What Is Santa Claus Called in Other Countries?
Santa Claus has many names, like Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Joulupukki, Pere Noel, Grandfather Frost, and Sinterklaas, to name just a few.
Following is a list of the names that Santa Claus is called in other countries. They are in alphabetical order by country, or state as in the case of Hawaii.
- Afghanistan - Baba Chaghaloo
- Albania - Babadimri
- Armenia - Gaghant Baba
- Belgium - Pere Noel
- Bosnia/Herzegovina - Deda Mraz
- Brazil - Papai Noel
- Bulgaria - Dyado Koleda
- Chile - Viejo Pascuero
- China - Dun Che Lao Ren
- Croatia - Bozicnjak
- Denmark - Julemanden
- Egypt - Papa Noël
- Estonia - Jouluvana
- France - Pere Noel
- Finland - Joulupukki
- Germany - Weihnachtsmann
- Greece - Aghios Vassilis
- Hawaii - Kanakaloka
- Holland - Sinterklaas
- Hungary - Mikulas
- Iran - Baba Noel
- Iraq - Vader Kersfees
- Italy - Babbo Natale
- Jamaica - Santa Claus
- Latin America - Papá Noel
- Lithuania - Kaledu Senelis
- Malta - San Niklaw
- Norway - Julenissen (Christmas gnome)
- Poland - Swiety Mikolaj
- Portugal - Pai Natal
- Romania - Mos Craciun
- Russia - Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost)
- Serbia - Deda Mraz
- Scottish Highlands - Daidaín na Nollaig
- Slovenia - Bozicek.
- South Africa - Vader Kersfees
- Spain - Papá Noel
- Sweden - Jultomten (Christmas brownie)
- Turkey - Noel Baba
- United Kingdom - Father Christmas
- Urdu - Baba Christmas
- Wales - Sion Corn
- Yugoslavia - Deda Mraz
Origins of Santa Claus
Santa Claus originated in the Netherlands, or Holland, and was called Sinterklaas. In Holland, there was once a kind bishop who wore long red robes and a pointed hat called a mitre. He was tall and thin, sported a white beard, and was the patron saint of children.
On December 5th, the children put out their shoes filled with carrots and hay for Sinterklaas’ white horse. Then they would tell their parents how good they were all year. If they were good, they would find nuts, candy, and small gifts in their shoes the next morning.
The differences between Santa Claus and Sinterklaas are just a few:
- Santa is plump and Sinterklaas was thin
- Santa has a sleigh and reindeer while Sinterklaas has a white horse
- Santa comes down chimneys to put gifts in stockings while Sinterklaas puts gifts in shoes
- Santa Claus is a secular figure of Christmas, while Sinterklaas was a bishop and therefore a religious symbol of Christmas
No matter what Santa Claus is called in other countries; Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, or Kris Kringle, he is a symbol of Christmas and the bearer of gifts.
How Santa Claus Changed
You may be wondering where Santa Claus got his reindeer, sleigh, and big tummy and when he started coming down chimneys to put gifts in stockings. We have Clement C. Moore to thank for the reindeer, sleigh, and plumpness. In 1823, he wrote a poem called “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” which is sometimes referred to as “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Here are some excerpts:
“When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.”
“He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;”
“He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;”
The poem was a huge success and soon, people around the world were making the reading of it part of their Christmas traditions.
Chimney and Stockings Traditions
In Moore’s poem, St. Nick came down the chimney and filled stockings. There is a story about a nobleman who had become poor and could not afford a dowry for his three daughters. St. Nicholas wanted to help, but preferred to do it anonymously.
He rode by one night and threw a bag of gold in the window, enough for one daughter’s dowry. He repeated this the next night for the second daughter. The third night he threw the bag down the chimney and it landed in stockings that were hung by the fire to dry.
Why he had to throw the bag of gold down the chimney is not clear. It was either because the father waited up for him to find out who he was, or the door was locked.
So that story is the origin of gifts coming by way of a chimney into stockings.