Here are what other countries call “Santa Claus“ Remember Christmas isn’t about Santa, or whatever name he goes by as listed below, but it is about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These awesome books show children how people in different countries and cultures all around the world celebrate the holiday with their families or share the traditional stories that shaped the holiday story for a culture or region. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Christmas in Bethlehem. And he not only brings gifts, but also plays Christmas pranks! Whatever the region or the ritual, you will surely love these Christmas tradition around the world.Here is the list of top 4 Christmas celebration in different countries that will surely inspire to celebrate the fest in your own way. So, join us on our journey to learn 13 different names for Santa Claus around the world! We are losing the true meaning of what Christmas is all about … the birth of our Savior. Considering his ubiquity during the gift-giving seasons, from the odd cameo in Black Friday ads to the appearance in pop songs, there is no doubting that Santa is a universal figure. By Josian Phillips, 9 December 2016. Despite the name being Spanish in language, however, Papá Noel is a decidedly American import, as the original holiday gift-givers in Spanish culture were the three kings ("Los Reyes Magos"). Copyright © 2012-2021 Courageous Christian Father. Mid-winter is traditionally a time to celebrate in many cultures worldwide. First published December 16, 2014 on Courageous Christian Father. In another country, he is slender and in green. However, it’s impossible to deny the fact that Christmas is still one of the most celebrated and brightest events all over the world. Kenya Father Christmas/Santa Claus; Latvi Ziemassvētku vecītis (Christmas Old Man) Lichtenstein ChristKind; Lithuania Kaledo Senelis; Madagascar Dadabe Noely; Mexico Los duendes ayudan a Papá Noel (Elves Help Santa Claus) Morocco Black Peter; Netherlands Kerstman or Sinterklaas; New Zealand Santa Claus; Norway Julenissens (Christmas Gnome) Pakistan Christmas Baba The same way Americans turned Sinterklaas into Santa Claus, they turned the German name Christkind into Kris Kringle. 1. Good children receive candy, while naughty ones get rotting potatoes. The origins of Christmas can be traced back to ancient pagan celebrations such as Deus Sol Invictus (observed Dec 25), the Kalends (Jan 1-5), and Saturnalia (Dec 17-23).. Yes, today we seem to be taking Christ out of Christmas, with things like Santa Claus and such. And later, when the Vikings arrived, they brought their ideas about the Norse god Odin, considered to be father of all the gods, who had a long white beard and was known for distributing goods to people he deemed worthy. traditional christmas This is a collection of historical Christmas celebrations for many different countries. "Jul" (think "Yule") is the Norwegian word for Christmas, so Julenissen literally translates to "Christmas gnome." Christmas around the world is celebrated in different ways by different countries. And yet, Father Christmas actually comes from a very different set of traditions. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I am glad my God doesn’t change like this fictional character known as Santa Claus. Information in this section describes how Christmas is celebrated in a normal year. If you think about many of the holiday traditions you have in your family, I'll bet they were handed down through generations and have some type of connection to your heritage. In Germany, it's tradition for people to eat potato salad and sausages on Christmas Eve. Aghios Vassilis (Greece) Ash Man (Germany) Babbo Natale (Italy) Baboushka (Russia) Befana (Italy) Christmas traditions around the world vary from one country to another, Santa Claus has different names and takes different forms, Christmas is also held on different days together with gift-giving or not. But that's not the only name Santa is known by in Deutschland. Though it's a small population, the Christians in China celebrate Christmas Day, which they call Sheng Dan Jieh, meaning "Holy Birth Festival." Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff . Christmas Carol Spotlight: We Wish You A Merry Christmas. The day of the celebration varies. In other countries he comes on January 6, Day of Epiphany. To see 10 unusual Christmas traditions from around the world, keep reading! There was already a celebration of light and birth when winter solstice arrives in Europe centuries before the birth of Jesus. This wonderful collection of Around the World KS1 geography teaching materials includes everything you need to explore the countries, cultures and landmarks of the globe with your pupils. The origins of Christmas can be traced back to ancient pagan celebrations such as Deus Sol Invictus (observed Dec 25), the Kalends (Jan 1-5), and Saturnalia (Dec 17-23).. Around the World KS1 Geography Resources. The Feast of Sinterklaas is observed in Netherlands on December 6th but begins on December 5th during St. Nicholas’s Eve where people give out gifts especially to the children. According to church lore, Saint Basil began his career as a lawyer, but eventually left law in order to devote his life to the church, ultimately becoming a bishop. As of Jan 06 21. Family members sing songs and hit the log with sticks … It's believed he descended from Morozko, a pagan "ice demon" who froze his enemies and kidnapped children, but later morphed into the more gentle character of Ded Moroz, who's now believed to be a kind figure who gives gifts to kids instead. As I mention above, Santa’s appearance changes. You likely know a few of his aliases already, like Saint Nick and Kris Kringle, but there are so many more. The Pine Tree Emperor Moth, or Christmas caterpillar, is covered in very festive hues - giving all who swallow a little extra luck in the coming year. Christmas: news, tips, ideas and inspiration ; Decorate; How is Easter celebrated around the world? Christmas around the world: 12 countries of Christmas. Christmas traditions Around The World. Not only do some populations eat different Christmas food, but you'll also see that Christmas isn't even observed on December 25 in some places. Santa Claus has many names across the world. Feel free to share it in the comments so I can add it to this growing list! Jesus was born, died and raised from the dead so that we may live. Some countries Santa comes December 24, Christmas Eve or early Christmas Morning on December 25. The people hold the fea… In New Orleans, people wear costumes and attend huge parades for the festival of Mardi Gras. There are also different meanings behind certain words, depending on which country you're in. In the first fact you have a mistake. © 2020 Galvanized Media. The Christian Church disapproved of these festivals and co-opted the holidays by declaring Dec 25 as Jesus’ birthday.. 2. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Christmas Carol Spotlight: We Wish You A Merry Christmas - The history of and lyrics to "We Wish You a... Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The Krampus – Germany, Austria and eastern Europe . 13. Discover the Christmas traditions around the world including real candles in Germany, red apples on France, spiderwebs in Ukraine and national flags in Sweden. Below is a list of 10 traditional sweets enjoyed at Christmas in different countries around the world. And if you need a warming drink, check out our list of the best winter drinks. Manger scenes, Santa Claus, and smiley snowmen still reign supreme, but if you look hard enough you will discover some very different … Holiday: Around the time of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa (generally known as the Christmas and holiday season), Pastafarians celebrate a vaguely defined holiday named "Holiday". Armenia. Churches that practice Christianity will perform Christmas plays that describe the night of the birth of baby Jesus in a manger. Christmas stories and carols are sprinkled with references to the sweeter side of the traditional Christmas meal. The Dutch name for Santa—Sinterklaas—sort of sounds familiar, right? Names for Santa Around the World. Sources: Compare Infobase Ltd., “Christmas” World Book Encyclopedia , St. Nicholas Center , … Since the 11th century, the Netherlands has been celebrating Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklass in Dutch, a 4th-century bishop who was the patron saint of children and sailors. But what are Christmas traditions around the world like? Let's take a look at some of the older Christmas traditions from different countries. Names of Santa Claus – Did you know that who we call Santa Claus is different in other countries. Upvote (Pictures: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images/Jakub Marian. The second, Hoteiosho, is a gift-giving Buddhist monk who comes on New Year's Eve, which is more like Christmas in Japan than actual Christmas. Here we are sharing a list of different places that have their own way to celebrate Christmas. Santa Claus is the most universally recognised figure around the world, adopted by differing cultures, many of which never see snow from year to year. Here is a huge list of what people call him from around the world. Angola. Looking for some festive sparkle? Spend Christmas in the Philippines. The North African country’s traditional Christmas foods include a slow-cooked chicken stew with chillies, garlic, berbere, ginger and cardamom. On Christmas or Christmas Eve, the family then orders the hollow log to "defecate" small gifts. The Christian Church disapproved of these festivals and co-opted the holidays by declaring Dec 25 as Jesus’ birthday.. 2. For an authentic Christmas, experience try Alaska. Christmas Sweet Breads from Around the World Clarissa Vanner in Food on Dec 10, 2018 Rise and shine like a holiday star this Christmas morning when you get a whiff of these delicious and traditional holiday sweet bread and Christmas loaves from around the world. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yet many customs have crossed boundaries, including the … This type of fruitcake is made differently in every household: some with different ingredients, some in different shapes, some covered in icing. Christmas is a time of celebration and festivity around the world, and there are many vibrant and unique ways of observing the holiday. The celebration or activity is the earliest history for each country and may not represent the current Christmas celebrations of today. Children hang stockings in hopes of receiving gifts from Dun Che Lao Ren, who's also known as Lan Khoong-Khoong, which translates to "Nice Old Father. Latin America is a lot like Germany: There's a secular Santa—Papá Noel—but also a religious alternative for those of the Christian faith: Niño Jesús, or Niño Dios. Here’s a diverse selection for you to enjoy. Because people had a hard time imagining a baby traveling around leaving gifts, Christkind eventually came to represent an angelic girl who possessed what Christians believed to be Christ-like qualities. We’ve discovered some delicious Christmas recipes from around the world that are well worth adding to your Yuletide feast. SANTA NAMES : United States of America, Canada: Santa Claus: Brazil : Papai Noel: China : Shengdan Laoren : Chile: Viejo Pascuero: Dutch: Sinter Klaas : England: Father Christmas: Europe: Saint Nicholas: Finland: Joulupukki: France: Pere Noel: Germany: Saint Nikolaus: Hawaii: Kanakaloka: Holland: De Kerstman : Hungary: Tel-apo/Mikulas/ Winter grandfather: India: Santa Claus, Baba: Italy: Babbo … The first, Santa Kurohsu, is a Japanese interpretation of the American Santa. (How many of Santa's names can YOU say? Fairytalez.com has collected Christmas fairy tales and stories for children about winter from all over the world. Here we are sharing a list of different places that have their own way to celebrate Christmas. In some parts of Germany, Santa Claus is more commonly referred to as Weihnachtsmann, or "the Christmas man." And when you add in the red suit, the sack of presents slung over his shoulder, and the fact that his preferred mode of transportation is a sleigh powered by flying reindeer, it's clear that Santa is utterly unmistakable. The animal's origin in popular culture is more sinister than sweet. "Jul" (think "Yule") is the Norwegian word for Christmas, so Julenissen literally translates to "Christmas gnome." But his schedule isn't the only thing that makes Agios Vasilios different from Santa in the States; his lineage is also unique. He was a religious person, a bishop. English may be the shared language of the United States and England, but we all know there are many differences in the way it's spoken. Below you will find some interesting Christmas facts for various countries. Here’s how the global village will be attempting to give themselves diabetes this holiday season – behold, our comprehensive list of Christmas cakes from around the world. This type of fruitcake is made differently in every household: some with different ingredients, some in different shapes, some covered in icing. Unusual Christmas Traditions From Around The World. Called Jólasveinar, which is Icelandic for "Yule Lads," they're a merry but mischievous band of trolls who might be compared to Snow White's seven dwarves. Italians have a seafood dinner on Christmas Eve called the "Feast of the Seven Fishes." Of course, every individual has their own holiday traditions , but customs also vary in different countries across the globe. In Sweden, St. Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13th when the oldest daughter in the home dresses up in a long white robe and evergreen crown with candles. 10 Different Versions of Santa Claus From Around the World. The observance of Christmas around the world varies by country. But in New Zealand, they have a completely different type of Christmas tree. The legend of Santa Claus continues under many names around the world. Argentina. And when Dutch settlers came to the United States, they brought their customs with them—including the story of Saint Nick, who is said to have arrived by boat from Spain every year on Dec. 5 to leave treats for Dutch children in their shoes. Many historic names have their roots in religious beliefs of various cultures. The day of Christmas, and in some cases the day before and the day after, are recognized by many national governments and cultures worldwide, including in areas where Christianity is a minority religion. An infographic made by 26-year-old Czech linguist, mathematician, and artist Jakub Marian shows the names of gift-bringers at Christmas around Europe in one handy map. Alaska. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I enjoy listening to Christian Music. This day is also known as Shrove Tuesday. Both Canada and Finland say they are homes to Santa. Jesus Christ obediently died on the cross to save us from our sins. The legend of Santa Claus continues under many names around the world. Live smarter, look better,​ and live your life to the absolute fullest. The Greek equivalent of Santa Claus is called Agios Vasilios. When the Germanic Saxons came to England in the 5th and 6th centuries, they personified winter in the form of a figure known as King Frost. Some tid-bit info there. This year, will you be visited by Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Grandfather Frost, John Chimney or Christmas Gnome? Ways to say "Merry Christmas" or "Season's Greetings" in such languages as Afrikaans, Danish, Hindi, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Swahili, Thai, and more. Like Christkind, Weihnachtsmann evolved as an alternative to Saint Nicholas, who was considered most closely associated with the Catholic faith. As in many other countries besides the U.S., he comes on New Year's Eve instead of Christmas Eve, delivering gifts for children to open on New Year's Day. Lists of names are not always sorted by family name around the world. A similar character exists in Sweden and Denmark, where he's known as Jultomte and Julemand, respectively. But though he may look similar around the world—with certain exceptions, of course—in other countries, he answers to some very different names. They rejoice because the sun has returned to their region, and they celebrate it with the father-son tandem bringing large logs home and setting them on fire. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. Below is a list of 10 traditional sweets enjoyed at Christmas in different countries around the world. There are 2 types of Orthodox religion, new and old, but they are different only because the old one has the celebrations two weeks after the new one. Louis Dor Tuesday 22 December 2015 13 :00 offbeat. And it's in that tradition of helping the poor that Agios Vasilios is said to bring gifts to Greek children today! Catholic names in their different forms are spread around Europe, the US, and Latin America while Hindu names can be found in India and east Asia and Islamic names originate from the Middle East. To this day, people in parts of southern Germany and its surrounding regions—including Austria and parts of Switzerland—still receive gifts from Christkind. Saying “Merry Christmas“ or “Season's Greetings“Around the World ; Cite. ORIGINS OF CHRISTMAS. Country: Name: Belgium: Pere Noel: Brazil: Papai Noel: Chile: Viejo Pascuero (“Old Man Christmas”) China: Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”) Netherlands: Kerstman: Finland: Joulupukki : France: Pere Noel: Germany: Weihnachtsmann (“Christmas Man”) Hawaii: Kanakaloka: Hungary : Mikulas (St. … Christmas in Bethlehem. A Christian Blogger that enjoys blogging about the Bible, Theology, God, Jesus Christ, Christian Music, Family, Cats, Odd Holidays and much more. Candles were also used to decorated Christmas trees (until Christmas lights were invented). It's fun to try saying them!) Like the Disney princess' dutiful helpers, each Yule Lad has his own distinct personality. Austria. The Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu) is held each year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve in the city of San Fernando – the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” The festival attracts spectators from all over the country and across the globe. I even read in some Asia countries, he wears blue. And funnily enough, our Americanized version of the character eventually traveled back to Holland under the name Kerstman, or "Christmas man," which means the children of The Netherlands now have two gift-giving visitors to look forward to every year! There are many names for Santa Claus, no matter which one, he us known around the world for bringing toys for good girls and boys.Every culture and nearly every language have their own unique names for Santa Claus. For the 13 days leading up to Christmas, the Yule Lads take turns visiting children, who leave their shoes on the windowsill in hopes they'll find them filled with treasures when they wake. Like the Dutch, Germans had long associated Christmas with Saint Nicholas. In the United States he is a fat man in red. One of the reasons for his, or her, popularity is the ability to merge with local gift-giving customs, resulting in a multitude of hybrids with their own unique traits. 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