List of Christmas and winter gift-bringers facts for kids
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
- the overlapping winter-based and religious Old Man traditions (St Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St Basil, Grandfather Frost),
- the Christ Child traditions promoted by Martin Luther (Christkind, Baby Jesus, Child God), and
- the Three Kings traditions.
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.
List of gift-bringers
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 | |||
 Albania |
Babagjyshi, Babagjyshi i Krishtlindjeve (Grandfather Christmas, Old Man of Christmas), Babadimri (Grandfather Frost) | |||
 Andorra |
Pare Noel (Father Christmas) | Els Tres Reis (The Three Kings) | ||
 Argentina |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Dios (Child God) | Reyes Magos (The Three Wise Men) | |
 Armenia |
Ձմեռ Պապ (Dzmer Papik) (Winter Grandfather) | Գաղանթ Բաբա (Gaghant Baba) | 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 | |
 Australia |
Santa Claus; Bubaa Gaadha (in Gamilaraay) | Wangkarnal Crow (in Warmun, Western Australia) | ||
 Austria |
St Nikolaus or Nikolo | Christkind (Christ Child) | ||
 Azerbaijan |
Şaxta Baba (Father Frost) | |||
 Belarus |
Дзед Мароз (Dzied Maroz) (Grandfather Frost) | Śviaty Mikałaj (Saint Nicholas) was largely replaced by Dzeid Maroz during the Soviet period. | ||
 Belgium |
Kerstman (Christmas Man) and Sinterklaas for Dutch speakers; Père Noël (Father Christmas) and St Nicholas for French speakers | Le Petit Jesus (Baby Jesus) for French speakers | ||
 Bolivia |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Dios (Child God) | ||
 Bosnia |
Djed Božićnjak (also known as Božić Bata or Djed Mraz) 1 January | |||
 Brazil |
Papai Noel, Bom Velhinho (Good Little Oldie). | |||
 Bulgaria |
Дядо Коледа (Dyado Koleda) | |||
 Canada |
Santa Claus, Père Noël (Father Christmas) for French speakers | |||
 Chile |
El Viejito Pascuero (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) | |||
 Colombia |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Dios (Child God), El Niño Jesús (Child Jesus) | ||
 Costa Rica |
Santa Clós (Santa Claus), San Nicolás (Saint Nicholas) or his nickname Colacho. | El Niño Dios (Child God) | ||
 Croatia |
Djed Božićnjak (Grandfather Christmas), Sveti Nikola (St Nicholas) 6 December | Mali Isus (Baby Jesus) | In Dalmatia and Slavonia, St Lucy arrives on the eve of her feast day, 13 December. | |
 Cyprus |
Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας (Saint Basil the Great) for Greek speakers | |||
 Czech Republic |
Angel and devil accompanying Svatý Mikuláš (St Nicholas) 6 December | Ježíšek (Baby Jesus) | ||
 Denmark |
Julemanden (Christmas Man) | |||
 Dominican Republic |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas), Santa Clós (Santa Claus) | Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings), Vieja Belén (Old Lady of Bethlehem) | ||
 Ecuador |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Dios (Child God) | The Three Kings | |
 England |
Father Christmas or synonymously Santa Claus | Before mid-Victorian times Father Christmas was a different folkloric figure representing good cheer, and did not bring gifts. | ||
 Estonia |
Jõuluvana (Old Man of Christmas) | |||
 Fiji |
Santa Claus | |||
 Finland |
Joulupukki (Yule Goat) | |||
 France |
- Le Père Noël (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 - Le Père Janvier (Father January) in Burgundy, Nivernais and Bourbonnais, 31 December - 1 January |
- Le Petit Jésus (Child Jesus)
- Le Christkindel (Christkind) in Alsace and Franconian Lorraine, 6 December |
- Tante Arie (Aunt Arie, a fairy) in the County of Montbéliard
- Les Rois Mages (The Three Kings) in Roussillon - Berchta in Alsace |
|
 Georgia |
თოვლის ბაბუა tovlis babua (Snow Grandfather) 1 January | |||
 Germany |
- Martinsmann, 10 November in Protestant areas, 11 November in Catholic areas
- Nikolaus, 6 December - Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man), 24 December in Protestant areas |
Christkind (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 (Saint Basil the Great) | |||
 Haiti |
Tonton Nwèl (in Haitian Creole), Père Noël (in French) | |||
 Honduras |
Santa Claus | The Three Kings | ||
 Hong Kong |
聖誕老人 (jyutping: sing3 daan3 lou5 jan4) (Christmas Old Man), Santa Claus, St Nicholas, Father Christmas | |||
 Hungary |
Télapó (Father Christmas); Mikulás (Nicholas) | Jézuska or Kis Jézus (Child Jesus) | Angels accompanying the baby Jesus | Mikulás is accompanied by krampusz, generally bringing virgács (rod for whipping) to children who did not behave well |
 Iceland |
Jólasveinar (Yulemen or Yule Lads) | In Icelandic folk tales there are numerous Jólasveinar, which come on different dates. | ||
 India |
- English: Santa Claus, Father Christmas
- Hindi: सांता क्लॉज़ (saanta kloz), सैंट निकोलस (saint nikolas) - Other languages: Several names |
|||
 Indonesia |
Santa Claus, Sinterklas | |||
 Iran |
Santa Claus, Baba Noel (Persian: بابا نوئل); Amu Nowruz (Persian: عمو نوروز, "Uncle Nowruz"), also known as Papa Nowruz (Persian: بابا نوروز – Bābā Nowruz), Spring Equinox (20 March). | |||
 Ireland |
Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Daidí na Nollag for Irish speakers | |||
 Italy |
Babbo Natale (Father Christmas); in Trieste, St Nicholas 6 December. | Gesù Bambino (Baby Jesus) | La Befana 6 January. In Sicily, Udine, Bergamo, Brescia, Cremona, Lodi, Mantova, Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Verona and Western Trentino, St Lucy 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) is known, but is not a traditional visitor | On 2 Jan the Seven Lucky Gods bring metaphorical treasures in their treasure ship Takarabune | ||
 Kenya |
Baba Krismasi; Santa Claus | |||
 Korea |
산타 할아버지 (Santa Harabeoji) (Grandfather Santa), 산타 클로스 (Santa Claus) | |||
 Latvia |
Ziemassvētku Vecītis (Father Christmas) | |||
 Lebanon |
بابا نويل (Baba Noel), Père Noël | |||
 Liechtenstein |
Christkind (Christ Child) | |||
 Lithuania |
Kalėdų Senelis (Grandfather Christmas) | |||
 Luxembourg |
Kleeschen (St Nicholas) | Christkind (Christ Child) | ||
 Madagascar |
Dadabe Noely (in Malagasy), Père Noël (in French) | |||
 Malta |
Father Christmas (Missier il-Milied in Maltese) | |||
 Mexico |
Santa Claus | El Niño Dios (Child God) | Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) | |
 Netherlands |
Kerstman (Christmas Man), Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) | Zwarte Piet (Black Peter), accompanies Sinterklaas | ||
 New Zealand |
Santa Claus, Hana Kōkō (in Māori) | |||
 Nicaragua |
El Niño (The Child) | The Three Kings | ||
 North Macedonia |
Дедо Мраз (Dedo Mraz; in Macedonian), Babagjyshi (in Albanian) | |||
 Norway |
Julenissen (Santa Claus) | |||
 Panama |
Santa Claus | Christ Child | The Three Kings 6 January | |
 Paraguay |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Dios (Child God) | ||
 Peru |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas), Santa Claus | |||
 Philippines |
Santa Claus, Santa Klaus (in Tagalog) | Los Tres Reyes Magos, Tatlóng Haring Mago (The Three Kings), 5 January | ||
 Poland |
Gwiazdor (Star Man or Little Star), Santa Claus, Święty Mikołaj (St Nicolas) 6 December | Dzieciątko (Christ Child) in Upper Silesia | Aniołek (Angel) 24 December in Kraków | |
 Portugal |
Pai Natal (Father Christmas), Santa Claus | Menino Jesus (Christ Child) – now less common | ||
 Puerto Rico |
Santa Clós (Santa Claus) | Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) | ||
 Romania |
Moș Crăciun (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 |
 Russia |
- In Russian: Дед Мороз (Ded Moroz) (Grandfather Frost)
- In other languages: Nenets: Ямал Ири (Yamal Iri) (Grandpa of Yamal); Tatar: Кыш Бабай (Grandfather Winter); Yakut: Чысхаан (Chyskhaan) (Lord of the Cold) |
Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden and granddaughter of Ded Moroz) and the New Year Boy | Before 1917, during the pre-Communist era, the gift-bringers were St Nicholas, Baboushka and Kolyáda | |
 Scotland |
Santa Claus; Bodach na Nollaig (in Scottish Gaelic, lit. Old Man of Christmas) | |||
 Serbia |
Now Деда Мраз (Deda Mraz; Grandpa Frost); previously Божић Бата (Božić Bata; Christmas Brother) | |||
 Slovakia |
Angel and Devil accompanying Svätý Mikuláš (St Nicholas) 6 December | Ježiško (Baby Jesus) | ||
 Slovenia |
Miklavž (St Nicholas), Dedek Mraz (Grandpa Frost), Božiček (Santa Claus) | Jezušček (Baby Jesus) | Sveti Trije kralji (The Three Kings) | |
 South Africa |
- In English: Santa Claus Father Christmas, Santa Claus
- In other languages: Sinterklaas (in Afrikaans), uFata Khisimusi (in Zulu) |
|||
 Spain |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas); Pare Noél in Catalonia; Olentzero in the Basque Country and Navarre; Apalpador in Galicia | The Three Kings 6 January; Tió de Nadal in Catalonia; Anjanas in Cantabria; Anguleru in Asturias; Mari Domingi, a recent female companion for Olentzero in the Basque Country and Navarre. | ||
 Sri Lanka |
නත්තල් සීයා (Naththal Seeya; in Sinhala), சாண்டா கிளாஸ் (Cāṇṭā kiḷās; in Tamil) | |||
 Sweden |
Jultomten (Christmas Gnome) | Julbock (Christmas Goat) until the 19th century | ||
 Switzerland |
St Nicholas (known as Samichlaus to German-speakers and San Nicolao to Italian), Père Noël (Father Christmas) for French-speakers | Christkind (Christ Child) in some areas, Gesù Bambino (Baby Jesus) in Italian-speaking areas | La Befana in Italian-speaking areas | |
 Syria |
Papa Noël (Arabic: بابا نويل baba noel) | |||
 Taiwan |
聖誕老人 or 聖誕老公公 (Old Man of Christmas) | |||
 Tanzania |
Baba Krismasi; Santa Claus | |||
 Thailand |
ซานตาคลอส (Santa Claus) | |||
 Tonga |
Sanitā Kolosi | |||
 Turkey |
Noel Baba (Father Christmas) or Grandfather Gaxan (Alevi areas) | |||
 Turkmenistan |
Aýaz Baba | |||
 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. | ||
 Uruguay |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Dios (Child God) | Los Reyes Magos on 6 January | |
 United States |
Santa Claus; sometimes Kris Kringle; ᏗᎭᏄᎧᎯ (in Cherokee); Kanakaloka (in Hawaiian); Késhmish Hastiin (in Navajo) | |||
 Uzbekistan |
Ayoz Bobo (Frost Grandpa), Qor Bobo (Snow Grandfather) | |||
 Venezuela |
San Nicolás (St. Nicholas) | El Niño (The Child) | Reyes Magos (The Three Wise Men) | |
 Vietnam |
Ông Già Nô-en (Old Man of Christmas) | |||
 Wales |
Father Christmas, Santa Claus; Siôn Corn in Welsh (literally Chimney John) |
See also
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List of Christmas and winter gift-bringers Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.