History of Santa

Nikolaus was born in the year 270 in Turkey and he was become a very popular bishop. People liked him so much because he gave to poor people gold coins. Many christmas traditions come from there.
There was a story that Nikolaus wanted to help a poor old man and his daughters. One night he threw gold coins through their open window. Coins flew into socks which were hanging at the fireplace and on the morning the old man and his daughters found those coins. That is the reason why some still hang socks at the fireplace at Christmas and also the reason why in some countries people open their presents in the morning.

SANTA CLAUS

Traditions in Europe

Later Christians started to call Nikolaus "Santa Nikolaus". Our Santa was born in Holland and it was also the Dutch who took a Santa tradition to America with them. In Holland they thought that Santa came from Spain with the black Moorslave on the 6th of December. They went around houses and Santa gave presents to good children. But if children were bad Moor took them to Spain.
Also in Germany Santa came already on the 6th of December but children got their presents on the 24th of December and it was a child Jesus who brought presents.

Santa Nikolaus and Moorslave

In Austria there was Santa Nikolas and bad Krampus who went around houses and if child was good Nikolas gave presents and if child was naughty Krampus punish he. But children had a chance to save themselves. They could sing to Nikolas and then get presents.
French have had many christmas characters which can bring presents, it have depended mostly on family's religion. Present came from Santa or Jesus child. As in France also in England children have always got theirs presents in 24th of December, and in England it have always been father Christmas who bring presents.
In Russia they had an old story that angels brought presents in 24th of December but after Lenin died Stalin actually forbidden christmas party and replaced it with New Year party. But people didn't want to celebrate Stalin and so they took winter man from the old Russian story. So they get their present from winter man who looks like our Santa Claus, but comes in New Year eve.

Santa Nikolas and Krampus

Northern Santas

Northern Santas are very similar to each other. In Finland, Sweden, Norway and Greenland Santas have grandma, many elves and reindeers and Greenland's Santa also have dogs. All northern Santas bring presents in 24th of December. Northern Santas don't also have any opposite - Bad Santa Claus like Moor or Krampus.

200 years old Santa Claus

Iceland is quite a big exception. They don't have a Santa Claus. They have a mean witch family - mother, father and 13 sons - who live on the mountain. In the middle of December sons come one by one down from the mountain and steel from houses and scare people. Besides this Icelander have also a huge christmas cat who also lives on the mountain. If child doesn't have new clothes in christmas eve this cat come and eat child.

The biggest competitor to Finnish Santa Claus is Greenland's Santa. He has an office in Greenland but he actually lives in the North Pole but because there is so cold he doesn't meet visitors there. And this is The Santa Claus who is very popular in North-America

Coca-Cola Santa from 60's

Glossary:

Bishop
Fireplace
Moor
Christmas Eve
Elf
Reindeer
Cap
Northern lights

 

Piispa
Takka
Mauri
Jouluaatto
Tonttu
Poro
Myssy
Revontulet