Papa Noel and Olentzero are Santas in Spain. The most unusual Christmas characters and traditions in Spain How to celebrate the New Year in Spain

In America - Santa Claus. Gray hair, neat beard trimmed short and mustache. Red short fur coat, pants and hat-cap. A dark leather belt with a buckle wraps around a thick belly. Thin white gloves. Often wears glasses. He smokes a pipe (although lately he has been trying not to “press” this element of the image), travels through the air on deer, enters the house through the chimney and tosses gifts into shoes and stockings left near the fireplace. The children leave milk and chocolate chip cookies for him.

Santa is a middle-aged man, overweight, cheerful and cheerful. Usually one appears, but dwarves and elves may accompany. The name "Santa Claus" first appeared in the press in 1773.

In Azerbaijan - "Saxta Baba"(Mine Baba, literally Santa Claus. The same Santa Claus, but in blue.

In Armenia - Dzmer Papi(literally Winter grandfather) and Junanushik(literally “Snowy Anush” (Anush is sweet, as well as a female name).

In England - Father Christmas and Santa Claus

In Austria -Sylvester.

In Australia, Santa Claus since the climate does not allow wearing a fur coat, here Santa appears in a red bathing suit-overalls, but always in a hat with fur.

in Altai - Sook Taadak.

In Bashkortostan and Tatarstan - Kysh Babai.

In Bulgaria - Dyado Koleda or Dyado Mraz

In Belgium and Poland - St Nicholas.

In Belarus - Ded Moroz (Dzed Maroz). He is dressed in a long fur coat to the toes, leans on a magic staff, does not wear glasses, does not smoke a pipe, leads a healthy lifestyle and does not suffer from noticeable fullness. The Belarusian Santa Claus lives in his residence (since December 25, 2003) on the territory of the National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha". Guests are welcomed not only in winter, but all year round.

And here Snow Maiden comes to help Santa Claus only in winter, for the holidays. In addition to the house of Santa Claus itself, the estate has a separate house for the Snow Maiden - the Treasury (Skarbnitsa), where gifts and letters sent by children are stored. On the territory of the residence grows the tallest spruce in Europe (40 m), which is 120 years old.

Vietnamese the spirit of the new year is called Tao Kuen. It is also called the spirit of the family hearth. On New Year's Eve, he goes to heaven on a carp, which turns into a dragon, to report to the heavenly ruler about the good deeds and deeds of all family members. Therefore, sweets are placed near his image, many, many sweets. Tao Kuen will eat, his lips will stick together - he will not be able to tell very much.

In Holland and the Netherlands - Site-Kaas (Sinter Klaas, Sunderklass). Sinter Klaas arrives on horseback, dressed in a miter and a white episcopal robe, accompanied by his faithful servant, the Moor, nicknamed Black Peter, who carries a bag with gifts for obedient children and a rod for the naughty.

In Georgia- “Tovlis papa”, “Tovlis babua”

In France- New Year's good man is called "daddy" Peer Noel, which means "Father Christmas", he is dressed in all white. He walks with a staff and wears a wide-brimmed hat and a long fur coat. Previously accompanied by Pre fuettar- literally translated “dad with a whip”, who mercilessly whipped those who did not obey dad and mom. Now Per Noel often comes alone.Also in France there is another Santa Claus - Shaland, old man with a beard and in a fur hat and raincoat. And in his basket he keeps not gifts, but rods for naughty children.

In Sweden and Denmark- as in France there are two Santa Clauses: a stooped grandfather Yultomten(Yolotomten, Yul Tomten) is a little old man who lives in the forest and rides in a cart pulled by foxes. He is helped by a dwarf with a beard Yulnissar. Both of them are kind and leave presents for the children on the windowsills for the New Year.

In Germany- Weinachtsman, Kristkind, Niemand, Santa Nikolaus. Santa Nikolaus- a modern New Year's wizard. He comes with his assistant Knecht Ruprecht, which keeps a journal detailing the actions of children. In the 19th century. Ruprecht performed not only secretarial duties: he grabbed the most notorious naughty, put them in a bag or carried them into the forest into the huge pocket of his raincoat. The oldest New Year's character is Nimand(None). German children put the blame on him when they were naughty or broke something. On a festive night, he came on a donkey and brought sweets to obedient children. Children for these sweets put a plate on the table, and put hay in the shoes for his donkey. On the evening of December 24, when the Christmas trees are already lit, comes according to tradition Weinakhtsman(Christmas grandfather) and Christkind.

The Christmas grandfather is introduced as a friendly old man with a long white beard, a red hat and white fur, a bag of gifts and a cane. Sometimes he goes with him Polznickel. He is dressed up quite terribly, in contrast to the beautiful and meek Kristkind. He is wearing a topsy-turvy fur coat, intercepted by a chain, in one hand a rod for punishing the disobedient. Interestingly, unlike Weinakhtsman, they try not to let Poltsnikel into the house. He walks the streets, catches walkers, frightening with his chains and even forcing them to eat onions and garlic, which he specially carries with him.

But Polznikel is not considered evil, but rather harsh and fair. It is believed that with his chains he scares away evil spirits. Kristkind appears in a white outfit, holding a basket with traditional apples, nuts and sweets. Children could tell Christkind poems and sing songs, and for this they received gifts. Kristkind gives gifts only to obedient children, and the naughty ones are left empty-handed. Christkind is an invention of Martin Luther. Protestants did not recognize Catholic saints, but they wanted to keep the custom of giving gifts, so Kristkind was created, which distributed gifts to Protestant families on Christmas Day, December 25th. Then this image took root and Kristkind began to come more often to Catholic families, but Protestant families practically abandoned this character. In German folklore, children put carrots in their shoes for Odin's flying horse. And Odin gave them sweets in return.

In Greece and Cyprus- Santa's name is Vasily. Children sing a song: “Saint Basil, where are you, come, Saint Basil, give happiness, fulfill all my desires.” Here the prototype of the Nativity saint is Basil the Great of Caesarea, a younger contemporary of Nicholas. Saint Basil turned out to be Christmas because his memory is celebrated by the Greek church on the first of January. In the guise of a modern Greek St. Basil has many traits from his western counterpart. He is portrayed as an old man with a white beard who goes around the house and gives gifts to children.

In the north of Spain, in the Basque country - Olentzero. He does not melt with a flask of good Spanish wine, but he never forgets and gives gifts to children.

In Spain - Papa Noel. The tradition of celebrating the New Year with Santa Claus originated in the country relatively recently. Papa Noel did not appear here by chance, but appeared under the inspiration of Santa.

Spaniards are more accustomed to receiving gifts from the Fairy Kings, but Papa Noel was also welcomed here. Children are especially welcome. Now Papa Noel comes for Christmas and New Year, and on January 6, the Magic Kings come with gifts.

In India- the duties of Grandfather Mgoroz are performed by the goddess Lakshmi(goddess of happiness and prosperity). She is described as a goddess of incredible beauty, standing on a lotus and holding a lotus in two hands.

AT Italy- Santa Claus is generally a woman, and not just a woman, but a witch - an old woman Befana(La Befana). In her appearance, she resembles Baba Yaga from Russian fairy tales, but unlike Baba Yaga, Befana is terrible in her face, but kind inside. She flies on New Year's Eve through the chimney to each child's house and leaves gifts for good children, however, some people find coals instead of sweets. These are also sweets, only black, with bitterness. So Befana hints to girls and boys: remember, did you behave well last year, did you upset your parents?

There are also Babo Nattale- leaves his sleigh on the roof and enters the house through the chimney, where some milk and sweets are left for him.

In Lithuania - Senialis Šaltis(Old Man Frost)

In Kazakhstan - Ayaz-ata literal translation sounds like Grandfather Frost.

In Cambodia (in Kampuchea) - Ded Zhara. And the New Year is celebrated there for three days: from April 13 to 15.

In Kalmykia - Zul.

In Karelia - Pakkaine, which in translation from Karelian means Frost. Pakkaine is young. His birthday is December 1st.

In China - Sho Hing, Sheng Dan Laojen or Dong Che Lao Ren. He will definitely visit every Chinese child and leave a gift for everyone. Sho Hin is a wise old man who wears silk robes, has a long beard, and studied Confucius, wushu and aikido. He travels around the country on a donkey.

In Colombia, Pascual.

In Karelia - Pakkainen.

In Mongolia -Uvlin Uvgun, and accompany it Zazan Ohin(Snow Maiden) and Tire Vein(boy New Year). New Year in Mongolia coincides with the festival of cattle breeding, so Uvlin Uvgun wears the clothes of a cattle breeder: in a furry coat and a large fox hat. In his hands he has a long whip, a flint, a flint and a snuffbox. It depends on him whether there will be plenty of milk and meat for the New Year's table.

In Norway- Make gifts for children Nisse(Yolinise) - cute little brownies. Nisse wear knitted caps. They also like tasty things (sweet oatmeal and a piece of butter). Even though the Nisse are caring protectors of the home, they are very vindictive - from damaging livestock to destroying an entire farm. And if you wish, you can become invisible. He loves attics and cupboards with dishes. Friendly with pets.

Later, the image of Nisse was transformed into Santa's Christmas helper. At the head of the Nisse clan is the son of that Nisse, who first gave two silver coins to a little girl more than four hundred years ago.

And it was like this: one Nisse accidentally saw a girl who on Christmas Eve put a bowl in the snow so that Nisse would leave some food for her. Nisse put two coins into the bowl. And then he liked this idea so much that every year he began to give coins and sweets to children. It is Nissa who is helped to choose the best spruce, worthy of decorating the whole city! They climb to the top of the most beautiful Christmas tree and swing on it until people notice.

In Savoy - Saint Schaland.

In Ukraine - Father Frost(Did Frost). But it is St. Nicholas, and not Santa Claus, who brings gifts (mykolaichiki) to children on the night of December 18-19 and puts them under the pillow.

In Uzbekistan - “Korbobo(To the delight of the children, on New Year's Eve, he enters the villages on horseback on a donkey, himself in a striped robe, in a patterned skullcap. And the Snow Maiden with him Korgyz also in a skullcap and she also has many, many braids, like any Uzbek girl.”- I found this information on the Internet, and my Uzbek friend told me this - Cor Bobo(literal translation Black Grandfather or Grandfather) the robe is like that of the Russian Santa Claus, only the color of the robe has some difference - it is white and blue. The girl next to him Kor Kyz, unlike the Russian Snow Maiden, who has a kokoshnik on her head - Kor Kyz has a cap that fits her head.

In Romania - most often you will meet the name Mosh Jarile, but it is not so. Now in Romania Santa Claus is called Mosh Krachun- Christmas in Romanian.According to a Romanian legend, the shepherd Crăciun sheltered the Virgin Mary. When she gave birth, he gave her and her Child cheese and milk.

Since then, Saint Mosh Krachun has been giving gifts to children. He comes from the outback Codri. Mosh Dzharile - this is a pseudonym for the time of the socialist period - now they have returned to the old name.

In Moldova - Mosh Krachun He also has his own retinue - these are the famous Pekale and Tyndale, as well as other national characters. Mosh Krachun wears not a red fur coat, but a traditional caftan with a belt decorated with a national pattern, and a sheep's kushma on his head.

In Russia - Father Frost. A tall, thin, but strong old man. Stern, stately, unsmiling, but kind and fair. walks in a white, blue or red sheepskin coat, with a long white beard and a staff in his hand, in felt boots. Pants are usually hidden under a sheepskin coat and are almost invisible, but linen pants and a shirt are white or decorated with ornaments. Belted with a wide belt. Wears embroidered gloves. He rides on three horses. Inseparable from his granddaughter Snegurochka . Sometimes a Snowman can also accompany. Since 1998, Veliky Ustyug has been considered the official residence of Santa Claus in Russia. Since 2005, the official birthday of Father Frost is January 18, when the first severe frosts usually strike in Veliky Ustyug. He enters through the door when he is called loudly three times and presents gifts. Or put gifts under the tree.

In Tuvai - Sook irey

In Tajikistan - Baboi Barfi

In Finland - Joulupukki. "Youlu" means Christmas, o "pukki" - a goat, that is, a Christmas goat. The fact is that many years ago, Santa Claus wore a goat skin, and delivered gifts on a goat. Gray hair, neat beard and mustache. Red jacket, pants and cap. Dark leather belt. Definitely glasses. He lives on Mount Korvantunturi (“mountain-ear”) either in a hut or in the mountain itself. along with his wife Muori (Maria) and the dwarves. In ancient times, he went home at Christmas (caroled), treated obedient children and punished the naughty (for which he carried rods with him). Subsequently, the educational moment was missed. The modern image and legend are largely taken from the American Santa Claus.

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia - Mikulas - comes on the night of December 5-6, on the eve of St. Nicholas Day. Outwardly similar to our Santa Claus. Long fur coat, hat, staff, with a top twisted into a spiral. Only now he brings gifts not in a bag, but in a shoulder box.

Yes, and it is not the Snow Maiden who accompanies him, but an angel in snow-white clothes and a shaggy imp. Mikulash is always happy to give good and obedient children an orange, an apple or some kind of sweetness. But if in the "Christmas boot" a hooligan or a loafer found a potato or a piece of coal, then this is definitely the work of Mikulas.

In Estonia - Jõuluvana and he looks like his Finnish cousin Joulupukki.

In the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug - Yamal Iri. In 2007, Yamal had its own Santa Claus, who happily welcomes guests to his residence, gives them gifts, treats them and grants their wishes. year. This is one of the modern grandfathers: he has a mobile phone, e-mail, a personal website. Yamal Iri travels a lot, conducts a ritual ceremony of initiation of travelers into the "Northern Brotherhood" on the "Arctic Circle" stele in Salekhard. Yamal Iri, in addition to a wonderful staff, also has a magic tambourine, specially made by Yamal masters for rituals and ceremonies. It is made of deerskin, and stretched over a strong wooden frame. The beater for a tambourine is made of birch and covered with deer fur. The tambourine is lilac and harmonizes with the white and clothes of Yamal Iri.

In Japan- since recently, two Santa Clauses have been competing: Segatsu-san and newbie Oji-san(a modified version of the American Santa). Unlike Oji-san, the traditional Segatsu-san has to go from house to house for a whole week, which the Japanese call “golden”. Dressed in a traditional Segatsu-san in a sky blue kimano. He does not give gifts, but only wishes everyone a Happy New Year. Gifts are given to children by their parents. Segatsu-san is called “Mr. New Year.

For the Japanese Santa Claus, small gates are built in front of the houses from bamboo sticks with pine branches. And richer people install dwarf trees of pine, plum or peach blossom - symbols of longevity, love of life and fidelity.

Children meet the New Year in new clothes, so that they can be healthy and successful next year. They play hanetsuki, participate in New Year's performances, build houses and figurines out of snow (weather permitting), fly kites, and put pictures of sailboats under their pillows at night for the seven wizards to visit. seven patrons of happiness.Segatsu-san, after

time in every possible way oppresses the young Santa Claus - Oji-san, and although it appeared in Japan quite recently, it has more and more fans. Oji-san brings gifts by sea and gives them to children. Dressed in a traditional red sheepskin coat. The New Year is traditionally announced by 108 bell strikes, each ringing kills one human vice. There are only six of them: greed, anger, stupidity, frivolity, indecision, envy. There are only 6 of them, but each has 18 shades. Therefore, it turns out 108 strokes.

The most popular gift in Japan is a bamboo rake (Kumade), which would be something to rake in happiness.

Do you know that even relatively recently - 200 years ago, our Santa Claus had nothing in common with a kind-hearted grandfather. And he was a mischievous little old man who liked to freeze everything. And the Russian Santa Claus kindled only at the end of the 19th century. Then he began to come to Christmas trees and bring gifts.

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Almost every country in the world has its own kind grandfather who brings gifts for the New Year. Let's try to get to know them better, writes 112.ua.

Santa Claus, Santa Claus, even Yolopukki and Per Noel - these names of fabulous New Year's characters are known, if not to everyone, then to very many. What about Tovlis Bobua or Oji-San?

Many of the countries of the world can boast of their "Santa Claus". They may have a different name, not wear a fur coat or beard, have a completely different biography, but one thing remains unchanged - they are the symbols of the New Year holidays and are responsible for a good mood on New Year's Eve and Christmas. Let's get acquainted with the most famous (and also the most unusual).

Father Frost

Photos from open sources

Santa Claus is a native of the Soviet era. The creation of the canonical image of this New Year's character dates back to the late 1930s.
Depicted as an old man in a blue, blue, red or white coat, with a long white beard and a staff in his hand, in felt boots.
Often appears in the company of the granddaughter of the Snow Maiden.
The influence of Santa Claus has spread to many countries of Eastern Europe. In particular, to the countries of the former socialist camp.
In 1999, Veliky Ustyug was recognized as the official residence of Father Frost in Russia. In 2003, the residence of the Belarusian Dzedo Maroz appeared on the territory of the National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" (but more about him below).
In Ukraine, in recent years, there has been a slight drop in the popularity of Santa Claus in favor of St. Nicholas.

Santa Claus

From open sources

Western European and North American fairy tale character

Saint Nicholas is the prototype of Santa Claus.
Santa was “brought” to America by the Dutch settlers, who celebrate the holiday of Sinter Klaas on December 6 in their homeland (more on that later.
Over time, the Dutch name of St. Nicholas was simplified and changed to Santa Claus, and the time of celebration merged with the Christmas holidays.
The modern Santa was invented in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore.
It is believed that Santa Claus rides on a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
Deer names: Swift, Dancer, Prancing, Grumpy, Comet, Cupid, Thunder, Lightning.
In houses, to leave gifts for children and adults, Santa gets through the chimneys.
By the way, in order to collect and deliver gifts in time, Santa has helpers - elves.

Yolupukki

From open sources

Finnish "Santa Claus"

Translated from Finnish means "Christmas goat".
Yolupukki has long hair, wears a high cone-shaped hat and red clothes.
He is surrounded by dwarf helpers. They sit in the Echo Caverns for a year and listen to how children around the world behave, and before Christmas sort out the Christmas mail.
Yolupukki has a wife - Muori. She represents winter.

Per Noel and Saint Schaland

From open sources

And this is the French. And yes, there are two of them.

Per-Noel is kind and brings gifts to children. Shaland is not so kind and carries rods in a basket for naughty and lazy children.
The forerunner of the modern Per-Noel first appeared in the modern territory of France - in the border of Lorraine, where, according to legend, he came to good obedient children and gave them gifts.
How to visually recognize who is who? Per-Noel was depicted in several versions: with a staff, similar to a bishop's baton, and in a wide-brimmed hat. Or in a long red robe trimmed with white fur. Shaland is a bearded old man, dressed in a fur hat and a warm travel cloak.

Babbo Natale

From open sources

Next up is Italy

Babbo Natale is practically no different from the American Santa Claus.
This is a kind bearded grandfather in a red coat and red trousers, who rides a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
Interestingly, there is another character. Her name is Befana.
Befana is similar to the more famous Baba Yaga. She is wearing a long cloak and a pointed hat.
Before her appearance, children hang stockings and shoes from the fireplace.
According to legend, Befana arrives on a magic broom, opens the door with a golden key and puts goodies in the stockings and shoes of exemplary children, and leaves coals or ashes for pranksters.

Weinakhtsman

It means "Christmas Man".
Weinachtsman comes to visit on the evening before Christmas with Kristkind.
He looks like a friendly old man with a long white beard, wearing a red fur coat with white fur.
Christkind is dressed in a white outfit and is usually the image of a girl or a female angel.
Gifts are received only by obedient children. Capricious and playful - remain empty-handed.

syntherklaas

From open sources

Well, here is Holland (well, Belgium, by the way)

This is an old man with a white beard and hair, in a red robe and miter, who rides a white horse.
Sinterklaas has a big book that describes gifts for all children, their names and addresses.
He arrives by boat at the end of November from Spain to bring all the gifts by December 5th.
In many cities, after his arrival, he officially and solemnly passes through the streets with his retinue and is honored with a reception from the city authorities.

Tovlis babua

From open sources

This is Georgia

Translated as "snow grandfather"
He looks like a gray-haired old man with a long beard, dressed in a black or white chokha with a white cloak. On the head is a traditional Svan hat.
Tovlis babua brings gifts to children in a large bag called khurjini.

Zyuzya

Depicted as a short grandfather, with a long gray beard. He walks barefoot, without a hat, in a white casing. In his hand is an iron mace.
To appease Zyuzya, Belarusians on Christmas night put a part of kutya in a separate plate and leave it on a separate table for the night.

Oji-San and Dan Laocheng

From open sources

Japanese and Chinese "Santas"

Until recently, the traditional Japanese "Santa Claus" was one - Segatsu-San. Now there are two of them - added Oji-San.
Oji-san is a modified version of the American Santa Claus.
He brings gifts by sea. Dressed in a traditional red sheepskin coat.
Dan Laocheng is practically no different from Santa Claus. At least the traditions of giving gifts are the same.
He looks like a wise old man. He wears silk clothes and travels around the country on a donkey.

More names of "colleagues"

Hawaiian Santa Claus Open source

in Bulgaria - Dyado Koleda

in Brazil - Papa Noel

in Hungary - Nikolaus or Telara

in Hawaii - Kanakaloka

in Israel - Sylvester

in Spain and Latin America - Papa Noel

in Poland - Saint Nicholas

in Portugal - Pai Natal

in Turkey - Noel Baba

in the Czech Republic and Slovakia - Ezhichek

in Estonia - Jõuluvana

23.12.2016

New Year's holidays in Spain begin with the Catholic Christmas - December 25 and last until January 6. The very last night is especially important for children, because it is then that they receive gifts from the Three Kings, which symbolize the Magi who came with gifts at the behest of the Star of Bethlehem to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. But Spain also has its own Santa Claus, or rather, even its Santa Clauses ...

The Spanish Santa Claus is called Papa Noel (translated as "Papa Christmas"). He brings presents on Christmas night. In the north of Spain in the Basque Country, Santa Claus is called in his own way - Olentzero. Other regions also have their own local fairy-tale characters who bring faith in New Year's miracles. But there are still two main Santa Clauses in Spain - the Spanish Papa Noel and Olentzero among the Basques.

Spanish Santa Claus - Papa Noel

Spanish Santa Claus - Papa Noel - both in origin and appearance is very similar to his American counterpart Santa Claus. He also wears a red caftan, cap, glasses, and a snow-white beard. Lives somewhere at the North Pole, rides a reindeer sleigh and uses the help of elves to prepare and wrap gifts.

Only in Spain, Papa Noel does not climb into the room through the chimney, but leaves his gifts on the windowsill. His prototype is St. Nicholas - a real historical character who lived in Byzantium in the III-IV centuries, the patron saint of travelers and children. It is with an episode from his life that the tradition of giving Christmas gifts is connected.

Since Spain attaches more importance to the traditional celebration of the Day of the Three Wise Men, Papa Noel is less popular there than the Three Kings. However, children still love him, because the more wizards and gifts, the better.

Basque Santa Claus - Olentzero

Santa Claus from the Basque Country - Olentzero - is a more original character. There are two legends about its origin. According to one of them, Olentzero is a man who loved children very much and gave them homemade gifts, to whom the fairy gave the opportunity to live forever.

According to another version, Olentzero is the last remaining on Earth, a representative of the mythical gentilac giants who once lived in the north of Spain and in the regions of France bordering Spain, where the Basques also live. He is the only one who, having learned about the birth of Christ, went down from the mountains to people to tell about the joyful event. The rest of his brothers disappeared in an unknown direction.

By profession, Olentzero is a coal miner and is dressed, although in a beautiful, but traditional for his occupation, suit, slightly soiled with soot. He loves to eat, carries a flask of wine with him and, like Papa Noel, leaves gifts on the windowsill or on the balcony.

Since the Spaniards are staunch Catholics, the Christmas holidays have for them, first of all, a religious meaning and are associated with biblical characters. is included in the general series of long holidays, but on its own it does not stand out in any way.

Perhaps nothing brings people together like common joy. And the New Year is a holiday that has been celebrated by the entire globe for more than one thousand years. However, it is not everywhere that they have fun on the night of December 31 to January 1. And, even more so, the traditions of celebrating in each country are different.

Everyone's favorite magical giver becomes the main character of the New Year - Santa Claus, or Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, or Christmas grandfather, or ... However, he has as many names as there are New Year's customs among different peoples. He can be accompanied by the granddaughter of the Snow Maiden or assistants - elves and gnomes.

I wonder what Santa Claus is called in Spain? And in Spain, gifts are given not by Santa Claus, but by a whole army of wizards - the Magi, Papa Noel, Olentzero and many others.

The main holiday for Spanish children is not Christmas or even New Year, but the Day of the Magi, or the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos), as they are called in Spain.

According to biblical legend, the Magi from the East were the first to know about the birth of Jesus Christ, and hurried to present their gifts to him. This beautiful holiday is celebrated on January 6th.

On the eve of the evening, grandiose carnival processions are arranged, which end with the speech of the Magi. Children with bated breath wait for what the wizard-kings will say. Their answer is always the same: “This year all children will receive gifts!” In small towns, three thrones are set up in the central square, on which the Kings sit - Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar - and personally present a gift to each child.

In Andalusia, on the eve of the Day of the Three Kings, there is such a custom: children run around with tin cans dragging along the ground, thereby scaring away the evil giant, who may not let the Magi into their city. And at the door of their houses they leave bowls of water to water the camels on which the three kings arrive.

Papa Noel is the character we used to call Santa Claus and who used to be called Saint Nicholas.

And he looks like the well-known Santa Claus: a white-bearded middle-aged fat man in a red suit and cap.

On Christmas night, he enters the house through the chimney of the fireplace and leaves gifts for the children in New Year's socks hung for this.

Papa Noel lives at the North Pole, writes down the good and bad deeds of children in a big book. A whole detachment of elves helps him prepare gifts. And on Christmas night, he moves on a sled pulled by nine deer. It is impossible not to notice that in Spain he is loved a little less than three kings, sometimes considering this cheerful and good-natured old man a commercial product that came to the European continent from North America.

In the province of Navarre and the Basque Country, at Christmas gifts are distributed to obedient children by a colleague of Santa Claus named Olentzero. The name of this good man literally translates as "time for good people." According to one legend, Olentzero comes from the mythical Basque race - the Gentilac giants. He was the first to know about the birth of the baby Jesus and went down from the mountains to the valley to tell people about this joyful news.

According to another beautiful legend, Olentzero was found as a baby by a fairy in the forest and given to an elderly childless couple. When his parents died, in order to get rid of loneliness, Olentzero began to give the children homemade toys. Once, saving children from a fire, he died, but the fairy wished Olentzero to live forever and give joy to all children.

In general, Olentzero is a coal miner by profession. He is a good-natured black-bearded fat man, dressed in old homespun clothes and soiled with soot.

He likes to eat well and skip a couple of glasses of something intoxicating.

Olentzero always has a flask of good Spanish wine with him, because his long night of work promises to be difficult. He does not climb into the fireplace, but leaves his gifts on the balcony.

Interestingly, parents used to frighten naughty children with the collier Olentzero. But in the middle of the last century, he was "justified" and became the best friend for kids. The Basques are very fond of their kind donor. About this they sing to him in their songs, organize costumed processions and dance in his honor to the music of the flute and drum.

In general, the inhabitants of these regions believe that if you burn a log in the hearth and keep its ashes all year round, then in this way you can protect yourself and your family from evil spirits.