Names for the 'toy deliverer' on Christmas Eve

[This Baron of Mora]

At the North Pole lives a man known the world round for delivering toys to good girls and boys and he goes by many names, here in the US Santa Claus is the most used, but if you happen to meet him this Christmas as he fills the stockings like in the Night Before Christmas, what would you call him?

[rjj7]

I usually think of him as Santa Claus, but that's probably from living in a culture that does (and a pretty Santa-saturated culture at that). However, my favorite name has always been Father Christmas. It just seems to give a little bit more of a Christian feel to the character. I attribute this preference directly to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

St. Nicholas might be a contender, but I simply don't have any childhood reference for the name, aside from a few songs that usually abbreviate it to "St. Nic".

[beckyminor]

For the scenario you're talking about, I like "Father Christmas" best, although we talk a lot about St Nicholas at my house, because I like to give my kids the historical context for the legend.

[Kessie]

Ever since we saw that Veggietales about the real St. Nicholas, I've been a fan of the guy.

Although have you seen the previews for that CG cartoon Rise of the Guardians? With the Russian Santa, the Easter Bunny (who is an aussie), Jack Frost, Mr. Sandman and the Tooth Fairy? And they're all trying to save the world? It's so absolutely ludicrous that it loops back around into awesome. Also, the Russian Santa is AWESOME.

[rjj7]

I've actually seen the film Rise of the Guardians. Much better than I feared (I rarely enter a cinema anymore, and when I do, it is with great trepidation). In fact, I liked it a good deal better than any other Computer Animated movie I've seen out of Dreamworks, in large part because it was entirely free of Dreamworks' apparent signature: crude humor. It was also visually incredible, and I loved each and every one of the characters. The Russian Santa was probably my least favorite of the guardians, so when I say I loved him, you'll understand how much I liked the cast.

It's biggest failing was that the story felt rather sloppy. Like they had every piece they needed to make a good story, but just didn't glue them together properly. Plot holes exist where it feels like it would have been easy to pave them over, particularly near the ending. But like I say, still better (imo) than Shrek, Over the Hedge, How to Train Your Dragon, The Curse of the Wererabbit, and maybe a couple others I've forgotten.

EDIT: The nickname that most of the other characters use for Santa in the film is "North".

[Kessie]

Aw, I really liked How to Train Your Dragon. It was the first Dreamworks I've liked in a very long time. I'm starting to suspect that Pixar's talent is migrating to Dreamworks, because Dreamworks is slowly starting to make good movies, while Pixar is in decline.

I've only seen previews of Rise. Too bad about the story, but I'll probably see it anyway. I mean, it can't be any more horrible than Disney's Atlantis, right? That felt like a chop-job and a half, and most of the visuals was ripped off the Dinotopia books anyway.

[Resha Caner]

Dec 13, 2012 21:36:40 GMT -5 Kessie said:

Aw, I really liked How to Train Your Dragon.

Yeah, great movie. The best Dreamworks has made IMHO. Though I haven't seen Rise of the Guardians. I'm not sure what to make of that one.

I've always thought it odd that Santa is called St. Nick, and Satan (which is an anagram of Santa) is called Old Nick. ooo-OOO-ooo.

[rjj7]

I will admit that lumping How to Train Your Dragon in with those other films was very unfair, and misleading with regard to my opinion of the movie. I concede many admirable qualities about the film, and regard it as definitely superior to the other things I mentioned. In fact, four months ago I could have made almost the same post that I made about RotG about HtTYD. Definite step up from other Dreamworks fare. My main problem with that film was that the story started out being something that felt fresh and original to me, but ended up devolving into something that felt very derivative.


I've noticed a similar thing, Kessie, with regard to Dreamworks and Pixar. It seems that one is going up while the other is going down. I haven't actually seen any of the recent Pixar films, so don't want to form any definite opinion on that subject, but based on what I've heard, that does seem to be the trend.

EDIT: Interesting point about Old Nick, Resha. O.O

[This Baron of Mora]

I agree that Father Christmas definitely has a wonderful Christian feel to it, almost like he is safeguarding the holiday, and as such did I vote. My next choice falls with St. Nicholas since he is probably the primary source for the legends, and a Christian Saint delivering toys certainly sounds good.

[rjj7]

baronofmora: "Hey guys. What do you think of Santa's name?"

rjj7: "How about that Dreamworks?"

Kessie: "Pixar's dying"

rjj7: "Blah blah blah Dreamworks blah blah blah story blah blah blah derivative blah blah blah..."

baronofmora: *coughs* "So about Santa..."

[Bainespal]

I think Santa is actually Tom Bombadil. He hired some irresponsible elven delinquents, and then the Ice Age struck.