Everyone knows that Santa Claus gives gifts to good children and coal to bad ones. However, according to tradition, Saint Nicholas - the prototype of the famous Santa Claus - was accompanied by his faithful companion and at the same time the antipode - a horned monster named Krampus. It was he who was responsible for punishing disobedient children. Krampus is an integral New Year's character in the Alpine regions. People in the costumes of this terrible monster can be found on the streets during the Christmas festivities. Beware! He has a whip and is going to use it!
(29 photos total)
Post sponsored by: Do you like comedy series? We recommend the site UniverTV.org.ua, where you can watch Univer: New hostel and other TNT serials online. Don't miss out on the 31 December special New Year's episodes on this website!
1. How is this orc-like night creature in general connected with Christmas?
2. As you know, if children behave well, Santa Claus (or Santa Claus - who knows how) will bring them gifts for the New Year.
3. With Krampus, the idea is the same, only he does not bring gifts. He is not interested in good children at all. He likes those who behave badly, because it is them that he can whip with his whip in the New Year.
4. Today, if children misbehave, it usually means that they will not receive any gifts.
5. For some, this punishment is enough. However, some cultures have had their own characters to intimidate naughty children. One of them was Krampus - the thunderstorm of all naughty children.
6. Remember the movie "The Grinch Stole Christmas?"
7. Well, Krampus is somewhat similar to him. Only with a much nastier character.
8. Throw in the horns, some of the goblins and orcs from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and you have the real Krampus.
9. Krampus is not just a fiction, it is, rather, a means of intimidating naughty children, which has been used in different cultures for a long time.
10. In Europe, it began to gain popularity, appearing in remote, isolated alpine regions a little over a hundred years ago.
11. This was in part due to the popularity of the Christmas cards that depicted him in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The image of Krampus has changed little in recent years, one might even say that he has become scarier.
12. So where did the Krampus legend come from? The very name of this monster comes from the old Germanic word "krumpen".
13. It means "claw." Krampus is the incubus that accompanied Saint Nicholas. Only he does not give gifts to good children - he punishes the bad ones.
14. Traditionally, an incubus is a demon that visits sleeping. He lays down on them (the word "incubus" comes from the Latin word "incubo" - "to lie down on top").
15. Krampus, however, is not some rapist. His goal is to punish children who have behaved badly this year.
16. On postcards of the early twentieth century, Krampus is depicted with a whip.
17. It is with this whip that he "measures out" his Christmas punishment.
18. Particularly in Austria, Krampus Night is still not forgotten. He is remembered on December 6 on the day of St. Nicholas.
19. Young people (and today girls) dress up as Krampus and walk the streets of cities. Their goal is to scare children. And it looks like not only children.
20. Needless to say, this is Europe, XXI century. The Krampus tradition, once part of the culture, has now become an excellent excuse for those who like to indulge in all sorts of street frenzy. Let's just say it's an excuse for young people who want to be a little bad.
21. Due to the isolation of the Alpine regions, many regional varieties of Krampus have emerged. In Bavaria, he is "Wild Mann", somewhere else - "Knecht Rupert". But the tradition of punishment walks side by side with him.
22. However, in Hungary his image softened a little. There he is considered a harbinger of trouble, but not a demon. In addition, the Hungarian Krampus is wearing a black suit. The modern image of the suave (but, nevertheless, stupid) devil comes from there. The Hungarian Krampus often carries Virgaki with it - several rods tied together that children can receive if they behave badly. Of course, they also receive gifts anyway.
23. The largest celebration in honor of Krampus takes place in the town of Schladming in Austria. There are about a thousand Krampus going there. They carry with them sticks and burning whips with which they can punish bad children. Often, the Krampuses also target young girls. Especially cute.
24. Not surprisingly, girls prefer to stay at home that night (after all, the German way of using the whip is famous all over the world).
27. The Krampus Festival is gaining popularity in other parts of the world.
28. Nowadays there are fewer and fewer Christian traditions, and people sometimes switch to pagan ones.
29. And the gloomy, almost "gothic" beauty of this image only adds to its popularity, because today demons and other evil spirits are very popular.
On New Year's and Christmas, gifts are handed out all over the world, however, not in every case, it is Santa Claus or his analogue who does it. Sometimes it can be gnomes, trolls, a terrible goat or a baby. A whole galaxy of New Year's creatures is in our collection today.
1. Yolasweinars
Country: Iceland
Yolasweinars are 13 mischievous creatures who replace Santa Claus in Iceland. The first significant mention of them came in the early 1930s, when an Icelandic writer wrote a short poem about their role in Christmas. Since then, they have gone through many different incarnations, from cute generous donors to harmful pests. At one time they were even called bloodthirsty monsters who kidnap and eat children at night.
But first of all, the Yolasweinars are famous for their mischievous nature. And each has a special trait inherent only to him and sometimes rather strange. For example, Ketkrokur steals meat with a long hook, and Gluggagegir spies on people through the window in order to steal something at night. Stekkyastur walks on stilt legs and chases sheep.
How they give gifts:
But Yolasweinars not only do strange things, they also give gifts to children. Children who are well-behaved all 13 nights before Christmas Eve put nice presents in their shoes. And bad children are put potatoes. Accompanying the Yolasweinars is the Yule Cat - a hungry animal that eats bad children.
2. Nisse
Countries: different regions of Scandinavia
Nissa legends are told in the Scandinavian countries: Norway, Finland and Sweden. At first, the nisse were called the little gnomes who looked after the family farms. They were kind and looked after people, but they loved to be mischievous and often could break something or play a cruel joke with someone who mismanaged their lands. As Christianity gained strength, the nisse gradually merged into the traditional Christmas holidays for the whole world, but they themselves changed: they acquired more human features and became more like Santa Claus.
How they give gifts:
Modern nisse, also known as youlupukki, are still very different from Santa Claus and our Santa Claus. In particular, they are incomplete and do not ride a flying sled. And they do not live at the North Pole, as well as in Veliky Ustyug. In some regions, children believe that nisse live very close to their homes. And, although nisse bring gifts to children, they do not climb into the chimney at night. In this respect, nisse are just like the Russian Grandfather Frost: a father or relative dresses in a nisse costume and personally gives gifts to children.
3. Baby Jesus
Countries: some provinces in Germany, Austria, Italy and Brazil
In those countries where Christianity has become the main religion, the Infant Jesus gives gifts to children. This was invented back in the 16th century by Martin Luther. He hoped that the more religious the holiday was, the more likely it was to eradicate what he considered the harmful influence of St. Nicholas. Since Baby Jesus is meant to be a literal baby, he is usually portrayed as a small holy child with blonde hair and angel wings. Infant Jesus' influence as the sole symbol of Christmas diminishes with the rise in popularity of Santa Claus, but he is still revered in the Catholic countries of South and Central America.
How he gives gifts:
The hallmark of Infant Jesus as a giver is that no one has ever seen him. Children often say that he disappeared a few moments before they arrived.
4. Belsnickel
Countries: Germany, Austria, Argentina, USA (Dutch Pennsylvania)
Belsnickel is a legendary figure. He accompanies Santa Claus in parts of Europe as well as in some small Dutch communities in the US state of Pennsylvania. Like Krampus in Germany and Austria, or Per Fottar in France, Belsnickel is the main disciplinarian in the entourage of Santa Claus. Belsnickel usually appears in the form of a figure similar to a mountain man - his body is wrapped in furs, and his face is sometimes covered with a mask with a long tongue. Unlike Santa Claus, created to be loved by children, Belsnickel is designed to be feared. In most regions, it serves as a kind of horror story with which children can be made to behave.
How he gives gifts:
By all indications, Belsnickel can be attributed to negative characters, but in some regions he also gives gifts to children. For example, in Germany, good obedient children receive sweets and small gifts from him on December 6, St. Nicholas Day. Coals or a whip await disobedient children. In some countries, they even say that Belsnickel can come to the children personally and warn them that they need to behave better.
5. Per Noel and Per Fottar
Country: France
Pope Noel is one of the most popular incarnations of Saint Nicholas. In France, he is known more than anyone else. Outwardly, he looks like Santa Claus, but instead of reindeer he rides a single donkey named Gui, which means "mistletoe" in French.
In some regions of France, as in many other countries, Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 5th. For this special day, the French have not only Saint Nicholas himself, but also a character named Per Fottar (Father with a whip). Like Belsnickel, he is needed to intimidate naughty children. Why this happened is clear from his history. Its most common version says that in the 12th century, Per Fottar and his wife kidnapped and killed three young men and made soup with them. Then the good Saint Nicholas found and resurrected the victims, and Per Fottar repented of his atrocity and promised to become his assistant.
How he gives gifts:
Like Sinterklaas and many other variations of Santa Claus, Père Noel places small gifts and candy in the shoes to the left of the fireplace. Per Fottar is not so kind and cheerful: he carries with him rusty chains and whips, which he "presents" naughty children. Sometimes he is even more cruel - in some regions it is believed that he cuts out the tongues of children caught in a lie.
6. Befana
Country: Italy
In general, Befana is similar to Santa Claus and Santa Claus, but outwardly it is very different from them. Befana is a witch who has become an important part of the Christmas holidays in Italy. There are different stories about her, but most often they say that this kind woman gave food and shelter to the three wise men when they went to worship the baby Jesus.
Befana looks colorful. She is depicted as an old woman who flies on a broomstick, wears a black shawl and carries a bag of gifts with her. She looks scary, and they say that she can hit any child who watches her with her broom. Smart kids should lie in bed while parents prepare gifts!
How she gives gifts:
Like Santa Claus, Befana goes down the chimney into the house and leaves gifts to obedient children, and a piece of coal or ash to the naughty ones. And since Befana is known as the best hostess in all of Italy, she sweeps the floor around the fireplace before going out, before diving back into the chimney.
7. Krampus
Countries: Austria, Germany and Hungary
In the Alpine countries, Santa Claus comes to children. But not alone: he is accompanied by a terrible bloodthirsty monster named Krampus. His name comes from the German "klaue" - "claw". Krampus is surrounded by Santa Claus, but he is more an evil character than a kind - in any case, he hits naughty children or punishes them in other ways in a medieval style.
The Krampus legend appeared hundreds of years ago, but the church hushed it up until the 19th century. And today it has become part of Christmas in parts of Bavaria and Austria, where the 5th December is celebrated as "Krampus Day" or "Krapusteg". People dress up in Krampus costumes, walk the streets and scare other people. Some cities even host entire festivals.
How he gives gifts:
It is clear that gifts are not in his style. In traditional folklore, Krampus is more likely to beat delinquent children with rods or severely reprimand them if he is lucky. According to another version, he even kidnaps the worst children in the city, pushes them into a sack and throws them into the river.
8. Santa Claus and Snow Maiden
Countries: Russia, Serbia, Bosnia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Poland and other countries of the former USSR
Our Santa Claus is one of the most interesting New Year characters in the world. He gives gifts not only to Russian children, but also to babies from almost all Slavic countries in Eastern Europe. Santa Claus wears a red fur coat and a white beard, but, unlike western Santa Claus, does not ride a reindeer-drawn sleigh. Everything is cooler with him: he rides a sleigh pulled by three horses.
But the most interesting thing about Grandfather Frost is his story. Once he was an evil and vicious sorcerer, kidnapped children and demanded rich gifts as ransom. But over time, he "corrected himself", and now he himself gives gifts to children. And Santa Claus has a granddaughter, Snow Maiden, who helps him. And no one else has such a Snow Girl.
How he gives gifts:
Santa Claus comes on New Year's Eve or December 31st. He puts gifts under the tree, but sometimes he himself appears at parties and gala dinners and gives gifts in person.
9. Sinterklaas and Cherny Peter
Countries: Netherlands, Flanders
Sinterklaas is the Dutch version of Santa Claus. He wears a traditional red suit, a gray beard and is always cheerful. But unlike Santa, he appears in the Netherlands every year at the end of November. They say that he comes by steamer from Spain, and after going ashore, he walks through the streets of the city to say hello to all the Dutch children.
There are no elves in Sinterklaas's retinue; Black Peter, a little boy, helps him to give gifts. There are many legends about how Black Peter began to travel with Sinterklaas, and some are very controversial. Some say that he was a black servant or even a slave of Sinterklaas, while other legends claim that he is a demon. But due to racist overtones, Black Peter's old stories were rewritten, and now he is often described as a simple chimney sweep.
How they give gifts:
Sinterklaas brings gifts to children on December 5th, St. Nicholas Day. Children put their boots next to the fireplace and leave a carrot for Sinterklaas's horse there. If they behaved well, then in the morning they will find candy and gifts in their shoes. Sinterklaas personally does not leave gifts: he has Black Peter for this, who goes down the chimney into the house with gifts for good children and coal or bags of salt for bad ones. In old legends, Black Peter kidnapped the worst children and took them to Spain as punishment for terrible behavior.
10. Father Christmas
Countries: UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and many others
Father Christmas had a huge impact on the look of the "classic" Santa Claus. It is Father Christmas who is the main character in Christmas legends and the giver of gifts in many countries. In his modern incarnation, he looks like Santa Claus, but they have different origins. In the 17th century, Father Christmas was portrayed as a jolly old man dressed in a green robe. Then he did not give gifts yet, but was in the spirit of good news and the joy of Christmas. This incarnation was taken as a basis by the famous writer Charles Dickens, having so invented his Spirit of the present Christmastide from the story "A Christmas Carol". However, over time, Father Christmas became like Santa Claus and Sinterklaas and also began to give gifts to children.
How he gives gifts:
Basically, he does everything the same way as Santa Claus: he rides a sleigh pulled by reindeer and goes down the chimney into the house to leave gifts for good children. Families often leave treats for him and the reindeer at home, although this varies from country to country. In addition, the home and appearance of the Father Christmas depends on the country. In some countries he wears a green suit instead of a red one and does not always live in the North Pole: some countries “settle” him in Greenland, Lapland or Finland.
BISHKEK, Dec 16 - Sputnik. Observations of young patients in UK hospitals have shown that Santa Claus rarely gives gifts to children from disadvantaged areas, according to an article published in BMJ magazine, writes RIA Novosti.
At the same time, the western analogue of Santa Claus equally often visits obedient and naughty children.
“Santa's ability to bring gifts to all children around the world for 24 hours is legendary. But we have found that socioeconomic deprivation overcomes even supernatural ability. This suggests that inequality must be tackled in Britain and elsewhere to help Santa makes all children happy, "said Jarvis Chen of Harvard University (USA).
In accordance with Western ideas about Santa Claus, the main friend of all children visits only those who have been well-behaved throughout the year. Santa's assistants, elves, help him keep a list of good and bad children, and give the first the gifts they asked for in their letters, and the latter receive coal or a set of sticks.
Chen and his colleagues decided to test this legend. They visited nearly two hundred children's hospitals in Britain and asked the staff of these medical institutions to tell what gifts young patients received on Christmas 2015 and how they behaved during their hospital life. Collecting this data, the researchers examined whether Santa's visits were associated with truancy, child crime, socioeconomic status, and other factors that can influence the behavior of minors and the extent to which parents tend to give them gifts.As it turned out, Santa is actually kinder than legends say: he visited almost all the children in hospitals and gave gifts to all patients, regardless of whether they behaved well or badly.
On the other hand, in England, Scotland and Wales, there were places that Santa did not enter - mainly those with the highest levels of social and economic disadvantage. This was most evident in England, where 11 percent of children were denied gifts, and least of all in Northern Ireland. Scotland, contrary to stereotypes of national stinginess and obscenity, was in the middle of this anti-rating.
The most inaccessible place for Santa was London: in the poor north-east and north-west parts of the city, only half and 70 percent of the children received gifts. Therefore, according to scientists, UK social services should prioritize these parts of the capital and other disadvantaged areas where social and economic hardships destroy the holiday atmosphere and lead to the development of depression in children and adults.
Our New Year cannot be imagined without the kind Santa Claus and his granddaughter Snegurochka. No Western Christmas (Europe, England, USA and others) is complete without the main character - Santa Claus. But who is this kind-hearted gift-giver? Is this a real character or a fictional one? Why was he named that and where does he live? I will try to answer all these questions for you today. Santa Claus I can say for sure that Santa Claus is a very real person who lived in antiquity. True, his name was different, he looked different and he was born not in Lapland, as is commonly believed, but in the place of Myra of Lycia in 253 AD, on the modern territory of Turkey. And then he was called Saint Nicholas. He was a simple bishop who was ready to accept death for his faith and always fought for good.
There were legends that Saint Nicholas himself was very prosperous, but not greedy. He helped all the unfortunate and the poor, at night, imperceptibly throwing coins into their shoes, which they left at the door, and putting delicious pies on the windows. So Saint Nicholas became the favorites of children. However, merchants, bakers, prisoners and sailors also chose him as their patron and saint.
But how did he become a symbol of Christmas? St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th. In the 10th century, in the cathedral of the German city of Cologne, students of the Christian school began to distribute pastries and fruits on this day. Very quickly, this tradition became widespread in other cities and countries. Remembering the legend, people began to hang special festive stockings or shoes for the night so that Nikolai would put his gifts there.
It is generally accepted that the Saint, who enters the houses at night, going down the chimney, brings gifts to obedient children, and rods to the mischievous, mischievous and pranksters. Therefore, long before the holiday, children try to behave well, and parents, with their bad behavior, immediately remind them that they can receive a rod as a gift. Sometimes, even together with presents, children are given small twigs.
How did Saint Nicholas become Santa Claus? This character came to the USA from Holland in the 17th century. In 1626, a frigate from several Dutch ships arrived in the New World. On the bow of the main ship "Goede Vrove" stood the figure of Nicholas, who, as I said, was also the patron saint of sailors.
The seafarers bought land from the indigenous people of America - Indians for 24 dollars and gave the name to the settlement - "New Amsterdam". Today this "village" has become the largest city in the United States and one of the most famous cities in the world - "New York". The Dutch took the figurine of the saint from the ship and moved it to the main square so that Nicholas could defend the village.
Only now the Indians and the new inhabitants spoke in some kind of their own language, and not in English. They could not clearly pronounce the name of the saint and the phrase sounded like "Sinter Claus", then transformed into "Santa Claus", and over time into the familiar "Santa Claus". This is how Saint Nicholas miraculously transformed into Santa Claus, who delivers gifts to homes on Christmas Eve.
However, the story of Santa Claus's transformation does not end there. The poem by Clement Clark Moore, The Coming of St. Nicholas, published on Christmas Eve 1822, was an important milestone in his reincarnation. 20 quatrains describe the meeting of a child with Santa Claus, who brought him gifts. In the poem, practically nothing remained of the former saint; he was completely devoid of severity and seriousness. 
Santa on a sleigh U K. Moore Santa is a cheerful, cheerful elf with a pipe in his mouth and a round belly. As a result of this metamarphosis, Nicholas forever lost his episcopal appearance and moved to a team of reindeer. In 1823, the poem "The Night Before Christmas" listed the names of 8 Santa's reindeer:
- Blixem (Lightning Fast)
- Dunder (Blockhead)
- Cupid (Cupid)
- Comet (Comet)
- Vixen (Vicious)
- Prancer (Prancing)
- Dancer (Dancer)
- Desher (Awesome)
Only in 1939 did the ninth deer appear, Rudolph, with a large and shiny reddish nose. Rudolph Meanwhile, the illustrator Thomas Nast refined the image of Santa Claus in detail in 1860-1880. in Harper's magazine Santa has such irreplaceable attributes as the list of good and bad children, the North Pole, but this is not the end of transformation.
Klaus, completely devoid of a holy halo, was dressed up in all sorts of colorful clothes. But in 1931, the famous brand Coca Cola launched an advertising campaign featuring Santa Claus. Haddon Sandblom, an American artist, portrayed a good-natured white-bearded old man in red and white clothes and holding soda.
As a result, Santa Claus acquired the image that we can all see today. This is a plump, cheerful old man delivering gifts on Christmas night. He must have a red jacket or sheepskin coat, a white beard, a red hat and pants with white trim. Santa Claus travels on a sleigh pulled by 9 reindeer and filled to the brim with gifts for obedient children around the world.
In Great Britain it is customary to call him "Father Christmas", which means "Father Christmas". But our Russian Santa Claus has nothing to do with Saint Nicholas. Our Grandfather Frost is a folk ritual character living in the forest or, as it is believed today, his residence in Veliky Ustyug. Winter is his wife. Together they rule the earth from November to March. In very old tales, he is sometimes called Morozko or Ded Treskun.
Where does Santa Claus live today?
The closest relative of Santa Claus is Yolupukki, who lives in Lapland, and Santa Claus also lives here. Since 1984, by a UN decision, Lapland has been officially proclaimed the Land of Santa Claus. Here is also the residence of Santa, in which he lives with the gnomes and elves all year round. It is there that children from all over the world write letters with wishes to the address: Arctic Circle, 96 930, Finland, or to the website: santamail.com.
The Finnish government elevated Santa Claus to a cult status, built him a house on the slope of Mount Korvatunturi, made an advertisement, created a website and announced his email address to the whole world. It is Yolupukki from Lapland (Finland) who receives the most letters from adults and children from all over the world every day.
Every year on December 24 at noon, he arrives on his reindeer in the oldest Finnish town of Turku, accompanied by tontu, his young assistants - girls, boys in red overalls and caps. Here, from the building of the city council, the coming of Christmas is proclaimed and New Year's songs are sung.
But thanks to American advertising and perseverance, Western Santa Claus gradually replaced the English Father Christmas, the Finnish Yolupukki, and the French Christmas Grandfather. And even our beloved and dear Grandfather Frost. I will even say more, the Turks erected a monument to St. Nicholas in the city of Demra, but it is not a bishop who stands on the pedestal, but a cheerful bearded man with a huge bag of gifts!
However, apparently, these are not the final changes in the image of the saint. For example, in Israel, where religious traditions are strictly observed, Christmas is not celebrated. And if you want to buy Christmas cards or other accessories there, then you will be very problematic to find them.
But that's why they are Jews - they will find a way out of any situation! On Christmas Eve, postcards depicting Santa Claus, wearing a Jewish kippa instead of the traditional red cap, began to appear on the shelves of Israeli stores on Christmas Eve. There are still no holiday greetings on the postcards, but something tells me: there will still be Tolya!
The tradition of receiving gifts for New Years or Christmas is everywhere, however the characters who bring them to children can vary from country to country. It is true that American Santa Claus is rapidly gaining popularity overseas today, however, many countries still have their own, unique New Year or Christmas characters, ranging from cunning gnomes to friendly witches. This article, as you probably already guessed, is dedicated to the legends of Santa Claus from around the world.Yolasveinary (Iceland)
The Yolasweinars (or Yule Guys) are a group of thirteen mischievous creatures who replace Santa Claus during the Christmas celebrations in Iceland. They appeared in the early 1930s, when an Icelandic writer penned a short poem describing their role during the Christmas season. Since then, the images of the Yolasveinar have undergone many changes, ranging from cute gift givers to annoying pests. For a time they were even considered bloodthirsty creatures that kidnap and eat children at night.
The Yolasweinars were distinguished by their playful character. Each of them played naughty in their own way. Ketkroukur, for example, used a long hook to steal meat, and Gluggagayir looked through the windows in search of things that could be stolen at night. Stekkjarsteyr loved to harass sheep; instead of legs, he had wooden prostheses.
However, the Yolasweinars could not only play pranks - they also gave gifts to children for 13 days before Christmas. Boys and girls who had behaved well throughout the year found nice gifts in their shoes thrown out of the door. Naughty children found potatoes instead of sweets.
Nisse (Scandinavia)
The legend of Niss can be found in the folklore of Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Finland and Sweden. Nisse used to be called the little dwarf-like characters who looked after the family farms. They were kind to people, but beat or in any other way took revenge on those who did not take good care of their household. Influenced by Christianity, Nisse eventually became associated with the traditional celebration of Christmas. Their appearance has changed; they acquired human features and became akin to Santa Claus.
Modern Nisse (or Joulupukki, as they are often called) are still very different from Santa Claus. They tend to be of normal build and ride on sleds that don't fly. Moreover, they do not live at the North Pole. The children are told that Nisse live in a forest near their homes. Also, Nisse do not bring gifts to children, entering the house through the chimney at night. Instead, a parent or relative changes into Nyssa and personally gives gifts to the kids.
Baby Jesus (parts of Germany, Austria, Italy and Brazil)
Baby Jesus is a traditional giver of gifts for children at Christmas in parts of the world where Christianity is the main religion. The Infant Jesus was popularized in the 1500s by Martin Luther, who hoped he would help eradicate what he called "the corrupt influence of St. Nicholas." Infant Jesus is usually depicted as a small, holy child with blond hair and angelic wings. Influence of the Infant Jesus as the main figure of the holiday began to fade with the growing popularity of Santa Claus. Unlike other gift givers, Infant Jesus has never actually been seen. Children were often told that he disappeared a few seconds before they appeared.
Belsnickel (Germany, Austria, Argentina, United States)
Belsnickel is a legendary figure who is popular in the central regions of Europe as well as some of the smaller Dutch communities in Pennsylvania. Belsnickel is Santa Claus's helper who oversees discipline. He is usually depicted as a tall character whose body is covered with hair. He sometimes wears a mask with a long tongue.
Everyone loves Santa Claus, but they are afraid of Belsnickel: in most regions, children are scared for them so that they behave well.
And although Belsnickel is presented as a negative character, in some regions he is not only responsible for discipline, but also gives gifts. In Germany, for example, on December 6, on the feast of St. Nicholas, obedient children receive sweets and small surprises. Those who misbehave for a year are given charcoal or switches.
Per Noel and Per Fuetard (France)
Per Noel looks like Santa Claus. However, unlike him, he rides a donkey named Gui (translated from French as "mistletoe"). On December 5, in some regions of France, St. Nicholas Day is celebrated. One of the figures of this holiday is Per Fuetar; they, like Belsnickel, scare naughty children. In the 1100s, Per Fuethar and his wife are said to have kidnapped and killed three young men and then made a stew out of them. After Saint Nicholas discovered the victims and brought them back to life, Fuetar repented of his atrocities and vowed to serve him with faith and truth.
Per Noel puts presents in the shoes left by the fireplace. If the child did not obey their parents, Per Fuetar brought him rusty chains and switches. In more violent versions of the story, he cut off the tongues of children who were caught in a lie.
La Befana (Italy)
Befana is a mythological character among Italians who looks like a witch. According to the most popular legend, she was a kind woman who sheltered and fed three wise men who went to worship the newborn Jesus Christ.
Outwardly, Befana looks more like a Halloween witch: she flies on a broomstick, wraps herself in a black shawl and carries a bag with gifts. She avoids people and, they say, can hit the child if he decides to follow her.
Like Santa Claus, Befana enters the house through the chimney to give gifts to the children. For naughty boys and girls, she leaves a piece of coal or ash.
Krampus (Austria, Germany and Hungary)
In the Alpine countries, Santa Claus's assistant is a terrible, bloodthirsty monster named Krampus. He punishes naughty children in various ways. It is believed that this character originated hundreds of years ago, but was banned by the church in the 19th century. Today in some regions of Bavaria and Austria on December 5, Krampus Day is celebrated. People dress up in scary costumes and walk the streets of the city, frightening passers-by. Some places even host Krampus festivals.
Krampus, as you probably already understood, did not give gifts. In traditional folklore, he beat disobedient children with a birch twig or gave them a stern warning. In more violent versions of the story, Krampus abducted the children by hiding them in a sack, which he later dumped into the river.
Sinterklaas and Black Pit (Netherlands, Flanders)
Sinterklaas is the Dutch version of Santa Claus. He wears a traditional red suit and white beard, has a jovial disposition and is argued by many to have had the greatest influence on the modern day of St. Nicholas. Unlike Santa Claus, Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands by steamer from Spain every year at the end of November. Upon arrival, he walks through the streets of the city, welcoming the kids. Sinterklaas has no elves: a little boy named Black Pete helps him give gifts. According to one legend, he was a slave (servant) of Sinterklaas. In other versions, he is presented as a daemon. Black Pete is now often described as a chimney sweep.
Unlike Santa Claus, Sinterklaas brings gifts to children on December 5th, on the feast of St. Nicholas. Children leave their boots and some carrots for Sinterklaas' horse for the night by the fireplace. If they obeyed their parents for a year, Sinterklaas gave them sweets and toys. To bad children, he left coals or bags of salt.
Father Christmas (UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and many other countries)
Father Christmas had the greatest influence on the creation of the image of the modern Santa Claus and remains the main giver of Christmas gifts in the holiday legends of various countries. Father Christmas is very similar to Santa Claus, however their origin stories are actually slightly different. In the stories of the 17th century, he is portrayed as a cheerful old man dressed in a green robe. He was not a gift giver at the time. He was seen as a spirit proclaiming the good news and the embodiment of the joy and merriment of the Christmas holidays. Over time, Father Christmas merged with Santa Claus and Sinterklaas and began to play the role of a gift giver.
Modern Father Christmas is practically no different from Santa Claus in terms of the way of giving gifts. He rides a reindeer sleigh and sneaks into houses through chimneys to give gifts to obedient children, who often leave a treat for him. In some countries Greenland is considered the birthplace of Father Christmas, in others - Lapland, the former province of Finland.
From Coming All readers of my blog site
P.S. My name is Alexander. This is my personal, independent project. I am very glad if you liked the article. Want to help the site? Just check out the ads below for what you recently searched for.
