Names for Santa Claus Around the World
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Names for Santa Claus Around the World
Santa Claus, a jolly fat old man with a white beard and a red suit, is a legendary bearer of gifts to children at Christmas eve (December 24) around the world. He is well known by many other names such as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Santa, Santy and Kris Kringle. Santa Claus being the personification of the spirit of Christmas is a well known gift giving figure in various cultures around the world and as such, there are different names that he is also known by in different locations or countries in the world.
A variety of names like those mentioned above are used in different languages to represent his name. Needless to say they all refer to the same Santa Claus that we know about today.
With the festive season of Christmas upon us once again, I was asked by a reader to give the different names Santa Claus is called around the world. The list provided below is by no means comprehensive but nevertheless you should become aware of some of the names Santa goes by. So, here is a short list of some names by which Santa Claus is called in some countries.
| Country | Names for Santa Claus |
A Afghanistan Albania Armenia |
Baba Chaghaloo* Babadimri * Gaghant Baba * |
B Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria |
Pere Noel Deda Mraz* Papai Noel* Dyado Koleda* |
C Chile China |
Viejo Pascuero ("Old Man Christmas") Dun Che Lao Ren ("Christmas Old Man") |
D Denmark |
Julemanden* |
E Egypt |
Papa Noël* |
F France French Canada Finland |
Pere Noel* Père Noël* Joulupukki* |
G Germany |
Weihnachtsmann ("Christmas Man" or "Nikolaus") |
H Hawaii Hungary |
Kanakaloka Mikulas (St. Nicholas) |
I Iran Iraq Ireland Italy |
Baba Noel* Vader Kersfees* Daidí na Nollaig* Babbo Natale * |
J Jamaica Japan |
Santa Claus Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts) |
K |
|
L Latin America Lithuania |
Papá Noel* (Spanish-speaking) Kaledu Senelis* |
M Malta |
San Niklaw |
N Norway |
Julenissen ("Christmas gnome") |
O |
|
P Poland Portugal |
Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) Pai Natal |
Q |
|
R Romania Russia |
Mos Craciun* Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost") |
S Serbia Scottish Highlands South Africa Spain Sweden |
Deda Mraz Daidaín na Nollaig* Vader Kersfees* Papá Noel* Jultomten ("Christmas brownie") |
T Turkey |
Noel Baba* |
U United Kingdom United States |
Father Christmas Santa Claus Kris Kringle |
V |
|
W |
|
X |
|
Y |
|
Z |
* - Father Christmas
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