When Santa's sleigh bells were replaced by chopper blades!

JO CLARKE ON THE CHANGING FACES OF FATHER CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE YEARS

- JO CLARKE

WHO'D have thought that Santa would ditch his sleigh in favour of a chopper! As Christmas Day draws near, this image from the photographic archives at The Box shows Father Christmas touching down near Dingles in the 1960s to deliver some festive cheer to the people of Plymouth.

Father Christmas, as he appears to us today, is the product of centuries of change rather than a single fixed tradition. We might think of him as a timeless figure who has always looked the same, but he's evolved over hundreds of years in response to social values, religious shifts and popular culture.

The Ancient Romans honoured Saturn during 'Saturnalia', a winter festival of merriment and gift-giving. In England, the earliest roots of Father Christmas can be traced back to medieval celebrations of midwinter. At this point he wasn't associated with children or giving presents, but with feasting and good cheer.