Every respecting itself professional, which Santa Claus is, necessarily has colleagues. People little conversant in the questions of appearances and genealogical new-year and Christmas characters consider usually, that all of it one Christmas wizard.

The names and descriptions of colleagues of Santa Claus are collected this page on a Christmas handicraft.

Santa Claus

Joulupukki (Finland). He has gray hair, neat beard and mustache. Red jacket, trousers, a dark leather belt and glasses. Joulupukki lives on the mountain of Korvantunturi (”mountain-ear”) in a log cabin or in the mountain itself. His wife Muori (Maria) and gnomes live with him. On Christmas, in ancient times he walked around treating obedient children and punished disobedient. An educative aspect of appearance was lost farther more. Modern appearance and legend is in a great deal taken from American Santa Claus. He is popular in Finland and others Scandinavian countries.

Saint Vasiliy(Greece and Cyprus). The strangest name of a Christmas character. Nevertheless children on Cyprus write to the wizard: “Saint Vasiliy, come, give me happiness, carry out all my wishes”.

Babbo Natale (Italy). Leaves the sledges on a roof and through the stove pipe gets into the house, where he finds a bit of milk and sweets left for him by kids.

Saint Nick (Belgium and Poland). Legends say, that he leaves golden apples at peoples homes, by placing them in the socks, hanging on a fireplace. At Christmas night he appears astride on a horse, vested in a miter and white Episcopal mantle, escorted by a faithful servant-moor, nicknamed “Black Peter”. In the hands of the servant there is a magic sack with gifts for boys and girls.  However, for all disobedient children he prepared birches.

Korbobo (Uzbekistan). On the New Year’s eve he arrives to the young kids on a burro, escorted by

Santa Claus

grandchild Korgyz. Instead of fur coat, Korbobo wears a striped dressing-gown.

Pakkayne (Karelia). Unlike most Christmas characters, Pakkayne is a very young man. His distinguishing feature is his mischievous character. Existence of Pakkayne was discovered quite recently, so that this character is young, both in direct and in figurative sense.

Mikulash (Czekh, Slovakia). He comes at night, on December 6th, on the eve of Saint Nick’s day. On the outside he looks like Santa Claus, but, unlike Santa, he carries gifts in a backpack. He is acompanied by an angel, in snow-white clothes, and a shaggy imp. Always glad to endow the good and obedient children of Mikulash orange, apple or some sweets. But if in the hooligans or idlers “Christmas knee-boot” a potato or piece of coal was found, it was Mikulash’s work.

Ajaz-Ata - Kazakhstan

Zul - Kalmykia

Father Cristmas - Great Britain

Weihnachtsmann - Germany

Mosh Dzarile - Rumania

Odzi-san - Japan

Father Noel - Spain

Father Paskual - Colombia

Pere No`el - France

Sait Miklaus – Western salavs

Saint Shaland - Savoy

Silvester - Australia

Sook-Taadak - Altai

Shanj-Danj-Laozen - China

Sho-Hin – China

Father Frost - Russia

Julebukk - Norway

Juletomte - Denmark, Greenland

Though Christmas has been celebrated since the 4th century AD, the first known usage of any Christmastime greeting, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” (thus incorporating two greetings) was in an informal letter written by an English admiral in 1699. The same phrase appeared in the first Christmas card, produced in England in 1843.

“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” are words commonly heard during the holiday season and are often printed on Christmas cards and gift wrapping. Have you ever wondered why Merry Christmas, rather than Happy Christmas is used as a Christmas greeting?

Merry Christmas is a common phrase exchanged amongst Christians during the holidays. However, religions that have celebrations around Christmas time, like the Jewish Hanukkah, are more inclined to say “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas”.

The alternative “Happy Christmas” gained wide usage in the late 19th century, and is still common in the United Kingdom and Ireland. One reason may be the alternative meaning, still current there, of “merry” as “tipsy” or “drunk.” Queen Elizabeth II is said to prefer “Happy Christmas” for this reason. In American poet Clement Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (1823), the final line, originally written as “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night,” has been changed in many editions to “Merry Christmas to all”, perhaps indicating the relative popularity of the phrases in the United States.

The term Christmas is a translation of the Old English version – Cristes Maesse which is the Mass of Christ.

Under modern day definitions of the word “merry” means gay, cheerful or festive. However, when the saying Merry Christmas first came about, the widely accepted meaning of the word was peaceful or blessed. Thus, wishing someone a Merry Christmas is truly wishing them a blessed or peaceful Mass of Christ.

Christmas, under that definition, is a Christian holiday set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ, the son of God and the savior. The Jewish faith does not view Jesus Christ as the son of God. The believe a savior is coming, the Messiah, but do not grasp the belief that Christ was the Messiah, thus they don’t celebrate Christmas as the Christians do.

Rather, they celebrate Hanukkah which some people call the Jewish Christmas although it is not similar to Christmas celebrations except that it falls into the holiday season. Hanukkah is a celebration of the rededication of the temple at Jerusalem and gaining of religious freedom to practice Judaism after a long-term occupation of the city.

Thus, while Christians bid you Merry Christmas, those of the Judaism faith will wish you Happy Holidays.

I like Coca Cola Christmas Videos because they are always bright. When I see them that’s like a sign for me, that Christmas is coming. I put collection of Coca Cola Christmas videos here, hope you will enjoy it.

Mistletoe sprigs are decorations that inspire kissing during the holiday season. While meeting under the mistletoe can be sweet and romantic, it is interesting to explore the history behind the tradition.

Two words: parasite and dung. One today can hardly believe the association of these two words with something so romantically quaint as mistletoe is now in our Christmas traditions. So let the reader beware. What follows may cause you to reconsider a symbol of the season so lovingly cherished by many.

The common name of the plant comes from the ancient belief that mistletoe propagated from bird droppings. In ancient times it was a widely accepted principle that life could spring spontaneously from dung. “Mistel” is an Anglo Saxon word for “dung” and “tan” is the word for twig. Thus, the translation for the word today is the decidedly unromantic “dung-on-a-twig”.

In the Middle Ages, branches of mistletoe were hung from ceilings to ward off evil sprits. It was placed over entrances to homes and doorways to stables to prevent witches from entering. It was even believed that mistletoe could extinguish fire.

In some areas of England, farmers would give the Christmas bunch of mistletoe to the first cow that calved in the New Year, thinking it would bring fertility and luck to the entire herd in the coming year.

Mistletoe has always been symbolic of peace and love. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses kiss and make-up. The Greek festival of Saturnalia featured kissing under the mistletoe and it was included as part of marriage rites in ancient times to bless a couple with fertility.

In some parts of England the Christmas mistletoe is burned on the night of the 12th Day of Christmas, lest all the boys and girls who have kissed under it never marry.

Mistletoe, like holly, is a Christmas decorating tradition that has been scrutinized and has been the center of controversy from time to time.

In some cultures the mistletoe was symbolic of peace, love and goodwill. The modern day tradition of kissing under the mistletoe stems from Norse mythology whereby a Norse goddess declared mistletoe as a sacred plant to symbolize love rather than death which, as the myth goes, it previously stood for. Being a symbol of love kissing under the mistletoe naturally became a tradition.

Thus, the origin of traditions involving mistletoe can be good or bad depending on personal perception and personal convictions. However, in this day and age the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is a fun and festive holiday tradition without much concern for the controversy surrounding previous ritualistic attributes.

A single sprig of mistletoe is often placed in the center of a room or over a door facing during the Christmas season and usually has a ribbon or a bow accompanying it. Sometimes mistletoe is made into a wreath or a ball and used as Christmas decor.

Mistletoe is also a nice addition for decorating Christmas gift packages.

And for those who wish to observe the correct etiquette: a man should pluck a berry when he kisses a woman under the mistletoe, and when the last berry is gone, there should be no more kissing!

The colors red and green are commonly associated with Christmas and might as easily be referred to as Christmas colors. Of course, we all enjoy these Christmas colors, but you might be wondering how red and green became synonymous with Christmas.

Celebrate Life

Green signifies life. Plants depend on chlorophyll for life. With respect to Christmas, green symbolizes the hope for eternal

life that Jesus offers. There are so many ways that we now incorporate Christmas colors, green in particular, into our Christmas celebrations. Evergreen trees are green and are commonly associated with

Christmas as are many Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments and bows.

Celebrate the Sacrifice

The color red also has deep origins too. Red is intended to symbolize the blood of Jesus. At Christmas time, we see red everywhere. Santa sports red with his popular costume. Most Christmas decorations contain some red too.

The combination of the Christmas colors red and green are also part of annual Christmas celebrations. Holly, which consists of green leaves and red berries, is meant to incorporate both red and green to symbolize life and blood.

Red became more popularly associated with Santa when Coca Cola company began an advertising campaign in the early part of the last century and Santa was sporting a red outfit, which very clearly matches the red of this popular beverage’s cans. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Coca Cola cans were made in both Christmas colors?

Here To Stay

The Christmas colors red and green are here to stay. We instantly associate these colors with Christmas and it is difficult to imagine any other colors associated with Christmas (except, perhaps, for white). So this year, get out your red and green attire in the days before Christmas and don your yuletide apparel with pride. Wear those Christmas colors and wear them well!

Modern Christian Symbolism

In Christian tradition, these colors take on special meanings

• Red - Christ’s blood shed for our sin on the cross. (John 19:34)
• Green - Eternal life in Christ. (John 3:16-17)
• White - The purity of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Gold - Christ the Divine (Rev. 3:18)
• Silver - Redemption in Christ (Matt. 27:3-9)

Bible Verse

• (Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool

Santa Claus

The legend of Santa Claus originates from a 4th century bishop named Saint Nicholas of Myra. Famous for his generosity to the poor in what is present day Turkey, Saint Nicholas is said to have saved three impoverished daughters from slavery by providing for their dowries. Saint Nicholas is portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes, and his feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6.

Toward the end of the 18th century, Dutch settlers brought the legend of Saint Nicholas, known to them as Sinter Klaas, to America. Legend has it that Sinter Klaas rode a white horse and left gifts in wooden shoes. This story merged with the British character Father Christmas, who dates back at least as far as the 17th century. Sinter Klaas was eventually Americanized to “Santa Claus.”

Santa Claus

The rituals and fantasy surrounding Santa Claus became fixed in the modern American imagination with the publication of the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Moore in 1823. Better known as “The Night Before Christmas,” the poem established Santa´s physical appearance (plump and jolly), his mode of transportation (a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer), and his method of toy delivery (down the chimney) for generations to come.

Quick Facts

• The ritual of hanging stockings by the chimney comes from the German folk god Odin. Each year at Yule, German children would fill their boots with straw and place them by the chimney for Odin’s flying horse to eat. Odin would replace the straw with gifts or candy to thank them for their kindness.
• Some believe Saint Nicholas distributed his inheritance by anonymously dropping bags of gold coins down the chimneys of the poor. One little girl is said to have caught her bag in a stocking she had hung by the fire to dry.
• The concept of Santa´s elves came from the Dutch, who believed Sinter Klaas had a slave named Black Peter. Legend has it Black Peter put bad children into his sack and held them in church overnight while the other children played with their new toys.
• German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast was the first to paint a definitive portrait of the present day Santa Claus in 1863.
• Mrs. Claus was created in 1889 by Katherine Lee Bates, a poet and author of America the Beautiful. In her poem Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride, Goody is a shortened form of the word Goodwife.
• In 1897, eight-year-old Virginia Hanlon wrote a letter to the New York Sun asking if Santa Claus were real. The response, written by veteran editor Francis P. Church, son of a Baptist minister, became one of the most memorable editorials in newspaper history.
• In 1931, Coca-Cola hired Haddon Sundblom to illustrate Santa Claus for a massive Christmas campaign. The ads firmly establishing the all-red outfit with white trimmings, which had previously been depicted in numerous colors.
• Rudolph is an invention of Robert May, who came up with the ninth reindeer with his shiny red nose while working on a catalog for Montgomery Ward in 1939. Composer Johnny Marks penned the famous Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1949.

Traditions of Christmas Gifts.

We see the very first Christmas presents being given far back in history. In ancient Rome, during the feast of Kalends, it was tradition for the high-ranking officials to give gifts to the Roman Emperor. This wasn’t technically a Christian holiday (it was actually pagan) but it does coincide with the time of year and the gift-giving tradition.

A person who jump-started the gift-giving traditions at Christmas was good old Saint Nicholas. He was known for giving gifts.

Christmas presents as we know them today actually started in America. It’s been a longtime tradition to give little gifts to friends and family, but the massive giving that goes on nowadays is a creation all our own.

In the early 1800s stores and companies started advertising Christmas gifts. By the 1840s, the tradition of lavish giving was fully ingrained into American society.

Giving gifts to those we love is in sync with the true spirit of Christmas. So let the Christmas presents roll - it’s a wonderful time of year.

Traditions of Christmas Letter.

You’ve probably gotten at least one Christmas letter in your life. Some people love them, others hate them. When did the tradition begin?

The first actual Christmas letter was probably written hundreds of years ago. The tradition of sending “greetings” to family members over the holidays has been around longer than the actual “greeting card” so it’s safe to say that Christmas letters were the original “Christmas greeting” of choice.

It’s important to note that Christmas letters as we know them today is a pretty recent development. Once greeting cards were made available actual “letters” to family and friends fell to the wayside. Thanks to copy machines and at-home printers, that’s all changed.

The New Christmas Letter

I received my first two Christmas letters in the 90s. One I loved and the other I hated. One was full of warm wishes and holiday cheer, the other was filled with “I did that” and “we did this” nonstop bragging.

I’m under the impression that the “oh I’m wonderful” Christmas letter tradition started in the 90s too. Personally, I prefer the less-bragging more thanking and rejoicing Christmas letter approach. It’s probably more in line with the traditional Christmas letters of yesteryear.

So this year if you decide to write a Christmas letter, remember that you are doing something that was done well before greeting cards or Hallmark were ever invented. And please, for the sake of sanity, make it a “How wonderful is He” letter and not a “How wonderful am I” holiday correspondence.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
  Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

See the blazing Yule before us.
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Fast away the old year passes.
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
heedless of the wind and weather.
  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

1. Be yourself – For some reason, people often feel the need to include words in their Christmas letter that they’d never use in real life. Stick to words you use in your everyday English. It will help your readers “hear” you when they’re reading.
2. Don’t exaggerate - There is a tendency among some Christmas letter writers to try to make every daily event sound as if it’s the discovery of the Holy Grail. Don’t embellish the truth. The events will speak for themselves. For an example of how not to write a Christmas letter, see this parody from Fun for the Holidays.
3. Keep it short – Try to focus on the highlights of your year - the best things that happened to you, the funniest events, the most important changes in your life. In most cases, your Christmas letter shouldn’t exceed one or two typed pages.
4. Avoid unnecessary adjectives -This is a follow-up to rules #1 and #2 above. Excessive use of adjectives that you’d never use in everyday conversation is a common pitfall for many Christmas letter writers. Avoid sentences such as, “My beautiful wife Jane and I took our wonderful kids to the fabulous city of New York and spent exciting hours visiting the incredible museums. Keep the modifiers to a minimum.
5. Write for your audience – Do you send your Christmas letter just to close friends and family who already know the details of your everyday life? Or to casual acquaintances and business associates? Your letter should entertain the people who aren’t intimately familiar with your daily happenings without boring those who are.
6. Make it visually appealing - Your letter will be more interesting if you include photos, clip art, or other images. Photos will liven up any Christmas letter, and many people find it easier to describe one photo at a time than to chronicle an entire year. You can get an inexpensive one-week membership to Clipart.com to get access to over 2 million images or buy Christmas stationery. The more art you have, the less text you need to write.
7. Be creative - A Christmas letter doesn’t have to be a letter at all. See some of our creative Christmas letter ideas for fun ways to give your annual holiday update a fresh new look.
8. Add a personal note - A quick handwritten note at the bottom of each recipient’s Christmas letter will make the update feel more personal and less like an anonymous form letter.
9. Read it aloud - Read your letter aloud, or have someone else read it to you. Does it flow well? Is it interesting to listen to? If not, you might want to rewrite some sections.
10. Have fun! - Remember that Christmas letter writing is an opportunity to have fun and keep others up to date about what you and your family have been doing all year. It shouldn’t feel like a chore to write your letter - or to read it. If it does, you’re doing something wrong.