Santa Claus in Different Cultures

Many holidays are celebrated in the month of December, from various cultures and countries of origin. Some popular ones include Christmas, originally an Italian and Pagan holiday and later a widespread Christian holiday; Hanukkah, an ancient Jewish celebration commemorating historical events that occurred in Jerusalem; and Kwanzaa, a holiday founded in 1966 as a means for African Americans to connect to their cultural roots.

Among the world’s most prominent holidays is Christmas. Based on recent statistics recorded by Pew Research Center, 9 out of 10 American citizens participate in the annual celebration, and 95% of all Christians celebrate it. The famous figurehead of the holiday, Santa Claus, has many parallels in other cultures and countries. 

In the United States, Santa Claus (derived from the Dutch legend of Sinterklaas) is depicted in media and folklore as a chubby man with a white beard in a fuzzy red suit. He delivers presents, via sleigh on Christmas night, for well-behaved children to unwrap the next morning, or fills hanging stockings with treats and small toys. According to stories, naughty children can expect raw coal in their stockings without any gifts. In other nations, sometimes similar, and sometimes vastly different traditions and Santa-like figures are celebrated. 

Russia:

In Russia, instead of Santa, there is Ded Moroz and his granddaughter Snegurochka, who deliver gifts to children on New Year’s Eve. Evellyn Lichnov, a David Douglas student of Slavic descent, recalled that “as a kid, me and my friends would hold hands and call for Snegurochka. We would also sing Russian songs around the yolka.” A yolka is a coniferous tree similar to a Christmas tree. She described Ded Moroz as a grandfather with a long white beard. “He and his granddaughter would bring presents around the New Year to kids who are well-mannered. They would put those presents under the yolka.” Snegurochka is also known as the Snow Maiden; she dons a blue coat with a snowflake-like headdress called a “kokoshnik.” 

Iceland: 

Iceland has a particularly intriguing mythology around Christmas. 13 mischievous Yule Lads; their mother Grýla; and Jólakӧtturinn, their colossal black family cat, make up the characters of the holiday. The Yule Lads are kind-hearted tricksters who leave gifts in the shoes of children on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. The nicknames of the Lads include Spoon Licker, Window Peeper, Skyr Gobbler, Pot Scraper, and Sausage Swiper. They are like many little Santa Clauses, except for some harmless pranks. Misbehaving children in Iceland are at a higher risk of punishment than kids in other countries and may find rotten potatoes in their shoes, or even fall victim to an attack by the infamous black cat. Furthermore, Grýla is known to enjoy a stew seasoned with the bodies of naughty children…

Czech Republic and Hungary:

Mikuláš (also known as Saint Nicholas) is the father of Christmas in the Czech Republic, as well as in Hungary. According to a Czech Portland Public Schools student, Jesse, Mikuláš looks like the Pope and Santa combined. However, Jesse explained that Mikuláš is not always the person delivering presents on Saint Nicholas Day, it is typically believed to be Jesus. Saint Nicholas Day in the Czech Republic is predominantly celebrated on Dec. 5-6, although depending on the region, it is also celebrated on Dec. 25. Children put a boot out on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day and hope to find it full of candy and toys from Jesus in the morning. Bad kids can expect only a wooden spoon in their shoe. Additionally, Jesse warned that “if you were bad it is said that the devil would put you in a burlap sack and fly away with you on a broom.” Jesse also described the Czech tradition where around Christmas Eve, or, “Štědrý Večer,” “you’re supposed to catch a carp and keep it in your bathtub and kill it… and eat it.”  

Japan: 

Hoteiosho, or Hotei, is a fat man with eyes in the back of his head who can tell if kids are naughty or nice. He is also known as the “Laughing Buddha,” because he is often depicted with a jovial face and surrounded by grinning children. He carries a sack of goods, varying from rice plants to clothing to grandiose gifts, all to disperse to the good kids of Japan on Christmas night. According to Japanese mythology, Hotei is one of the Seven Lucky Gods, stemming from ancient Chinese and Indian religion. Hotei may have been based on a real person, named Budai, a man who died in 916 A.D. and was later worshipped in Buddhist practice.

Norway: 

Julenisse is the Christmas icon of Norway. He belongs to the mythical species of nisse or tomte, which are essentially short mischievous gnomes. They often wear pointed red hats and help kind families in exchange for a bowl of porridge or a glass of glӧgg (a spiced mulled wine/spirit). On Christmas night, Julenisse, meaning gift-giving nisse, hides presents throughout the house for children to hunt for the following morning. 

Finland: 

Joulupukki was initially an evil and cruel creature with goat-like features; villagers would host parties around the solstice to keep him away. Later his image was altered to look kinder, similar to the American Santa Claus. Both Julenisse and Joulupukki are not believed to reside in the North Pole but rather in some Northern European forest or field. 

This holiday season, if you choose to celebrate Christmas, perhaps try looking into the various figures of Christmas or consider including other culture’s traditions and practices in your holiday!