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Santa Claus Around the Globe

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3 years ago

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Source: Getty Images

We know him as Santa Claus – the jolly fat man who takes to the skies in his reindeer-led sleigh on Christmas Eve and delivers presents to good little boys and girls. However, around the world, Santa not only looks a lot different but is also called by a different name.

United Kingdom – Father Christmas
Just like in the United States, the UK’s Father Christmas is a jolly fat man in a red suit who squeezes down the chimneys of houses around the country to leave presents under a tree. Unlike American kids, English children don’t normally leave cookies and milk for Father Christmas. It is customary in the UK for families to leave out a plate of traditional mince pies along with a nice glass of sherry, to keep Father Christmas well fueled for his busy night of gift-giving. Well-mannered British children also recognize the importance of the reindeer and so always leave out a carrot or two for Rudolph and his crew.

Russia – Ded Moroz
Unlike the United States, Christmas in Russia is actually celebrated on January 7, the Orthodox Christmas. Ded Moroz, which translates to “Grandfather Frost” is very slim compared to our rotund Santa Claus and is dressed in blue and white. He arrives on New Year’s Eve accompanied by his granddaughter, Snegurka, to help distribute presents to Russian children.

Spain and South America – Papa Noel, Ñiño Jesus, or Los Reyes Magos
Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries have a figure similar to our Santa Claus called Papa Noel who delivers presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. However, it is customary in Spain to receive gifts from the three wise men, or Los Reyes Magos, the night before Three Kings Day in January. Spanish children leave out plates of food or sweets and dried grass or hay for the kings’ camels. Children in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia have a religious alternative to Santa Claus called Ñiño Jesus – or Baby Jesus – a magical infant Jesus who brings gifts.

Norway – Julenissen
Norway’s Julenissen looks a lot different from our Santa Claus – and a whole lot smaller! Unlike our large and jolly Santa Claus, Julenissen is a cheeky gnome-like creature with a long white beard and a red hat. Created from Scandinavian folklore, Julenissen doesn’t come down the chimney, but instead is a lot more sensible and delivers the presents through the front door to good Norwegian boys and girls.

France – Père Noël
It is tradition for French children to leave their shoes by the fireplace before they go to bed on Christmas Eve in anticipation of Père Noël’s (or Daddy Christmas’) arrival. They also leave carrots and treats inside the shoes for Père Noël’s donkey Gui (French for Mistletoe) and if they have been good they will find presents when they wake up. In the eastern region of France, Père Noël is accompanied by Père Fouettard, a scary-looking man dressed all in black who punishes naughty children!

Germany – Weihnachtsmann
The festive season starts early in Germany on December 6th on St. Nicholas Day when St. Nicholas comes in the night and fills the shoes of children around the country with little presents. On Christmas Eve, the Weihnachtsmann arrives to leave presents for good little boys and girls and it is customary in some parts of Germany to open gifts on Christmas Eve.

Italy – Babbo Natale
Italian children – if they’ve been good – not only get presents on Christmas courtesy of Babbo Natale (or Daddy Christmas), but they also get a visit from a gift-giving witch in January! Italian bambinos leave out their socks on the evening of January 5, which is when the witch, La Befana, arrives to fill the socks with small gifts and sweets.

Japan – Hoteiosho
Although Christmas isn’t a traditional holiday in Japan, the country does have a character very similar to Santa Claus named Hoteiosho. Unlike our Santa, Hoteiosho is a Buddhist monk with a fat belly and a sack full of toys. He normally comes over the New Year’s holiday, which is a big celebration in Japan, but Japanese children need to be extra vigilant about their behavior. Unlike our Santa Claus, Hoteiosho has eyes in the back of his head so he can see when boys and girls are misbehaving!
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