This Map Shows What Santa Claus Is Called Across Europe

What did you call Santa Claus when you were growing up?

If you’re from the UK, it was probably Father Christmas. If you’re French, Père Noël would fill your stocking.

This map shows the fascinating differences between different European languages, via the medium of the Christmas gift-giver’s name.

A map of Christmas gift-givers across Europe

Versions of Father, Daddy and Grandfather Christmas are common, as are ‘Christmas Man’, ‘Christ Child’ and other variants of Jesus Christ.

Every European country has a version of the name, and it’s interesting to see how the different languages alter them.

The map also shows the different gift-givers that countries have. For example, Italian folklore has the character of La Befana, a witch who brings presents to kids on January 5.

She’s similar to Santa in that she fills children’s socks with small presents and sweets if they’ve been well behaved, or brings coal or dark-coloured sweets if they haven’t.

Her story states that she gave the three wise men a bed for the night while they were travelling to see the baby Jesus and stopped to ask her for directions. She was the best housekeeper in her village, hence her broom and witch associations.

They asked her if she wanted to join them to meet Jesus, but she said she was too busy. Later she was filled with regret and changed her mind, but was unable to find the three wise men to join them. Legend states that she’s looking for the baby Jesus to this day.

The map was made by Czech linguist and cartographer Jakub Marian.
Who did you address your Christmas wish lists to?

About the author

Alice Johnston

Food Editor

Alice is always planning her next meal. She studied English at the University of Bristol before getting her Master’s in newspaper journalism from City University London. She worked on Femail at Mail Online for 18 months writing about lifestyle and food and has also worked at Metro.co.uk, The Guardian, Mumsnet and The Sun. After starting at Culture Trip as a Social Content Producer writing travel and lifestyle stories, she was promoted to the role of Food Editor and now specialises in culinary culture, trends and social issues around food. When she’s not writing, eating or travelling, she can be found cooking overly elaborate dinners, reading cookbooks in bed or playing with her cat, Orlando. Her favourite foods include fishfinger sandwiches, burnt caramel panna cotta, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and oysters.