Santa Claus Around the World
"Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas"
~Calvin Coolidge
One of Greater Vancouver’s great strengths is its diversity. It is a melting pot of different cultures from around our globe.
It seems that almost every second person I meet comes from a different far flung corner of the world. I love talking with them all and over the years I have learned from them how to say Merry Christmas in well over 100 different languages and what they call Santa Claus in their country of origin.
There are not many people who can get by me now without my being able to wish them a very Merry Christmas in their own language. I use them all each year and sometimes pickup one or two new ones.
Afrikaans: (South Africa. Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe) Merry Christmas : Geseenda Kersfees Santa Claus: Cas Fadder
Albanian: (Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia & the Balkans) Merry Christmas: Gezur Krislinjden Santa Claus: Babadimri
Arabic: (Middle East, North Africa & the Horn of Africa) Merry Christmas: Milad Majid, Santa Claus: Baba Noel
Armenian: (Armenia & the Nagomo-Karabakh Republic) Merry Christmas: Sourp Djnunt Santa Claus: Ghaghant Baba
Ashanti: (Ghana & the Ivory Coast) Merry Christmas: Bronya Pa Santa Claus: Santa
Assyrian: (Syria, North Western Iran, Northern Iraq & South Eastern Turkey) Merry Christmas: Ed A Brecha Santa Claus: Santa
Azari: (Southern Turkey, Northern Iran) Merry Christmas: Byramus Mobarak Santa Claus: Baba Noel
Bangoli (Banglodesh): Merry Christmas: Christmas Mobarak or Shubo Bardin Santa Claus: Santa
Bengali (Banglodesh): Merry Christmas: Bodo Din Shybh Lamona Santa Claus: Santa
Bosnian: (Bosnia & Herzegovina) Merry Christmas: Sretan Bozic or Sretni bozicni praznici Santa Claus: Deda Mraz or Bozic Bata
Brazilian: (Brazil-Portuguese) (Brazil) Merry Christmas: Feliz Natal Santa Claus: Papai Noel
Bulgarian: (Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia) Merry Christmas: Tchestita Koleda or Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo Santa Claus: Dyado Mraz
Burbur: (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia & Ethiopia) Merry Christmas: Amazigh As Guas Amagaz Santa Claus: Santa
Burmese (Myanmar) (Burma) Merry Christmas: Pyawshwinsaw Hkarahchcamaat. Santa Claus: Santa
Cambodian: (Cambodia, Vietnam & Thailand) Merry Christmas: Bon Noel Santa Claus: Santa
Carrier: (First Nations language of Prince George area) Merry Christmas: Thun Vod Santa Claus: Santa
Catalan (Barcelona): Merry Christmas: Bon Natal Santa Claus: Papa Noel
Cebowano (Philippines) Merry Christmas: Myo Pasko Santa Claus: Santa
Chilcotin (First Nations-Central B.C.) Merry Christmas: Sizi hesdlan Santa Claus: Santa
Chinese: (Cantonese) (Canton-Southern China) Merry Christmas: Sing Dan Faailok Santa Claus: Sing Dan Lo Yen
Chinese: (Mandarin) (N & S Western China) Merry Christmas: Sheng Dan Kuai Le Santa Claus: Sheng Dan Lo Ren or Sheng Dan La Gong Gong
Corsican: (Corsica) Merry Christmas: Bon Natale Santa Claus: Santa
Cree: (First Nations Saskatchewan plains) Merry Christmas: Miyo Manitowi Kisikanisi Santa Claus: Santa
Croatian: (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzagovina) Merry Christmas: Sretan Bozic or Sretni bozicni praznici Santa Claus: Sveti Nicola or Bozic Bata
Czechoslovakian: (Czech Republic & Slovakia) Merry Christmas: Vesely Vanoce Santa Claus: Deda Mraz
Danish: (Denmark) Merry Christmas: Glædelig Jul Santa Claus: Julemanden
Deni: (First Nations North Saskatchewan) Merry Christmas: Kulehyaki. Santa Claus: Santa
Dhari: (Pakistan) Merry Christmas: Christmas Mobarak. Santa Claus: Santa
Dutch: (Netherlands, Belgium & Suriname) Merry Christmas: Zalig Kerstfeast Santa Claus: Sinterklaas
Egyptian: (Egypt & Gulf Arab States) Merry Christmas: Eid Milad said or Kooli Sen-na wa inta tie-ib be Eid il Milad. Santa Claus: Santa
Elvish/Elven: (North Pole) Merry Christmas: Merye i Turuhalmeri. Santa Claus: Santa
English: (United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland & New Zealand) Merry Christmas: Merry Christmas Santa Claus: Santa Claus or Father Christmas
Estonian: (Estonia) Merry Christmas: Ruumsaid juulup|hi Santa Claus: Jõuluvana
Ethiopian (Amharic) (Ethiopia & Eritrea) : Merry Christmas: Melkin Yelidet Beaal Santa Claus: Santa
Fante: (Ghana) Merry Christmas: Brinya Pa Santa Claus: Santa
Farsi: (Iran, Iraq & Afghanistan) Merry Christmas: Christmas Eid Shoma Mobarak Bashad Santa Claus: Baba Noel
Fijian: (Fijian Islands) Merry Christmas: Marau Ni Siga Ni Sucu or Christmas Mobarak Santa Claus: Santa
Finnish: (Finland, Russia & Estonia) Merry Christmas: Hyvaa Joulua Santa Claus: Joulupukki
Flemish: (Flanders & Belgium) Merry Christmas: Vrolijke Kerstmis Santa Claus: Pere Noel, Sinterklaas
French: (France, Romandy, Monaco & Quebec) Merry Christmas: Joyeux Noel Santa Claus: Père Noël
Gaelic (Ireland): Merry Christmas: To one person: Nollaig Shonna Dhuit To more than one person: Nollaig Shonna Dhaoibh Santa Claus: Santa
Gaelic (Scotland): Merry Christmas: Nollaig Chrideil Santa Claus: Santa
Gaelic (Wales): Merry Christmas: Nadolig Llawen Santa Claus: Santa
German: Merry Christmas: Froehliche Weihnachten Santa Claus: Weihnachtsmann or in Southern Germany: Kris Kringle
Greek: (Greece, Cyprus & Turkey) Merry Christmas: Kala Christouyenna Santa Claus: Agios Nicola
Greenlandic: (Greeland) Merry Christmas: Juulimi Piluarit or Glaedelig Jul Santa Claus: Santa
Gujarati: (Western India) Merry Christmas: Christmas Mobarak or Christmas Ni Subhakamma Santa Claus: Santa
Hawaiian: (Hawaiian Islands) Merry Christmas: Mele Kalikimaka Santa Claus: Kanakaloka
Hebrew: (Israel) Merry Christmas: Mo adim Lesimkha Santa Claus: Santa
Hindi: (India & South Africa) Merry Christmas: Christmas Shub Kamna or Christmas Mobarak Santa Claus: Santa
Hungarian: (Hungary, Austria & Romania) Merry Christmas: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket Santa Claus: Mikulás
Icelandic: (Iceland) Merry Christmas: Gledileg Yol Santa Claus: Julemanden
Ilacano: (Philippines) Merry Christmas: Naragsak nga paskwam Santa Claus: Santa
Ilongo: (Philippines) Merry Christmas: Malipayon nga Pascua. Santa Claus: Santa
Indonesian: (Bahasa) (Indonesia, & East Timor) Merry Christmas: Selamat Hari Natal (Bahasa) or Selamat Hari Raya (Muslim) Santa Claus: Santa
Ismaili: (parts of Africa & the Middle East) Merry Christmas: Eid Mobarak Santa Claus: Santa
Italian: (Italy, San Marino & Malta) Merry Christmas: Buon Natale Santa Claus: Babbo Natale
Japanese: (Japan) Merry Christmas: Kurisumasu Omedeto Santa Claus: Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts)
Korean: (North & South Korea) Merry Christmas: Sung Tan Chuk Ha Hap Ni-Da Santa Claus: Santa
Kurdish: (Iran, Iraq, Turkey) Merry Christmas: Jezhenat Piroz Santa Claus: Baba Noel
Lao/Laotian: (Laos, Cambodia & Thailand) Merry Christmas: Souksan Van Christmas Santa Claus: Santa
Latvian: (Latvia) Merry Christmas: Priecigus Ziemas Svetkus, Santa Claus: Baba Noel
Lebonese: (Lebanon) Merry Christmas: Milad Majid, Santa Claus: Baba Noel
Ligala: (Democratic Republic of Congo) Merry Christmas: Mbotama Malamu Santa Claus: Santa
Lithuanian: (Lithuanian) Merry Christmas: Linksmu Kaledu Santa Claus: Kaledu Senelis
Macedonian: (Macedonia) Santa Claus: Sretan Bozic Santa Claus: Deda Meraz or Bozic Batta
Malayalam: (Southern most state of India) Merry Christmas: Christmas Ashamsagal. Santa Claus: Santa
Malaysian (Bahasa): Malaysia, Brunei: Merry Christmas: Selemat Hari Natal Santa Claus: Santa
Maori (new Zealand): Merry Christmas: Meri Ketemete. Santa Claus: Santa
Marathi (Western India, Bombay) Merry Christmas: Christmas Mobarak or Shubha Natal Santa Claus: Santa
Myanmar (Burma) Merry Christmas: Pyawshwinsaw Hkarahchcamaat. Santa Claus: Santa
Mongoli: (Mongolia) Merry Christmas: Shine Onii Mend Khurgey Santa Claus: Santa
Navajo: (First Nations SW United States) Merry Christmas: Nizhonigo Keshmish Santa Claus: Santa
Nepalese: (Nepal) Merry Christmas: Khusi Christmas Santa Claus: Santa
Norwegian: Norway) Merry Christmas: God Jul Santa Claus: Julenissen
Palestinian: (Palestine) Merry Christmas: Kul Seneh Oo Into Salmeen Santa Claus: Santa
Polish: (Poland) Merry Christmas: Wesolych Swiat Santa Claus: Swiety Mikolaj
Portuguese: (Portugal) Merry Christmas: Feliz Natal Santa Claus: Pai Natal
Punjabi: (Punjab India & Pakistan) Merry Christmas: Christmas The Lahk Lahk Vudhai Hove or Christmas Mobarak Santa Claus: Santa
Pushtun: (Afghanistan &Pakistan) Merry Christmas: Akhter Dey Mobaraksha Santa Claus: Baba Chaghaloo
Romanian: (Romania & Moldova) Merry Christmas: Craciun Fericit Santa Claus: Mos Craciun
Russian: (Russia) Merry Christmas: Pozdravliay S Rozhdestvom Kristovym Santa Claus: Ded Moroz
Salish: (First Nations) Merry Christmas: Amash Klishmis Santa Claus: Santa
Serbian: (Serbia, Montenegro,Croatia & Bosnia) Merry Christmas: Christos se rodi Santa Claus: Deda Mraz, or Bozic Bata
Shanghaieze: (Shanghai) Merry Christmas: Sun Day Kwai Lo Santa Claus: Santa
Sign Language: Merry Christmas: Both hands touching chest, sweep up and away twice, then right hand sweeps in an arch over face with palm out, Fingers and thumb in “C” shape.
Sinhala (Sri Lanka): Merry Christmas: Suba Naththalak Wewa Santa Claus: Santa
Slovakian: (Slovakia, Czech Rep & Serbia) Merry Christmas: Sretan Bozic or Sretni bozicni praznici Santa Claus: Deda Mraz or Bozic Bata
Slovak: (Slovakia, Czech Rep & Serbia) Merry Christmas: Vesely Vanoche Santa Claus: Deda Mraz
Slovene: (Slovenia, Italy & Hungary) Merry Christmas: Vesele Bozicne or Vesele Bozicne Praznici Santa Claus: Deda Mraz or Bozic Bata
Somali: (Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen & Kenya) Merry Christmas: Christmas Karim or Christmas Mobarak Santa Claus: Santa
Spanish: (Spain & Latin America) Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad Santa Claus: Papa Noel
Statlium: (First Nations Whistler area) Merry Christmas: Ama Klishmis Santa Claus: Santa
Swahili: (Kenya Burundi Congo Rwanda) Merry Christmas: Christmas Mukumpia Santa Claus: Santa
Swedish: (Sweden & parts of Finland) Merry Christmas: God Jul Santa Claus: Jultomten
Swiss: (Switzerland bordering Germany) Merry Christmas:Schōni Weinochtā Santa Claus: Kris Kringle
Tagalog: (Philippines) Merry Christmas: Maligayamg Pasko. Santa Claus: Santa
Tamil (Sri Lanka) Merry Christmas: Natal Vaalthukkal Santa Claus: Santa
Taiwanese: (Taiwan) Merry Christmas: Shen Dan Kwai Lo Santa Claus: Sheng Dan Lo Ren
Thai: (Thailand) Merry Christmas: Sawadee Pee Mai Santa Claus: Santa
Turkish: (Turkey, Germany, Bulgaria & Macedonia) Merry Christmas: Byram Miniz Mobarak Olsön Santa Claus: Baba Noel
Twe: (Ghana) Merry Christmas: Bronya Pa Santa Claus: Santa
Ukrainian: (The Ukraine) Merry Christmas: Christos Rodiosha or Pozdravliay S Rozhdestvom Kristovym Santa Claus: Swieti Nicolaj or Djed Mraz
Urdu: (Pakistan, India & Bangladesh) Merry Christmas: Christmas Mobarak Santa Claus: Santa
Venezuelan: (Spanish) Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidat Santa Claus: Papa Noel or San Nicholas
Vietnamese: (Vietnam) Merry Christmas: Choke Mun Yangsing Santa Claus: Santa
Yoruba: (Nigeria) Merry Christmas: Keresmesi Santa Claus: Santa
Yugoslavian: (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina) Merry Christmas: Sretan Bozic or Sretni bozicni praznici Santa Claus: Deda Mraz or Bozic Bata
Zulu: (Bantu) (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania & Mozambique) Merry Christmas: Ikhrisimesi Emnandi. Santa Claus: Santa.
...compiled over many years by Santa Michaelj