Gift Givers of Winter (Who aren't Saint Nick)

 

 

Although Santa Claus is the most well known mid-winter gift giver, he does not have a monopoly on the act. There’s a whole host of characters who bring presents to children around the winter solstice. Let’s meet some of them!

Over in Russia and other Slavic countries, you might see an old man with a long white beard out around the winter solstice. He wears long red or blue robes with white fur trim, but this isn’t Santa Claus. It’s Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost). He and his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) bring gifts to good children around New Years. 

(Ded Moroz and Snegurochka)
 

Though both figures have roots in ancient Slavic Mythology, they assumed their current forms in the days of the Soviet Union. After the Communist Revolution, Christmas was banned as a bourgeois and religious symbol. But, as we’ve seen time and time again, popular holidays are hard to eliminate. So, instead, the holiday Novy God was created as a secular New Year’s celebration with Ded Moroz and Snegurochka at the helm.

Traveling around in a troika (Russian sleigh pulled by three horses) the pair make appearances throughout the winter season. Ded Moroz also often participates in a “Santa Summit” of sorts, in which winter figures from around the area (Such as the Estonian Jouluvana, the Finnish Joulupukki, and winter figures of ethnic minorities in Russia) get together to discuss important matters. Many countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union also still have their versions of Grandfather Frost, with the name translated into their own language. 

(The summit of original Santas.
"Santas" of Northern Russia: on very left, Yamal Iri, the "White Elder" of the Yamal Peninsula, belonging to the indigenous Nentsi people; Second from the left is Russian Ded Moroz himself; Third from the left Chyskhaan, the "Bull Man" of the Sakha people of Yakutia, in Northern Siberia; next one, the lady, is Tugeni Eneken, "Mother Winter", of the Evenki and other tundra nomads; after her is the visiting official Santa Claus of Finland; and then Pokkaine, the youngish "Santa" of the ethnic Karelian people.
Photo: Vladimir Sevrinovski )
 

Over in Iceland, there’s not one, but 13 winter gift-givers. Known as the Yule Lads, these pranksters are the sons of the trolls Grýla and Leppalúði. They used to kidnap misbehaving children around the Yule, but these days, they mostly just play pranks. In fact, each one has a signature prank, as indicated by their name. They show up, one by one, on the 13 days before Christmas. Children put out their shoes, and the Yule lads will leave a gift in the shoes of nice children. Naughty children get a potato. In order of appearance, the Yule Lads are:

Sheepcote Clod, Gully Gawk, Stubby, Spoon Licker, Pot Scraper, Bowl Licker, Door Slammer, Skyr Gobbler, Sausage Swiper, Window Peeper, Doorway Sniffer, Meat Hook, and Candle Beggar. 

(Stamps featuring the Icelandic Yule Lads)

Though the Yule Lads are (mostly) harmless, you still have to watch out for their mother Grýla, who won’t hesitate to take naughty children and cook them in her stew. You also need to be careful of her pet, the monstrous Yule Cat who roams the countryside eating anyone who did not get new clothes for Christmas.

In much of Europe, after the Protestant revolution, there was a strong movement to eliminate Saint Nicholas and his feast day. So, as a replacement, it was suggested to make the Christ Child into a winter gift giver who comes on Christmas Eve. Operating under names like Christkindl, Gesù Bambino, Niño Jesús, and more, the Christ Child is meant to be a representation of the baby Jesus.

Of course, it’s hard to imagine a literal infant Jesus carting about loads of toys for children, so the Christkindl is more often depicted as a blonde haired ángel. There are contests for young women to be chosen as that year’s Christkindl, which is considered a great honor. 

(German Christkindl with two helpers)
 

While Christkindl most often works alone, there are some places that have given them a dark companion or bodyguard, of sorts, much like Saint Nick.

In Spain and Portugal, as well as their former colonies, it’s the Three Wise Men who bring gifts to the children. After bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, now they spread that good cheer to all other children as well. Rather than arrive on Christmas or New Years, they show up on Epiphany (January 6th). According to Catholic Lore, their names are Melchior (a European King), Caspar (an Asian King), and Balthazar (and African King). They arrive on their camels to great fanfare, accompanied by pages who pass out the gifts. Recently, the custom of using blackface to represent Balthazar and his servants has been greatly criticized. 

 (The Three Wise Men wave to onlookers during their annual parade)

One of the most interesting gift givers is La Befana, found in Italian speaking regions of Europe. She matches the traditional portrayal of a witch or old hag, La Befana is an old woman with a long, hooked nose with a wart on it and no teeth who flies around on a broomstick. Her habit of coming down the chimney means her face is often sooty. She wears a headscarf and ragged dress, and carries a basket full of toys and gifts. On Epiphany Eve (January 5th) she comes in the night to leave gifts for the good children.

The explanation for this character is that Befana was an old woman who was invited to accompany the Three Wise Men to visit the baby Jesus in Bethleham. She refused, as she had too much housework to do, but later regretted it and now travels the world (or, at least, Italy) giving out gifts to children. It is likely this is just a back-explanation to Christianize an earlier, pagan goddess similar to the Germanic Berchta, though her exact origins are no longer known. 

(Befana dolls are a common sight at Italian Christmas Markets Photo credit: Only Fabrizio / Shutterstock.com. )

The prize for most unique gift-giver, however, probably belongs to the Christmas Poop Log. 

The Poop Log, also known as Caga Tió, or Tió de Nadal, is a custom found in the Catalonian region of Spain. In pre-Christian times, the Winter Solstice was a time to burn a large log and honor it as  Tió de Nadal, but at some point, it turned into. Well, the pooping log. 

At the start of December, logs with smiley faces and red hats pop up at market, though many families choose to go out into the woods to get their log. Bringing it home, children "feed" the log every day by leaving food in front of it, which inevitably disappears. Finally, on Christmas Eve, a blanket is placed over the log and the children beat it with sticks while singing a song. The song differs from family to family, so here is one example.

Caga tió, (Poop log)
tió de Nadal, (Log of Christmas)
no caguis arengades (Don't poop salted herring)
que són massa salads (They are too salty)
caga torrons (Poop turróns)
que són més bons! (They are much better!)

Then the blanket is removed to reveal that the log has "pooped" a pile of sweets and small presents! (Turrons, a popular type of nougat, is traditional, but any sweet may be used.)
 

(Caga tio, ready to go)
 

So don’t let all the media coverage of Santa Claus fool you, there’s a whole host of Gift Givers active around this time of year!