Santa is known as Papai Noel and Bom Velhinho (Good Old Man) in Brazil, and while he is delivering presents in the southern hemisphere he changes into his lighter weight Santa suit.
Brazil is highly influenced by Portuguese culture and tradition and this can also be seen in Christmas tradition, In Brazil Christmas is known as Dia de festas, it is celebrated on 25 December every year.
Santa Claus is the same in Brazil as most of the Western world see him. Papai Noel as he is known in Brazil is believed to come on Christmas Eve with presents for the children and lives in the North Pole.
In Brazil, Papai Noel (Santa Claus) is a friendly old man who wears a red silk suit and visits South America from the North Pole. He delivers Christmas gifts to well behaved children, who hang a sock near their window, which Papai Noel exchanges for a present.
He wears red, has a big beard and rides on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. However, there is one difference, which is that as Santa Claus arrives in Brazil, he changes out of his winter suit and into a silk one. This is because Christmas Day falls in the middle of the country's summer, meaning it is incredibly hot.
Portugal's Santa Claus
The sweet, good old Santa, known internationally as Santa Claus, is called "Pai Natal" in Portugal. He also usually gives presents to the children. Many families try to put the children to bed before midnight, to preserve this Christmas mystery.
Since 54 percent of the population is Catholic, many Brazilians attend midnight mass, exchange gifts and celebrate with large family gatherings the night before Christmas. “Brazilians gather on the night of the 24th and it's a big party! We do a big dinner and hang out—drinking, talking partying until midnight.
“feliz Natal!”
The song, popular with school-aged kids, explains that Santa's reindeer get a rest while six white boomers (boomer is Aussie slang for a male kangaroo) lead Santa's sleigh through Australia! After all the toys are delivered, they even help a little joey (a baby kangaroo) find his mommy.
Santa Claus in China
The Chinese call Santa Claus sheng dan lao ren, which translates to Old Christmas Man.
Homes and stores are decorated with festive trees and lights. Many people attend church on Christmas Eve. Brazilian children go to sleep on Christmas Eve hoping for a visit from Papai Noel, who gives presents to children. They often use fireworks to celebrate the holiday.
The central dish of Brazilian Christmas Dinner is typically a “chester,” a special variety of chicken that has been bred to have a high percentage of breast and thigh meat. Unlike the turkeys roasted in the US, chesters are sold in boneless, oval-shaped packages. They are roasted and carved like boneless honey ham.
What is Santa Claus called in Australia? These days most Australians call Atnas (his real name) “Santa”.
The Tradition of Secret Santa
From the German 'Christkindl' (meaning “Christ Child”) the name Kris Kringel is also used in Australia and Great Britain to refer to a secret Santa gift exchange.
Australia. Australian children set out cookies for Santa, but instead of milk, they leave him an ice-cold glass of beer. After all, December is summer in the land Down Under. The children leave carrots for Santa's reindeer to munch on, too.
Speaking of Santa, Brazilian children share the common belief that Father Christmas (“Papai Noel” in Portuguese) will bring them presents on Christmas Eve. He is depicted in much the same way as in the US and other parts of the world. He wears red and white robes, a warm hat, and has a white beard.
But for people who live in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is in summertime. December is one of the hottest months of the year in Brazil. Even though Christmas is officially December 25, all Brazilians celebrate Christmas on the 24th at night, usually with a hearty meal, exchanging presents, and lots of celebration!
If you are spending Christmas or "Natal" in Portugal, you'll of course need to know how to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in the local lingo. Merry Christmas translates to Portuguese as “Feliz Natal” and although this is the most common way to express your Christmas greetings, you can also say “boas festas”.
Christmas traditions in Brazil look much like that in Western Europe or America. This is because of Brazil's Portuguese heritage. There are nativity scenes, family Christmas dinners, Christmas trees and even Santa Claus!
Christmas Eve > Christmas Day
Most Brazilians celebrate the holiday on Christmas Eve, rather than (or in addition to) Christmas Day. Those who are religious, will go to church in the evening, and then come home to dinner and presents at around midnight or so. Some families will even wait until midnight to have dinner!
Nick, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, whatever you want to call him, it wouldn't truly be Christmas without the jolly old benefactor giving out presents to the children around the world! And Babbo Natale – or Daddy Christmas – is Italy's answer to the man in the red suit.
The name, Santa Claus, was stated to evolve from Nick's Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas, which is translated as the Dutch name for St. Nicholas.
In England, his name is Father Christmas. In France, he's known as Pere Noel. In Germany, children get presents from Christindl, the Christ Child. In Italy Babbo Natale, which means Father Christmas, is Santa.
Spain, Portugal and most places in Latin America use amigo secreto ("secret friend"), amigo invisible/invisível ("invisible friend"), and also amigo oculto ("hidden friend") in parts of Brazil.
According to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (19th edn, 2012), Father Christmas is considered to be "[a] British rather than a US name for Santa Claus, associating him specifically with Christmas. The name carries a somewhat socially superior cachet and is thus preferred by certain advertisers."