Christmas Eve – for those of you not in bed waiting for Father Christmas, here is some interesting Christmas Trivia about this originally Old English Midwinter Festival and Father Christmas himself.
What is Father Christmas called around the world? What is he called where you are?
Austria: Christkind (“Christ child”)
Belgium: Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) and De Kerstman (“Father Christmas”)
Canada: Santa Claus; Père Noël (“Father Christmas”)
Denmark: Julemanden
Estonia: Jõuluvana
Finland: Joulupukki
France: Père Noël (“Father Christmas”);
Germany: Weihnachtsmann (“Christmas Man”); Christkind in southern Germany
Hungary: Mikulás (“Nicholas”); Jézuska or Kis Jézus (“child Jesus”)
Italy: Babbo Natale (“Father Christmas”); La Befana
Netherlands & Flanders: Sinterklaas
Norway: Julenissen
Poland: Swiety Mikolaj
Portugal: Pai Natal (“Father Christmas”)
Russia: Ded Moroz, “Grandfather Frost
Spain: Papa Noel
Sweden: Jultomten ( The Yule Man or Christmas man)
Switzerland: Samichlaus
United Kingdom: Father Christmas; Santa Claus