Children in the United States (US) envision Santa Claus as a jolly, old man who jumps from house to house with a sack full of presents. However, from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere, Santa’s image changes, blending local traditions with larger cultural traditions. Each region creates its own unique version of Santa, reflecting how cultural values shape his role in Christmas celebrations, according to worldstrides.com.
The English call Santa Father Christmas. The character in the 1616 play His Masque, inspired England’s version of Santa. He dresses in long stockings, a fitted doublet, and a high-crowned hat adorned with a brooch. He displays a long, thin beard and carries a truncheon. His outfit includes small ruffs, white shoes and scarves and garters tied crosswise, according to costumehistorian.blogspot.com. Father Christmas often wears royal colors such as deep red, purple, green, blue, and brown. While Father Christmas embodies the same qualities as Santa, portraying a jolly, white-bearded man in a fur-lined robe, there are notable distinctions that set his appearance apart from Santa’s in the US. The traditional English Father Christmas wears a green cloak and a wreath of holly ivory and carries a staff, according to worldstrides.com.
Over in France, the children try to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, while Père Noël hops from house to house delivering presents. Père Noël wears a fur-lined hood and a long cloak, according to businessinsier.com. In addition to his special clothing, in France, children celebrate Christmas with a special twist by putting their shoes out by the fireplace, instead of stockings. They also leave carrots and treats for Père Noël and his flying donkeys, instead of milk and cookies, according to worldstrides.com.
In Germany, people use many different names for Santa depending on the region they are from, but the most generic one is Weihnachtsmann, according to worldstrides.com. The image of Weihnachtsmann dates back to the early 1800s when the Austrian painter Mr. Moritz von Schwind created a depiction of him as a wooden figure dressed in a cloak with a hood over his head. In 1825, Schwind created a revised wooden sculpture of Weihnachtsmann, adding the feature of a Christmas tree. This version, however, still barely aligns with the modern Weihnachtsmann, according to germanholidaymarket.com. The modern image of Weihnachtsmann stayed traditional over time, he is still the old man seen holding a Christmas tree in a red cloak, according to worldstrides.com.
In Spanish culture, people traditionally do not associate the month of December or Santa with Christmas. Although some regions of Spain are starting to adopt the idea of Father Christmas, Santa does not play a big role in the country’s holiday celebration. Instead, parents present children with gifts from the three wise men known as Los Reyes Magos including Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar. These men deliver presents to the children on January sixth, the day the Three Wise Men visited Jesus, according to Idealista.com. Although America and Spain celebrate Christmas in different ways and on separate days, a constant throughout both cultures is the belief that children who behave well will earn presents, while children who misbehave will not, according to worldstrides.com. Sra. Monserrat García, Upper School World Language teacher and Network Exchange coordinator discussed the role Santa plays in her culture.
“Growing up in Spain, Santa Claus wasn’t traditionally part of our Christmas celebrations,” Sra. García said. “I would see him in commercials and as part of holiday decorations, primarily associated with the United States. Over time, however, Santa Claus has become more integrated into the holiday season, and in some households, he even delivers gifts to children.”
Featured Image by Elin Eaton ’27
