What you don’t know about Santa ?

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or simply "Santa", is a legendary figure who, in many Western cultures, brings gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day).

• While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast.

• The American version of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus originally came from the Dutch version called Sint Klaas. The Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) brought this fun and lively tradition (some even say cult) to America.

• Denmark: Julemanden

• Estonia: Jõuluvana

• Faroe Islands: Jólamaurin

• Finland: Joulupukki

• France: Père Noël (Father Christmas, also a common figure in other French-speaking areas)

• Germany: Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man); Christkind in southern Germany

• Georgia: Tovlis Papa, Tovlis Babua; Georgian:

• Greece, Cyprus: ("Saint Basil"), it is also known as Hagios Nikolaos, Bishop of Myra (in the present day Turkey),

• Hungary: Mikulás ("Nicholas"); Télapó ("Old Man Winter"); Jézuska or Kis Jézus (Child Jesus")

• Iceland: Jólasveinn ("Yule Man").

• Republic of Ireland: Santa Claus, Santy or Daidí na Nollag (Father Christmas)

• Russia: (Ded Moroz, "Grandfather Frost")

• In the US and Canada, his name is Santa Claus.

• In China, he is called Shengdan Laoren.

• In England, his name is Father Christmas , where he has a longer coat and a longer beard.

• Costa Rica, Colombia, and parts of Mexico, the gift bearer is el Niño Jesus, "the infant Jesus." In Brazil and Peru, he's called Papa Noel.

• Puerto Rico: In children receive gifts from the Three Kings on January 6, also called the celebration of Epiphany, the 3 Kings' Day. Each child puts grass under their bed for the camels. In the morning the grass is replaced with gifts. Also, Puerto Rico, being part of the United States, does its major gift giving on December 25, with the Christmas Tree and Santa Claus - in this sense, Puerto Rico is totally Americanized.

• Italy: Babbo Natale, which means Father Christmas, is Santa. Children put a pair of their shoes by the door on the day before Epiphany and the following morning they find them filled with small gifts and candy. Italy, like Spain, Portugal and most of the Latin American nations ( or countries speaking Romance languages ), is mostly Catholic. December 25 is a day of more religious observance, remembering the birth of Christ. The Epiphany, called Little Christmas, is the day for gift giving. However, Babbo Natale does come on Christmas Eve in some parts of Italy.

• In Spain children leave their shoes under the Christmas tree the night of January 5th and presents from the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar) appear the next morning. Santa Claus is called Papa Noel and some children receive presents both days on December 24 (from Papa Noel) and on January 6 (from the Three Kings).

• Morocco: He is known as Black Peter

• Japan, Santa Claus is called Santa Claus or just "Santa". Children often call him "Santa no ojisan," which means "Uncle Santa." (This information comes to you via the courtesy of Mr. Kazuo Miyasako of Dokkyo University. Many thanks go to the readers of Lone Star Internet)

• In Sweden, Jultomten visits the evening before Christmas day, pulling a big bag of julklappar (Christmas presents) in the deep snow.

• På Norsk ( in Norwegian ) "Julenissen" arrives on the evening of the 24.

• In the Netherlands, he is called Kerstman.

• Finland: It is called Joulupukki.

• Sinter Klaas in Dutch. He rides a white horse, leaving gifts in wooden shoes

• China: (pinyin: shèngdànl?orén lit. Christmas old man)

• Hong Kong: (jyutping: sing3 daan3 lou5 jan4 lit. Christmas old man) Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas

• India Dada ("Christmas old man"), Thatha("Christmas old man" in telugu)

• Japan: (romaji: santa-san (lit. Mr. Santa) santa kurÿsu)

• Korea: ("santa kullosu")

• Vietnam: Ông già Noel ("The Christmas old man")

• South Africa: Sinterklaas; Father Christmas; Santa Claus; Vader Kersfees

• Lebanon: Papa Noel (Arabic: baba noel)

• Egypt: Papa Noel (Arabic: baba noel)

• Australia: Father Christmas, Santa Claus

• New Zealand: Father Christmas, Santa Claus

• Latvia: Ziemassvïtku vec¥tis ("Christmas pop")

• Liechtenstein: Christkind

• Lithuania: Senis ·altis ("Old Man Frost") or Kalòd˜ Senelis ("Christmas Grandfather")

• Macedonia: Dedo Mraz

• Norway: Julenissen

• Poland: Gwiazdor in some regions

• Portugal: Pai Natal

• Romania, Moldova: Mofl Cr?ciun ("Father Christmas"); Mofl Niculae ("Father Nicholas")

• Switzerland: Christkind / Babbo Natale / Père Noël

• Turkey: Noel Baba ("Father Christmas") Although Turks are mainly Islamic, many homes carry the tradition of "Noel Baba" and a Christmas (or New Year) tree.

• Turkmenistan: A˘az baba ("Father Christmas")

• Ukraine: Svyatyy Mykolay; / Did Moroz.