How do they call Santa Claus in different countries of the world?

New Year in our country began to celebrate not so long ago, less than 100 years ago. Before this was Christmas: with hymns, carols and angels on Christmas trees. But something remained unchanged. And on New Year's Eve, and Christmas the same mysterious guest came to the children - Father Frost. No one ever sees it, but in the morning, under the Christmas tree, wonderful gifts are waiting for them. The same is done by the colleagues of Santa Claus in different countries.

Where did Santa Claus come from?

Strangely enough, this character has nothing to do with the religious, Christian motifs of the holiday. It is the embodiment of winter cold, the pagan deity of cold and frost. A small gray-haired old man in a sheepskin who is knocking his staff and a wooden crash is carried in the winter air. According to legends, if during the winter solstice it was especially frosty, then the harvest should have been good. Therefore, for Santa Claus put on the window sills bowls with refreshments - ritual kutya and pancakes. These are dishes that served to commemorate the deceased, winter was always associated with the Slavs with the afterlife. This connection with pagan traditions is not uncommon. It's not so important, as Father Frost's name is in different countries. Almost everywhere this character comes from gray paganism.

Then Father Frost gave no gifts to anyone. It was a deity severe and terrible, but just. It was Morozko - he's the same Father Frost - in tales bestowed good characters and punished the evil. First, this motif migrated from folk motifs to literature, writers paid attention to the colorful character. By the 19th century it was already quite recognizable type.

Birth of the character

At the same time, active attempts were made in the country to adopt Western Christmas traditions and create their own analogue of a good winter wizard. Were interested in, as they call Santa Claus in different countries, different options were considered. Proposed St. Nicholas, Grandfather Nicholas and even more familiar to the Slavic ear Morozko. But the most successful in the role of a good winter wizard was just Santa Claus. He fell in love with both children and adults. At the same time, the traditional image was formed: the old man in a bright, fur-trimmed sheepskin coat, hat and boots. In the hands of everyone familiar, Father Frost holds a long magic staff. Later, the wizard had a companion - the granddaughter of the Snow Maiden.

And what about other countries?

Such a character is also present in the mythology of other countries. It is not always an old man, sometimes not even a man at all. Mythical creature, god, good wizard. The appearance of such creatures is very bizarre. It is possible, at the meeting, Santa Claus from different countries could not even get to know each other. And the traditions are very different. Somewhere wizards endowed good children, somewhere else and punished the disobedient. There are countries where two guests come to the kids' holiday - good and evil. The first gives gifts, and the second, if the child behaved badly, frightens him or punishes him. For this, the harsh winter spirit was usually reserved for the most real rods.

Now let's discuss how they call Santa Claus in different countries of the world and how he looks.

Everyone knows Santa Claus

A plump old man with a short, fluffy white beard. Red caftan, red cap with fur trim. Santa Claus - that's what Santa Claus calls in different countries - from Britain to America, from Australia to Canada. He every Christmas arrives in a magic sleigh, reindeer, and brings gifts to children. The prototype of this kind old man was Saint Nicholas. After all, Santa is "holy", and Klaus is one of the forms of the name "Nicholas". When Santa Claus, the world's usual world, did not exist yet, it was he who brought sweets and small gifts to children on December 5 and hid them in a sock left on the mantelpiece or under a pillow. The Dutch, who honored St. Nicholas and loved the holiday, dedicated to him, brought this tradition to America. She took root, soon many children on Christmas night were waiting for the mysterious wizard of Santa Claus, who will certainly bring gifts to all.

Finland

That, as Santa Claus is called in different countries, sometimes for the hearing of Russians sounds quite amusing. For example, in Finland, a magical creature, fulfilling cherished childhood desires, is called Joulupukki. In translation, it means neither more nor less - a "Christmas goat". True, in Finland this phrase has no offensive or ambiguous hue. The fact is that at Christmas they made a straw stuffed goat - just like in Russia they escorted the winter with a stuffed pancake week. And the meaning of this action is one and the same - a pagan ritual that is to ensure a good harvest next year. But in Finland, in the role of the fertility deity, it is precisely a goat-like creature, similar to the ancient Greek fauns and satyrs. It's from there that the tradition of giving Jolupukki such a strange nickname takes place. Sometimes it is even depicted with small horns on the head. So, when talking about the name of Santa Claus in different countries, one can not smile at the thought that sometimes he turns out to be not only a kind wizard, but also a little cloven-hoofed.

Previously, in Finnish villages, the boys dressed in fur-sheathed sheepskin coats and wore a goat mask - the same tradition is also present in the Slavic Christmas traditions. But in Russia, mummers usually just carouse and wish masters health and wealth. In Finland, these guys, disguised in the pagan spirit, still gave gifts to obedient children, and frightened the naughty and promised to spank.

Italy

Talking about how they call Santa Claus in different countries of the world, it is impossible not to mention Italy. There, unlike most traditional Christmas characters, gifts to children are distributed by a woman - the fairy Befana. No, my Santa Claus is there, too. His name is Babbo Natal. And the fairy-like Befana, like a witch, brings sweets to babies not at Christmas itself, but on January 6, this is the day of the celebration of Saint Epiphany. For those who behaved well, she puts chocolates and sweets under the pillow, and stuffed socks with bits of coal. Looks fairy Befan quite funny - like a real witch. Hooked nose, crooked teeth and black clothes. According to legend, Befan's fairy was once an evil witch. But after learning about the birth of Jesus, she decided to give up black magic. She met the Magi and wanted to go with them to Bethlehem. But they did not take poor Befana with them. Instead, she was instructed to wander around the world and give obedient children gifts, punishing rascals. So there are many options for what they call Santa Claus in different countries. And only in Italy it's an evil witch who decided to become kind.

Japan

Each country has its own traditions. At first they may seem strange, unusual and even funny - but in the same way someone will seem ridiculous and Santa Claus with the Snow Maiden. In Japan, for example, there are as many as two characters related to the New Year. Talking about how Santa Claus is called in different countries, it is difficult to immediately figure out what to say about the Land of the Rising Sun. There is both the canonical Segatsu-san, and the new-fashioned Oji-san. This is the result of a mixture of national traditions and the influence of mass culture.

Two spirits of the New Year

Segatsu-san is an ancient symbol of the New Year. He goes home for a week, congratulating on the Japanese holiday and giving them luck and wealth. All seven days are considered festive, at this time traditional New Year treats are served on the table, and children dress in their best clothes. For Segatsu-san, special bamboo collars were decorated with pine branches. Through them he had to enter the house. Perhaps, talking about how Santa Claus is called in different countries, it should be mentioned Segatsu-san. After all, he is the traditional spirit of the Japanese New Year. True, he does not give gifts to anyone.

Ozi-san is an obvious result of Western influence. He is very similar to Santa Claus, and also spoils kids. Ojsi-san has little in common with traditional Japanese culture, but his children love him, because he gives gifts, not just congratulations and good luck.