In the United States, Santa Claus is jolly with rosy cheeks. His counterparts around the world are quite different and sometimes scary. In fact, often there is even an anti-Santa, a true counterpart. Here are their worldly tales:
Krampus (main image)
Location: Austria, Germany, France, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia and Hungary
The story: Krampus represents bad children. He looks like a yeti with horns, fangs and a long tongue and scolds naughty children with a whip. Krampus hails from traditional German folklore. Legend has it that Saint Nicholas would drive Krampus away from children only if they promised to behave.
Le Pere Fouettard and Pere Noel
Location: France, parts of Belgium
Description: Le Pere Fouettard is known as the whipping father; the title derives from the French word ‘to whip.’ Fouettard works with Pere Noel to punish kids who have been bad. Obviously, Pere Noel (Father Christmas) is the nice one, who rewards the nice kids around the world.
Sinterklaas and Black Peter
Location: The Netherlands and Belgium, Luxembourg
Description: The names and days are different but this is basically Santa Claus. These countries celebrate/honor the day of Saint Nicholas, which is the December 6. Their version of Christmas Eve is December 5 and Christmas Day is December 6. The man in the suit is known as Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas. His duties are the same as Santa Claus. Sinterklaas has a helper named Black Peter. The story is that Peter is the one who climbs down the chimney to deliver presents and along the way gets covered in soot.
Ded Moroz
Location: Russia
Description: Ded Moroz can be translated to Grandfather Frost, and he is Santa Claus’ counterpart. Ded Moroz delivers presents in person alongside his granddaughter, Snegurochka, the snow maiden. They work against the evil witch Baba Yaga, who steals children’s presents during Christmas.
La Befana
Location: Italy
Description: La Befana is a good witch who flies on a broom and delivers gifts to children. She uses her broom instead of a sleigh to get around.
Jolasveinar
Location: Iceland
Description: The Jolasveinar means Yule Lads in English, and there are 13 of them. The old tales paint these elves (or mountain trolls) as mischievous, but the modern stories portrays the group as good, known for their generosity, who like to leave gifts for good children and potatoes in the shoes of naughty kids.
