Canada and the United States: In 1809, Washington Irving made Santa Claus a part of North America's vocabulary with his novel A History of New York. Irving represented the figure of Santa Claus as St. Nicholas, a man with a flying wagon that brought presents to children.
In 1863, Santa Claus was upgraded to the red suit and the reindeer. Since then, he’s remained mostly unchanged. The name Santa Claus comes from the Dutch "Sintaklaas." Along with the Dutch name, the North American tradition also includes Santa Claus carrying a list of nice and naughty children, entering homes through chimneys, and appreciating any milk and cookies left for him.
Belgium: French speaking Belgians know Saint Nicholas as "Père Noël." Rather than leaving coal, Père Noël leaves twigs and sticks for the naughty children in Belgium. However, unlike the American tradition, Belgians celebrate Père Noël's birthday on December 6th, separately from Jesus' birthday.
Brazil: In the Brazilian tradition, Papai Noel is a resident of Greenland, not the North Pole (perhaps Santa has a summer resort there?) and dons silk clothing to suit the warmer locale. Christmas festivities revolve around decorating, feasting, and dancing more so rather than gift giving.
The Czech Republic: Svaty Mikalas descends from Heaven on a golden rope with a whip-carrying devil for the naughty children. Czechs also traditionally bring a branch from a cherry tree in their homes on December 4th: if the branch blooms before Christmas, then the family should expect good luck and a short winter.
Denmark: Julemanden is the name of the Danish Christmas gift giver. He travels with his mischievous elf, Julenisse, who wears red stockings and enjoys playing pranks on naughty children. On Christmas Eve, children leave out rice pudding to prevent Julenisse from playing a joke on them.
France and Quebec: French children leave out their wooden clogs for Père Noël to fill with presents. Père Noël also decorates Christmas trees with candies and other treats while his companion, Pre Fouettard, keeps track of who’s been naughty and nice.
Germany: December 6th marks the beginning of the German Christmas celebration. Although the figure of Der Weinachtsmann is quite similar to the American Santa Claus, Christkind is a unique Christmas icon that captures German culture's imagination. As Christ's messenger, the Christkind is an angelic, crowned young girl who visits each house with a basket of gifts.
Italy: Italian children expect La Befana (a name meaning "Epiphany" in Italian) to come visit them on January 6. As legend goes, La Befana refused to give the three wise men food and shelter as they traveled to visit the baby Jesus. She realized her error and ever since has traveled the earth looking for them and being generous with gifts to all good children, in case Jesus is among them.
Japan: While much of Japan isn't Christian, the Japanese have adopted many of the American Christian traditions surrounding Christmas. Hoteiosho, a priest that looks like the American Santa Claus, has eyes in the back of his head surely to help him spot any sneaky, misbehaving children.
Netherlands: On December 5, Sinterklaas sails from Spain and travels around the country on horseback. Children who fill their shoes with hay for Sinterklaas’ horse find presents in the morning. The Dutch tradition has evolved recently with Sinterklaas no longer beating naughty children with a birch rod.
Nicaragua: From December 16th to Christmas Eve, Nicaraguans hold nightly prayers followed by carol singing. However, children don't receive gifts until January 6, the celebration of the Epiphany when the Three Wise Men came to give gifts the baby Jesus. The night closes with fireworks and a manger scene decorates every home.
Norway: Julebukk, the "Christmas buck," is a goat-like creature traced back to Viking worship of Thor and his goat. Julebukk guards farm animals and plays tricks on children who don’t leave him a bowl of porridge. Unlike most of the other international Christmas gift givers, Julebukk doesn't leave the children gifts: it is up to the children to go door-to-door seeking treats and gifts.
Russia: Dedoushka Moroz or "Father Christmas" is a secondary figure to Baboushka, the present-bearing woman with an origin similar to Italy’s La Befana. Although Communist oppression hushed celebration of Christmas, the collapse of the USSR has revived tales of Baboushka with undimmed enthusiasm. Russians celebrate Christmas on January 6th by singing carols and attending churches decorated with yelka flowers.
Spain: Three Wise Men revisit their travels on Christmas Eve while the family feasts and celebrates the birth of Jesus. Children leave straw in their shoes, hoping most of all to feed the donkey of Balthazar, the gift giving magi.
Sweden: In honor of St. Lucia, who fed persecuted Christians, the eldest daughter of the Swedish family carries food to each family member on the morning of December 13. For Christmas, another family member dresses as the Tomte, a red-robed, bearded gnome that bears gifts along with rhyming hints for children to guess what the gift is.
United Kingdom: On Christmas Eve families only eat Frumenty, a corn pudding. At night, Father Christmas dons a long red or green robe as he delivers gifts to hanging stockings and pillowcases. Christmas day brings a feast of roast turkey and an exchange of gifts.
Repeated year after year, Christmas is perhaps the most universal holiday that manifests itself in unique Christmas icons around the world.
Christmas Icons Around the World Share Universal Message
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Dream Come True
