Santa all around the world

It is getting close to HO! HO! HO! time again. Be good children if you want Santa Claus to bring you something special on the 25th of the month.

We in Ireland seem to prepare for Christmas day for many weeks. Many thousands of kids write to the great man throughout November and December each year. He never seems to disappoint. But what happens in other parts of the world? Is Santa just as generous? Is he even called Santa in China - or has the government banned the name?
In the United States of America, because it is such a vast country with citizens from many ethnic backgrounds, Christmas is celebrated in a variety of ways.

Santa Claus first visited the Dutch community in America in the 17th century. Originally known as St. Nicholas, that’s not a million miles away from the name we now know and love.

Other European settlers brought many traditions to the country. They settled in the early days in the South and would send Christmas greetings to their distant neighbours by shooting firearms. In Hawaii this practice is still in use as under the sunny skies, Santa Claus arrives by boat and Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors.

At Christmas in Australia the weather is very hot. With temperatures well into the middle 30 centigrades, Santa can be seen arriving in some places on a surfboard along with his helpers. He is always welcome.

The Australians particularly love their Christmas carols and sing them with gusto in thanksgiving to Santa’s visit.

You would think Santa gives communist China a miss. Oh no, no, no! He goes to every part of the world. If it had corners he would go there too. He, alas, is not called Santa in China.

The Chinese call him Dun Che Lao Ren. This means Christmas Old Man. Well that’s what he is. There is little point in calling him anything else, is there?

The Chinese children are very practical you know. They may ask the ‘ould man for some toys, but they write looking, also, for clothes. They also use Christmas time to pay respect to their elders and ancestors.

Age is a badge of respect in China, so calling Santa Claus Christmas Old Man is a term of endearment.