Who the heck is old Saint Nick?!
In the United States, Santa Claus is based on a real man named...
St. Nicholas
According to HISTORY, modern-day Santa Claus legends stem from a third-century monk named St. Nicholas. Born into wealth, St. Nicholas gave away his inheritance to the needy, suffering, and sick.
"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear"
Elf
Although they have made an appearance in the US in recent years, these brightly colored cardboard tubes that usually hold mini toys, paper crowns, and jokes are a popular tradition in England.
Christmas Crackers
When two people tug at each end, it makes a loud CRACK! sound (hence the name) and whoever is left holding the side that has more of the middle chamber wins the gift.
This Christmas cookie is often used to build decorative houses
Gingerbread
This green villain made popular from movies he starred in turned out to have a change of heart in end.
The Grinch
Grab your baguette and celebrate Christmas in this country with Pere Noel.
France
"Father Christmas" is the legendary gift bringer in France and other French speaking countries.
"You'll shoot your eye out kid!"
A Christmas Story
In Norway, it is customary to hide these 2 types of long-handled cleaning tools.
Brooms and Mops
Norwegian folklore advises hiding brooms and mops on Christmas night to prevent evil spirits and witches, who return to earth on Christmas, from taking the cleaning tools and using them to fly through the sky. How’s that for a clean sweep?
This dense dessert is most often enjoyed (or not) around Christmas time
Fruitcake
Arguably the most notorious holiday villain of all, this rotten humbug turned out not to be so villainous by the end of the story.
Ebeneezer Scrooge
In this very large, very cold country they know Santa as Father Frost.
Russia
He doesn’t travel alone (specifically, with a “snow maiden”) and brings presents on January 7, which is when Russians celebrate Christmas.
"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings"
It's a Wonderful Life
A tradition that has become popular in Japan includes ordering a bucket of chicken from this popular US chain.
KFC
While Christmas isn’t exactly a huge holiday there, some people do celebrate it, with Christmas Day feasts consisting of none other than buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Not only is Colonel Sanders now synonymous with Santa Claus, but the brand even purveys Christmas-themed “Party Barrels” to mark the tradition.
Even though they are prepared differently this starchy veggie holds the top 2 spots for most popular Christmas food across the US
Potatoes
1. Roasted Potatoes
2. Mashed Potatoes
Some call him "The Shadow of Saint Nicholas" but perhaps a more accurate way of thinking about this villain is as the "Anti-Claus".
Krampus
The modern Santa Claus-equivalent in Iceland is known as...
Yule Lads (also known as Yulemen)
According to the folklore, Yule Lads were the sons of Gryla and Leppaludi, trolls who live in the mountains and the Yule Lads would descend from the mountains to prank or scare children who misbehaved and were accompanied by Yule Cat, a beast which would eat children who did not get new Christmas clothes. In modern Iceland, Yule Lads are depicted as 13 men who travel around the country during Christmas, offering gifts to children with good morals.
"Merry Christmas you filthy animal"
Home Alone 2
If you’ve ever watched a British Christmas movie (like Love, Actually), perhaps you’ve heard people saying, “...” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Happy Christmas
While people don’t know exactly how this phrase started in England, people do know that King George V said it in 1932 during the first royal Christmas message.
This pungent cheese is Oregon's most popular Christmas food
Brie
He stalks around the North Pole, threatening any creature that dares to cross his path. To quote Sam the Snowman, "He's mean, he's nasty, and he hates everything to do with Christmas."
The abominable snow monster
In this European country, local legends tell of a woman known as Befana who is the country’s Santa Claus equivalent.
Italy.
The local folklore in Italy portrays Befana as an old hag who travels aerially riding on a broomstick and wears a black shawl. Befana is believed to visit homes, entering through the chimney and leaves candy and other gifts to children who have been good and leaves soot or a lump of coal to children who have been bad. In modern Italy, Befana is also known as the Christmas Witch.
"Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing"
The Santa Clause
This specially selected log is burnt on a hearth as a winder tradition in regions of Europe and subsequently North America.
Yule Log
The Christmas practice calls for burning a portion of the log each evening until Twelfth Night (January 6). The log is subsequently placed beneath the bed for luck, and particularly for protection from the household threats of lightning and, with some irony, fire.
Inspired by the traditional yule log, this French named dessert is a Christmas staple in France.
Buche de Noel
He is more than just a funny name. The Grinch tried to steal Christmas, but this holiday villain used his position of power to have gift-giving outlawed.
Burgermeister Meisterburger