List of Christmas and winter gift-bringers

Christmas gift-bringers in Europe

This is a list of Christmas and winter gift-bringer figures from around the world.

The history of mythical or folkloric gift-bringing figures who appear in winter, often at or around the Christmas period, is complex, and in many countries the gift-bringer – and the gift-bringer's date of arrival – has changed over time as native customs have been influenced by those in other countries. While many though not all gift-bringers originated as religious figures, gift-bringing is often now a non-religious custom and secular figures exist in many countries that have little or no tradition of celebrating Christmas as a religious festival. Some figures are entirely local, and some have been deliberately and more recently invented.

The main originating strands – all of which have their roots in Europe – are

• the overlapping winter-based and religious Old Man traditions (Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Basil, Grandfather Frost),
• the Christ Child traditions promoted by Martin Luther ^[1] (Christkind, Baby Jesus, Child God), and
• the Three Kings traditions.

Not all gift-bringers were or are specifically focused on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day: other common customs are 6 December (Saint Nicholas), 1 January, New Year (St Basil, or secular), and 6 January, Epiphany (Three Kings).

The international popularity of the figure of Santa Claus has transformed the older traditions of many countries. ^[2]

List of gift-bringers

Given the overlapping nature of gift-bringers throughout the world in name, attributes, date of arrival, and religious versus secular identity, this list may include winter gift-bringers that are not specifically associated with Christmas. The list should however not include mythical or folkloric characters that do not bring gifts, such as Father Time.

Nation	Old man	Child	Other	Notes
Afghanistan	Baba Chaghaloo[ citation needed ]
Albania	Babagjyshi, Babagjyshi i Krishtlindjeve [3] (Grandfather Christmas, Old Man of Christmas), Babadimri [4] (Grandfather Frost)
Andorra	Pare Noel (Father Christmas)		Els Tres Reis (The Three Kings)
Argentina	Papá Noel [5] (Father Christmas)	El Niño Dios (Child God)	Reyes Magos [6] (The Three Wise Men)
Armenia	Ձմեռ Պապ (Dzmer Papik) (Winter Grandfather)[ citation needed ]		Գաղանթ Բաբա (Gaghant Baba)[ citation needed ]	Gaghant Baba is a more traditional figure associated with the old Armenian new year (gaghant), while Dzmer Papik is a more recent importation to the Republic of Armenia[ citation needed ]
Australia	Santa Claus; Bubaa Gaadha (in Gamilaraay) [7]		Wangkarnal Crow (in Warmun, Western Australia) [8]
Austria	Saint Nikolaus or Nikolo	Christkind [9] (Christ Child)
Azerbaijan	Şaxta Baba (Father Frost)[ citation needed ]
Belarus	Дзед Мароз (Dzied Maroz) (Grandfather Frost)			Śviaty Mikałaj (Saint Nicholas) was largely replaced by Dzeid Maroz during the Soviet period.[ citation needed ]
Belgium	Kerstman (Christmas Man) and Sinterklaas for Dutch speakers; Père Noël [10] (Father Christmas) and Saint Nicolas for French speakers	Le Petit Jesus [5] (Baby Jesus) for French speakers
Bolivia	Papá Noel (Father Christmas)[ citation needed ]	El Niño Dios (Child God)[ citation needed ]
Bosnia	Djed Božićnjak (also known as Božić Bata or Djed Mraz ) 1 January[ citation needed ]
Brazil	Papai Noel, [11] Bom Velhinho (Good Little Oldie).
Bulgaria	Дядо Коледа (Dyado Koleda)	[ citation needed ]
Canada	Santa Claus, [12] Père Noël [12] (Father Christmas) for French speakers
Chile	El Viejito Pascuero [13] (The Easter Oldman), referring to him appearing at "Christmas Time", which in Chile is often called "Nativity's Easter" (Pascua de la Natividad) or simply "Easter" (Pascua), in contrast to "Resurrection Easter" (Pascua de Resurrección).
China	Shengdan laoren (Traditional Chinese: 聖誕老人, Simplified Chinese: 圣诞老人, Cantonese: sing daan lo jan, pinyin: shèngdànlǎorén (Old Man Christmas) [14]
Colombia	Papá Noel (Father Christmas)	El Niño Dios [15] (Child God), El Niño Jesús (Child Jesus)
Costa Rica	Santa Clós (Santa Claus), [16] San Nicolás (Saint Nicholas) or his nickname Colacho.	El Niño Dios [16] (Child God)
Croatia	Djed Božićnjak (Grandfather Christmas), Sveti Nikola (Saint Nicholas) [17] 6 December	Mali Isus (Baby Jesus)	In Dalmatia and Slavonia, Saint Lucy [17] arrives on the eve of her feast day, 13 December.
Cyprus	Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας (Saint Basil the Great) for Greek speakers[ citation needed ]
Czech Republic	Angel and devil accompanying Svatý Mikuláš [18] (St Nicholas) 6 December	Ježíšek [19] (Baby Jesus)
Denmark	Julemanden [20] (Christmas Man)
Dominican Republic	Papá Noel (Father Christmas), Santa Clós (Santa Claus)		Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings), [21] Vieja Belén [21] (Old Lady of Bethlehem)
Ecuador	Papá Noel (Father Christmas)	El Niño Dios (Child God)	The Three Kings [22]
England	Father Christmas [23] or synonymously Santa Claus [24]			Before mid-Victorian times Father Christmas was a different folkloric figure representing good cheer, and did not bring gifts. [25] [26]
Estonia	Jõuluvana (Old Man of Christmas)[ citation needed ]
Fiji	Santa Claus [ citation needed ]
Finland			Joulupukki (Yule Goat) [27]
France	- Le Père Noël [28] (Father Christmas) - Saint Nicolas (Saint Nicholas) in Alsace, Lorraine, the Ardennes, Franche-Comté and the Low Countries, 6 December - Olentzero in the Basque Country - Saint Martin in Alsace, Franconian Lorraine and Maritime Flanders, 10 or 11 November [29] [30] [31] - Le Père Janvier (Father January) in Burgundy, Nivernais and Bourbonnais, 31 December - 1 January [32] - Saint Vincent in the Langres plateau [32]	- Le Petit Jésus (Child Jesus) [28] - Le Christkindel (Christkind) in Alsace and Franconian Lorraine, 6 December [33]	- Tante Arie (Aunt Arie, a fairy) in the County of Montbéliard [28] - Les Rois Mages (The Three Kings) in Roussillon - Berchta in Alsace [34]
Georgia	თოვლის ბაბუაtovlis babua (Snow Grandfather) 1 January[ citation needed ]
Germany	- Martinsmann , 10 November in Protestant areas, 11 November in Catholic areas - Nikolaus , 6 December - Weihnachtsmann [35] (Christmas Man), 24 December in Protestant areas	Christkind [35] (Christ Child), 24 December in Catholic areas		Nikolaus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus, Belsnickel or other servants in some regions of Germany.
Greece	Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας [36] (Saint Basil the Great)
Haiti	Tonton Nwèl (in Haitian Creole), Père Noël (in French)[ citation needed ]
Honduras	Santa Claus [37]		The Three Kings [37]
Hong Kong	聖誕老人 (jyutping: sing3 daan3 lou5 jan4) (Christmas Old Man), Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas[ citation needed ]
Hungary	Télapó (Father Christmas); Mikulás [38] (Nicholas)	Jézuska or Kis Jézus (Child Jesus)	Angels accompanying the baby Jesus [37]	Mikulás is accompanied by krampusz, generally bringing virgács (rod for whipping) to children who did not behave well
Iceland			Jólasveinar [39] (Yulemen or Yule Lads)	In Icelandic folk tales there are numerous Jólasveinar, which come on different dates. [39]
India	- English: Santa Claus, Father Christmas - Hindi: सांता क्लॉज़ (saanta kloz), सैंट निकोलस (saint nikolas) - Other languages: Several names [a]
Indonesia	Santa Claus, Sinterklas [ citation needed ]
Iran	Santa Claus, [40] Baba Noel [40] (Persian: بابا نوئل); Amu Nowruz (Persian: عمو نوروز, "Uncle Nowruz"), also known as Papa Nowruz (Persian: بابا نوروز – Bābā Nowruz), Spring Equinox (20 March).[ citation needed ]
Ireland	Santa Claus, Father Christmas, [40] Daidí na Nollag [41] for Irish speakers
Italy	Babbo Natale [42] (Father Christmas); in Trieste, Saint Nicholas 6 December.	Gesù Bambino (Baby Jesus)	La Befana [42] 6 January. In Sicily, [42] Udine, Bergamo, Brescia, Cremona, Lodi, Mantova, Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Verona and Western Trentino, Saint Lucy [42] arrives on the eve of her feast day, 13 December.
Japan	Santa Kurōsu (サンタクロース) or Santa-san (サンタさん) [43] is known, but is not a traditional visitor[ citation needed ]		On 2 Jan [44] the Seven Lucky Gods bring metaphorical treasures in their treasure ship Takarabune [45]
Kenya	Baba Krismasi; Santa Claus[ citation needed ]
Korea	산타 할아버지 (Santa Harabeoji) (Grandfather Santa), 산타 클로스 (Santa Claus)
Latvia	Ziemassvētku Vecītis (Father Christmas) [46]
Lebanon	بابا نويل [47] (Baba Noel), Père Noël
Liechtenstein		Christkind (Christ Child)
Lithuania	Kalėdų Senelis [48] (Grandfather Christmas)
Luxembourg	Kleeschen [49] (Saint Nicholas)	Christkind (Christ Child) [49]
Madagascar	Dadabe Noely (in Malagasy), Père Noël (in French)[ citation needed ]
Malta	Father Christmas [50] (Missier il-Milied in Maltese)
Mexico	Santa Claus	El Niño Dios [51] (Child God)	Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings [51] )
Netherlands	Kerstman [52] (Christmas Man), Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas)			Zwarte Piet [52] (Black Peter), accompanies Sinterklaas [52]
New Zealand	Santa Claus, [53] Hana Kōkō (in Māori) [54]
Nicaragua		El Niño [53] (The Child)	The Three Kings [53]
North Macedonia	Дедо Мраз ( Dedo Mraz ; in Macedonian), Babagjyshi (in Albanian)
Norway	Julenissen (Santa Claus) [55]
Panama	Santa Claus [56]	Christ Child [56]	The Three Kings [56] 6 January
Paraguay	Papá Noel (Father Christmas)	El Niño Dios (Child God)
Peru	Papá Noel (Father Christmas), Santa Claus [57]
Philippines	Santa Claus, [58] Santa Klaus (in Tagalog)		Los Tres Reyes Magos, Tatlóng Haring Mago (The Three Kings), 5 January [58]
Poland	Gwiazdor (Star Man or Little Star [59] ), Santa Claus, [59] Święty Mikołaj (Saint Nicolas) 6 December [59]	Dzieciątko (Christ Child) in Upper Silesia [60]	Aniołek (Angel) 24 December in Kraków [60]
Portugal	Pai Natal (Father Christmas), Santa Claus [61]	Menino Jesus (Christ Child [61] ) – now less common
Puerto Rico	Santa Clós (Santa Claus) [62]		Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings)
Romania	Moș Crăciun [63] (Old Man Christmas, Christmas Old Man, Grandfather Christmas, Christmas Grandfather), Moș Nicolae (Saint Nicholas)	Jézuska or Kis Jézus (Child Jesus) (for the Hungarian minorities)	Angyal (The Angel) (for the Hungarian minorities)	Moș Gerilă (Grandfather Frost, Old Man Frost) during the previous Communist era [63]
Russia	- In Russian: Дед Мороз ( Ded Moroz ) (Grandfather Frost [64] ) - In other languages: Nenets: Ямал Ири (Yamal Iri) (Grandpa of Yamal); Tatar: Кыш Бабай (Grandfather Winter); Yakut: Чысхаан (Chyskhaan) (Lord of the Cold)[ citation needed ]	Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden and granddaughter of Ded Moroz) and the New Year Boy [64]		Before 1917, during the pre-Communist era, the gift-bringers were Saint Nicholas, Baboushka and Kolyáda [64]
Scotland	Santa Claus; Bodach na Nollaig (in Scottish Gaelic, lit. 'Old Man of Christmas')[ citation needed ]
Serbia	Now Деда Мраз ( Deda Mraz ; Grandpa Frost); previously Божић Бата (Božić Bata; Christmas Brother)
Slovakia	Angel and Devil accompanying Svätý Mikuláš [18] (Saint Nicholas) 6 December	Ježiško (Baby Jesus)
Slovenia	Miklavž (Saint Nicholas), [65] Dedek Mraz (Grandpa Frost), Božiček (Santa Claus)	Jezušček (Baby Jesus)	Sveti Trije kralji (The Three Kings)
South Africa	- In English: Santa Claus Father Christmas, [66] Santa Claus - In other languages: Sinterklaas (in Afrikaans), uFata Khisimusi (in Zulu)[ citation needed ]
Spain	Papá Noel [67] (Father Christmas); Pare Noél in Catalonia; Olentzero in the Basque Country and Navarre; [67] Apalpador in Galicia		The Three Kings 6 January; [67] Tió de Nadal in Catalonia; [68] Anjanas in Cantabria; Anguleru in Asturias; Mari Domingi , a recent female companion for Olentzero in the Basque Country and Navarre. [69]
Sri Lanka	නත්තල් සීයා (Naththal Seeya; in Sinhala), சாண்டா கிளாஸ் (Cāṇṭā kiḷās; in Tamil)[ citation needed ]
Sweden	Jultomten [70] (Christmas Gnome)			Julbock (Christmas Goat) until the 19th century [67]
Switzerland	St Nicholas (known as Samichlaus to German-speakers and San Nicolao to Italian), [71] Père Noël [71] (Father Christmas) for French-speakers	Christkind (Christ Child) in some areas, [67] Gesù Bambino (Baby Jesus) in Italian-speaking areas [67]	La Befana in Italian-speaking areas [67]
Syria	Papa Noël (Arabic: بابا نويلbaba noel)[ citation needed ]
Taiwan	聖誕老人 or 聖誕老公公 (Old Man of Christmas)[ citation needed ]
Tanzania	Baba Krismasi; Santa Claus[ citation needed ]
Thailand	ซานตาคลอส (Santa Claus)[ citation needed ]
Tonga	Sanitā Kolosi[ citation needed ]
Turkey	Noel Baba (Father Christmas) or Grandfather Gaxan (Alevi areas)[ citation needed ]
Turkmenistan	Aýaz Baba[ citation needed ]
Ukraine	Святий Миколай (Sviatyj Mykolaj) (Saint Nicholas), Санта Клаус (Santa Claus), sometimes Різдвяний Дід (Rizdvianyi Did) (Father Christmas)			Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated on 25 December. Since 2017, the date has been one of the official state holidays. Before that, Christmas was celebrated by many on 7 January by the Julian calendar. [72]
Uruguay	Papá Noel (Father Christmas)	El Niño Dios (Child God)	Los Reyes Magos on 6 January [73]
United States	Santa Claus; [74] sometimes Kris Kringle; ᏗᎭᏄᎧᎯ (in Cherokee); Kanakaloka (in Hawaiian); [75] Késhmish Hastiin (in Navajo)
Uzbekistan	Ayoz Bobo (Frost Grandpa), Qor Bobo (Snow Grandfather)[ citation needed ]
Venezuela	San Nicolás (Saint Nicholas) [76]	El Niño [6] (The Child)	Reyes Magos [6] (The Three Wise Men)
Vietnam	Ông Già Nô-en (Old Man of Christmas)[ citation needed ]
Wales	Father Christmas, Santa Claus; Siôn Corn [77] in Welsh (literally Chimney John) [78]

See also

• Christianity portal

• Christmas traditions
• Santa Claus

References

1. Flanders, Judith (2017). Christmas: a biography. Picador. p. 34. ISBN   978-1-5098-3360-3.
2. Bowler 2000, p. 199.
3. "Babagjysh". fjale.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 25 December 2023.
4. "Baba Dimri". fjale.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 25 December 2023.
5. Bowler 2000, p. 11.
6. Bowler 2000, p. 238.
7. "Minya 'Christmas' Gamilaraaydha, Yuwaalaraaya?". 10 August 2018.
8. "Is Wangkarnal the crow the spookiest Christmas tradition in Australia?". ABC News. 22 December 2021.
9. Bowler 2000, p. 13.
10. Bowler 2000, p. 20.
11. Bowler 2000, p. 29.
12. Bowler 2000, p. 35.
13. Bowler 2000, p. 42.
14. Bowler 2000, p. 43.
15. Bowler 2000, p. 51.
16. Bowler 2000, p. 52.
17. Bowler 2000, p. 54.
18. Bowler 2000, p. 55.
19. "Czech Santa" . Retrieved 2 March 2016.
20. Bowler 2000, p. 67.
21. Bowler 2000, pp. 71–72.
22. Bowler 2000, p. 73.
23. "Oxford English Dictionary". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
24. "Father Christmas". Collins English Dictionary. Collins. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
25. Roud, Steve (2006). The English Year. London: Penguin Books. pp. 385–387. ISBN   978-0-140-51554-1.
26. Hutton, Ronald (1996). The Stations of the Sun. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press. pp.  117–118. ISBN   0-19-820570-8.
27. Bowler 2000, p. 82.
28. Bowler 2000, p. 86.
29. "La Saint-Martin :: Office de tourisme des Hauts de Flandre".
30. "Scherwiller. La fête de la Saint-Martin revient". 19 November 2021.
31. "La Saint Martin".
32. van Gennep, Arnold (1958). Manuel de folklore français contemporain tome 1 ; livre 7 cycle des douze jours : Noël (in French). Paris: Editions A. et J. Picard et Cie. pp. 3014–3016.
33. "Qui est le Christkindel en Alsace ?". 7 November 2017.
34. "Goodies - Personnages de Noël - Écomusée d'Alsace".
35. Bowler 2000, p. 91.
36. Bowler 2000, p. 87.
37. Bowler 2000, p. 107.
38. Bowler 2000, p. 109.
39. Bowler 2000, p. 112.
40. Bowler 2000, p. 115.
41. "Irish-English Dictionary". Daidí na Nollaig. Glosbe. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
42. Bowler 2000, pp. 117–118.
43. Bowler 2000, p. 121.
44. Elizabeth, Kiritani (1995). "Dreams of Revenge". Vanishing Japan: Traditions, Crafts & Culture. New York: Tuttle Pub. ISBN   9781462904273. OCLC   777374916.
45. Reiko, Chiba (1966). The Seven Lucky Gods of Japan. Charles E. Tuttle Co. pp. 9–10. OCLC   40117755.
46. Bowler 2000, p. 130.
47. "Our Favourite Lebanese Christmas Traditions". 14 December 2018.
48. Bowler 2000, p. 133.
49. Bowler 2000, p. 137.
50. Bowler 2000, p. 139.
51. Bowler 2000, p. 148.
52. Bowler 2000, pp. 154–155.
53. Bowler 2000, p. 155.
54. "Santa - te Aka Māori Dictionary".
55. Bowler 2000, p. 159.
56. Bowler 2000, p. 170.
57. Bowler 2000, p. 174.
58. Bowler 2000, p. 175.
59. Bowler 2000, p. 178.
60. "Kto przynosi Wam prezenty? Św. Mikołaj, Gwiazdor, Aniołek, Dzieciątko czy może Dziadek Mróz?". 24 December 2019.
61. Bowler 2000, p. 179.
62. Bowler 2000, p. 184.
63. Bowler 2000, p. 193.
64. Bowler 2000, p. 195.
65. Bowler 2000, p. 207.
66. Bowler 2000, p. 211.
67. Bowler 2000, p. 212.
68. Koehler, Jeff (2013). Spain: Recipes and Traditions from the Verdant Hills of the Basque Country to the Coastal Waters of Andalucia. San Francisco: Chronicle Books LLC. p. 96. ISBN   9781452129549.
69. Ferreira, Maialen (20 December 2021). "Una campaña empodera a Mari Domingi y la iguala con Olentzero en el reparto de regalos en Navidad". ElDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2021.
70. Bowler 2000, p. 219.
71. Bowler 2000, p. 220.
72. "Ukrainian Christmas traditions". 16 October 2020.
73. "Hoy llegan los Reyes Magos: ¿de dónde viene la tradición?". 5 January 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
74. Bowler 2000, p. 232.
75. "How do we celebrate Christmas in Hawaii? - Manta Ray Advocates Hawaii". 14 December 2019.
76. Why Christmas "Christmas in Venezuela". Retrieved on 31 Oct 2022.
77. King, Gareth (2008). Colloquial Welsh: The Complete Course for Beginners. Oxford: Routledge. p. 159. ISBN   978-1-138-96039-8.
78. Kirkeby, Cynthia (16 November 2008). "Santa's Names Around the World". ClassBrain.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.

Notes

1. চান্টাক্লজ (Assamese), সান্তা ক্লজ (Bengali), सांता क्लॉज (Bhojpuri), सांता क्लॉज (Dogri), सांता क्लॉज (Goan Konkani), સાન્તા ક્લોસ (Gujarati), ಸಾಂಟಾ ಕ್ಲಾಸ್ (Kannada), सांता क्लॉज (Maithili), ക്രിസ്മസ് പാപ്പാ (Malayalam, lit. 'Papa Christmas'), ꯁꯥꯟꯇꯥ ꯀ꯭ꯂꯖ꯫ (Manipuri), सांताक्लॉज (Marathi), सान्टा क्लाउज (Nepali), ସାଣ୍ଟା କ୍ଲଜ୍ (Odia), ਸੈਂਟਾ ਕਲੌਸ (Punjabi), सांता क्लॉज (Sanskrit) சாண்டா கிளாஸ் (Tamil), శాంతా క్లాజు (Telugu), سانتا کلاز (Urdu)

Bibliography

• Bowler, Gerry (2000). The World Encyclopedia of Christmas . Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN   0-7710-1531-3.