Santa Around the World
Americans know our Santa Claus traditions like the backs of our hands.
Wish lists.
Naughty-or-nice lists (with coal for the naughty!).
Presents under the tree, and milk-and-cookies for left out to fuel Santa's remaining journey.
Let's not forget about the elves who, despite what must be incredibly small hands, adroitly construct each of Santa's wonderful toys!
Oh, and the part when the children are 9 or 10 and begin to realize….well, actually, let's save that for another article!
But what about how Santa and Christmas are celebrated around the rest of the world?
From the scary to the adorable, keep reading for 7 examples of Santa around the world!
ADVERTISEMENT
1. Iceland – The Yule Lads
While Americans are familiar with our concept of the 12 days of Christmas, Iceland – along with many other countries throughout the world – use 13 days as the measure to celebrate and give gifts over the holiday season.
The Yule Lads, or Yulemen, are a series of Icelandic gift-givers that are somewhat reminiscent of Snow White's 7 dwarfs, except in this case there are obviously 13 of them!
Perhaps due to Icelandic's dim winters, the Yule Lads are often left to mischief, including leaving rotten potatoes in the shoes of naughty children or spying in their rooms, looking for things to steal while the kids are sleeping!
For those who have been good, however, the Yule Lads will leave small gifts in the shoes of children during the 13 days leading up to Christmas!
ADVERTISEMENT
2. Italy – La Befana
Given how children are predisposed to be scared of monsters under the bed, it's quite interesting that the Italians use the image of La Befana – an old, objectively horrifying-looking witch – to celebrate Christmas.
While she may look unpleasant on the outside, La Befana and her origin story are, in fact, quite charming and heart-warming.
The story goes that, while en route to visit the newborn Christ, the 3 wise men stopped by La Befana's home for shelter. Thanking her for kindness, the wise men invited La Befana to join them on their journey. She declined, but later regretted it and rushed to join the wise men.
She never did catch up with them, and makes up for this and other regrets in her past life by flying across Italy to leave gifts and candy for the nice children – while still leaving coal for those who are naughty!
ADVERTISEMENT
3. Brazil – Papai Noel
If you've ever wondered how those who live in the southern hemisphere – where Christmas occurs in the dead of summer – celebrate Christmas, look no further than Brazil and Papai Noel.
Here, the incarnation of Santa Claus originates in Greenland and arrives in Brazil wearing robes of silk – not because he's particularly fashion-forward (although he may just be, I mean no disrespect, Papai Noel!), but to beat the Brazilian heat!
Aside from his fashion sense, Papai Noel is not so different from the American Santa Claus.
Papai Noel comes to Brazilian homes each Christmas and leaves small gifts in shoes left out by children, although rumor is that he occasionally feels creative and hides gifts elsewhere in the home!
ADVERTISEMENT
4. United Kingdom – Father Christmas
Given how linked the United States and United Kingdom are culturally, it will probably be very surprising to learn just how different Father Christmas, the United Kingdom's version of Santa Claus, really is from our own jolly good fellow.
For starters, Father Christmas just looks different. He always carries a