Whenever we think of Christmas automatically the
image of Santa Claus comes to our mind. Today Santa Claus has become
the most beloved of Christmas symbols and traditions. The image of
the jolly old elf flying in a sleigh pulled by reindeers and leaving
toys and gifts for every child is know worldwide. The concept of
gift giving is associated the image of Santa Claus. He is known as
the gift giver. Many countries have kept their own customs and
traditions of Saint Nicholas. In some cultures Saint Nicholas
travels with an assistant to help him. In Holland, Sinterklaas sails
in on a ship arriving on 5th December. He carries a big book, which
tells him how the Dutch children have behaved during the past year.
Good children are rewarded with gifts and his assistant, Black
Peter, takes the bad ones away. In Germany Saint Nicholas also
travels with an assistant, known as Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus, or
Pelzebock, and comes with a sack on his back and a rod in his hand.
Good children receive a gift, but naughty children are punished by
the assistant with a few hits of the rod.
In Italy La Befana is good witch who dresses all in black and
brings gifts to children on the Epiphany, 6th January. In many
Spanish countries; Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and South America,
the children wait for the Three Kings to bring their Christmas
gifts. In France Father Christmas or Pere Noel bring gifts for the
children. Switzerland has the Christkindl or Christ Child who bears
gifts. In some towns children await the Holy Child and in others
Christkindl is a girl-angel who comes down from heaven bearing
gifts. The Scandinavian countries celebrate with an elf, called the
julenisse or the juletomte who bears gifts. And in England Father
Christmas, a more austere and thinner version of Santa Claus, brings
gifts. In North American it is the round and plump "Ho Ho
Ho'ing" Santa Claus who flies in a sleigh pulled by eight
reindeers delivering toys to the children of the world.
