Christmas Giftgivers

Christmas/New Year's Giftgivers Around the world:

Austria: Christkind = Christ child

Belgium: Père Noël (French) or Kerstman (Dutch) = Father Christmas on December 25th and Sinterklaas (Dutch) or Saint Nicholas (French) on December 6th

Bulgaria: Дядо Коледа (Dyado Koleda, "Grandfather Christmas"), with the Russian-borrowed version of Дед Мороз (Djed Moroz, "Grandfather Frost") being somewhat more widespread in Socialist times from the end of World War II until 1989 and still in favour nowadays.

Canada: Santa Claus (English)or Le Père Noël = Father Christmas(French)

Croatia: Djed Božićnjak ("Grandfather Christmas"), or Djed Mraz (Grandfather Frost) on December 25th and Sveti Nikola ("Saint Nichlaus")on December the 6th

Czech Republic: Ježíšek (diminutive form of Ježíš ("Jesus")

Denmark: Julemanden, ("The Christmas Man")

Estonia: Jõuluvana ("Old man of Christmas")

Finland: Joulupukki ("Yule Goat")

France: Le Père Noël ("Father Christmas")

Germany: Weihnachtsmann ("Christmas Man") or Christkind ("Christ Child") (in southern Germany) bring the gifts on Christmas Eve; Nikolaus is celebrated on December 6th.

Greece: Άγιος Βασίλης ("Saint Basil")

Hungary: In Hungary the Angels are bringing the Christmas gifts, or the child Jesus ("Jézuska or Kis Jézus "); note that Mikulás ("Nicholas") on December 6th

Iceland: Jólasveinar. In Icelandic folktales, there are 13 Santa Clauses.

Ireland: Daidí na Nollag ("Father Christmas")

Italy: Babbo Natale ("Father Christmas"), sometimes substituted by Gesù bambino ("Baby Jesus"), On the Epiphany, Jan 6th, La Befana, a very old lady who rides a broomstick brings candies and sweeties to children, and she puts them into the socks the children have prepared for her (and traditionally hung near the fireplace). In Trieste, because of Slovenian and Croatian influences, Saint Nicholas is also celebrated on the 6th December.

Latvia: Ziemassvētku vecītis

Liechtenstein: Christkind (Christ Child)

Lithuania: Kalėdų Senelis

Luxembourg: Klaussenhofer

Macedonia: Dedo Mraz (Father Frost)

Netherlands: Kerstman ("Christmas Man"), is recently celebrated by some people on Christmas Day; Sinterklaas is celebrated on December 5th.

Norway: Julenissen, a small, elderly man. a Christmas dwarf

Poland: Święty Mikołaj / Mikołaj ("Saint Nicholas")

Portugal: Pai Natal ("Father Christmas")

Romania: Moş Crăciun ("Old Man Christmas")

Russia: Дед Мороз (Ded Moroz, "Grandfather Frost").

Scotland: Bodach na Nollaig (Old Man of Christmas)

Serbia: Deda Mraz (Деда Мраз - Grandfather Frost) - renamed from Božić Bata (Божић Бата - Christmas Brother) during the communist times after World War II and moved from Christmas to New Year to prevent any religious connections

Slovakia: Ježiško (Refers to newborn(baby) Jesus); note that Mikuláš ("Nicholas" as Santa Claus) has a separate feast day earlier (6th of Dec), puts candy in kids' boots (which are to be polished and put in the window), but Mikuláš is never involved in Christmas

Slovenia: Bozicek

Spain: Papá Noel (Father Noel); the Tió de Nadal in Catalonia; Olentzero in the Basque Country. A more common and traditional Christmas present-giving figure in Spain are "Los Reyes Magos" ("The Three Kings"; "Magi").

Sweden: Jultomten ("The Yule/Christmas Gnome")

Switzerland: Christkind (Christ Child)

Turkey: Noel Baba ("Father Noel") Also, Noel Baba is widely thought to bring new year presents in Turkey due to the country's predominant Muslim population. Christmas is celebrated among the Christian communities.

Turkmenistan: Aýaz baba

United Kingdom: Father Christmas also known as Santa Claus though they were originally two quite different people, and Father Christmas did not originally bring gifts

United States: Santa Claus; Kris Kringle; Saint Nicholas or Saint Nick

Wales: Siôn Corn

Argentina: Papá Noel (Father Christmas), El Niño Dios (God Child)

Brazil: Papai Noel (Father Christmas)

Chile: "Viejito Pascuero" (Old man Christmas)

Colombia: El Niño Dios ("God child"), Papa Noel (Father Christmas)

Costa Rica: San Nicolás or Santa Clos (Santa Claus)

Dominican Republic: Santa Clos (Santa Claus)/Papá Noe (Father Christmas), The Three Kings (Los Tres Reyes Magos) on the Epiphany (January 6th) and not on Christmas.

Ecuador: El Niño Dios ("God child"), Papá Noel (Father Christmas)

Mexico: Santa Claus ("Santa Clos"); El Niño Dios ("God child,"Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings)

Peru: Papá Noel (Father Christmas)

Puerto Rico: Jesús (Christmas, Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings Day), Santa Clos (Santa Claus).

Venezuela: Niño Jesús ("child jesus"); San Nicolás ("Santa").

China: 圣诞老人

Hong Kong: 聖誕老人 ('The Old Man of Christmas')

Indonesia: Santa Claus or Sinterklas

Japan: サンタクロース (Santa Kuroosu, or Santa-san)

Korea: 산타 클로스 (Santa Harabeoji, or "Grandfather Santa")

Philippines: Santa Claus, the Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings)

Taiwan: 聖誕老人 or 聖誕老公公 ('The Old Man of Christmas')

Thailand: ซานตาคลอส (Santa Claus)

Vietnam: Ông Già Nô-en ('The Old Man of Christmas')

India: ಸಾ೦ಟಾ ಕ್ಲಾಸ್

Tatarstan: Qış Babay/Кыш Бабай (Winter Grandfather)

Uzbekistan: Ayoz Bobo (Frost Grandpa), Qor Bobo (Snow Grandfather)

Egypt: Baba Noel (Grandfather Christmas)

Afghanistan: Baba Noel (Grandfather Christmas)

Iran: Baba Noel (Grandfather Christmas)

Israel: סנטה קלאוס (Santa Claus)

South Africa: Sinterklaas; Father Christmas; Santa Claus

Australia: Santa Claus, Father Christmas and Saint Nick.

New Zealand: Santa Claus, Father Christmas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_gift-bringers_around_the_world