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Christmas Countdown ....2... Santa ( by any other name)

Christmas Countdown ...2...
Santa by any other name: The original Santa was Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (Turkey) who became known for his generosity and kindness, especially to the poor and children. After his death in 350AD, stories about the good St Nicholas became legends associated with Christmas in many other parts of the world.  In some countries, children still receive gifts on the feast day of St Nicholas, 6 December and in most countries, a mythical character, with the virtues of St. Nicholas, is a symbol of Christmas giving.
In USA, Canada , Australia and other western countries, he is Santa Claus. (from the Dutch SinterKlaas) He is also called Kris Kringle - which comes from the German term “the Christ Child”. In England, he is also known as Father Christmas and in France, Pere Noel. In Germany, children get presents from Christindl, the Christ Child. In Morocco he is known as Black Peter. In Sweden Jultomten visits the evening before Christmas day, pulling a big bag of julklappar (Christmas presents) in the deep snow. Pã Norsk  (in Norwegian ) “Julenissen” arrives on Christmas eve. In Finland, he is called Joulupukki.
Sinter Klaas in Dutch is much thinner than the American Santa Claus. He rides a white horse and gets help from numerous Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes) handing out gifts and candy.  In Russia, he is called Grandfather Frost that is “ded moroz”.   In Japan, Santa Claus is called Santa Claus or just “Santa”. Children often call him “Santa no ojisan”, which means “Uncle Santa .  In China, he is called Shengdan Laoren



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