One of the most important figures for Christmas season is Santa Claus. He is portrayed as the kid’s friend who comes to houses around the world to give out gifts to all the children who have behaved well throughout the year. Well, how is this character known around the world? There’s
more to it in the following paragraphs.
Some Background:
Santa Claus is a character from legends originating in the Western Christian Culture who is said to bring gifts to well-behaved children and gives out coal for naughty children. He is portrayed as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, who uses spectacles, wears a red coat with a white fur collar and cuffs, white fur-cuffed red trousers, red hat with white fur, and black leather belt and
boots and he also carries a big bag full of gifts for children. Santa Claus is also popular for his famous laugh “Ho Ho Ho.” This image became so famous in the United States and Canada in the 19th century.
How Santa Claus looks alike around the world?
France: Pere Noel, wears a long red cloak and the children leave their shoes by the fireplace hoping that they will be filled with treats after mass on Christmas Eve. Pere Noel travels with a not-so friendly companion called Pere Fouettard known as the “whipping father” who spanks any children who have misbehaved throughout the year.
Russia and Ukraine: Ded Moroz (Father Frost) figure of Slavic mythology, considered as a wizard or demon. Traditionally speaking, he would punish naughty children by kidnapping them. On New Year’s Eve, he travels all over the Slavic region, mainly in Russia and Ukraine carrying gifts for children with his companion Snow Maiden.
Sweden: Tomte is a considered a dwarf-like being with the appearance of a garden gnome, he guards farmhouses from bad luck. On Christmas, an adult family member will dress up as Jultomten complete with the face mask and he asks, “Are there any good children who live here? Before he gives out presents.
Lastly, no matter how Santa Claus looks like, he is always going to bring the Christmas magic to homes all over the world who will wait for their presents anxiously.
*Jonathan Meath, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons
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