The Many Names of Santa Claus

According to legend, Saint Nicholas was born in Patara, in about 270 AD, and was a Bishop during one of the most-bloody eras of persecution of the Christians. He was most famous for giving to the needy. He would give food, candies, and occasionally gold coins to them on December 6.


**This list includes all worldwide December/January symbolic gift givers.**


Aghios Vassilis - Greece
Basbouschka (who is actually a female figure) - Russia
Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) – Italy
Belsnickel – Canada, Germany
Black Peter - Morocco, Liberia, Mexico (In Netherlands, and other countries, Black Pete is Santa’s helper)
Bozic Bata – Serbo-Croatian
Christ Child - Guatemala
Christkind (the Christ Child) – Austria, Belgium, Germany
Christkindli - Switzerland
De Kerstman – Belgium, The Netherlands
Ded moroz (Grandfather Frost) – Russia
Deda Mraz - Yugoslavia
Diado Coleda - Bulgaria
Dun Che Lao Ren (Christmas Old Man) - China
El Niño Jesus (the infant Jesus) - Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Portugal
Father Christmas – England, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand
Gaghant Baba - Armenia
Ganesha - India
Gwiazdor - Poland
Hagios Nikolaos – Greece
Hoteiosho – Japan
Ilwyd - Wales
Jizo - Japan
Jolasveinn – Iceland
Julebukk - Norway
Julemand/Julemanden (Christmas Man) - Denmark
Julenisse (Julinisse, Julenissen) – Denmark, Norway
Julgubben - Finland
Jultomten (who is a gnome) - Sweden
Joulupukki - Finland
Jouluvana - Estonia
Kaledu Senelis – Lithuania
Kanakaloka - Hawaii
Karácsony Apó – Hungary
Korvatunturl - Lapland
Kriss Kringle - Germany
La Befana (A female figure, riding a broom) – Italy, Palestine
Niklo - Austria
Noel - Belgium and
Old Man Christmas – Finland, Chile
Pai Natal/Pia Natal - Portugal
Pelznickel - Germany
Pere Noel, le Petit Noel - France, Belgium, Austria
Papai Noel (Papa Noel) - Brazil, Spain, Peru
På Norsk - Norway
Santa/Santa Claus/Santa Clause - USA, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Costa Rica, Denmark, The Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland
Santa Klausam - Latvia
Santa Kurohsu – Japan
Santa no ojisan (Uncle Santa) - Japan
Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick - Victorian Times USA, Belgium and, Germany, Poland, Austria, Russia, Canada, Switzerland, The Netherlands
Santy - Ireland
Sankt Nikolaus/Sankt Niclaus - Germany
Shengdan Laoren - China
Sing dan lo ian – Hong Kong
Sint Klaas – The first pioneers (from The Netherlands) to USA
Sinter Claus – The first pioneers (from Germany) to USA
Sinter Klaas/Sinter Klass - The Netherlands, Belgium
Sion Corn - Wales
Star Man and Wise Men – Poland
Svaty Mikalas – Czechoslovakia
Swiety Mikolaj - Poland
Télapó - Hungary
Three Kings – Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico
Tomten – Sweden
Viejo Pascuero (Old Man Christmas) - Chile
Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man) - Germany
Vovo Indo – Brazil
Ziemmassve'tku veci'tis - Latvia


It is believed that St. Nicholas died around 350 AD, but a form of him lives on in each of us when we keep the giving tradition alive and pass it on from parent to child and beyond.


***Featured in the 7/21/10 For Authors Newsletter***