Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas presents a unique reinterpretation of the story of Father Christmas (or Santa Claus). Typically, Father Christmas is presented as a happy and jovial old man who lives in a decadent home with his wife and his slaves. In Briggs' novel, however, Father Christmas is much different: he is a grumpy man who is most dissatisfied with his lie. He lives alone in a normal house, working hard to prepare for his deliveries on Christmas. He has no elves and seemingly no other help. He completes his strenuous job on his own, with help only from his animals (all of whom he loves).
Much of Briggs' novel takes place on Christmas eve and Christmas day during Father Christmas' deliveries. The novel depicts many of the strange and curious homes that Father Christmas must contend with while also trying to deliver presents. Along the way, Father Christmas tries not to interact with anyone. However, when he meets a milk delivery man, who he talks to for longer than he probably should have.
Father Christmas encounters further difficulties at houses across the world (many of which are very funny). Eventually, Father Christmas ends his night at Buckingham Palace in London, England. There, he doesn't encounter any more trouble. But his stop at Buckingham Palace represents another successful year delivering presents.
After Father Christmas returns home from his delivery mission, he opens his own presents. Apart from a bottle of Brandy that his friend gives him, Father Christmas doesn't live any of his presents (something which he loudly expresses). After he opens his presents, Father Christmas starts to sing Christmas carols and eats a wonderful meal, which cheers him up. He then gives gifts to all his animals and goes to bed, exhausted after a long and laborious day.
