We call him Santa Claus, St. Nick, or Saint Nicholas, but everyone’s favorite jolly old elf has different names all around the world. Santa is one of his more recent names.
Below is a list from Fact Monster of countries and the name they have for Santa Claus. Each of these figures has its own legend. Combined, they create the modern Christmas icon we all know.
If you want to read a book about the history of Santa Claus, I recommend, The Autobiography of Santa Claus: A Revised Edition of the Christmas Classic by Jeff Guinn. This book has twenty-four chapters, so you can read one each day in December.
| Belgium | Pere Noel |
| Brazil | Papai Noel |
| Chile | Viejo Pascuero (“Old Man Christmas”) |
| China | Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”) |
| Netherlands | Kerstman |
| Finland | Joulupukki |
| France | Pere Noel |
| Germany | Weihnachtsmann (“Christmas Man”) |
| Hawaii | Kanakaloka |
| Hungary | Mikulas (St. Nicholas) |
| Italy | Babbo Natale |
| Japan | Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts) |
| Norway | Julenissen (“Christmas gnome”) |
| Poland | Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) |
| Russia | Ded Moroz (“Grandfather Frost”) |
| Sweden | Jultomten (“Christmas brownie”) |
| United Kingdom | Father Christmas |