Winter wizards from different countries panels. New Year characters from different countries of the world

30.06.2020

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Here comes the end of another year. Very soon, the chores and preparations for the New Year will begin. Therefore, a series of articles about this, everyone's favorite holiday, will probably come in handy. And we will start it with a character with whom the magic and miracles that occur on New Year's Eve are associated - this.

Good Wizard , who comes on New Year's Eve and Christmas with gifts and fabulous miracles - the character is mysterious and has its own history.

In ancient pagan Rus', when people worshiped the forces of nature, the ruler of snowstorms, snowstorms and snowfalls was called Moroz, Moroz Morozovich or Morozko. Under such names, he is shown in epics and oral legends. This is a stern and even angry old man with a large white beard, who strives to spin a snowstorm, send blizzards, snowfalls and crackling frosty cold. And this old man does not give any gifts.

During the reign of Peter 1, when the calendar was updated in Rus' and the custom of celebrating the New Year and Christmas was introduced, this character becomes an indispensable participant in the festivities. Only now he has become a kind wizard, bringing gifts to good and obedient children.

The reason for this metamorphosis is quite understandable. Russian is a close relative of such characters, who are simply called by other names (, Vaikhnachtsmann, etc.).

And the prototype of these good winter wizards is considered to be a very real person - Bishop Nikolaus (Saint Nicholas), who lived in the city of Mira (now the Turkish city of Demra).

The legend tells that one Christmas evening, passing under the windows of a very poor house, Nikolaus heard a conversation between three sisters. The older sister offered to sell herself into slavery in order to buy a dowry for her two younger sisters with the proceeds. But each sister began to offer to do the same for the sake of the other two. Hearing this conversation, the bishop threw a purse of gold out the window, which was just enough for a dowry for his elder sister. A year later, on the same Christmas evening, he threw a purse for the middle sister.

The following Christmas turned out to be very fierce, and the windows of the houses were tightly closed. Then Nikolaus threw the wallet down the chimney. As if by magic, he landed in one of the stockings that the younger sister hung out to dry (hence the European custom of putting gifts in socks and stockings).

Since then, every Christmas in the poor families of the city of Mira found gifts that got to them in some magical way. And it should be noted that for a long time Nikolaus managed to do these good deeds in secret. But one day, while making another such campaign, he came across a night watch. After checking what was in the bag with the strangely dressed old man, the patrol recognized him as the good wizard Bishop Nikolaus. Since then, people called him the Christmas Father, and after his death, for all the good deeds and miracles, the Christian church elevated him to the rank of saints.

For the first time, the image of St. Nicholas was transformed into the image of a good grandfather, who gives gifts to everyone at Christmas, in Germany, and then spread to other countries where Christianity is practiced.

In different countries, the good winter wizard has different names and guises.

For example, American - this is a mischievous and cheerful grandfather, with an impressive belly, in a short red coat and a red hat. He rides on a reindeer sleigh and arranges gifts in shoes and stockings, which are specially left by the fireplace.

Per Noel brings Christmas and New Year gifts to French children, Babbo Natale to Italian children, Weichnachtsmann to German children, and Joulupuki to Finnish children.

After the introduction by Peter 1 of the custom to celebrate Christmas and New Year according to the European calendar, the image of St. Nicholas - Santa Claus merged with the image of the pagan Morozko and turned into the well-known Santa Claus. This is a solid, tall grandfather, with a long and fluffy white beard, in a long fur coat and a red hat, with a staff and a bag of gifts. Russian Santa Claus moves on a fabulous reindeer sleigh. He is strict and kind at the same time, cheerful and fair, loves winter fun on a frosty sunny day.

As a literary character in fairy tales, Santa Claus is very young, he was born 160 years ago. Exactly

then Konstantin Odoevsky published the fairy tale "Moroz Ivanovich". In Russia, there is even a holiday - the birthday of Santa Claus. It is celebrated on November 18, exactly at this time in the homeland of Father Frost, the city of Veliky Ustyug, winter is firmly established with snow, frost and snowstorms.

Relatively recently, my grandfather had a granddaughter Snegurochka. And in the city of Veliky Ustyug, a museum of New Year and Christmas toys has been operating for 4 years. But more on that in the next article.

What the main characters of the New Year holidays look like in different countries of the world, tells.

Korbobo (Uzbekistan)

He is dressed in a striped robe made of national fabric and a festive red skullcap. Corbobo is accompanied by his granddaughter Korkis. He uses a small donkey as transport.

Tovlis babua (Georgia)

Tovlis babua is translated from Georgian as "snow grandfather". This is a gray-haired old man with a long beard. He is dressed in a black or white chokha with a white nabadi cloak, and he has a traditional Svan hat on his head. Tovlis babua brings gifts to children in a big sack "khurjini".

Santa Claus (Russia)

In his hands, Santa Claus holds a crystal staff with a bull's head - a symbol of fertility and happiness. He rides in a painted sleigh pulled by a trio of snow-white horses. The fairy-tale hero is accompanied by his granddaughter, the Snow Maiden.

Santa Claus (USA, Canada, Australia, Western Europe)

Santa Claus is not dressed in a fur coat, but in a short red jacket. He has a red cap on his head, and the same glasses on his nose. Santa rides across the sky on a sleigh pulled by deer, with a retinue of elves and gifts. Santa Claus lays out gifts for children under the Christmas tree, as well as in socks helpfully hung over the fireplace. Santa enters the house through the chimney.

Yollupukki (Finland)

Yollupukki has long hair, wears a high cone-shaped hat and red clothes. He is surrounded by gnomes in pointed caps and capes with white fur. Yollupukki's hut stands on a mountain. His wife Muori and gnomes live in it. Finnish Santa Claus wears a goatskin jacket with a leather belt and a red cap.

Jõuluvana (Estonia)

Jõuluvana is similar to his Finnish relative Joulupukki: long gray hair, a snow-white beard, a red sheepskin coat and a cone-shaped cap with a pompom. He does not dress up in a goat's skin, but he has a reindeer, as well as helpers - gnomes. And Yyuluvan's wife is Mother Winter.

Sinterklaas (Holland)

Sintaklaas is an old man with a white beard and hair, in a red robe and miter, riding a white horse. He has a big book that describes the gifts for all the children, their names and addresses. Sintaklaas arrives on a ship accompanied by black servants.

Pere Noel and Saint Schaland (France)

There are two Santa Clauses in France. One is called Per-Noel. He is kind and brings gifts to the children in a basket. The second Santa Claus is called Shaland - this is a bearded old man who wears a fur hat and a warm traveling raincoat. Hidden in his basket are rods for naughty and lazy children.

Kahand Pap (Armenia)

The Armenian Santa Claus is surrounded by fabulous creatures: Khlvliks - noisy and active little men and Aralez - half animals, half people. Kahand Pap goes to congratulate the children on their granddaughter Dzyunanushik.

Zyuzya (Belarus)

Depicted as a bald grandfather of small stature, with a long gray beard. He walks barefoot, without a hat, in a white casing. In his hand is an iron mace. His breath is a strong chill. His tears are icicles. Hoarfrost - frozen words. And her hair is snow clouds. He really does not like those who complain about the cold.

Senyalis Šaltis, Kaledu Senyalis and Kaleda (Lithuania)

There are several characters in Lithuania who play the role of the Russian Santa Claus. Senialis Šaltis comes to the children, he wears a short fur coat and knitted mittens. In addition to him, Kaledu Senyalis, the Christmas grandfather, appears in the houses at Christmas, and the folklore character, the hero of legends and tales, Kaleda, an old man in a white coat, is also very popular.

Russia Ded Moroz We are accustomed to the name and image of our main New Year's Wizard - Ded Moroz, with a bushy beard, in a long beautiful fur coat. But it is curious that such a character in old Rus' was negative - they scared children. With the development of Soviet cinema, Father Frost was provided with positive qualities and a good soul, thanks to which, for every New Year, he, along with his granddaughter, Snegurochka, brings gifts to children on a troika of horses and attends children's parties, congratulating on the New Year.

America Santa Claus It is known that the children of Australia, America and some European countries at the New Year celebrations expect gifts from Santa Claus - the most famous brother of our Santa Claus, who dresses up in a red suit with white trim and rides a reindeer sleigh through the sky, delivering gifts. What other winter wizard brothers do these two have?

Tatarstan Kysh Babai Good grandfather Kysh Babai, with whom his snowy granddaughter Kar Kyzy always comes, congratulates children on the New Year in Tatarstan. This winter wizard's suit is blue. Kysh Babai has a white beard, sly eyes and a very kind smile. New Year's events with the participation of Kysh Babai in Tatarstan are accompanied by the presence of characters from the Tatar folk tales Shurale, Batyr, Shaitan. Kysh Babai, like our Santa Claus, gives gifts to children - he always has a full bag of them.

Sweden Yul Tomten Yul Tomten is the little brother of Santa Claus in Sweden This winter wizard is very small, and his name in translation sounds like "Christmas Gnome". This character settled in the winter forest, and has a faithful helper of the snowman Dusty. You can visit Yul Tomten in the winter forest - unless, of course, you are afraid of the dark forest, on the paths of which little elves run.

Italy Babbe Natale Father Frost's brother in Italy Babbe Natale The Italian winter magician comes to every home. He does not need doors - he uses a chimney to go down from the roof into the room. In order for Babbe Natale to eat a little on the road, children always leave a cup of milk by the fireplace or stove. Gifts for the children of Italy are given by the good fairy La Befana, and mischievous people receive ember from the fabulous evil sorceress Befana.

Mongolia Uvlin Uvgun Uvlin Uvgun - Father Frost's brother from Mongolia On New Year's Eve Mongolia also celebrates the Shepherd's Day. Uvlin Uvgun walks with a whip, like the most important shepherd in the country, and on his belt in a bag he carries the main items for shepherds - tinder and flint. Uvlin Uvgun's assistant is his granddaughter, the "snow girl", Zazan Ohin.

Holland Sinterklaas Father Frost's brother Sinterklaas from Holland This winter wizard is a lover of navigation, because every year on New Year's Eve and Christmas he sails to Holland on a beautiful ship. He is accompanied by many black servants who help with his travels, as well as with preparations for the festive New Year celebrations.

Finland Joulupukki Joulupukki in Finland is the brother of our Santa Claus, who lives in the mountains. The name of this winter wizard is translated as "Christmas grandfather". Joulupukki's house stands on a high mountain; his wife, kind Muori, also lives in it. A family of industrious gnomes help with the household chores of Joulupukki. Joulupukki himself wears a goatskin jacket, a wide leather belt, and a red cap.

Belgium St. Nicholas St. Nicholas from Belgium - the oldest winter brother of Santa Claus St. Nicholas is considered the very first, eldest Santa Claus. He is dressed in a snow-white episcopal robe and miter, this magician rides a horse. Saint Nicholas congratulates children in Belgium and gives gifts, he is accompanied everywhere by the Moor Black Peter, in whose hands are rods for mischievous people, and behind his back is a bag with gifts for obedient children. Each family that shelters St. Nicholas at home will receive a golden apple as a gift from him.

Uzbekistan Korbobo Korbobo – the Uzbek brother of Grandfather Frost The kind grandfather Korbobo, who brings gifts to the kids on New Year's Eve, always travels accompanied by his granddaughter Korgyz. He rides on a donkey, and therefore can come even to the most distant villages.

Yakutia Chyskhaan The Yakut brother of Father Frost - the powerful Chyskhaan The winter wizard from Yakutia has a peculiar costume - he wears a hat with bull horns, and the clothes simply amaze with the luxury of decoration. The image of Chyskhaan - the Yakut Bull of Winter combined two prototypes - a bull and a mammoth, symbolizing strength, wisdom and power. According to the legend of the Yakut people, in autumn Chyskhaan comes out of the ocean onto land, bringing cold and frost with it. In the spring, Chyskhaan's horns fall off - the frosts weaken, then the head falls off - spring comes, and the ice carries the body into the ocean, where it is miraculously restored until the next autumn. The Yakut Chyskhaan has his own residence in Oymyakon, where guests can come to him and receive cold and frost as a gift.

Italy Befana In Italy - Santa Claus is generally a woman, and not just a woman, but a witch - an old 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?

And we continue to talk about new New Year's books that publishers have released for the new year and which can become something interesting and important in your library, and not "why" :))
Not so long ago, the cat Lenya and I talked about the book "Round the World Santa Claus", which talked about Santa Clauses from around the world.
The same book tells about Santa Clauses from different parts of our country, each of which has its own cute and interesting features, traditions and legends.
Here for example:
- There is Chyskhaan in Yakutia. New Year in Yakutia is celebrated in the summer. It is called Ysyakh (“Festival of Abundance”). It is accompanied by a generous treat, folk games, competitions and horse races. When winter comes, in Yakutia they say: "Here comes the Chyskhaan." "Chyskhaan" means "strong frost with wind." Legends say that in autumn the Ox of Cold comes out of the Arctic Ocean and walks along the earth to meet the Polar Star. With each step, his horns grow, and the longer they become, the stronger the frost. But in January, a mighty eagle flies in from the south, and one horn falls from the bull. It is getting warmer. In February, the bull loses its second horn, and after that it disappears into the waters of the ocean.
- Iki Morozovich is Santa Claus in Khanty-Mansiysk. And every few years after December in the calendar of the Khanty there is another, the thirteenth, month - "super cold".
- Kysh Babai rules in Tatarstan. Kysh Babai does not give ordinary gifts to children. But he offers to find fabulous whisperers who fulfill wishes. Whispers are wooden barrels. For a great desire - the biggest.
- And the Chief Snowman lives in Arkhangelsk! The Arkhangelsk Snowman has a wish-granting broom, and an amazing Carrot Forest grows near his house.
Well, you must admit, it’s somehow embarrassing to read about Santa Clauses from all over the world and not know anything about your relatives? In addition, the information here is very interesting, there are facts and legends. Therefore, the book can serve not only as an interesting New Year's reading, but also as an educational tool for a report at school or a theatrical performance :))

Santa Claus and his brothers. Winter Wizards of Russia
In Ozone

Don't miss out on some great new arrivals!
Funny stories in the drawings of Uncle Kolya Vorontsov

The New Year cannot be complete without Ded Moroz and Snegurochka in Russia, Santa Claus and Rudolph the reindeer in English-speaking countries, and Joulupukki in Finland. About what other New Year's wizards come to visit children - in our material

Grandfather Mikulash and grandfather Ezhishek

Children in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are the first to receive their Christmas gifts. Local Father Frost - St. Mikulash - comes to visit on the night of December 5-6, on the eve of the celebration of St. Nicholas Day. It is known that he is dressed in a long red fur coat, a high hat, and he has a staff in his hands, but instead of a bag with gifts, he carries a box behind his back. A good wizard has many friends: a chimney sweep, peasants, hussars, even Death. It is believed that on the journey Mikulash is accompanied by a snow-white Angel and a shaggy Devil, who tell the old man which of the kids to give an orange, apple or candy, and to which - a piece of coal or a potato. Angel carries with him a list of obedient and good children who studied diligently and helped their parents, and the Devil carries a list with the names of prankster children. However, little mischievous people have long learned to circle St. Mikulash around their fingers - it is believed that if you sing a song or tell a rhyme to him, the good old man will be touched and will present the treasured gift.

The second Santa Claus - Hedgehog - visits houses on Christmas, December 25th. Almost nothing is known about him, as no one has ever seen him. According to one legend, he is the brother of grandfather Mikulash, and they are very similar, only grandfather Ezhishek is very modest, according to another, baby Jesus himself throws gifts under the Christmas tree on Christmas. Be that as it may, Jerzyszek is careful that no one sees him while he throws gifts at the children's houses, but he always announces his visit with the gentle chime of the bells that invariably decorate Christmas trees and houses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Babbo Natale and Fairy Befana

In Italy, as in many other European countries, there are two Santa Clauses at once, one of which comes at Christmas, and the second, or rather, the second, on January 6th. New Year in Italy is not customary to celebrate on a grand scale, therefore they don’t have a person who brings gifts on this day, but it’s customary to visit with clean water, there is even a saying: “If you have nothing to give to the owners of the house, give new water with olive twig."

The Italian Santa Claus is called Babbo Natale, which means Christmas Father. There are two legends about its origin. The first connects Babbo Natale with Saint Nicholas, who lived in the 3rd century AD. According to the second version, the Christmas fairy-tale wizard was borrowed from the Americans. In any case, outwardly, he is not much different from Santa Claus - he is usually depicted as a plump man in a red coat trimmed with white fur, and with a gray beard, sometimes he even wears glasses. Like the American Santa Claus, Babbo Natale travels through the air in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and enters houses through a chimney. All Italians know that the Christmas Father is a big lover of milk, so they always leave a cup of milk and sweets on the table. However, he visits only those children who wrote him a letter in advance with a request to fulfill their cherished desires - for this, special mailboxes are even installed on the streets and in shops for letters to Italian Santa Claus.

And on January 6, children are looking forward to visiting the fairy Befana. She is usually depicted as an old woman on a broom, with a hooked nose and large teeth, dressed in all black. Behind her back is a bag with gifts and coals. There are several legends about the sorceress at once: according to one of them, the Befana fairy remained in Italy after the Magi did not take her on a journey to the newborn Jesus. Since then, she has been visiting the homes of little Italians to give gifts to obedient children and punish hooligans. Another says that the sorceress herself refused to visit Bethlehem and has since been looking for his cradle in Italian homes. Some New Year's legends say that Befana unlocks the doors of any house with a small golden key, according to others, the sorceress enters the house through the chimney. There are also many legends about how the fairy moves. Someone believes that the stars bring the fairy, and someone that she moves on a small donkey, and someone that she moves from roof to roof by jumping on a broomstick. It is customary for Fairy Befana to leave treats on the mantelpiece - a glass of wine and a saucer of food. There is a belief: if the sorceress liked the treat, she will certainly sweep the floor before leaving. On January 6, on the day of Saint Epiphany, the Befana fairy is symbolized by a doll, which is carried on a cart around the city, after which it is burned in the main square. Perhaps this tradition is due to the fact that Befana has long been considered an evil sorceress.

Melchior, Baltasar, Gaspard, Olentzero and Tio Nadal

Spanish children do not believe in Santa Claus. Instead of the traditional New Year's wizard, three Kings come to visit them at once, whom we used to call the Magi - without exaggeration, the oldest Christmas characters that are written about in the Bible.

On the eve of the Day of the Three Kings, it is celebrated in Spain on January 6, in all cities and villages there is a large colorful procession of the Kings. At the end of Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspar give a solemn speech, which invariably ends with the words: "This year all children will receive gifts!". The kings occupy each of their thrones, often installed in the center of the city, after which they call the kids to them and personally present the treasured gift.

At the same time, in the Basque Country and the province of Navarre, gifts are given to obedient children by Olentzero, the local Santa Claus. There are several legends about his origin - according to one of them, he comes from the giants of the gentilaks and was the first to know about the birth of Jesus Christ and brought this news to people. According to another, when Olentzero was a baby, a fairy found him and gave him to an elderly couple. When his adoptive parents died, Olentzero began making toys to give to the neighborhood kids. He died in a fire saving the children, but the fairy gave Olentzero eternal life. Usually Olentzero is depicted in national homespun clothes. This good-natured black-bearded fat man loves a good treat and will never refuse good wine - for this he even carries a flask with him.

In Catalonia, the place of Santa Claus is taken by a magic log named Tio Nadal. Little Catalans carefully look after the log - they feed it during the day and cover it at night. In gratitude for their care, the log gives them small edible souvenirs - sweets, nuts or fruits. In general, the Catalans believe that if a log is burned on Christmas and the ashes are kept all year round, this will protect them from evil spirits.

Yolasveinars

Icelandic Jolasveinars have nothing to do with either the Russian Father Frost or Saint Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus. According to legend, 13 sons appeared in the family of the cannibalistic giantess Grila and the lazy lazybones Leppaludi - Yolasveinarov, translated from Icelandic Christmas chaps or Christmas guys. Modern Christmas traditions represent them in the image of mischievous joker gnomes, but until the beginning of the 20th century, the "fraternity" was considered nothing more than evil trolls, causing a lot of trouble to the inhabitants of the "ice country".

According to legend, the offspring of mother Grila appeared in the villages two weeks before Christmas, on December 12, and began to harm in every possible way - they stole cattle and food, broke dishes, made a mess in the house, and sometimes kidnapped children. In order not to be eaten, Icelandic children behaved well and obeyed their parents all year before Christmas.

Over time, the images of the Yolasveinar have been transformed - now these good-natured gnomes leave gifts in the shoes of obedient children, and not one, but thirteen, and they give mischievous people like themselves a lump of coal, a potato or even a stone. It is believed that the gnomes come in turn from the side of the mountains and linger in each house for 13 days, after which they also go back to their cave one by one.

At the same time, mother Grila and the pet of the Yolasveinars, a huge black Yule cat, the size of a bull, still bring genuine horror to Icelandic kids. On Christmas Eve, they sometimes come to cities and villages, where they lie in wait for naughty children or lazy people who did not have time to buy a new woolen dress for Christmas time. In 2010, one of the news agencies stated that the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano was the work of the insidious cannibal Grila.

Maulana Karenga

Since the 60s of the last century, the black population of the United States has been holding the African-American Kwanza Festival, which lasts from December 26 to January 1. The main purpose of the holiday is to support and preserve African traditions, introduced in the USA in the 17th-19th centuries along with black slaves. Kwanzaa, or First Fruit Festival, was coined by African American rights leader Maulana Karenga, professor at the University of California, Ph.D. He proposed to abandon the Christmas holiday, which he considered the "religion of the whites" and return to the "roots". However, over time, black Christians in the United States enjoy celebrating both Christmas and Kwanzaa. In addition, the holiday has gained popularity in Canada, where it is celebrated by everyone who is interested in African American culture.

Karenga, as the ideological leader of the holiday, also proposed the "seven postulates of Kwanza", one for each day - unity, self-determination, teamwork and collective responsibility, cooperation, purposefulness, creativity and faith. Maulana Karenga himself called them the principles by which a black person should be guided in his life in order to achieve progress.

In accordance with tradition, adults and children decorate their homes, put on bright national clothes and participate in festive ceremonies - playing national musical instruments, chants, dancing, "bloodless" sacrifice, reading prayers and, of course, a feast.

Dr. Karenga can be safely called the New Year's magician of African Americans - this man did no less for the "black" movement in the world than Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela.

Segatsu-san and Oji-san

In Japan, the New Year is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, which was adopted in the land of the rising sun in 1873, although the date of the traditional Japanese New Year coincides with Chinese tradition and is usually located between January 21 and February 21. The tradition of celebrating this holiday has been preserved since ancient times - 108 bell strikes invariably announce the New Year. However, after the end of World War II, the Japanese borrowed some elements of Western culture. For example, in addition to the traditional ancient Santa Claus Segatsu-san, a younger, modern winter wizard, Oji-san, was added.

Segatsu-san, translated from Japanese as Mr. New Year or Mr. January, is dressed in a green or sky blue kimono. According to legend, a week before the New Year, he leaves his home in the small town of Shiogama on the island of Honshu and begins to bypass the inhabitants of Japan. This week is popularly called "golden". By his arrival, gates are built in front of the houses from bamboo sticks and pine branches, dwarf trees of pine, plum or peach are installed. Despite the fact that Segatsu-san does not give gifts, but simply wishes everyone a Happy New Year, he is a welcome guest in every home. There is a belief that on the night of December 31-January 1, the inhabitants of Japan are visited by the Seven Gods of Fortune, who sail on a magical ship - especially for them, children leave images of sailboats on their pillows.

The second Santa Claus, Oji-san, appeared in Japan relatively recently - with the penetration of American traditions into the country. "Young colleague" Segatsu-san - the Japanese version of Santa Claus - copes with his duties in just one night. Oji-san, dressed in a red sheepskin coat and cap, moves along the sea, with him he brings gifts for all the inhabitants of the islands. Recently, little Japanese have adopted the tradition of writing letters to their Santa Clauses with cherished desires, according to statistics, more and more they choose Oji-san as the addressee, who will surely fulfill their wishes.

Ayios Vassilis

Greek Santa Claus has nothing to do with our traditional ideas about the New Year's wizard. Even his name is not St. Nicholas, but St. Basil - Agios (Agios) Vasilis, in honor of the Orthodox saint, who was born in 330 and received the nickname Great during his lifetime. Saint Vasilis lived only 49 years, during which he helped the poor and the needy, while he himself lived very modestly. He died on January 1, 379, since then the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of St. Basil the Great on this day. He was a tall and thin man with pale skin and a long black beard streaked with gray.

Despite the fact that in modern Greece, Agios Vasilis is portrayed as Santa Claus - in a red coat with a gray beard - in the traditional view, he wears a costume resembling a priest's cassock, and has a tiara on his head. Saint Basil comes to homes not from the North Pole, but from his native city of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Another important difference is that Agios Vasilis does not carry a bag with gifts, since throughout his life his main gifts were the word and faith of Christ.

Another New Year's tradition, Vasilopita, is connected with the name of the Great Vasilis of Caesarea. This is a cake, without which not a single celebration in Greece and Cyprus is complete, where the saint is also very revered. According to one of the legends, in order to rid his hometown from invaders, the wise Agios Vasilis ordered the locals to bring all the most valuable things from home. The enemy retreated, and all the collected valuables were baked into pies, which were treated to all the inhabitants of the city. These pies were called Vasilopity. They are invariably baked on January 1, and a coin "for good luck" is always hidden inside.

Shan Dan Laozhen

In China, as in other countries of East Asia, the onset of the New Year is celebrated according to the lunar calendar and marks the arrival of spring. According to ancient beliefs, on the first day of spring, nature awakens and the earth comes to life, and the mythical animal Nian comes to Earth, which devoured cattle, grain, as well as children and villagers. Since then, it has been customary in China to leave food on the threshold of houses - it is believed that the beast will be satisfied and leave people alone. There is another belief: once Nian was frightened of a child in a red hanfu, since then, on New Year's Eve, it is customary to decorate their homes with red lanterns and scrolls to scare away the beast.

The Chinese call their Santa Claus Shan Dan Laozhen, there are other interpretations of the name - Dong Che Lao Ren, Sho Hin and others. Like the Russian Santa Claus, he wears a red robe and does not like to travel on foot, preferring to travel around his possessions on a donkey. Shan Dan Laozhen can safely be called the busiest Santa Claus on New Year's Eve - there are many children in China, but he always looks into every house and leaves a laysi - an envelope with a small amount of money for happiness. The Chinese believe that their New Year's elder studied the philosophy of Confucius, masters wushu and aikido. It is also believed to ward off evil spirits.

Khyzyr-Ilyas

Muslim countries celebrate two New Years at once. The first of them comes on the first day of the month of Muharram, but since Islamic countries use the lunar calendar, the holiday is shifted 11 days ahead. The second is called Hederlez and symbolizes the beginning of a new pastoral year (usually celebrated on April 23 in the Julian calendar and May 6 in the Gregorian). Santa Claus is called Khyzyr Ilyas here and he appears in the homes of kind and righteous people only at the beginning of May. He is usually depicted as a gray-haired old man with a long gray beard, he wears a green embroidered robe and a red turban, and he carries a bag with gifts with him.

In fact, Khizir and Ilyas are two prophets, whose names have long been perceived as a single whole. According to Tatar beliefs, Khyzyr drank living water and received immortality. It is believed that he travels the world, helps those in need and punishes greedy people. Until now, the Tatars believe that it is impossible to offend an old man who met on the road or looked into the house, since it could be Khyzyr himself.

According to other legends, Khyzyr and Ilyas are brothers, they meet only once a year to bring Spring back to earth. On this day, Hederlez is celebrated. According to tradition, on the eve of the holiday, all houses are carefully cleaned, since the New Year's magician will not look into the dwelling of a slut. The hostesses also believe that if all the caskets, purses and pots with food are left open on a festive night, you can get the blessing of Khyzyr-Ilyas for prosperity in the family.