What do Greek people call Santa?

The Greek Santa Claus is known as “Ayios Vassileios” in Greek. He is like the father of Christmas; also an old man with a white beard, who is wearing a red cape.
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Is there Santa in Greece?

In Greece, the Americanized name ”Santa Claus” simply does not exist, and children always wait for their beloved Agios Vasilis (Saint Basil) to bring them gifts on New Year's Day.
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What do they call Christmas in Greece?

Greek Christmas (Christougena) is celebrated on the 25th of December and is the time when families come together to celebrate.
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How do Greek people celebrate Christmas?

Going to a Midnight Mass Service is very important for most Greeks. After the service people can go home and end their Advent fast. The main Christmas meal is often lamb or pork, roasted in an oven or over an open spit. It's often served with a spinach and cheese pie and various salads and vegetables.
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What do they call Santa in Europe?

He is a depiction of Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Children, and often referred to as De Sint (“The Saint”), De Goede Sint (“The Good Saint”), and De Goedheiligman (“The Good Holy Man”).
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What do Greeks want from Santa? | Easy Greek 13



What do Hispanics call Santa Claus?

Spanish: Papa Noel (lit.

In South America, a family member often dresses up as Papa Noel and give gifts to the children while they try and guess who the family member is! While in countries like Mexico and Venezuela, presents might also be brought by El Niñito Dios (baby Jesus) or Santo Clós (Santa Claus).
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What do France call Santa?

Santa Claus is called Père Noël in French or Father Christmas. Small children may also call him Papa Noël or Daddy Christmas. He looks more or less like the Santa Claus from the American Coca-Cola ads, but there are a few subtle differences in his costume and practices that make him French. 1.
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Is Greek Orthodox Christmas different?

For much of the Western world, Christmas is celebrated on December 25, according to the Gregorian calendar. Yet in a distinction that dates back centuries, Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar and mark the festival on January 7 instead.
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Do Greeks celebrate Christmas on Jan 6?

Celebrations for the Holiday Season start in Greece on December 25, when Jesus Christ was born, and end on January 6 on Epiphany Day, when Jesus Chris was bapted. The whole period is called Dodekaimero (12 days) as it lasts 12 days.
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Do Greek people celebrate Christmas?

Here in Greece, Christmas is an enchanting and festive event. Along with Greek Easter, it's the most important holiday of the year for Greek people. In fact, the twelve-day Christmas celebrations in Greece last until the Epiphany day, which is on the 6th of January.
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How do you say Happy Christmas in Greek?

The most popular ones would be: Καλά Χριστούγεννα! Merry Christmas! Καλή χρονιά!
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What is Nicholas in Greek?

Nikolaos (Greek: Νικόλαος, Nikólaos) is a common Greek given name which means "Victor of People", a compound of νίκη nikē 'victory' and λαός laos 'people'. The connotation is "people's champion" or "conqueror of people". The English form is Nicholas.
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Is Santa Claus Greek or Turkish?

Although widely thought to hail from the North Pole, Santa Claus is in fact originally from Turkey. The BBC's Mark Lowen visited the southern Turkish town of Demre to trace the roots of old Santa.
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Does Santa go to Greece?

In Greece, Santa Claus is called Agios Vasilis and comes from Caesarea. He brings the presents on New Year's Eve, riding his reindeer sleigh, to the well-behaved children only.
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Why don t Greeks celebrate Christmas on January 7?

That is because many Orthodox Christian churches follow the Julian calendar for religious celebrations. The Julian calendar runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, the standard international calendar in use today.
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Do Greek Orthodox believe in Santa Claus?

He is kind, cheerful and smiling and his purpose is to bring joy to children, by giving them gifts. Santa Claus or in Greek “Ayios Vassileios” is one of the main saints of the Greek Orthodox church. In Greece, Santa Claus is coming on the 1st of January and not on the 25th of December.
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What do Greeks eat on Christmas Eve?

Pork. Pork is the number one meat to eat in Greece at Christmastime, part of an ancient tradition when families would raise a pig to slaughter on Christmas Eve and serve it as the main dish on the following day.
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Do Greek Orthodox say Hail Mary?

The Eastern Orthodox Churches have apart from the Theotokion a quite similar prayer to the Hail Mary (without explicit request for the intercession of Mary), both in Greek and in translations, for frequent private prayer.
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What do Greek Orthodox say at Christmas?

During Christmas holiday period, which lasts from December 24 until January 6, plus a couple of weeks past that, it is a custom in Greece to wish "Hronia Polla" to the people you meet. So, if you meet someone in the morning, the proper way to greet him or her is: Kalimera, Hronia Polla!
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Is Greek Orthodox Christmas the same as Catholic?

According to the Julian calendar, Greek Catholics and Orthodox Christians will sit down for Christmas dinner on 6th January. This difference in the time of celebration results from the fact that the Eastern Church uses the Julian calendar, whereas Catholics use the Gregorian calendar.
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What is Santa called in Japan?

In Japan Santa is known as サンタさん、サンタクロース / Santa-san (Mr Santa) or サンタクロース / Santa-Kurosu (Santa Claus). (Another Japanese gift bringer is Hoteiosho, a Japanese god of good fortune from Buddhism. But he is NOT related to Christmas.)
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What does Italy call Santa?

St. 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.
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What is Santa called in Russia?

Unlike the bloated, red-coated father Christmas of the West, Russia's Santa Claus, known as Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), is slender with a wizard-like flowing beard and he wears a long robe that comes in different colors, such as blue and white.
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