70+ Names of Santa Claus Across the World Babbo Natale, Italy’s version of Santa Claus, is becoming more popular and gift giving on Christmas day is becoming more common. Father Christmas or Santa Claus, dates back in the 16 th century and is associated with several historical figures, depending on the region. Also, did you know in some countries he is skinny while other countries he is overweight. Babbo Natale, the Italian Santa Claus But as in true Italian style, gifts are exchanged only on January 6 that is the day of Epiphany. One of the reasons for his, or her, popularity is the ability to merge with local gift-giving customs, resulting in a multitude of hybrids with their own unique traits. About Epiphany in Other Countries Read more about Epiphany. The names of Santa varies because of diversity in cultures and traditions across the world. The other pre-Christmas Day observance of the season, at least in some places, is Santa Lucia, on December 13. Italian children call Santa Claus ‘Babbo Natale’. In Italy, La Befana is loved as much as Santa Claus. They call him by a different name. One of them is children writing letters of love to their parents instead of making a wish list for Santa Claus. He is becoming more popular in Italy for gift giving on Christmas Day but La Befana, … The closest modern version of an Italian Santa Claus is Babbo Natale, but there’s a Santa-like figure that goes back even further. She is usually portrayed as an old woman who wears a black shawl and rides a broomstick. Italy is also home to plenty of unique traditions. Saint Rita of Cascia is often called “the saint of the impossible”. Babbo Natale, or Father Christmas is gaining popularity in Italy. Figures of this character are sold in shops in Italy around January 6. Italy, as a single nation state, began only in 1861, after the Piedmont-based Kingdom of Sardinia conquered most of present-day Italy. St. Rita’s story is one of the power of prayer and of faith. Then ‘ la befana’ , an old lady, comes in search to the houses for search of the Christ Child. Consequently, the Kingdom of Italy had several different nobility traditions, one for each pre-unitarian State and one for the unified … This note is often kept under the plate of the head of the family (usually father) and read out immediately after the Christmas Eve dinner. In Italian folklore, Befana (pronounced ) is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to St. Nicholas or Santa Claus. Some popular names of Santa Claus according to countries are given below: : Since the 700s, an Italian witch named La Befana has flown around the region on a broom giving treats to good children and coal to the bad. Also in some countries, he wears green while other countries he wears red. Names of Santa Claus – Did you know that who we call Santa Claus is different in other countries. La Befana, the old woman who delivers gifts on Epiphany, January 6 is still the more popular Italian Christmas figure. Santa Claus is the most universally recognised figure around the world, adopted by differing cultures, many of which never see snow from year to year. According to the tradition, the European Santa Claus comes from a Finish village, called Korvatunturi in Lapland Province. She was born in 1381 near the city of Cascia and, although she wished to enter a convent, she was married off under obedience to her parent’s wishes at the age of 16. According to tradition, Santa Lucia was a martyr who took food to persecuted Christians held in the catacombs. It is fascinating to know that the legendary Santa Claus is called by countless names in different countries. At that point, titles were recognized to all who held them according to the law of so-called pre-unitarian States. 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