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
Not all gift-bringers were or are specifically focused on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day: other common customs are 6 December (St 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]
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 | St 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 St Nicholas 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) | ||||
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 (St Nicholas) [17] 6 December | Mali Isus (Baby Jesus) | In Dalmatia and Slavonia, St 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] |
-
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 |
||
Georgia | თოვლის ბაბუა tovlis 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, St 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, St 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, St 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] (St 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 (St 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 (St 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 (St 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 St 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] (St Nicholas) 6 December | Ježiško (Baby Jesus) | |||
Slovenia | Miklavž (St 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 نويل baba 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) (St Nicholas), Санта Клаус (Santa Claus), sometimes Різдвяний Дід (Rizdvianyi Did) (Father Christmas) | Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated on December 25. Since 2017, the date has been one of the official state holidays. Before that, Christmas was celebrated by many on January 7 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 (St. 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] |