Newsletter 12/13/04

Santa Claus Around the World

I apologize, when I said the next newsletter would be Finnish Mythology, I totally forgot it would be my December issue. I swear I forgot my own birthday once. Anyway, Santa Claus is, of course, one of the most enduring Christmas myths, so it seems only right to cover that. So, welcome to the whirlwind tour of Santa Claus as he exists around the world.

Much of the information for this article came from
http://www.christmas.com/pe/1378.

Santa has a variety of names depending on where you are asking. In parts of Europe (Germany, Austria and Belgium) he is known as Christkindl, and may be followed by a companion who deals with the naughty children named Black Pete. Father Christmas and variations are common for the jolly old elf. They can be seen in France (Pere Noel), Brazil (Papa Noel), England (Father Christmas) and Finland (Old Man Christmas). In some places, like Spain, Mexico and Poland, Santa seems to have multiplied, and is represented by the Three Kings or Wise Men. Other nations have more national names for him, such as Julinesse in Denmark, Befana in Italy, Basbouscha in Russia, and Santa Kuroshu in Japan. It should be noted, that Christkindl, Befana and Basbouscha are women, so 'he' is not appropriate in all cultures.

He also has different means of transportation in different nations. In a popular Australian Christmas song, Santa is guided on his journey by six snow white kangaroos (Six White Boomers). In Hawaii, he travels by boat, In Sweden, Santa apparently has a time share on Thor's Goats, in Hungary, presents come from the angels themselves and in Poland, and they come from the stars. (Is Santa an alien? Enquiring minds want to know.) In China, Santa is Dun Che Lao Ren, which means Christmas old man.

Santa got married in 1899, thanks to a book by the composer of America the Beautiful , Katharine Lee Bates.

The original Saint Nicholas (the progenitor of at least the western Santas), was the national Saint of Russia and Greece, and patron saint of a large number of things, including Pawnbrokers, judges, merchants and murderers. He was a friend to all who were in trouble.

Saint Nicholas' most famous story is perhaps the origin of most of our Christmas traditions. He was the Bishop of Myra, and he heard of three daughters who lacked a proper dowry to be wed. He was a shy man, and not given to public displays of generosity. It is said that he gave the women each a bag of gold by climbing up on the roof, and dropping the bags down the chimney, into hanging stockings. The story spread, eventually to Lapland, where they drive reindeer sleds.

This only barely touches the surface of the rich tapestry that is Santa Claus, in all his or her incarnations. I hope you will be inspired to seek out more of the legends.