The winter holidays bring with them a variety of characters from around the world.

According to Britannica, Santa Claus has served as an “American Christmas mainstay” for more than 200 years, using his naughty-or-nice list to deliver gifts to children.

It is believed the legend of Santa Claus originated from St. Nicholas, who is celebrated Dec. 6. In Holland, St. Nicholas was known and celebrated as Sinterklaas.

When Dutch colonists came to the American colonies in the 17th century, so did Sinterklaas, according to Britannica. The legend of Sinterklaas, pronounced Santa Claus by the English-speaking majority in the colonies, blended with Nordic traditions of “a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents.”

The current image of Santa Claus was set in the 19th century and remains the popular representation. He is also known as Father Christmas in the United Kingdom.

Santa Claus joins a band of several other holiday visitors from around the world to spread holiday cheer, and sometimes fear.

One of the most well-known other holiday visitors is Krampus. Krampus is said to be a half-goat, half-demon creature who serves as the counterpart to St. Nicholas. Britannica reported this central European legend is believed to have originated in Germany. While St. Nicholas leaves gifts for children Dec. 6, Krampus is said to beat the naughty children with branches or sticks.

Le Pere Fouettard is a dark Christmas figure in France and some other French-speaking regions. Like Krampus, he is seen as a counterpart to St. Nicholas who punishes naughty children. It is said he originated in Lorraine.

According to French Moments, disobedient or lazy children were hit with a whip or carried away in his big sack. Sometimes, he was generous and just left coal, onions, peppers, beetroot and other hated things for the children instead of resorting to physical punishment.

There are other versions of this holiday villain, according to French Moments. These include Hans Trapp in Alsace, Rubelz or Rupp Knecht in German-speaking Lorraine, Pere La Pouque in Normandy, Zwarte Piet in the Netherlands, Knecht Ruprecht in Germany and Pelznickel in the German Middle Rhine.

La Befana visits Jan. 6 in Italy. She is said to be an old witchlike woman who regrets her decision not to join the Wise Men on their journey to see baby Jesus.

According to Italia Living, she sets out on her own journey to follow the Wise Men, with gifts for Jesus. Instead, she leaves these gifts for other Italian children. She is also known to leave lumps of coal for children who have not been good.

Ded Moroz, also known as Father Frost, is celebrated in Russia. Express to Russia reported Ded Moroz was originally said to have been denounced by the church as a demon who could freeze whole armies with his ice-cold fingers. Even today, some people portraying Ded Moroz sometimes stick their hands in snow or ice to prove to children they are really him.

Late in the 19th century, the Ded Moroz legend thaws a bit and families begin to see him in a better light. He transforms over time into a gift-giver accompanied by his granddaughter, Snegurochka, who helps carry the presents.

There is a whole host of characters celebrated during Christmas in Iceland, including a child-eating giantess named Gryla and her 13 troll sons known as the Yule Lads. According to Guide to Iceland, the Yule Lads run amok Dec. 11-24 to engage in various acts of mischief.

The original image of the Yule Lads was grotesque and had them performing some odd and revolting acts. Nowadays, their image has softened to include fluffy beards and big smiles, and their pranks consist of leaving gifts in the shoes children leave on the windowsills. Naughty children will find a potato in the shoe, instead of coal.

While the Yule Lads have transformed into friendly creatures, their mother has not. Gryla is still believed to collect naughty children in a sack before cooking them into a stew she will feast on for the whole year.

Gryla does not work alone. She has the help of the Yule Cat, or Christmas Cat, who is said to eat children who did not get new clothes to wear for Christmas. Often in America, clothes for Christmas is a disappointment for children, but in Iceland, this act will save you from the Yule Cat.

In Japan, a Buddhist monk named Hoteiosho, who has eyes on the back of his head, delivers gifts to children on New Year’s Eve. According to Woman’s World, Japanese children spend Christmas Day doing good deeds and charity work.

Belsnickel was a tradition brought to Pennsylvania by German immigrants. According to Visit PA Americana, Belsnickel is depicted as wearing dirty, torn clothes and furs and often wears deer antlers on his head.

He aims to see if children are naughty or nice and asks them questions or has them sing a song. In return, he will throw sweet treats or nuts on the floor. If the children greedily go for the treats or fail to recount their good behavior during the year, they may get hit with the switch Belsnickel carries. The good children are rewarded with the treats.

Since Belsnickel visits a week or two before Christmas, it gives children a chance to think twice before misbehaving.

Agios Vassilis, or St. Basil, visits Greece and Santa Lucia stops by in Norway and Sweden. St. Basil traditionally visits Jan. 1, but some families have been moving his visit up to coincide with Santa Claus Dec. 24 and 25. Santa Lucia is traditionally honored by young women dressing up as her in ceremonial processions Dec. 13.

A Catalan tradition speaks of Caga Tio or Tio de Nadal, the pooping log. Catalan children are taught to feed a log scraps of food to encourage it to poop goodies.

According to NPR, snacks are left in front of the log, which is decorated with a little face, and in the morning, the snacks are gone. The log will be fed for weeks, leading up to Dec. 24 when a blanket is placed on the non-face end. Families then start singing songs and beating the log. Children are sent to another room to pray. Upon their return, the blanket is lifted, revealing presents and sweets.

Whomever you believe is coming this winter holiday season, may it be filled with happiness and joy.

Samantha Anderson

editorial assistant

Whitehall-Coplay Press

Northampton Press

Catasauqua Press