Of course, the Bible actually forbids the decorating of trees... (Jeremiah 10...) The Yule log must be of oak, must burn for 12 days, and the ashes should be saved to light the Yule fire with the next year.... Oak because that is Thor's tree, and Yule is his birthday, 12 days as in one for each of the major gods and goddesses.... Christ was almost certainly born between April and September, as those were the times when shepherds in Judaea would be "abiding in the fields with their sheep"... Father Christmas and Santa Claus, as any English child will tell you, are two different people... originally presents were given on St Nicholas day (6 December)... this became confounded with the tradition that a pagan god (Odin to us) rode through the skies on the night of Yule checking on the generosity of his people... this God became Father Christmas, who originally wore green robes trimmed with brown fur and gave gifts of health and meat... then Coca Cola got hold of it and gave him a hat to replace his hood, confused him with Santa and dressed him in their company colours of red and white... which the poor guy has worn ever since.... such is the power of advertising...