Good and not so good, a decrepit old man or a young guy, in a warm coat or barefoot - there are as many names as there are images of the most important magician who comes to children on New Year holidays. If you are interested in knowing the name of Santa Claus, familiar to us since childhood, in different parts of the world, read our article.
The reading time is 4 minutes.
Russian Santa Claus
Of course, there is no need to guess here. The Russian winter wizard is called Ded Moroz, or officially Moroz Ivanovich. In Russian fairy tales, this is how forest animals and people address him.
In Russia, Ded Moroz comes on New Year's Eve and leaves presents under the Christmas tree. How does he get into the house? Usually through the window while everyone is asleep. And in the morning you can find his snowy footprints all over the house.
Not so long ago, in 1998, Russian Santa Claus got his real home in Veliky Ustyug. It is believed to be the official residence of the good wizard, and children all over the country dream of going to visit him and meet him in person.
Where did this particular name come from? After all, it is known that before the revolution, gifts to children were brought by St. Nicholas. The whole point is that the Soviet authorities completely rejected all religious symbols and replaced the Christian saint with a fairy-tale character.
United States, Canada and English-speaking countries
Here the children are visited by an equally kind grandfather who brings presents. But his name is Santa Claus, which is his name. St. Nicholas. Unlike Santa Claus, Santa Claus brings presents, appropriately enough, at Christmas.
In general, the American wizard is similar to the Russian wizard, except that he climbs into the house through a chimney and likes treats. For this purpose, the children thoughtfully leave him milk and cookies before going to bed.
Another difference between the American Santa Claus and the Russian one is that the former rides a sleigh pulled by reindeer. And the Russian, of course, on a Russian "troika". After all, Ded Moroz's three horses also symbolize the three winter months.
By the way, Santa Claus lives, as he should, at the North Pole, in the state of Alaska.
Scandinavian countries - Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland
In these countries, the name Christmas charmer derives from pagan deities rather than Christian saints.
Okay, Joulupukki in Finland even before the 20th century did not look like a good-natured old man. This character came from a Celtic pagan festival, which we wrote about in the article about winter solstice. Literally, his name means "Christmas goat." And not so long ago, this creature was used to scare naughty children, whom, according to Celtic legends, he drags into his cave and eats.
But in time, the traditions of Western Europe came to the harsh northern countries and the good grandfather wizard drove the evil spirit into his domain. True, he appropriated his name. Thus, the Finnish Santa Claus began to bear the name of Joulupukki.
Swedish Jultomten was a gnome and also came into modern culture from mythology. Over time, the gnome acquired the features of our familiar Santa Claus and his recognizable outfit - a cap and a red jacket.
It's interesting that in Denmark there are two Christmas wizards at once, an older and a younger one. They're called Julenisse and Julemanden. Both of them bring presents to the children. True, not under the tree, and hide them in the house. Therefore, the search for presents at Christmas becomes a fascinating quest for children.
But perhaps the most interesting characters live in the Iceland - are thirteen fairy-tale gnomes. They're called jolasweinars, they come to the children one by one thirteen days before Christmas and leave small gifts.
Now let's go back to western Europe.
Germany, Italy, France
Despite the fact that Santa Claus is the most anything but religious character, there is no uniformity about it in Christian Europe either.
В Germanyfor example, there are two fairy tale characters. One brings presents to children on St. Nicholas Day in early December, and his name is Santa Nicolaus. And the second comes on New Year's Eve and is more similar to Russian Santa Claus and American Santa Claus - his name is Weihnachtsman. In general, German kids are lucky - they get twice as many presents in December.
And in French-speaking countries and the very France There's only one Santa Claus, and his name is Père-Noël. Since the French wizard is traveling on a donkey, the children leave for last treats in old socks.
Italian Santa Claus' name Babbo Natalehe acts together with his assistant Befana. We have already mentioned her in the article about Christmas symbols.
Interestingly, the Italian wizard is very similar to Santa Claus, flying on a sleigh pulled by reindeer and living in Lapland. It seems that Italians once loved the image of the American goody-goody and were happy to copy it.
Unusual Santa Clauses in other countries
In contrast to the Western tradition, the image of the child wizard is very different in Eastern Europe. For example. Greece The prototype of the national Santa Claus was not St. Nicholas, but St. Basil. This elder also helped the needy and became famous for his good deeds. He brings presents to children, just like Russian Santa Claus, on New Year's Day.
Although in the Bulgaria Santa Claus' name Diado KoledaIn appearance, he looks more like the American Santa Claus. He brings presents to children on New Year's Eve, as St. Basil's Day is celebrated on January 1, just like in Greece. Belarusian Santa's brother, the god of winter. ZyuzyaHe is different from the former in his rugged nature. He is not afraid of the cold and walks through the forest barefoot. And in general, Zyuzya is more hardened than the rest of his fellow wizards.
Of course, in one article it is impossible to tell about all the fairy tale wizards that children believe in at Christmas. Nevertheless, we have tried to tell you about the most interesting ones.
And if you want to learn more about the symbols of the New Year, we suggest you check out in this article.
