In Portugal, Santa Claus is called Pai Natal. He is believed to bring presents to children on Christmas Eve. Presents are left under the Christmas tree or in shoes by the fireplace.
'Santa Claus in Portugal is known as 'Pai Natal'. He is believed to bring gifts for children on Christmas Eve.
Dutch, Belgian and Swiss folklore
In the Netherlands and Belgium, the character of Santa Claus competes with that of Sinterklaas, based on Saint Nicolas. Santa Claus is known as de Kerstman in Dutch ("the Christmas man") and Père Noël ("Father Christmas") in French.
Babbo Natale is the Italian equivalent of Santa Claus in English-speaking countries. All these similar figures derive mainly from the same historical figure: St Nicholas, bishop of Myra (today Demre, a city in modern-day Turkey). It's said St.
In many homes, especially ones with children, Nochebuena is a very exciting night: it's when Santa Claus (in Spanish, Papá Noel) brings gifts to all the children who have been good during the year.
The Greek Santa Claus is known as “Ayios Vassileios” in Greek.
In a less than poetic turn of phrase, Father Christmas/Santa Claus is named Julemanden in Danish (literally: The Christmas Man), and he is assisted by a group of Nisse, a sort of naughty elf that has a lot in common with the American 'elf on the shelf' (some people say they are the original version).
The term Weihnachtsmann is a very generic German term for Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus. The German Weihnachtsmann is a fairly recent Christmas tradition having little if any religious or folkloric background. In fact, the secular Weihnachtsmann only dates back to around the mid-19th century.
Jultomten (The Swedish version of Father Christmas)
Santa Claus goes by lots of names, depending on where you are in the world. In Australia and other English-speaking countries, he's usually called Father Christmas, Santa Claus, or sometimes just “Santa” for short.
Finland are lucky enough to enjoy a white Christmas each year. Finnish children call Santa Claus 'Joulupukki'. They believe Joulupukki is from Korvatunturi, a fell in Lapland in which they believe his secret workshop is located.
Santa is known as Papai Noel and Bom Velhinho (Good Old Man) in Brazil, and while he is delivering presents in the southern hemisphere he changes into his lighter weight Santa suit.
If you are spending Christmas or "Natal" in Portugal, you'll of course need to know how to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in the local lingo. Merry Christmas translates to Portuguese as “Feliz Natal” and although this is the most common way to express your Christmas greetings, you can also say “boas festas”.
Yes, Santa Claus, because in Portugal he is the one in charge of bringing presents to all the well-behaved children.
The Portuguese celebrate Christmas on December 24 and 25, with Christmas eve being the main celebration. On January 6, another celebration is quite common to bring about the end of the Christmas season.
Santa Claus is called Père Noël in French or Father Christmas. Small children may also call him Papa Noël or Daddy Christmas.
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.
Krampus, in central European popular legend, a half-goat, half-demon monster that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime. He is the devilish companion of St. Nicholas. Krampus is believed to have originated in Germany, and his name derives from the German word Krampen, which means “claw.”
The gifts are sometimes brought by Santa Claus (called 'Julenissen' in Norway). Presents are also brought by the small gnomes called 'Nisse'.
Jultomten, also known simply as ”Tomten”, is Sweden's Father Christmas, visiting houses in the afternoon on Christmas Eve (when Christmas in Sweden is celebrated) to distribute presents to children.
Santa is believed in and known as 'Dadabe Noely'. Most people will go to Midnight Mass where people, especially children, perform songs and plays to celebrate the Jesus' birth.
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. But he is NOT related to Christmas.)
In Belgium, there are actually two Santa Claus figures. For the Dutch-speaking community, there's Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, and for the French-speaking community, there's Pere Noel, or Santa Claus.
Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi, Finland, the official hometown of Santa Claus. Santa Claus has made Lapland in Northern Finland his home for centuries, and the Arctic Circle is close to his heart because many Christmas secrets are rooted in this magical place.