Father Time is a mythical personification of time. He is usually depicted as an elderly bearded man, dressed in a robe, carrying an hourglass or other timekeeping device (representing time's constant movement) and a scythe (linking time's passage with the inevitability of death). This image is culled from several sources, including the Holly King , the Celtic god of the dying year, and Chronos, the Greek god of time.

As a popular New Year celebration, Father Time is also used as personification of the previous year, who "hands over" the duties of time to Baby New Year, who will also become Father Time, yielding to Baby New Year in a constant cycle.

Because of their similarity in name as pertaining to parental figures, he is sometimes paired with Mother Nature as a married couple.