Do all countries have Santa Claus. Santa Claus around the world

Will be knocking soon New Year at the door of every house, and all the inhabitants of our vast planet are looking forward to it with great impatience. Adults want to quickly complete all their urgent business in the old year and have a great rest on the upcoming holidays. And the kids, of course, are waiting for new year celebration wonderful gifts and fabulous magic.

Every child in Russia knows well who is Santa Claus. This is a kind grandfather with a beautiful staff, in a long bright fur coat, with a snow-white beard and a large bag of holiday gifts. This amazing and charming image is familiar to all of us from early childhood, from the time New Year's matinees. The snow residence of Father Frost and the Snow Maiden is located in Veliky Ustyug, where postcards and letters with children's wishes come.

In the countries of the world, Santa Claus is called by completely different names. Let's figure out who the children are expecting in various places on the planet on New Year's Eve, and what fairy-tale characters are.

Santa's original names

- a plump favorite of American and Australian kids. He is dressed in a short purple jacket and pants, a cheerful cap on his head.

The good-natured old man rides through the air on fast deer, enters the house through the chimney. Santa Claus from Australia can dress much more original, for example, come to congratulate children in swimming trunks, because it is very hot there in winter. But such an outfit does not bother anyone, but only especially pleases Australian kids.

- lives in the snowy Lapland (Finland). Such a sonorous name was given to him not by chance. In ancient times, the grandfather, dressed in a goat's skin, delivered New Year's gifts on a white goat.

In Finnish, youlu means Christmas and pukki means goat. All letters with fabulous wishes are written by thousands of children in Lapland, the city of Rovaniemi. Finnish children adore their Joulupukki because he is very kind and has the most wonderful cap in the world.

Previously, Finnish children were very afraid of Joulupukki, he punished or carried away naughty children to himself. Not without reason, in translation from Finnish, Joulupukki is translated as "Christmas goat". Modern Joulupukki has become much kinder and even brings gifts to children.

lives in Denmark and Norway. These are wonderful characters - dwarfs with small beards, kind eyes and bright knitted hats.

It is Nissa who helps to choose the most beautiful Christmas tree for the holiday! Norwegian gnomes climb to the top of the fluffiest spruce and swing the tree until people notice. The most important brownie Nisse lives near Oslo, in the town of Drebak.

Norwegian "Santa Clauses" are small brownies. Nisse are kind and help people with housework. But the gnomes work exclusively at night, when people sleep.

(Father of Christmas) - a wonderful kind old man with a chic white beard from old England. Grandpa is dressed in a cute red suit and black morocco boots.

Local kids love to tell him different poems and sing funny songs, for which he gives them sweets and toys.

Every child in the United Kingdom strives to be good all year round so that Phaser Christmas will give you a treasured Christmas present. In England, children always write a letter to the English Santa Claus with a story about their own achievements and desired gifts and throw the letter into the fireplace.

- beloved Santa Claus from France. It means "Christmas father" in French. On a dark night, he drives up on a gray donkey to any house and wholeheartedly gives New Year and Christmas gifts.

Peer Noel nimbly enters the house through the chimney and neatly arranges his gifts in boots and boots specially displayed.

Pierre Noel is translated as "grandfather January". And it is not the Snow Maiden who accompanies him, but the strict dwarf Pierre Fuetard with a rod, who carefully checks that only obedient children receive gifts.

- New Year's character from Japan, translated as "Mr. New Year." Dressed in a beautiful blue kimono, he cheerfully walks all over on foot. golden week before the New Year holidays.

He joyfully looks into the windows of houses, although he does not give gifts, parents give gifts to children.

Segatsu-san congratulates the Japanese for 7 days - "golden week". But today, more and more often, small residents of Japan are waiting for Oji-san, who looks like an American Santa Claus.

Of course, you will ask: “Which of them is the best, kindest and magical?”. Perhaps this is not so important. The most important thing is that all Santa Clauses from all countries love their children, have time to come to each kid for the New Year and give only the desired and wonderful gifts.

Soon the New Year will knock on the door of every house ... More precisely, Santa Claus will knock ... Or maybe it will be cute brownies in knitted caps ?! Or the beautiful fairy Befana?! We need to figure out who to expect on New Year's Eve.

Here's what they are, these Santa Clauses and Snow Maidens:

Australia, USA - Santa Claus. The American grandfather wears a cap and red jacket, smokes a pipe, travels through the air on reindeer, and enters the house through a pipe. Australian Santa Claus is the same, only in swimming trunks and on a scooter (you know, it's hot on the first of January in the country of kangaroos :-).
Austria - Sylvester
Altai Territory — Sook-Taadak
England - Father Christmas
Belgium, Poland - St. Nicholas. According to legend, he left golden apples in a slipper in front of the fireplace to his family. It was a very long time ago, so St. Nicholas is considered the very first Santa Claus. He rides a horse, wearing a miter and a white episcopal robe. He is always accompanied by the Moor servant Black Peter, who carries a bag with gifts for obedient children behind his back, and in his hands - rods for naughty people.
Greece, Cyprus - Saint Basil
Denmark - Ületomte, Ülemanden, Saint Nicholas
Western Slavs - Saints Mikalaus
Italy - Babo Nattale. In addition to him, the good fairy Befana (La Befana) comes to obedient children and gives gifts. The naughty people get a piece of coal from the evil sorceress Befana.
Spain - Papa Noel
Kazakhstan - Ayaz-ata
Kalmykia - Zul
Cambodia - Ded Zhar
Karelia — Pakkainen
China - Sho Hing, Sheng Dan Laozhen
Columbia - Pascual
Mongolia - Uvlin Uvgun, accompanied by Zazan Ohin (Snow Maiden) and Shin Zhila (boy-New Year). New Year in Mongolia coincides with the festival of cattle breeding, so Santa Claus wears the clothes of a cattle breeder.
Netherlands - Sanderklaas
Norway - Nisse (small brownies). Nisse wear knitted caps and love tasty things.)
Russia - Father Frost, Father Treskun, Morozko and Karachun rolled into one. He looks a little stern. He wears a fur coat to the ground and a high hat, in his hands he has an ice staff and a bag of gifts.
Romania - Mosh Jerile
Savoy - Saint Schaland
Uzbekistan - Korbobo and Korgyz (Snow Maiden). In the Uzbek villages on New Year's Eve, a "snow grandfather" in a striped robe rides a donkey. This is Corbobo.
Finland - Joulupukki. This name was not given to him in vain: “Youlu” means Christmas, and “pukki” means a goat. Many years ago, Santa Claus wore a goat skin and delivered gifts on a goat.
France - Grandfather January, Pere Noel. The French "Father January" walks with a staff and wears a wide-brimmed hat.
Czech Republic - Grandfather Mikulas
Sweden - Kris Kringl, Yulnissan, Yul Tomten (Yolotomten)
Japan - Oji-san

All Santa Clauses bring gifts, but everyone does it in their own way:

Russian Santa Claus puts a gift under the Christmas tree.
The British and Irish find gifts in the sock, and the Mexicans in the shoe.
New Year gifts fall down the chimney in France, and onto the balcony in Spain.
In Sweden, Santa Claus puts gifts on the stove, and in Germany he leaves them on the windowsill.

Santa Claus - they are all so different. They look different, one is kind, and the other can scold. Everyone has their own personal way to sneak into the holiday home.

But whatever Santa Claus you are, you are there to congratulate and give a gift!

One day I was lucky to be on Christmas in England. I always remember this event with great pleasure. It was impossible not to be imbued with this magical spirit, when everything around was so bright and beautiful, and goodwill emanated from people.

In my beloved England, Christmas is celebrated on the twenty-fifth of December, so I arrived five days earlier in order to have time to prepare for this event. Despite the fact that I got to London a few days before the celebration, everything around was already decorated and it seemed that the holiday was in full swing. The thing is that here the Christmas season opens with the post " advent”, which begins four weeks before the holiday itself. At this time, it is customary to make special calendars with windows and open one every day. They also weave wreaths with five candles, each of which is alternately lit on Sunday evenings. The main red candle is left for the Christmas dinner, which takes place quietly and calmly in the family circle.

What is Santa Claus in England

It was amazing for me how everything happens here in a nice, family-like way. Quiet and calm Christmas evening, children waiting for gifts and believing in a miracle, houses decorated with multi-colored lights. All of this is in such contrast to the celebration of the New Year, which is celebrated in noisy campaigns with an abundance of snacks and alcoholic drinks.

The celebration of Christmas in England is an ancient tradition, so all the decorations and heroes of this event have a rich history..

For example, the Christmas tree began to be decorated about a thousand years ago, while on its top there must be an asterisk or an angel. Another interesting tradition is a red stocking near the bed or over the fireplace, in which Santa Claus should put a gift for obedient children. Legend has it that while climbing the chimney, Father Christmas, as Santa Claus is called in England, dropped a few coins that fell straight into socks drying over the fireplace. Since then, they began to use red stockings and socks in the hope that something would fall there on Christmas night. You can read more about the symbols of this holiday in the article.

As for the protagonist of this event, several legends are associated with him. Basically, English Phaser Christmas not very different from the American Santa Claus. For many centuries this image took shape and as a result took something from St. Nicholas, the god Saturn from Ancient Rome and the Scandinavian Thor. He must be in a robe, with a twig and a bag of gifts.

Every little Englishman knows that only with good behavior can you count on a gift at Christmas. And, in order for Santa Claus in England to find out about how the baby behaved, he needs to write a letter indicating the desired gifts. Then the message is thrown into the fireplace, and with the ashes it reaches the addressee. It is incredibly cute and funny to watch how diligently the children describe their achievements over the past year and list the desired gifts.

It is worth noting that "Phaser Christmas" is a name that is used in many English-speaking countries. In the old days, Santa Claus could be called Old Phaser Christmas , Sir Christmas or Lord Christmas . It is interesting that in the UK there are versions that Phaser Christam and Santa Claus are completely different images. It is now accepted that this Christmas character wears red clothes, but in Tudor and Victorian times he wore bright green suits. In any case, Phaser Christmas has always been a symbol of good mood and the Christmas spirit. His image from early childhood is associated with the distribution of gifts and general fun!

In our country, they began to celebrate not so long ago, less than 100 years ago. Before that, it was Christmas: with chants, carols and angels on the Christmas trees. But something has remained unchanged. And on New Year's Eve and on Christmas Eve, the same mysterious guest came to the children - Santa Claus. No one ever sees him, but in the morning under the Christmas tree, wonderful gifts await the kids. The colleagues of Santa Claus do the same in different countries Oh.

Where did Santa Claus come from?

Oddly enough, this character has nothing to do with the religious, Christian motives of the holiday. This is the embodiment of the winter cold, the pagan deity of cold and frost. A short, gray-haired old man in a sheepskin coat, who taps with a staff, and a wooden crackle is carried in the winter air. According to legend, if it was especially frosty, then the harvest should have been good. Therefore, for Santa Claus, bowls with treats were put on the windowsills - ritual kutya and pancakes. These are the dishes that served for the winter, which the Slavs have always associated with the afterlife. Such a connection with pagan traditions- Not unusual. It is not so important what the name of Santa Claus is in different countries. Almost everywhere this character comes from gray-haired paganism.

Then Santa Claus did not give any gifts to anyone. It was a deity severe and formidable, but fair. It was Morozko - he is Father Frost - in fairy tales who presented good characters and punished the evil ones. At first, this motif migrated from folk motives in literature, writers drew attention to a colorful character. By the 19th century, it was already quite a recognizable type.

The birth of a character

At the same time, active attempts were made in the country to adopt Western Christmas traditions and create their own analogue of a good winter wizard. We were interested in how Santa Claus is called in different countries, different variants. St. Nicholas, Grandfather Nicholas and even more familiar to the Slavic ear Morozko were offered. But Santa Claus turned out to be the most successful in the role of a good winter wizard. He was loved by both children and adults. At the same time, a traditional image was formed: an old man in a bright, fur-trimmed sheepskin coat, a hat and felt boots. In the hands of everyone familiar Santa Claus holds a long magic staff. Later, the wizard had a companion - the granddaughter of the Snow Maiden.

But what about in other countries?

Such a character is also present in the mythology of other countries. This is not always an old man, sometimes not even a person at all. God is a good wizard. The appearance of such creatures is very bizarre. It is quite possible that when Santa Clauses from different countries met, they would not even be able to recognize each other. Yes, traditions are very different. Somewhere wizards gave gifts to good children, somewhere else they punished naughty ones. There are countries in which two guests come to the kids on a holiday - a good one and an evil one. The first gives gifts, and the second, if the child behaved badly, scares him or punishes him. For this, the harsh winter spirit usually had real rods in store.

Now let's discuss how Santa Claus is called in different countries of the world and what he looks like.

Everyone knows Santa Claus

A plump old man with a short, fluffy white beard. Red caftan, red cap with fur trim. Santa Claus - that's what Santa Claus is called in different countries - from Britain to America, from Australia to Canada. Every Christmas he arrives in a magical sleigh pulled by reindeer and brings presents to the children. The prototype of this kind old man was After all, Santa is a “saint”, and Klaus is one of the forms of the name “Nikolai”. When the Santa Claus familiar to the whole world did not yet exist, it was he who brought sweets and small gifts to children on December 5 and hid them in a sock left on the fireplace or under a pillow. The Dutch, who honored St. Nicholas and were very fond of the holiday dedicated to him, brought this tradition to America. She took root, and soon many children on Christmas night were waiting for the mysterious wizard Santa Claus, who would certainly bring gifts to everyone.

Finland

The way Santa Claus is called in different countries sometimes sounds quite funny to the ears of Russians. For example, in Finland, a magical creature that fulfills the cherished desires of children is called Joulupukki. In translation, this means nothing less than "Christmas goat." True, in Finland this phrase does not have any offensive or ambiguous connotation. The fact is that for Christmas they made a straw effigy of a goat - just as in Russia they see off the winter with a effigy of Maslenitsa. And the meaning of this action is the same - a pagan ritual, which should ensure a good harvest next year. But in Finland, it is a goat-like creature, similar to the ancient Greek fauns and satyrs, that acts as the deity of fertility. This is where the tradition of giving Joulupukki such a strange nickname comes from. Sometimes he is even depicted with small horns on his head. So, speaking about the names of Santa Claus in different countries, one cannot smile at the thought that sometimes he turns out to be not only a good wizard, but also a little artiodactyl.

Previously, in Finnish villages, guys dressed in fur-turned sheepskin coats and put on a goat mask - the same tradition is present in Slavic Christmas traditions. But in Russia, mummers usually just carol and wish their owners health and wealth. In Finland, such guys dressed in a pagan spirit still gave gifts to obedient children, and frightened the naughty ones and promised to spank them.

Italy

Talking about how Santa Claus is called in different countries of the world, one cannot fail to mention Italy. There, unlike most traditional Christmas characters, gifts to children are distributed by a woman - fairy Befana. No, there is also Santa Claus there. His name is Babbo Natale. And the witch-like fairy Befana brings sweets to the kids not on Christmas itself, but on January 6, this is the day of honoring Saint Epiphany. For those who behaved well, she puts chocolates and sweets under the pillow, and for naughty ones she stuffs the socks with pieces of coal. Fairy Befana looks pretty funny - like a real witch. Hooked nose, and black clothes. According to legend, the fairy Befana was once an evil witch. But, having learned about the birth of Jesus, she decided to give up black magic. She met the Magi and wanted to go with them to Bethlehem. But they did not take poor Befana with them. Instead, she was assigned to roam the world and give gifts to obedient children, punishing naughty ones. So there are many options for how Santa Claus is called in different countries. And only in Italy it is an evil witch who decided to become good.

Japan

Each country has its own traditions. At first, they may seem strange, unusual and even funny - but Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden will seem funny to someone in the same way. In Japan, for example, there are as many as two characters associated with Speaking about how Santa Claus is called in different countries, it is difficult to immediately figure out what to say about the Land of the Rising Sun. There is both the canonical Segatsu-san and the newfangled Oji-san. This is the result of a mixture of national traditions and the influence of mass culture.

Two Spirits of the New Year

Segatsu-san is an ancient symbol of the New Year. He goes from house to house for a whole week, congratulating the Japanese on the holiday and giving them good luck and wealth. All seven days are considered holidays, at which time traditional New Year's delicacies are served on the table, and children dress in their best clothes. For Segatsu-san, special bamboo gates were placed, decorated with pine branches. Through them he had to enter the house. Perhaps, when talking about how Santa Claus is called in different countries, Segatsu-san should be mentioned. After all, it is he who is the traditional spirit of the Japanese New Year. True, he does not give gifts to anyone.

Oji-san - obvious result Western influence. He is very similar to Santa Claus, and also pampers the kids. Oji-san has little in common with traditional Japanese culture, but the children love him - after all, it is he who distributes gifts, not limited only to congratulations and good luck wishes.

New Year has become the most beloved and bright holiday for all mankind. New Year is a fairy tale holiday. And no fairy tale is complete without miracles. And in the New Year, we are waiting not only for gifts, but also for the arrival of the almighty old man Santa Claus to the house. We believe that he will surely fulfill our desires and return lost hopes. Santa Claus is subject to time and distance. He has time everywhere and can do everything. And it doesn’t matter that our Santa Claus is called differently in other states, and he doesn’t look as majestic there as at home. In each country it is a little different, but this is not the main thing, right?

On the eve of the New Year, I wanted to visit many countries and find out how our Grandfather Frost, Santa Clauses and other overseas winter characters are different and similar. I wonder how all Santa Clauses congratulate the kids? Of course, I could not go around the whole world, because I am not a magician. But I managed to visit somewhere.

I learned that all Santa Clauses bring gifts, only everyone does it in their own way. Our Santa Claus puts gifts under the festively decorated Christmas trees. And English and Irish grandfathers put gifts in socks. Perhaps the gifts are small. Or are the socks too big? In France and Holland, gifts get to the kids through chimneys, and in Spain, the grandfather leaves them on the balconies. Swedish grandfather gets closer to the stove, leaves near it new year greetings, heats up itself and goes.

... Dutch Santa Claus is called Sinterklaas. He appears in the company of two chimney sweeps. The grandfather himself is so imposing that he does not seek to climb into the chimneys on his own; instead, chimney sweep assistants bring gifts to children at night.	New Year in the Netherlands The Dutch celebrate the New Year (it is called the Old-New) under the explosions of firecrackers, firecrackers, the howl of car horns. At midnight on December 31, fireworks light up the sky over Amsterdam. Traditionally, the New Year is celebrated with family members. Waffles and cookies are served with the feast. Each region of the country has a special recipe for these sweets. The most popular type is a shortbread with almonds and candied fruit called the Christmas Wreath. The traditional Dutch New Year's drink is slem, which consists of hot milk with tea, saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. At 12 midnight in the Netherlands, champagne is opened and biscuits are eaten. At night, the Dutch put their Christmas trees on huge fires and burn them.

New Year in Austria Krampus scares not only evil spirits. He carries rods with him, with which he punishes children if they have not obeyed their parents for the past year. Now the monster has gone berserk and has begun handing coals to those who do not pay loans on time. Could the bankers have bribed Krampus into becoming a holiday collector? In honor of this Saint Sylvester, the Austrians prepare punch. Austrians celebrate the New Year with festive fireworks. There is a belief that evil spirits disappear only under fireworks soaring up. At midnight, trumpets sound from the church towers, announcing the coming of the New Year. The main dish on the tables of the Austrians is suckling pig. The Austrians are sure that those who ate a pig on New Year's Eve will have a good year. Tables are traditionally decorated with small marzipan pigs. A four-leaf clover, which is placed next to the treat, also brings good luck.	… New Year in Austria is called Sylvester in honor of Saint Sylvester. The role of Santa Claus is played by two characters: Saint Nikolaus and Krampus. Krampus is a kind of goblin that disperses evil spirits with loud cries.

... Weinakhtsman is Santa Claus in Germany. His prototype is also St. Nicholas. The German Santa Claus likes to appear on a donkey.	New Year in Germany Kids In Germany, before going to bed, put on the tables and window sills plates for gifts. And they put hay in their own shoes so that Weinakhtsman's donkey can refresh himself before a long journey. All German families gather at festive tables, exchange gifts. There are honey cakes, glass or porcelain piggy banks on the tables. The traditional dish of the Germans is carp, the scale of which is sure to bring good luck and prosperity. On the tables in every family are dishes of pork, sausages, stewed cabbage, pancakes, cookies, pretzels. Fireworks on New Year's Eve do not subside for a long time, the Germans also drive away evil spirits with them. Mummers walk around the villages on a festive night.

New Year in Denmark In Denmark, Ülemanden - chief grandfather frost, the so-called big grandfather. He has elves as his assistants. And the dwarf Julenisse works there as the youngest grandfather. He walks only in wooden shoes, short pants, and wears a cap on his head. Julenisse lives in a forest hut. Throughout the year, he prepares gifts with his own hands. Before Christmas, Julenisse, along with gifts, moves closer to people. From the cold and curious human glances, he hides in a barn. The Danes put on funny hats on New Year's Eve, and the tables are decorated with cookies. Exactly at 12 o'clock on festive table they serve sweet rice porridge with a surprise in the form of a nut. Unmarried Danes firmly believe that if they get a nut in their New Year's porridge, they will definitely get married. It is customary for Danish children to give plush or wooden Christmas trees, from under which a troll peeps out.	... the Danish grandfather Ulemanden is akin to all northern grandfather frosts. He comes on deer from Greenland. Ülemanden's clothing is reminiscent of a mixture of Santa Claus and Father Frost's wardrobe.

... Yul Tomten (Yolotomten) lives in Sweden, in a protected forest. Dusty the snowman, mischievous mice, the prince and the princess, witches, the King and The Snow Queen, elves. The elves work non-stop in their small mine and extract gold for Christmas tree decorations and gifts.	New Year in Sweden The Swedes on New Year's Eve after noisy feasts arrange festive festivities. Their tradition is to break dishes at the doors of their friends and burn a large straw goat. Before the New Year, Swedish children choose a festive queen - Lucia. She distributes gifts, brings treats for pets.

New Year in France Currently, Per-Noel has also acquired a Santa Claus costume, so he has somewhat lost his individuality. Like all Klaus, he began to climb the pipes and personally lay out the gifts on the shoes-socks. In France New Year's celebration is called Saint Sylvester's Day. Celebrations are held in the circle of friends. On the French table, depending on the region, there should be a goose or a turkey with chestnuts. Goose liver pate is a must. The French are sure that if the most luxurious treats are on the table on New Year's Eve, the whole year will be successful. January 1st is Boxing Day in France.	... French Christmas dad Per-Noel also descended from St. Nicholas. Although he used to dress modestly, he never skimped on gifts for the kids.

… in Italy, Babbo Natale (Christmas Grandfather) comes to Christmas, but by the New Year he is so tired that the resourceful Italians decided to entrust the delivery of gifts to a pretty and tireless woman named Befana.	New Year in Italy Old Befana is extremely mobile. To be in time for all the kids, she bought a broom. Befana stops his aircraft for a second over the chimneys, drops gifts into them and rushes on. True, granny is extremely strict with naughty children: they get only ashes. On New Year's table Italians always have a symbol that personifies wealth - pork with lentils. Italians also eat dried grapes. The Italians have a sign - whoever eats more grapes on New Year's Eve will become richer in the coming year. Exactly at midnight, Italians throw old things through the windows. It is believed that in this way it is possible to deal with the sorrows accumulated over the year. It is customary in Italy on January 1 to dress up only in new clothes.

New Year in England Father Christmas is currently dressed in bright red, no different from other Santa Clauses. In Victorian and Tudor times, he wore only a bright green suit and a green cloak trimmed with white fur. The British are sure to see off old year and welcome the new one. By tradition, they leave the back doors open so that the old year can freely leave the house. At exactly 12 o'clock the bell sounds. The English close the back door and throw open the front door, where the New Year enters. Punch is a traditional drink among the British; pudding is always served for sweets. The English New Year celebrations are the end of the Christmas holidays.	… Father Christmas is a grandfather's name used in many English-speaking countries. In the past, English Santa Claus bore the names Old Father Christmas (Old Santa Claus), Sir Christmas (Sir Christmas, Lord Christmas).

... an Irish grandfather resembles a fairy-tale astrologer. His name is Father Christmas or Daid-na-nolag. True, only the old Irish remember this. And here Santa Claus began to displace the traditional grandfather.	New Year in Ireland The Irish celebrate the New Year in the family mound. On the eve of celebrations, according to tradition, the Irish treat friends and neighbors with pastries. It is customary in Ireland to leave the doors of houses open so that any passer-by can come in and join the celebration. Plentiful treats from meat delicacies, poultry, pastries are displayed on the tables. On the New Year's table, there must be a seed cake - a cupcake or cookies with cumin. Throughout the New Year holidays, three puddings are served on the table.

Our Santa Claus and Santa Claus Nevertheless, our Santa Claus is very different from European colleagues. Our grandfather's robe can be of different colors: blue, red, white, gold, even green. The main thing is that our grandfather will never forget to change his nightcap. On his head is a boyar hat trimmed with white fur. Our grandfather's sheepskin coat is necessarily embroidered with patterns with precious stones, he wears mittens, shod in felt boots, girded with a sash. The traditional costume of Santa Claus is red, a cap with a white pompom sits on his head. He is shod in boots, on his hands are white gloves. They girded Santa Claus with a leather belt. In fact, Santa Claus is more like a slightly grown up gnome, there is no real master of blizzards and northern winds in him. He is flimsy compared to our grandfather.