| AGHIOS VASSILIS |
Greece
He is none other than St. Basil. His
feast day, December 31st, is the nation’s primary Christmas
celebration. It is observed by the blessing and sprinkling of
water |
| BABUSHKA |
Russia |
| |
She looks like a witch carrying an old broom,
but looks aren’t everything. Too busy to accompany the
Magi to Bethlehem, she forever searches for the Christ Child,
leaving gifts for sleeping children behind. |
| |
Also: BUFANA (Italy); BAFAN/BEFANA (Italy,
Palestine); EPIPHANA (Italy) |
| CHRIST CHILD |
The Baby Jesus can sometimes deliver His own
gifts to the children. This was the favorite gift-giver of Martin
Luther. |
| |
Also: CHRISTKIND (Austria, Belgium); CHRISTKINDLE
(Germany) EL NINO JESUS (Columbia, Costa Rica); LE PETIT JESUS
(France); MENINO JESUS DE NATAL (Portugal); BABBO NATAL (Italy);
JEZISEK (Czech Republic): JOULUVANA (Estonia); JEZUSSEK (Slovenia) |
| FATHER CHRISTMAS |
England, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland
A
merry old soul, he wears a crown of Christmas greens and carries
bowl of wassail. In Switzerland, his wife,
Lucy, accompanies him. |
| |
Also: DAD NOEL; BONHOMME NOEL (France); PAPIA
NOEL (Brazil, Peru, Spain); PA NORSK (Norway); PERE NOEL (Belgium,
France); PIA NATAL (Portugal); KALEDU SENIS (Lithuania) |
| GWAIZOR |
Poland, Sweden |
| |
The “Star Man” is a religious figure,
sometimes the parish priest in disguise, who is accompanied by
his many helpers - “Star Boys”. |
| HOTEIOSHO |
Japan |
| |
This gift-giver is a Buddhist/Christian hybrid.
He look like a cross between a summo wrestler and Santa Claus,
but has one distinct advantage - Hoteiosho has eyes is the back
of his head. He carries a hotel laundry bag, from which he gets
his name. |
| JULETOMTE |
Sweden |
| |
This is the mischievous Christmas gnome. He
lives in barns and attics and is invisible to all but the family
cat. (When you see your cat running pointlessly in circles, it
means “Fluffy” has seen the Tomte.) The gnome can
be distracted from his propensity for practical jokes by his
favorite food - rice pudding. The rice pudding, when left out
for the Tomte, will always disappear mysteriously, especially
if you have a cat. The Tomte’s animal companion is a straw
goat. Nice, but sometimes just too playful. His jokes can get
on one’s nerves after awhile. |
| |
Also: JULENISSEN (Norway, Denmark, Scandinavia);
JULGUBBEN (Finland, Swedish- speaking) |
| KOLADA |
Russia |
| |
(Grandfather Frost) This secularized St. Nicholas
dresses in blue and white and is accompanied by his granddaughter
Sneguochka or “Snow Maiden”.
Also: DED MOROZBOZIC BATA (Serbio-Croatia); DEDA MRAZ (Yugoslavia); DEDEK MRAZ
(Slovenia); DAIDO COLEDA (Bulgaria) |
| OLENTZERO |
Spain |
| |
As an infant, Olentzero was found in the forest
by the fairies. A good fairy gave him to a kind but childless
couple to be raised. As an adult, Olentzero crafted wooden toys
and secretly deliver them to orphaned children. He made this
his mission forever. |
| PERE FOUETTARD |
France
‘ The Bogeyman’
He is a murderous butcher and downright evil. His life-long penance is to follow
St. Nicholas as his servant. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Also: HOUSECKLER (Luxembourg) |
| pusa European |
He is a modification of Hoteiosho, the Buddhist
priest who serves as Santa Claus in Japan. |
| SAINT LUCY |
Sweden, Sicily |
| |
Lucy, whose name is similar to the Latin word
for “light”, was an early Christian martyr in Sicily.
She is called “Queen of Light”. She is greatly honored
in Sweden on her feast day, December 13. The oldest girl in the
family dresses as the “Lucy Bride” in a white robe
and a candle crown as she and her younger siblings
serve their parents breakfast in bed. Her feast day is also called “Little
Yule”. The Pulitzer Prize winners are announced on this
day. |
| SAINT NICHOLAS |
Belgium, Germany
Fourth century bishop of Myra
in Asia Minor, he became renown for his charity and kindness.
He is patron of children. His relics
were stolen from Myra and are now in Barre, Italy. |
| |
Also: SVATY MIKULAS (Slovakia); SWIETY MIKOLA
(Poland); NIKLO (Austria); SAMICHLAU; MIKULAS (Hungary); HAGAS
NICHOLAS (Greece); MIKLAZ (Slovenia); RUKLAUS (Germany); SINTERKLAAS
(Germany, Holland, Netherlands); JULMAN/JULMANDEN (Denmark) |
| SANTA CLAUS |
United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Scotland
This one needs no introduction.
Also: SANTA KUROSHU (Japan); SANTA NO OJISAN (Japan); SANTY (Ireland); SUNNERCLA
(Germany); SHANKHTA BABAH (Azerbaijan); KARASCONY APO (Hungary); KANAKOLA (Hawaii);
SHENGDAN LAOREN (China); KRISS KINGLE (Germany); JOULUPUKKI (Finland); KERSTMAN
(Belgium, Netherlands); BULLERKLASSS (Germany and Sweden); BERKLAS (Germany)
SING DANLO IAN (Hong Kong); JOLA SVEINN (Iceland); GAGHANT BABA (Armenia) |
| SION CORN |
Wales
“ Chimney John” - his name says it all. |
