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Featured Articles > Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas Traditions Around the World

12/20/2011 by ITC Global Translations

Christmas traditions around the world

Little children in the United States believe that on the night of Christmas Eve, Santa Claus brings presents to all the little children in the world. Santa Claus first appeared in the United States in the 1860s, and was named for the Dutch Sintaklass, meaning St. Nicholas. The character of Santa Claus was based on the 4th century St. Nicholas from Greece, who had a reputation for giving gifts in secret, including putting coins into the shoes of people who left them out for him. Little children in England believe in a similar figure to the Santa Claus in the United States, only they refer to the generous portly old man as Father Christmas, and they leave him sherry and a mince pie instead of the milk and cookies which are traditional in the USA. In France, there is a similar figure who brings the gifts, le Père Noël, literally Father Christmas. French children leave their shoes by the fireplace for le Père Noël to fill with gifts.

However, in Spain and Italy, it is traditional for children to receive gifts not on Christmas Day, but on January 6th, which is the Epiphany, and is when the three wise men brought their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. In Spain, it is they who bring the gifts to children on El Día de los Reyes, the feast of the Three Kings. In Italy, children wait for la Befana, a kind ugly witch on a broomstick. According to legend, she was told by the three kings that the baby Jesus had been born, but she was busy and didn’t come to visit right away. When she went, the star was no longer there to guide her, so she has been flying around ever since, leaving presents at every house with children in case the baby Jesus is there. Timing is everything, I suppose…

It is interesting to see the different ways that the similar tradition of gift-giving at Christmastime has developed in different countries. So as the celebration is nearly upon us, have a Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad and Buon Natale.

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