List of Christmas and winter gift-bringers facts for kids
Have you ever wondered who brings gifts during the holidays in different parts of the world? This article explores the many special characters who deliver presents during Christmas and winter. These figures have interesting stories and traditions behind them.
The idea of gift-bringers in winter, especially around Christmas, has a long and interesting history. In many countries, the gift-bringer and when they arrive have changed over time. This often happens as customs from one country influence another. While many of these figures started as religious characters, gift-giving is now often a non-religious custom. Some countries have figures that are not tied to religious festivals at all. Some gift-bringers are only known in one small area, while others were created more recently.
Most of these gift-giving traditions began in Europe. They come from three main ideas:
- Old Man Traditions: These include figures like St Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St Basil, and Grandfather Frost. They are usually older, wise-looking men.
- Christ Child Traditions: These figures, like Christkind (Christ Child), Baby Jesus, or Child God, were promoted by Martin Luther.
- Three Kings Traditions: These are based on the Three Kings from the Bible story.
Not all gift-bringers arrive on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Other common dates for gifts include December 6th (St Nicholas Day), January 1st (New Year's Day), and January 6th (Epiphany). The worldwide popularity of Santa Claus has changed many older traditions in different countries.
Gift-Bringers Around the World
This list includes many different winter gift-bringers from all over the world. They might have similar names, looks, or arrival dates. Some are religious, and some are not. This list does not include characters who don't bring gifts, like 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 an older figure linked to the Armenian New Year. Dzmer Papik is a newer character in 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 mostly replaced by Dzeid Maroz during the Soviet era. | ||
 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) on January 1st | |||
 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). This name comes from "Christmas Time" often being called "Nativity's Easter" or simply "Easter" in Chile. | |||
 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) on December 6th | Mali Isus (Baby Jesus) | In Dalmatia and Slavonia, St Lucy arrives on December 13th. | |
 Cyprus |
Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας (Saint Basil the Great) for Greek speakers | |||
 Czech Republic |
Angel and devil accompanying Svatý Mikuláš (St Nicholas) on December 6th | 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 Santa Claus | Before the mid-1800s, Father Christmas was a different character who represented good cheer, but he didn't 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 some regions, on December 6th - Olentzero in the Basque Country - Saint Martin in some regions, on November 10th or 11th - Le Père Janvier (Father January) in some regions, on December 31st - January 1st |
- Le Petit Jésus (Child Jesus)
- Le Christkindel (Christkind) in some regions, on December 6th |
- 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) on January 1st | |||
 Germany |
- Martinsmann, on November 10th in Protestant areas, November 11th in Catholic areas
- Nikolaus, on December 6th - Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man), on December 24th in Protestant areas |
Christkind (Christ Child), on December 24th in Catholic areas | Nikolaus is sometimes joined by Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus, Belsnickel or other helpers in some parts 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 joined by krampusz, who often brings a rod for children who didn't behave well. |
 Iceland |
Jólasveinar (Yulemen or Yule Lads) | In Icelandic stories, there are many Jólasveinar who arrive 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), arrives on the Spring Equinox (March 20th). | |||
 Ireland |
Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Daidí na Nollag for Irish speakers | |||
 Italy |
Babbo Natale (Father Christmas); in Trieste, St Nicholas on December 6th. | Gesù Bambino (Baby Jesus) | La Befana on January 6th. In some regions, St Lucy arrives on December 13th. | |
 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 January 2nd, the Seven Lucky Gods bring symbolic 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 on January 6th | |
 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), on January 5th | ||
 Poland |
Gwiazdor (Star Man or Little Star), Santa Claus, Święty Mikołaj (St Nicolas) on December 6th | Dzieciątko (Christ Child) in Upper Silesia | Aniołek (Angel) on December 24th 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) was used during the 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, the gift-bringers were St Nicholas, Baboushka, and Kolyáda. | |
 Scotland |
Santa Claus; Bodach na Nollaig (in Scottish Gaelic, meaning 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) on December 6th | 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 on January 6th; Tió de Nadal in Catalonia; Anjanas in Cantabria; Anguleru in Asturias; Mari Domingi, a newer female friend 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) was common until the 1800s. | ||
 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 25th. Since 2017, this date has been an official state holiday. Before that, many celebrated Christmas on January 7th by the Julian calendar. | ||
 Uruguay |
Papá Noel (Father Christmas) | El Niño Dios (Child God) | Los Reyes Magos on January 6th | |
 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.