Santa Claus + More
Last updated: Monday December 25th, 2023
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Introduction
After seeing a blog that the quality of the RUB has been declining, and knowing I have been procrastinating on JP matters for quite some time now, I have quickly postulated this idea: What are Santa Claus's names across languages + some backstory about him, other characters like him and other information. And to proove that good blogs can still be made, I shall do it all in one day!
Origin and the Gift-Bringers
As a disclaimer, I might get your nation or language wrong.
The origin of Santa Claus traces back to Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian Greek bishop from Myra (modern-day Turkey). Known for his generosity and kindness, Saint Nicholas became the inspiration for the figure of Santa Claus. Many countries have had Christmas Gift-Bringers; Santa merged with them, particularly the Dutch Sinterklaas, and English Father Christmas.
So lets go through the (European) Gift-Bringers!
We've already met Father Christmas who brings good cheere, so lets go to St. Basil.
St. Basil is the Gift-Bringer of Greece. When Saint Nick is cooped up in Poland, and Father Christmas in the West, they send St. Basil! No-one knows Greek breaking-and-entering laws better than this man. Note the split between Father Christmas and St. Basil in the African nation of Cyprus. 1974 must have been a tense Christmas for the two.
St. Nick we've seen, so lets go to Baby Jesus.
What?
Yep, in Central Europe Baby Jesus brings your presents, and is called Christkind, (in German "Kind" means child). He must have learned from the Magi or something. This is also the origin of the name "Kriss Kringle"
In West Poland we can see Gwiazdor (Star Man)
Now we have Finland with their...Christmas Goat? Joulupukki literally means "Christmas goat" or "Yule Goat" but seems to be "persons performing in goat costume in return for leftover Christmas food".
I thought this was just Santa until you notice the hands. While it might seem like its the same old Santa, note the Goat Hands.
Not to be confused with a Yule Goat.
And for the last of this section we have the Christmas Lads and Christmas Gnomes, also up North.
The International Santa
With the rest of the world, Santa is a more recent phenomenon, and while these European Gift-Bringers have blended with Santa a lot, in a lot of places there is only Santa. However the names are still numerous.
No 1: Daddy Noel/Christmas (Noel from the latin for birth)
Language
French
Brazilian Portugese
Papai Noel
Portugal Portugese
Pai Natal
Italian
Babbo Natale
Venetian
Pupà Nadałe
Spanish
Papá Noel
Turkish
Noel Baba
Arabic
Persian
Bâbâ No'el
Malagasy
Dadabe Noely
Swahili
Baba Krismasi
Vietnamese
Ông già Noel
No 2: Christmas/Frost Old Guy/Grandpa
+ Ded Moroz (which means Grandpa Frost and is technically a different Gift-Bringer)
Chilean Spanish
Viejito Pascuero
Latvian
Ziemassvētku Vecītis
Serbian
Deda Mraz
Dedo Mraz
Bulgarian
Dyado Koleda
Russian
Chinese (in general I guess)
Shèngdàn Lǎorén
Telugu
Kristamas Thātha
Toyotathonese (no Honda Days Sales Event enjoyers allowed)
Toyota Guy
The rest of the world uses other people (like St. Nick) or just Santa
Conclusion
Well. Did I do what I set out on? I think. I also did not manage to do this in one day, but two sittings isn't too bad.
Thanks for reading, and have some Happy Winter Holidays!
- Neodymium
Anyway, nice blog idea! Interesting to hear about the different realizations of Santa
Thank you!
But yeah... start it. One week left.
fun fact marathi and gujarati use నతాళ instead of క్రిస్తమసు
Short but definitely sweet blog. Easy to read, plenty of pics (especially inspired by the pic of Gwiazdor). The RUB needs more like this!
Wasn't the current image of Santa (Red and white costume etc) introduced by Coca-Cola in their Christmas advertising campaigns. Or is that a myth ?