The Many Faces of Santa Claus
If you were to ask any American what Santa Claus looks like, they’d likely respond, “a large man with a big white beard and a red suit.” However, that has not always been the case — jolly old Saint Nicholas has been depicted as everything from a tall skinny man in a tan-colored jacket with animal pelts to a small, green, elflike gremlin. In fact, it wasn’t until Coca-Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa for their 1931 holiday campaign that we got the warm, jovial character in a bright “Coca-Cola red” suit that we all know today.
But the American Santa isn’t the only one around the world, and he doesn’t only consume milk and cookies. We asked our global team for a few quick facts about how their culture views Santa and celebrates Christmas.
Brazil
In Brazil, Christmas occurs in the first days of summer. Santa is called Papai Noel, and children leave out milk and panettone, a sweet, fruit-studded bread of Italian origin.
— Juliana D’Alambert, Managing Director Tag LATAM
France
To French children, Santa is known as Père Noël (Father Christmas) or, in a sweeter way, Papa Noël (Daddy Christmas). Children put their shoes under the Christmas tree to be filled with gifts (but only if they’ve been kind during the year!).
— Christophe Caubet, Senior Creative
Mexico
Christmas in Mexico is a wonderful mix of traditions, both old and new. Most Catholic families place traditional Christmas trees at home, adding Nativity scenes at the bottom of the tree alongside recreations of Santa’s village. The two narrative scenes sit on display in perfect harmony for weeks. Nine days before Christmas, Mexican people often celebrate “Posadas” — a nine-day stretch of small gatherings (we always love a reason to party!) with great food, carol singing, and some representation of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem to give birth to baby Jesus. Kids send letters to Santa and leave cookies and milk out to supplement his travels on Christmas Eve.
— Violeta León, Head of Operations Taylor James — México
United Kingdom
Santa is known as Father Christmas in the UK. His preferred refreshment is sherry and mince pies rather than milk and cookies.
— Rik Grant, Transcreation Partner
Italy
In Italy, Santa is called Babbo Natale. Children wait for him to come to their homes the night before Christmas, and leave out milk and cookies for him to enjoy.
— Elisabetta Nifosi, Copywriter
Catalonia, Spain
Catalan Christmas traditions are infamous for their scatology. On December 24th, parents gather their kids around the “tio de nadal,” popularly known as the “caga tió.” Kids beat the log with a stick, singing Christmas songs, to make the log “push out” Christmas presents. January 6th, known as the “Nit de Reis” (Night of Kings/Wise Men) is also celebrated with much fanfare. Children must go to sleep early the night of the 5th, and if they behaved well, the three wise men will bring them all the presents they asked for in their “Carta als Reis Mags” (Letter to the Magic Kings).
— Pau Todó, Copywriter
Germany
In Germany, Santa Claus is called Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man). He knocks on the door or rings a bell he carries with him to bring presents to the children who have been nice throughout the year. In some pictures, he is also represented with a birch rod as a warning to those who have not been nice.
— Vera Mittler, Copywriter
Netherlands
Although we do celebrate Christmas in the Netherlands, Santa Claus as a personality really cannot compete with Sinterklaas. The arrival of Sinterklaas is celebrated on December 5th. He sails all the way from Spain in a steamboat and rides across rooftops at night on his white horse, delivering gifts and candy.
— Maaike van Eijk, Copywriter
Sweden
Jultomten — Tomten for short — is the Swedish Santa Claus. He goes around to every house on Christmas Eve to give the children their presents (usually a father, other male relative, or neighbor will dress up to play the role). It’s also common to leave a bowl of sweet rice porridge with cinnamon outside for Tomten.
— Jenny Kesselfors, Copywriter
Russia
Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost, is the Slavic version of Santa Claus and the symbol of Russian winter, the New Year, and gifts. He never appears without his pikestaff (made of either silver or crystal), rides around in an evergreen tree in a traditional Russian troika, and is usually accompanied by his granddaughter, Snegurocha (snow girl).
— Sasha Shokina, Copywriter
Australia
Christmas in Australia is typically very hot. It’s not unusual for Aussie kids to bribe the old guy in the sweaty red suit by leaving out a nice cold beer, some cookies (of course known as “biscuits” in Australia), and carrots for the reindeer.
— Kaylie Stansfield, Head of Marketing
