Santa is known as 'Sheng dan Lao ren' in Mandarin, which translates as 'Christmas Old Man', and he is seen as a non-religious figure who lives in a fairytale Arctic Christmas Village in China's North Pole.
"Merry Christmas"
China's small population of Christians call Christmas Sheng Dan Jieh, or Holy Birth Festival.
In Japan Santa is known as サンタさん、サンタクロース / Santa-san (Mr Santa) or サンタクロース / Santa-Kurosu (Santa Claus). (Another Japanese gift bringer is Hoteiosho, a Japanese god of good fortune from Buddhism.
Santa Claus is known as 圣诞老人 (Shèngdàn Lǎorén, literally meaning old Christmas man) in Chinese and his gift giving is well known in China. Many young Chinese enjoy Christmas parties with their friends and exchange gifts.
In Hong Kong, /Santa is most commonly called Santa Claus or Father Christmas. In Cantonese he is known as "Sing Daan Lou Yan" (Christmas Old Man) although most people use English to refer to him. Every year in Hong Kong there is a 'Winterfest'.
Like most other countries, kids in Vietnam believe in Santa Claus and he's known as 'Ông già Noel', meaning 'Christmas old man'.
Like the West, Santa is popular with children in Korea; he is recognised as Grandpa Santa, otherwise known as Santa Kullusu or Santa Haraboji, a kindly figure who hands out gifts and embodies the season's joy.
Does Santa Visit Japan? Luckily for Japanese children, the concept of Santa Claus is one Christmas tradition that is alive and well in Japan. Like other children worldwide, Japanese kids also look forward to a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve and a present waiting for them on Christmas morning.
In China and Taiwan, Santa is called 聖誕老人 (shèngdànlǎorén) and he is often accompanied in Taiwan with his sisters: young women dressed in elf costumes or red and white. In Hong Kong, Santa is called Lan Khoong or Dun Che Lao Ren which translates to “Christmas Old Man”.
Nicholas: The Real Santa Claus. The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey.
What is Santa Claus called in Australia? These days most Australians call Atnas (his real name) “Santa”.
He's known as 'Christmas Baba' in Hindi, 'Baba Christmas' in Urdu (both of those mean Father Christmas); 'Christmas Thaathaa' in Tamil and 'Christmas Thatha' in Telugu (both of those mean Christmas old man); and 'Natal Bua' (Christmas Elder Man) in Marathi.
Then when July finally rolls around, this is when Australians celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense since it's colder. Although we know it as Christmas in July, Australians call this second celebration Yuletide or Yulefest.
Today, KFC for Christmas is one of the longest-standing Christmas traditions in Japan. Not only is Colonel Sanders now synonymous with Santa Claus—as ubiquitous a sight as Christmas trees and mistletoe in the West—but the festive holidays mark the biggest sales period for the company.
One very special person who helps people in the Philippines celebrate Christmas is Santa R-Kayma Klaws.
Ukraine's Santa Claus is called Did Moroz (Father Frost) or Svyatyy Mykolay (Saint Nicholas).
With Father Christmas preparing for the season, we spoke with one of his elves to learn more about Santa Claus, or joulupukki, as he's called in Finland.
In 2020, the global KFC website published its own explainer, noting that the original idea for the campaign came when a foreign customer who visited KFC in Tokyo on Christmas day said, "I can't get turkey in Japan, so I have no choice but to celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken".
Australians often celebrate Christmas Day by enjoying a Christmas lunch or dinner with their closest family and friends. The meal usually consists of a selection of hot and cold dishes, including fresh seafood.
Traditionally, Santa Claus, or Weihnachtsmann in German, does not drop down chimneys and deliver gifts the eve of Dec. 25 in Germany. Instead, the Christkind or Christkindl, an angel-like creature with blond hair and wings, brings gifts to families on the eve of Christmas.
How Do You Say Santa Claus In Japanese? Over in Japan, Santa Claus isn't quite the same holly-jolly guy he is over here. Instead, he's called 'Hoteiosho' and is a god or priest who brings gifts. How Do You Say Santa Claus In Russian?
Africa and Middle East
Of those countries in Africa and the Middle East that celebrate Christmas, Papá Noel is the most common name for Santa Claus. In South Africa Sinterklaas, Father Christmas and Santa Claus are also used.
Nicholas (so named after Nicholas of Myra, Patron Saint of children) comes to visit the children of Switzerland. This Swiss version of Santa Claus is called Samichlaus in the German-speaking part, and Saint-Nicolas in the French.