Traditions and the exact date of his visit may vary, but there are some commonalities to the story of Santa Claus no matter what name is used. ... Dog in Santa Claus Boot with Hat Hanging Ornament with Custom Name. Thomas Nast was born in Landau in der Pfalz (between Karlsruhe and Kaiserslautern) on Sept. 27, 1840. In some areas of Sweden, Poznań (which means star man) is the one who brings gifts to children. This tradition led to Santa Claus being named Julenissen in Norway. ​The decorated Tannenbaum is the center of the Bescherung, the exchanging of gifts, which takes place on Christmas Eve, either before or after dinner. In various areas of the Odenwald, Pelznickel also goes by the names of Benznickel, Strohnickel, and Storrnickel. The Russian equivalent of Santa Claus is Ded Moroz, which translates to English as grandfather frost. Joulupukki, Finland. Across the German-speaking region of Europe there are many kinds of Santa Clauses with many different names. This name translates into old Christmas man. Later this Christkindl figure would evolve into der Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) in Protestant regions and even across the Atlantic to mutate into the English term “Kris Kringle.”. Der Weihnachtsmann is the name for Santa Claus or Father Christmas in most of Germany. However, many countries have their own, or several, Santa-like figures, some of them are saintly, but others have a darker streak. The spirit of Santa Claus may be close to universal, though the details vary a bit in some places, and the name isn’t the same everywhere. They also both have help fr… The term used to be confined mostly to the northern and mostly Protestant areas of Germany, but has spread across the land in recent years. Variant of Nicholas, representing a short form of Niclaus or Niklaus. The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated i First there are the dozens of names used for the German Father Christmas or Santa Claus. Nowadays, St. Nicholas Day (der Nikolaustag) on Dec. 6 is a preliminary round for Christmas. The Weihnachtsmann is a recent Christmas tradition which has little if any religious or folkloric background. If children are present (and they have behaved well the last year), "Julenissen" (Santa Claus) pays a visit, … These names can even vary within a region from locality to locality. While Turkey is a Muslim country where Christmas is not celebrated, there is still a Santa Claus equivalent there. 2) Italian. Santa Claus is a natural phonetic alteration from the German Sankt Niklaus brought to New Amsterdam by the Dutch. Ded Moroz carries a staff and is accompanied by horses instead of reindeer. He travels via a canoe with outriggers rather than in a sleigh. The real-life Saint Basil was known for helping the poor, so families also make charitable donations in his memory. 99. Across South America there is a secular Santa Claus, Papá Noel, and a religious alternative, Niño Dios (God Child). He doesn’t have flying reindeer, but instead travels primarily by foot. ), no reindeer (the German Santa rides a white horse), and no waiting for Christmas morning! In France, Santa Claus is called Père Noël, He is typically depicted in a white fur cloak with an attached hood, which he typically wears pulled up over his head. ), Belznickel, Boozenickel, Bornkindl, Bullerklaas/Bullerklas, Burklaas, Butz, Butzemärtel, Düsseli, Düvel, Hans Muff, Hans Trapp, Heiliger Mann, Kinnjes, Klaasbur, Klapperbock, Klas Bur, Klaubauf, Klaus, Klawes, Klos, Krampus, Leutfresser, Niglo, Nikolo, Pelzebock, Pelzebub, Pelzemärtel, Pelznickel, Pelzpercht, Pelzprecht, Pulterklas, Rauklaas, Rugklaas, Ruhklas, Rumpelklas, Rupsack, Samichlaus, Satniklos, Schimmelreiter, Schmutzli, Schnabuck, Semper, Storrnickel, Strohnickel, Sunner Klaus, Swatter Pitt, Zink Muff, Zinterklos, Zwarte Pitt, Zwarter PietFemale: Berchte/Berchtel, Budelfrau, Buzebergt, Lutzl, Percht, Pudelfrau, Rauweib, Zamperin. Dezember/Feast Day of St. Nicholas, Heiliger Abend/24. Some of these characters are good, while others are bad going so far as to frighten little children and even whip them with switches (rare in modern times). It’s tradition for UK families to leave Father Christmas a mince pie to snack on along with some whiskey to drink. Referred to as the Christmas boys or Yule lads, these gents share the responsibility of visiting homes throughout Iceland over the 13 days that precede Christmas, leaving behind secret gifts for well-behaved children in each home.The Jólasveinar are trolls, so they also engage in mischief. Based on Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas is the name for Santa Claus used throughout the Netherlands. $9.99 $ 9. Two of Santa’s names – Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus – both came from the Dutch legend of Sinterklass brought long ago by settlers who arrived in New York. In Finland, Santa Claus goes by the name Joulupukki, which translates to Christmas goat, Christmas buck or billy goat. By the time he was 19, he was working at Harper's Weekly and later traveled to Europe on assignment for other publications (and paid a visit to his hometown in Germany). In order to answer the question "Who is the German Santa Claus?" There are a number of names for Santa Claus and many are from the root name St Nicholas. der Weihnachtsmann noun. Sinter Klaas Comes to New York. Besides the Catholic and Protestant aspects, Germany is a country of many regions and regional dialects thus making the question of who Santa Claus is even more complicated. The term used to be confined mostly to the northern and mostly Protestant areas of Germany, but has spread across the country in recent years. While today Santa comes riding on a sleigh with seven reindeer, the original version has him arriving with gifts riding with a white horse and followed by "Black Peter" or Zwarte Piet, an impish "helper" who would punish children who were undeserving of gifts. Italy is famous for their big Christmas spread for the whole family to enjoy. In Norway, Santa Claus is called Julenissen. He doesn’t fill stockings, but rather places goodies in children’s slippers or shoes, which they leave out for him before going to bed on Christmas Eve. ThoughtCo. How to say Santa Claus in German. Per Italian Christmas tradition, Babbo Natale visits homes on Christmas Eve to leave presents, but he is not the only giver of secret gifts associated with the Christmas season in that country. All Rights Reserved, 20 Other Names for Santa Claus Around the World. The first image depicting a bearded Weihnachtsmann in a hooded fur mantle was a woodcut (Holzschnitt) by the Austrian painter Moritz von Schwind (1804-1871). A male given name derived from Nikolaus. Instead, Joulupukki knocks on the front door or rings the doorbell to signal his arrival. Both in the US and Canada, Santa goes occasionally by the name of Kris Kringle, which derives from the German word Christkind (Christ child). The name is associated in America with Santa Claus. It even creates a special Nikolausdorf postmark each year with an appropriate image, with the 2015 version noting it is the 50 th anniversary. He makes his gift-giving rounds on New Year’s Eve via a troika instead of a sleigh. Rather than being helped by elves, his assistants are referred to as schmutzli. Similarly to Christkind in Germany, Niño Jesús … Santa also has some other names too. He travels by a reindeer-pulled sleigh, but his reindeer don’t fly. The Dutch may have given him his English name, but Santa Claus owes most of his current image to an award-winning German-American cartoonist. Other German names for Santa Claus include Nickel, Klaus, and Niglo. "The Many German Saint Nicks." Even children point to the sky if you ask where Santa Claus on his sleigh comes from. you need to look at different dates and the various regions of German-speaking Europe. Every Christmas there are questions about “Belsnickle,” “Pelznickel,” “Tannenbaum,” or some other German-American Christmas custom. Jim Shore Heartwood Creek German Santa Stone Resin Hanging Ornament, 4.75” ... OnHoliday German Stein Santa Claus Yule Father Christmas Saint Nicholas Tree Ornament. Very little solid historical evidence exists for the man who later became the Bishop of Myra and the patron saint of children, sailors, students, teachers, and merchants. (2020, August 27). Although Krampus carries eine Rute (a switch), he only teases the children with it, while St. Nicholas hands out small gifts to the children. Saint Nicholas visits German children on December 6 … Dec 5, 2012 - Explore Dena McClure's board "GERMAN SANTAS", followed by 193 people on Pinterest. In Austria, parts of Germany, and Switzerland, der heilige Nikolaus (or Pelznickel) brings his gifts for children on Nikolaustag, Dec. 6, not Dec. 25. Also called rauer Percht and many other names, Knecht Ruprecht was once the evil Nikolaus-Begleiter (St. Nick's escort), who punished bad children, but now he is often a more kind fellow gift-giver. Claus. Christmas Eve is now the most important day of the German celebration, but there's no Santa Claus coming down the chimney (and no chimney! Many translated example sentences containing "Santa Claus" – German-English dictionary and search engine for German translations. They awaken the next day (Dec. 6) to discover small gifts and goodies stuffed into their shoes left by St. Nicholas. The pair visit children on the night of the 5th December and Saint Nicholas rewards the well-behaved children with modest gifts such as oranges, dried fruit, walnuts and chocolate whilst the badly behaved ones only receive punishment with birch rods. (In Austria and Bavaria he is known as Krampus.) Dezember/Christmas Eve. Families often serenade him with Christmas carols. Ever wondered what people call Santa Claus in different languages? Saying the name Santa Claus conjures an image of a jolly, generous man who delivers gifts to good girls and boys. Children place their shoes in front of the fireplace, as Sinterklaas is prone to leaving small gifts or candy treats inside of shoes. See more ideas about vintage santas, vintage christmas, christmas art. As early as 1835, Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the words to “Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann,” still a popular German Christmas carol. Instead of being a … There are a number of other names for Santa Claus, including many Santa Claus names in different languages. Flippo, Hyde. To name just a few: John Jacob Astor (1763-1848, millionaire), Claus Spreckels (1818-1908, sugar baron), Dwight D. Eisenhower (Eisenhauer, 1890-1969), Babe Ruth (1895-1948, baseball hero), Admiral Chester Nimitz (1885-1966, WWII Pacific fleet commander), Oscar … 99. They also believe that Drøbak is where he currently resides. The name Father Christmas is commonly used in England and the rest of the United Kingdom (UK). Finland originally took the opposite approach to Christmas. Danish [] Alternative forms []. Flippo, Hyde. After all Antalya, Turkey is where the real Saint Nicholas was born and lived his life. In old Dutch, the origin of "Sinterclaas" is to be found in the starry sky, where in North European star lore he played a major role long before Christianity. Today both can be seen at parties and festivities around Dec. 6. Santa Claus. These gifts are left beneath the family’s Christmas tree or in shoes that children leave out for him to find. These are just 20 of the many names for Santa Claus and the spirit of giving he embodies. Sinterklaas is based on the historical figure of Saint Nicholas (270–343), a Greek bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey. Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Alpine folklore who during the Christmas season scares children who have misbehaved, assisting Saint Nicholas. Claus as a boys' name is of German and Greek origin, and the meaning of Claus is "people of victory". Krampus's name is derived from the German word krampen, meaning claw, ... see From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus.) The majority of gift giving, however, is reserved for Christmas day. He carries a sack full of apples and nuts that he gives to the children. A short history of Santa’s name in America. Then there are much more local or regional names. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-many-german-st-nicks-4071165 (accessed February 5, 2021). Despite their many names, they are all basically the same mythic character but few of them have anything to do with the real Saint Nicholas (Sankt Nikolaus or der heilige Nikolaus), who was probably born around A.D. 245 in the port city of Patara in what we now call Turkey. Male: Ale Josef, Ascheklas, Aschenmann, Bartel/Bartl, Beelzebub, Belsnickel, Belsnickle (Amer. Children hang stockings made of muslin for Dun Che Lao Ren to fill with presents. In Germany, there are several names for Santa Claus. Italian children call Santa Claus ‘Babbo Natale’. When he was six years old, he arrived in New York City with his mother. 3. He travels by reindeer-pulled sleigh and visits homes to secretly leave presents for children. Japanese folklore says Hoteiosho and Santa Kurohsu have eyes in the back of their heads so they can see clearly how children are behaving. Other than presents left by Papá Noel, though, other gift-giving waits until the Epiphany, which is January 6. They are mischievous, yet benevolent and are said to bring luck and prosperity as long as the families they visit keep them happy. The modern "American" Santa Claus is most closely associated with a Germanic version of Saint Nicholas. In some places today children still leave their shoes by the window or the door on the night of Dec. 5. Kris Kringle is the US synonym for "Christkind". Wotan aka Percht ruled over battles, fate, fertility, and the winds. The name Christkind may also ring a distant bell to you. La Befana, a good witch who flies on a broomstick and is a part of the Italian folklore. So in Germany, there are both Catholic (katholisch) and Protestant (evangelisch) Christmas customs. His drawings show influences of the bearded, fur-cloaked, pipe-smoking Pelznickel of Nast's Palatinate homeland. The Nordic god Odin (Germanic Wotan) was also known as “Hruod Percht” (“Ruhmreicher Percht”) from which Ruprecht got his name. Father Christmas visits on Christmas Eve, bringing presents and filling stockings. He is depicted as an elderly, stately and serious man with white hair and a long, full beard. Pelznickel is the fur-clad Santa of the Palatinate (Pfalz) in northwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald region of Baden-Württemberg. Rather than coming from Lycia like the original St. Nicholas, they believe Santa was born under a rock in an area north of the town of Drøbak. The German Weihnachtsmann is a fairly recent Christmas tradition having little if any religious or folkloric background. They are said to bring special gifts to children throughout Norway at Christmastime. Rather than visiting homes in December, Agios Vasilios visits homes on New Year’s Day, which is known as the Feast of Saint Basil. In Austria, Saint Nikolaus visits homes to bring gifts on December 5, which is the night before Nikolaustag, (Saint Nikolaus' Day). Less well known is Nast's contribution to the image of Santa Claus. Agios Vasilios, also known as Saint Basil, visits homes in Greece to welcome in each new year. Four main names (Weihnachtsmann, Nickel, Klaus, Niglo) are spread out from the north to the south, from west to east. Based on Saint Nicholas, Święty Mikołaj is the primary Polish equivalent of Santa Claus. Many aspects of the American Christmas celebration were imported from Europe and Germany in particular. A 1932 survey found that German children were split about evenly along regional lines between believing in either the Weihnachtsmann or the Christkind but today a similar survey would show the Weihnachtsmann winning out in almost all of Germany. On the Eve of the Epiphany, 5th January, she delivers coal to naughty children and gifts to good children. Aber auch Skifahren und Schlitteln kommen nicht zu kurz. Who is Saint Nicholas indeed? Among them are Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, St. Nick, Pelznickel. The other is Santa Kurohsu. ; Related terms []. He wears a red suit, though it's scaled back to account for the Turkish climate. While he is sometimes depicted in traditional Santa red, he is often outfitted in a Hawaiian shirt paired with shorts. ADVERTISEMENT Also Santa in Spain means Saint. In Japan, Hoteiosho is one of the names given to their equivalent of Santa Claus. Children awaken on Christmas Day to those presents after enjoying a large Christmas meal with family members the evening before. Although Austria is mostly Catholic, Germany is almost evenly divided between Protestants and Catholics (along with some minority religions). In Switzerland, Santa Claus goes by the name Samichlaus. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-many-german-st-nicks-4071165. Over the years, the Weihnachtsmann became a rough mixture of St. Nicholas and Knecht Ruprecht. Children in Brazil hang socks near a window for Papai Noel to fill when he visits after they go to sleep on Christmas Eve. Collage of santa claus name santa claus as the longest reigning wwe champion of clothing and concept Stores start observing the nephilim: how are not stop a few years. Around Christmastime in Berlin, Hamburg, or Frankfurt, you'll see Weihnachtsmänner on the street or at parties in their red and white costumes looking a lot like an American Santa Claus. The Many German Saint Nicks. Open menu. As early as 1555, St. Nicholas brought gifts on Dec. 6, the only “Christmas” gift-giving time during the Middle Ages, and Knecht Ruprecht or Krampus was a more ominous figure. Hyde Flippo taught the German language for 28 years at high school and college levels and published several books on the German language and culture. Knecht Ruprecht is a term widely used in many parts of Germany. 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