Santa Claus Around The World
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For most Americans, Santa Claus is a jolly, white-haired man in a red suit. However, that is just one depiction of the generous being that brings toys to well-behaved children on Christmas Eve. Other countries have their own versions of Santa Claus who, in some cases, do not even appear during Christmas! Here are a few of the many portrayals of Santa-like figures from around the world.
Ded Moroz, Russia
Ded Moroz, or Father Frost, also brings presents for well-behaved children in Russia. However, there are some stark differences between him and Santa Claus. Ded Moroz is taller, skinnier, and always carries a silver or crystal pikestaff with a twisted grip. The Russian Santa Claus and his granddaughter Snegurochka, or Snow Maiden, deliver presents in a troika — a sleigh hauled by three horses.
Unlike Santa, who hails from the North Pole, Ded Moroz lives in the picturesque town of Veliky Ustyug in Northern Russia. He purportedly spends the summers reading gift requests from kids. However, those expecting presents during Christmas are in for a disappointment. Ded Moroz only makes deliveries on New Year's Eve!
La Befana, Italy
Children in Italy don't get a visit from Santa Claus. Instead, they look forward to the arrival of La Befana, or the Christmas Witch, on the night of January 5. Similar to the jolly fellow in red, La Befana enters houses via the chimney and fills stockings with presents and candy for "nice" children and coal for the "naughty" ones.
According to local folklore, when the Three Wise Men were seeking baby Jesus, they met an old woman and asked if she'd like to come along with them. She declined the offer because she wanted to finish cleaning her house. Now, every year, the old lady scours the skies on her broomstick in the hopes of finding and showering baby Jesus with gifts. The friendly, soot-covered witch is also known to sweep every house she visits. To show their gratitude, many families leave a glass of wine and a plate of traditional treats out the night before La Befana's visit.
The Yule Lads, Iceland
Every Christmas, kids in Iceland look forward to a visit from one of 13 Yule Lads, who take turns sneaking into their rooms on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas Eve. The merry but mischievous gnome-like creatures leave behind small gifts for good kids and rotten potatoes for naughty ones. The presents depend on the personality of the Yule Lad on duty and differ daily. The most popular one is Kertasnýkir (Candle Stealer). While the gnome, who makes an appearance on Christmas Eve, is known to steal candles, he also leaves behind the most generous presents.
Samichlaus, Switzerland
Swiss children get a visit from two Santas every December 6. The good Santa, named Samichlaus, is accompanied by a donkey carrying a sack of treats like chocolates, peanuts, and mandarins to distribute to well-behaved kids. The "bad" Santa, called Schmutzli, lugs around a bag of twigs on his back. While they are purportedly for naughty kids, he rarely hands them out. Instead, he gently reminds kids to behave.
From DOGOnews and Santa Clauses Worldwide: Merry Christmas!
Resources: bonvoyagewithkids.com, Buinessinsider.com, worldatlas.com, Smithsonianmag.com
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136 Comments
- creulla-devil-falmost 3 yearsHey guys, please reply and tell me what you're doing this Christmas. 🙏
- nugget_cultalmost 3 yearsThis year he set up our sad little tree, Victorian style, and we drank hot chocolate, stayed up watching Christmas chronicles one and two, went to bed, opened presents the next morning, I got so much candy, a box full, and it was gone in one day
- zaylibertyalmost 3 yearsWell this Christmas I am going to have my ant over and my mom is going to make lots of food the day after Christmas I am going to my step brothers house .on Christmas Eve me my mom my dad my sister Shariah and!myself open our stockings but we have never ever ever gotten foul in our stockings🤓
- nauenalmost 3 yearsGoing to the stables and riding and training ponies!! So excited!! #Wait for me, my pony, Pi, little white pony, Marshmallow, Speedy gelding(boy), Flash, and little browny pony, Flynn!!!!!! Love you all~~#. ## Pi__Marshmallow__Flash__Flynn##
- wolfdogalmost 3 yearsNot much, just enjoying good food and opening up gifts!!
- griff1boyalmost 3 yearsFamyli openig gift in the mornig and haging out all day can't wait
- jordaniansalmost 3 yearsUh really just eat what my aunt's cooking and open presents underneath our Christmas tree and yeah. Thanks for asking.😉
- kammeoalmost 3 yearsSame thing Jordanians doing for Christmas cause were brothers.👬
- cr3757almost 3 yearsI think were just going to eat and go somewhere else but my mom won't tell me also I know on Christmas Eve my family and I are leaving around 11:00 pm to go to church at 12 :00
- crazygoose1324almost 3 yearsMy family is going to be sitting on the couch opening gifts on Christmas
- layla3210almost 3 yearsMy family and I are going to Wisconsin tomorrow for Christmas Eve and coming home for Christmas day. For breakfast we have a Traditional table we set . I'm super excited!
- cruelladevilalmost 3 yearsI am going to preform this Christmas. My very FIRST Christmas concert!!! I am a rock singer, I just won $10,000,000 in a singing competition and I am using the money for a world tour. OMG!!! I can't wait!!!!!😆😆😆
- katie483almost 3 yearsSooooooooo coooool !!!!!!😮😮😮
- potterfan57almost 3 yearsOMG!!!! A ROCK STAR??!!!!!😘😘😘
- funkyhorsealmost 3 yearsYour soooo cute!!😍
- poploveralmost 3 yearsCoooooooooooool!!!😀😀I love music!!!
- mrhamy163almost 3 yearsYou are soooo cute!! I love your hair!!!!💖
- kittykittylovealmost 3 yearsWOW!! That is sooo amazingly awesome!!
- plantlover132almost 3 yearsOMG!! Sooooooo cool!! I wish I was a rock star too!!!😍😍😍
- cr3757almost 3 yearsCool😎
- layla3210almost 3 yearsThat's so cool! I had no idea there were other kinds of Santa!
- explorer1221almost 3 yearscool! I never knew that Christmas is celebrated different ways around the world.