List of Christmas and winter gift-bringers by country 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 |
Papa Noël (Pashto/Dari: بابا نويل baba noel); Baba Chaghaloo | |||
 Albania |
Babai i Krishtlindjeve (Father Christmas) | |||
 Andorra |
Pare Noel (Father Christmas) | Els Tres Reis (The Three Kings) | ||
 Argentina |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Diós (Child God) | Reyes Magos (The Three Wise Men) 6 January; | |
 Armenia |
Dzmer Papik (Father Christmas) | 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 |
Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) | |||
 Austria |
St Nikolaus or Nikolo 6 December. | Christkind (Christ Child) | ||
 Azerbaijan |
Şaxta Baba (Father Frost) | |||
 Belarus |
Дзед Мароз (Dzied Maroz) (Grandfather Frost) | |||
 Belgium |
Kerstman (Christmas man) and Sinterklaas, 6 December, for Dutch speakers; Père Noël (Father Christmas) and St Nicholas, 6 December, for French speakers |
Le Petit Jesus (Baby Jesus) for French speakers | ||
 Bolivia |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Diós (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) (Father Christmas) | |||
 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 Diós (Child God), El Niño Jesús (Child Jesus) | ||
 Costa Rica |
Santa Clós (Santa Claus), San Nicolás (Saint Nicholas) or his nickname Colacho. | El Niño Diós (Child God) | ||
 Croatia |
Djed Božićnjak (Grandpa Christmas), Djed Mraz (Grandpa Frost), Sveti Nikola (St Nicholas) 6 December, Santa Claus | 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) 1 January | |||
 Czech Republic |
Angel and devil accompanying Mikuláš (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) 6 January, Vieja Belén (Old Lady of Bethlehem) | ||
 Ecuador |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Diós (Child God) | The Three Kings 6 January | |
 Egypt |
Papa Noël (Arabic: بابا نويل Baba Noel) | |||
 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) | |||
 Finland |
Joulupukki (Yule Goat) | |||
 France |
- Le Père Noël (Father Christmas)
- Saint Nicolas (Saint Nicholas) in Alsace, Lorraine, the Ardennes, Franche-Comté, the Low Countries and the Argonne, 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, 6 January |
|
 Georgia |
თოვლის ბაბუა [tovlis babua] (Snow Grandfather) 1 January | |||
 Germany |
Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man) in Protestant areas; Nikolaus, 6 December. | Christkind (Christ Child) 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) 1 January | |||
 Haiti |
Tonton Nwèl (Père Noël) | |||
 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) 6 December | 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 |
Santa Claus, Father Christmas | Known as Natal Bua (Christmas Elder Man) in Marathi; Christmas Thatha (Christmas Grandpa) in Tamil and Telugu; Christmas Pappa (Christmas Father) in Malayalam. | ||
 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 |
サンタクロース (Santa Kuroosu, or Santa-san) is known, but is not a traditional visitor | On 2 Jan the Seven Lucky Gods bring metaphorical treasures in their treasure ship Takarabune | ||
 Korea |
산타 할아버지 (Santa Harabeoji) (Grandfather Santa), 산타 클로스 (Santa Claus) | |||
 Latvia |
Ziemassvētku vecītis (Father Christmas) | |||
 Liechtenstein |
Christkind (Christ Child) | |||
 Lithuania |
Kalėdų Senelis (Grandfather Christmas) | |||
 Luxembourg |
Kleeschen (St Nicholas) | Christkind (Christ Child) | ||
 Malta |
Father Christmas (Missier il-Milied in Maltese) | |||
 Mexico |
Santa Claus | El Niño Diós (Child God) | Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) | |
 Netherlands |
Kerstman (Christmas Man), Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) 5 December | Zwarte Piet (Black Peter), accompanies Sinterklaas | ||
 North Macedonia |
Dedo Mraz | |||
 New Zealand |
Father Christmas, known in Maori as Hana Koko. | |||
 Nicaragua |
El Niño (Christ Child) | The Three Kings | ||
 Norway |
Julenissen (Christmas Gnome) | |||
 Panama |
Santa Claus | Christ Child | The Three Kings 6 January | |
 Paraguay |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Diós (Child God) | ||
 Peru |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas), Santa Claus | |||
 Philippines |
Santa Claus, 24 December | 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 | ||
 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 |
Moş Crăciun (Old Man Christmas, Christmas Old Man, Grandfather Christmas, Christmas Grandfather), Moş Nicolae (St Nicholas) 6 December | Jézuska or Kis Jézus (Child Jesus) (for the Hungarian minorities) | Angyal (The Angel) (for the Hungarian minorities) | Moş Gerilă (Grandfather Frost, Old Man Frost) during the previous Communist era |
 Russia |
Дед Мороз (Ded Moroz) (Grandfather Frost); in Sakha Republic (Yakutia) Чысхаан (Chyskhaan) (Lord of the Cold); in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug – Ямал Ири (Yamal Iri) (Grandpa of Yamal) | 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 (Scots Gaelic: Old Man of Christmas) | |||
 Serbia |
Now Деда Мраз (Deda Mraz) (Grandpa Frost) 1 January; previously Божић Бата (Božić Bata) (Christmas Brother) | |||
 Slovenia |
Miklavž (St Nicholas), Dedek Mraz (Grandpa Frost), Božiček (Santa Claus) | Jezušček (Baby Jesus) | Sveti trije kralji (The Three Kings) | |
 South Africa |
Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Santa Claus | |||
 Spain |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) ; 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 |
Naththal Seeya | |||
 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) | |||
 Thailand |
ซานตาคลอส (Santa Claus) | |||
 Turkey |
Noel Baba (Father Christmas) or Grandfather Gaxan (Alevi areas) 1 January | |||
 Turkmenistan |
Aýaz baba | |||
 Ukraine |
Святий Миколай (Sviatyj Mykolaj) (St Nicholas), Дід Мороз (Did Moroz) (Grandfather Frost) | Christmas is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar on 7 January | ||
 Uruguay |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Diós (Child God) | ||
 United States |
Santa Claus; sometimes Kris Kringle | |||
 Uzbekistan |
Ayoz Bobo (Frost Grandpa), Qor Bobo (Snow Grandfather) | |||
 Venezuela |
San Nicolás (St. Nicholas) | El Niño (Christ Child) | Reyes Magos (The Three Wise Men) 6 January | |
 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 by country Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.