Santa in Different Languages: Names in 39 Countries

What is Santa called in different languages? In French he is Père Noël, in Italian Babbo Natale, in Spanish Papá Noel and in Finnish Joulupukki.¹ Closer to home, Welsh children wait for Siôn Corn.²

And not every country gets its presents on Christmas Eve. In Russia Grandfather Frost comes at New Year, in Spain the Three Kings arrive on 6 January, and Iceland has no fewer than 13 Santas who turn up one after another.³⁴

Our table lists the names in 39 countries with their literal meaning and the date the presents come. Use the search box to find a country in seconds. After that come the best stories behind the names.

Santa in different languages: 39 countries

Compiled from Wikipedia's list of Christmas gift-bringers¹ and the articles on each figure. Many countries have several gift-bringers side by side, depending on the region and the family.

Father Christmas in Welsh, Gaelic and Irish

You do not have to leave the British Isles to hear Santa called something else:

Siôn Corn: Santa in Welsh

The Welsh Father Christmas is Siôn Corn. The name is usually translated as "Chimney Pot John" or "John Stack", from corn simne, a chimney stack. His first known appearance in literature is believed to be the 1922 anthology Cerddi Huw Puw by John Glyn Davies, and the children's annual Llyfr Mawr y Plant made him popular in 1931.²

Bodach na Nollaige and Daidí na Nollag

In Scottish Gaelic, Father Christmas is Bodach na Nollaige, roughly "the old man of Christmas". In Irish he is Daidí na Nollag, "Daddy Christmas".⁵ Both come from Nollaig, the Gaelic word for Christmas.⁵

Why the English say Father Christmas and the Americans Santa Claus is a story of its own, told in Father Christmas vs Santa Claus.

When do the presents come? A calendar

British children find their stockings full on the morning of 25 December. Much of continental Europe opens presents on Christmas Eve, and in some countries the wait goes on until January:¹

Joulupukki: the Yule goat from Finland

The Finnish Santa is Joulupukki, literally "Christmas goat" or "Yule goat". The figure goes back to an old Nordic folk tradition, the Scandinavian julebukk, and has since merged with Santa Claus.⁶

Today Joulupukki wears warm red robes and travels by reindeer sleigh, although his reindeer, unlike Santa's, do not fly. His home is Korvatunturi fell in Lapland, an idea that popular radio programmes from 1927 onwards probably did much to spread.⁶ You can visit him all year round in Rovaniemi, which introduces him on Visit Rovaniemi. Where to post your letter is in Santa's address in the UK.

Ded Moroz: Grandfather Frost from Russia

In Russia and many former Soviet countries the presents come from Ded Moroz, "Grandfather Frost". He often wears a long blue or red coat and comes not at Christmas but on New Year's Eve.³

He travels with his granddaughter Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden. In 1998 the town of Veliky Ustyug in northern Russia was declared his official home.³

Iceland: 13 Santas instead of one

In Iceland the Yule Lads come down from the mountains, 13 mischievous brothers who arrive one per night from 12 December. Children leave a shoe on the windowsill: good ones get small gifts, naughty ones a rotten potato.⁴

Their mother is the ogress Grýla, and the fearsome Yule Cat prowls about too.⁴ Happily, the lads are a lot friendlier today than in the old tales.

La Befana and the Three Kings

In Italy Babbo Natale brings presents at Christmas. Then on the night of 5 January comes La Befana, a kindly witch on a broomstick. Good children get sweets, naughty ones coal.⁷

Legend has it the Befana was asked by the Three Wise Men for directions to the baby Jesus.⁷ In Spain the Three Kings, los Reyes Magos, bring the presents themselves on 6 January.¹

Where all these names began is explained in St Nicholas vs Santa Claus. And where Santa is on Christmas Eve is shown live in our Santa tracker.

Santa in other languages: common questions

What is Santa called in Welsh?

Siôn Corn, usually translated as "Chimney Pot John" or "John Stack", because he comes down the chimney. His first known appearance in print is in a Welsh anthology from 1922.

How do you say Santa in Spanish, French and Italian?

In Spanish he is Papá Noel, in French Père Noël and in Italian Babbo Natale. All three mean roughly "Father" or "Daddy Christmas". In Spain, though, the Three Kings bring most of the presents on 6 January.

How do you say Santa in German?

Der Weihnachtsmann, "the Christmas man". In southern Germany and Austria the presents come from the Christkind, the Christ Child, on Christmas Eve.

What is Santa called in Japanese and Chinese?

In Japan children say Santa-san, "Mr Santa". In Mandarin Chinese he is Shèngdàn Lǎorén, "Old Man Christmas".

What is Father Christmas called in Russia?

Ded Moroz, "Grandfather Frost". He comes on New Year's Eve with his granddaughter Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, and has had an official home in Veliky Ustyug since 1998.

Which country has 13 Santas?

Iceland. From 12 December one of the 13 Yule Lads arrives each night, with names such as Spoon Licker and Sausage Swiper.

Sources

1. 1Wikipedia: List of Christmas and winter gift-bringers by country (en.wikipedia.org)
2. 2Wales.com: The legend of Siôn Corn (wales.com)
3. 3Wikipedia: Ded Moroz (en.wikipedia.org)
4. 4Wikipedia: Yule Lads (en.wikipedia.org)
5. 5Wiktionary: Nollaig (Irish and Scottish Gaelic) (en.wiktionary.org)
6. 6Wikipedia: Joulupukki (en.wikipedia.org)
7. 7Wikipedia: Befana (en.wikipedia.org)