Santa Around the World

What comes to mind when think about Santa Claus? For me it is the jolly man in a big red suit, with a large white beard. Most likely every American child will give you that answer.  What is Christmas like all around the world? Do other cultures call Santa Claus a different name? Is the image of Santa different for a child in France then it is for a child in Japan? I have been wondering about these things all through my life and now they are finally being answered.

What do you think Santa would look like if you were in Russia? Well in Russia they do not call Santa Claus, Santa Claus, they actually call him Babushka. Also Christmas is not called Christmas in Russia it is actually called the Festival of Winter. During this time the Russian people fast for 39 days awaiting the evening star to rise. When the star rises on January 6^th the feast begins. The Russians cook a 12 course meal with fish soup and Borsch which is cabbage stuffed with millet. Hay is spread on the floors and tables to encourage horse feed to grow in the coming year and people make clucking noises to encourage their hens to lay eggs. On Christmas Day, hymns and carols are sung. People gather in churches which have been decorated with the usual Christmas trees or Yelka, flowers and colored lights. Christmas dinner includes a variety of different meats - goose and suckling pig are favorites.

Have you ever thought about Christmas in Japan? Only one percent of the Japanese believe in Christ. Although in Japan there is a Buddhist monk called Hotei-osho who acts like Santa bringing gifts to children and so on and so forth. During Christmas time storekeepers decorate their stores with evergreens. Interestingly enough in Japan is not a time for family it is a time for doing nice things for people in need or visiting the sick in hospitals.

Feliz Navidad! This is one of the few ways you can say “Merry Christmas” in Spanish. I have always wondered what a Christmas in Spain would be like. In Spain Christmas is a very festive time of the year. On Christmas Eve in Spain the stars come out and the Spanish light oil lamps in their houses. On Christmas Eve after midnight dancers come out and dance a special Christmas dance called the Jota. On December 8^th the Spanish celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception it is celebrate each year in front of the Great Gothic church in Seville. Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena which means “the Good Night.” Christmas Eve is also the time when the family comes together and feasts and rejoices the Nativity Scene.

I cannot believe how different Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world. It is interesting looking at other cultures traditions for Christmas. It almost makes me want to do a different tradition of a different culture every Christmas.