
Santa Claus briefly swapped his sleigh for a bi-plane in 1929
My little boy has seen 3 different Santas this year (or rather he’s seen Santa 3 times this year) and was slightly confused by the fact that Father Christmas wore glasses two of the times and then didn’t the third time. He whispered that he thought the last one *might* have been one of Santa’s helpers rather than the real Father Christmas because he wasn’t wearing his glasses. He was probably right.
What he’d make of these different Santas I just don’t know. Not only hs he had many different looks over the years, but he’s had a many different modes of transport too. Which is closest to how you remember Santa from your childhood?

A 1940s Santa and a child picking her nose (bet her mother was delighted)

Santa and his reindeer having a break in the sun in Florida 1956

Father Christmas arriving at Pwllheli by train 1959

Seminole Chief Billy Osceola as Santa Claus: Hollywood Indian Reservation, Florida 1959

Santa arriving onboard a PSA plane, 1960s

Santa relaxing on the beach in Florida 1962

Santa working hard in the Fenwick department store in Newcastle upon Tyne, 1962

Santa Claus picking oranges 1965
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