Will The Real Santa Claus Please Stand Up?

By John Kuykendall

Who is Santa Claus, that is a question that has probably been asked for ages. Some believe the man is a legend, others believe he is a myth and just don’t care. However, Santa does have many personalities and many names throughout the world. Ever wonder how he makes it around the world in one night. Well this column may shed some light on that and the different Santa legends.
Here in America Santa dresses in a red suit, flies on a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and is a jolly old soul and deliveries his gifts to children on Christmas Eve each year, unlike a counterpart we will talk about later.
Of course, we all know that our Santa actually originated from a historical figure, Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was a bishop who was known for his generosity and kindness. Through his life of be compassionate and so giving, our Santa Claus was born.
If you have seen any of the Cran juice commercials lately, you have seen Krampus. He is the complete opposite of our Santa and, not really a Santa figure as such. Krampus is a Alpine region legend. He has horns and is believed to punish naughty children. A far cry from America’s version. Children would not want to get on his naughty list, rather than a piece of coal on Christmas, he will severly punish them. He travels on the even of St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 5, with a sack on his back to take away those naughty brats for drowning, eating or transporting them to hell.
The Santa figure of the Netherlands has an interesting way to travel. In the Netherlands, Sinterkiaas is also a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas. He arrives each year on Dec. 5 by way of steamboat from Spain. Like America’s Santa, he has a long white beard, wears a red robe and, after getting off the boat, rides his white horse name Amerigo. The kids don’t leave out cookies and milk for Sinterkiaas, instead they fill their shoes with hay for Amerigo and in return they are given gifts and treats.
In Japan, children do not receive gifts until New Year’s Eve and they are delivered by Hoteiosho. He is pretty much like America’s Santa. He is believed to be a jolly old man that carries a large sack of gifts.
Papai Noel (Father Noel) is Brazil’s version of Santa but he doesn’t live at the North Pole. Papai Noel resides in a remote village and makes his deliveries on Christmas Eve. Rather than Christmas cookies, children leave his plates of food.
Santa delivers his gifts in Norway on Christmas Eve and he is known as Julenissen. He is a gnome and finds porridge or rice pudding left for him to enjoy.
If you lived in Italy one might wonder if Santa or a witch is bring gifts. In that country she, yes she, is know as La Befana and on Jan. 6 he rides his broom and delivers gifts, known as the Feast of Epiphany. Like Santa she fills children’s stockings with sweets for good children and provides coal for naughty children.
Santa makes his way to France on Christmas Eve and he is known to the people of France as Pére Noël, again Father Christmas and leaves treats for children in their shoes. He is most often accompanied by Pére Fouettard, who reminds children to behave.
The Russian Santa delivers his goodies and gifts on New Year’s Eve and is known as Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost). He has a long beard and wears either a red or blue coat. He travels around with his granddaughter, Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden.
So, now you know how Santa makes it around the world, even though it is believe he does it in one night, that is a myth. However, no matter what country children reside in or when Santa delivers them goodies or gifts, every child gets excited about his visit.
Be sure to catch next week’s column that will provide more Christmas thoughts.