Is Santa Mythology based on Odin?

[RileyG]

It’s mostly down to Coke wanting to sell non-cocaine containing Coke when it’s cold.

The modern invention, pretty much. It goes back to the 1930s.

 

[RileyG]

TIL that Father Christmas and Santa have separate origins.

Since you are in the UK, did you primarily use "Father Christmas" during this Christmas season? Is "Santa Clause" the same as Father Christmas to you?

 

[RileyG]

Most of the nativity scenes here in the UK are unbiblical, in that they have the wise men (always 3 of them, even though the bible doesn't specify how many there were) in the stable with the shepherds, with Jesus still in the manger. The bible says that the wise men visited Jesus in a house, and it was up to 2 years after His birth, which is why Herod ordered the death of all the boys 2 years old and under:

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.” (Mt 2:16 NKJV)

Happy Christmas to you, too!

Yup. Here in the United States, people tend to lump the wise men and shepherds together, even though the Gospel says differently.