to know that I will not at any point suggest to any children who might overhear that Father Christmas is not real!)