Windows 7: Question about Santa Claus

Aside from this being a great place to get info on Windows 7, it is also a place where I have learned a lot about other countries in the world from the users on here. == Today's question is "Are there any Forum Members whose country does not have the traditional Santa Clause delivering presents with his reindeer pulling his sleigh"? Just curious.

Down here in Cajun country Santa comes is a Pirogue (boat) pulled by Alligators. And instead of cookies we leave him bread pudding with rum sauce and a glass of Egg Nog.

Jim

Actualy since my family is Romanian, we have Saint Nicholas and "Santa Claus". Saint Nic day is selebrated on the 6th of December and gift giving is done on the 5th of December, for kids it is usually done by putting gifts in their shoes(they get left at the door step). Then we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December.
EDIT: we also give gifts on the 24th, so there are 2 days of getting gifts

Here in India, we don't have reindeer, so santa comes by whichever means of transport he prefers.

In the land of my forefathers, The Netherlands, they have St Nicholas on the same dates as in Romania.

Here is another tradition along the Mississippi river near New Orleans. Bonfires along the river light the way for Santa.

Hundreds light way for Papa Noel | wwltv.com | WWLTV.com News

Jim

I saw a TV programme that suggested that the legend of Father Christmas coming down the chimney originated in Lapland or Siberia or somewhere. Somewhere that has a solid few months of snow anyway.
These people lived in Yurts and they would have a fire in the middle with the smoke going up and exiting through a centraL hole in the roof. As the winter set in the snow level would rise to at least the roofline of the yurt, sometimes higher. The hot smoke from the fire would keep the chimney hole open and it became the only way in or out of the dwelling.
In the middle of the winter a "medicine man" would travel around bearing preserved foods and herbs etc. He would arrive on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, come down the "chimney" and distribute goodies to everyone.
Sounds feasible to me.
Our modern red and white Father Christmas was invented by Coca Cola in the early 1900s usurping the guy from European legend who normally wore green and brown.
If you think about it he is a Coca Cola logo personified.

And the area I live in, no any such custom which means no gifts, just a school holiday.

I believe Finland used to have some sort of evil Santa or something along those lines. Any Fins who could elaborate?

Is it the Dutch version you are thinking off, or his sidekick : SwartPiet? I believe : he steals the kids presents.

Perhaps any Dutch members here could elaborate more.