Traveling Abroad for Christmas? Meet Santa Claus Around the World! Javier Peinado November 28, 2022 general, Holiday Travel While most Americans associate the Christmas holiday with Santa Claus, the U.S. is not the only country in the world to use a non-religious entity as a figurehead for this time of the year. Many other places around the globe use good ol’ St. Nicholas as a focal point of the celebration, particularly when it comes to the always appreciated giving of the gifts. Here’s just a few of the most popular and celebrated Santa Claus around the world that you can “meet” when traveling abroad during the most magical time of the year! Father Christmas, England English families delight in the annual trip to the Father Christmas grotto. This specially designed room — or hut — is appropriately decorated for the holiday season, providing a festive backdrop for children to visit Father Christmas in order to take unforgettable pictures among many other fun activities for the whole family. It’s also traditional for children to leave Father Christmas a minced pie and sherry in exchange for the gifts that they receive. Weihnachtsmann, Germany German holiday traditions stretch far beyond the iconic Christmas markets. If you’re spending the holidays in Germany, you will definitely hear the legend of Weihnachtsmann, the person who brings gifts to all of the children. Of course, it’s customary to open these gifts on Christmas Eve as families enjoy tons of festive food and drink. All German children know that they need to write letters to the Weihnachtsmann during the Advent season requesting their specific gifts. Hoteiosho, Japan Although the Japanese don’t typically celebrate Christmas, that doesn’t stop them from enjoying a few Western holiday traditions! This Japanese version of Santa Claus is a Buddhist monk named Hoteiosho. Like the Americanized version of this Christmas classic, Hoteiosho is a jovial man with a large belly and a sack full of toys. One difference that distinguishes Hoteiosho is the presence of eyes on the back of his head. Why? Well, legend has it that this is how he sees if children are behaving properly! Hoteiosho is also known for being one of the seven gods of fortune in the Japanese culture, by the way. You May Also Like: The Best Apps for Tech-Savvy Travelers Kanakaloka, Hawaii Native Hawaiians enjoy the same Christmas traditions that most Americans participate in during this special time of the year! One slight difference though is that the Hawaiian version of Santa Claus has swapped the classic red suit and hat for a more authentic Hawaiian wardrobe, featuring a floral shirt paired with a lei. That alone sounds like an awesome excuse to start looking for cheap flights to Hawaii for Christmas! This Hawaiian Santa is also known to flash the iconic “hang loose” sign when delivering presents and visiting with children. Joulupukki, Finland The word Joulupukki translates to “old goat,” explaining the Finnish tradition of a person dressed up as a goat performing for families in exchange for leftover food. The best place to immerse yourself in this peculiar tradition is to visit the Santa Claus Village located near the city of Rovaniemi. Here you will find the Joulupukki hard at work in his office with his elves making toys. Visitors will get to see the North Pole, Santa’s reminder, and more. The spirit of the holidays comes alive in this quintessential Christmas village that delights people of all ages! Père Noël, France Similar to the Spanish Papá Noel, Père Noël is the magical being who brings gifts to the people of France. Tradition has it that this figure delivers the presents on the evening of December 23 or on Christmas morning, so keep that in mind if you intend to book cheap flights to Paris or any other French city for your Christmas getaway abroad. The youngest children often refer to this jolly man as Daddy Christmas. In lieu of stockings, French children leave their shoes near the fireplace for Père Noël to fill. In a dark twist, some parts of eastern France also see a visit from Le Père Fouettard . . . the nasty figure who — allegedly, of course — punishes children who do not behave! Do you have fond memories of the Santa from your home country? Tell us about it in the comments below!
