Monday, December 19, 2011

Names for the Gift-bringers

Throughout history there have been many names given for the being representing the spirit of giving. We commonly refer to many of them as Old World Santas. I have made a list of some of those names with a brief description to help identify them.

1.      Aschenklas is a secular replacement for St. Nicholas. Often appears somewhat frightening or stern.

2.      Baboushka (Russian female similar to the Italian La Befana)

3.      Belsnickle is a secular replacement for St. Nicholas. Often appears somewhat frightening or stern.

4.      Božiček (Christmas Man),

5.      Christkindl (The Christ child) is a female gift-bringer, she is an angelic figure dresses all in white.

6.      Dedek Mraz or Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost, Russian), is usually seen very ornately dressed in blue trimmed with white fur and carrying an ornate staff.

7.      Father Christmas, English

8.      Julnisse & Jultomten (Elves or gnomes)

9.      Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Rupert), 17th century in 1668 as one of the dark helpers of Christkindl. Frightening looking dressed all in furs.

10. La Befana (female, the good Christmas witch, Italian), delivers gifts on the evening of January 5th. She is seen riding through the air on a broomstick wearing a black shawl and carrying a hamper of gifts.  She is often seen covered in soot as she enters the houses through the chimney.

11.  Odin the wander

12.  Pelznickel (Nicholas in furs) is another dark helper of Christkindl, looks similar to Knecht Ruprecht.

13.  Père Noel, French, rides a donkey and uses a staff. Donkey is named Mistletoe.

14.  Ruklaas (Rough Nicholas) is a secular replacement for St. Nicholas. Often appears somewhat frightening.

15.  Santa Claus, American derived from the Dutch, Sinterklaas

16.  Sinterklaas, assisted by Zwarte Piet (Black Peter)


17.  St. Nicolaus (Mikulás), The original gift-bringer

18.  Weinachtsmann (Christmas Man) German
 This is by no means a complete list of the names just the most commonly known. I've also discovered one group of gift-bringers that only those of you who have been following this blog have been introduced to and that would be the Nossie.

Here are some photos of some of the gift-bringers as I envision them.


Ded Moroz with his granddaughter the Snow Maiden and Baboushka

Many a Santa is dressed in red and can be seen carrying trees.

Others may be seen delivering wreaths.

Some come carrying a bag of gifts for the good boys and girls

and then there is the Belsnickle with switches for the naughty children.

This Santa is a familiar figure in his red suit trimmed with white fur and his shinny black boots.

The Santa that most children hope for a visit from is the one with the bag full of toys.

Last but not least is one of the Nossie who delivers his gifts to the children of Not Quite Middle Earth.

I know that there's more to Christmas than gifts and decorations but since this blog is about Santa and the Mrs. I hope you'll understand.

I imagine that you are as busy as I am so I won't take up any more of your time. I just wanted to say

~Merry Christmas to all~

As always thanks for stopping by.

14 comments:

Astridbears said...

Hello Maddy,
thank you for the list of giftbringers around the world. Your giftbringers are such adorable and I love them all! You do an excellent work
Merry Christmas to you
hugs
Astrid

The Bear's Blog said...

Miss Maddyrose,

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Hugs,
Prudence

Katy Cameron said...

Aww, we love your collection of gift bringers!

Merry Christmas to you Miss Maddyrose

Hugs

The Clan and Jack

Jan said...

I wonder if you heard Travels with Rick Steves on the radio yesterday. He went all around the world talking to people about their Christmas customs and I'm sure many of the "people" you named today were spoken of in that broadcast. You would have enjoyed it if you didn't hear, maybe you can find the program archived on the internet, it was on OPB.

Thanks for the wonderful review of your fabulous creations, it was a fun visit. Hope you are having the happiest of holidays!

Hill Top Post said...

Maddy, this is one of my favorite posts ever. What a joy to see all of your wonderful gift bringers...love them all!

JDConwell said...

How cool was that? Thanks for the lesson!

Kays Kids said...

I loved your blog about the Gift Givers. We learn a lot from one another.
Hugs
Kay

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

I love your telling of the gift givers and also another peek at your fabulous work. Thanks so very much and yes you are right, the list goes on and on with other names known by many but I venture to say that there would not be one other person who would claim the name Sandy Drawers as the name of a gift giver.....besides my sweet but misguided daughter. That's what she called Santa Claus the first year she could say it.....and at our house...it stuck. So Merry Christmas and I hope Sandy Drawers is good to all of us. Oma Linda

Anonymous said...

I have never heard of some of these gift bringers. Quite interesting. You know I love your creation, and my very own special Santa looks so beautiful. Dan even stops to admire it (and that is saying something. You know how men are.) Anyway, he and I agree that it will be an heirloom. A very cherished one at that. Wishing you a very merry Christmas.

orchid0324 said...

Oh, My Dearest Maddy.
I must print out this post and read well. These Gift bringers are totally new to me; haha just Santa would be the one I thought!!!
Thank you very much for sharing this information.
Merry Christmas to you with LOTS of LOVE, xoxo Orchid*

Ascension said...

Maddy me ha encantado toda la explicacion que nos has dado, no tenia ni idea.
Pero lo mejor es ver todos tus trabajos, son tan maravillosos.
Feliz Navidad!!!!!!!
besitos ascension

♥●• İzdihër •●♥ said...

Gift bringers and all these things are so new to me .Thanks for sharing.

Merry x-mass :)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

What a wonderfully fun and informative post this was. I just loved readin' about and seein' all the differently unique Santas through history.

God bless ya sweet one and have yourself a wonderful Christmas filled with love, laughter and fudge baby...heaps of fudge!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! ;o)

OldeAnniePrimitives said...

How interesting!! I really enjoyed reading that! Love all the photos of all the Santas! Hope you have a wonderful holiday season! Merry Christmas! ~~Annie