Country: France - "Pere Noel and La Pere Fouettard"
Papa Noel is one of the most popular incarnations of St. Nick, and Pere Noel from France is one of the most famous versions. He resembles Santa Claus in appearance, but instead of using reindeer he rides a single donkey called Gui, which means Mistletoe in French. Like many other countries, some regions of France also celebrate St. Nicholas day on December Fifth. For this holiday, along with the traditional St. Nick figure, the French also have a character called La Pere Fouettard (The Whipping Father). Like Belsnickel, hes a figure who is supposed to be feared by naughty kids, and based on his back-story, it's easy to see why. In the most popular version, it is said that in the 1100s La Pere Fouettard and his wife kidnapped and murdered three young men and then cooked them into a stew. After the victims were discovered and brought back to life by the benevolent St. Nicholas, La Pere Fouettard repented his evil deeds and vowed to serve as his helper.
Gift-Giving Style:
Like Sinterklaas and many other variations of Santa,
Pere Noel places small gifts and candy in shoes left
next to the fireplace. La Pere Fouettard, meanwhile,
is a little less cheerful. He carries rusty chains and
switches, and doles out floggings to children
who misbehave. In some versions of the story,
he gets even more brutal, and is said to cut out
the tongues of kids who ve been caught lying.
Country: Italy - " La Befana"
Similar to Santa Claus in style but quite different in appearance, the Befana is a witch-like character who has become a big part of yuletide celebrations in Italy. Her back-story varies, but the most popular version describes her as being a kind woman who gave food and shelter to the three wise men while they were en route to visit the baby Jesus.
Much like a traditional Halloween witch, the Befana is portrayed as an old hag who rides a broomstick, and she typically wears a black shawl and carries a bag of gifts. She supposedly does not like to be seen, and is said to whack any child who her spies on her with her broomstick no doubt a clever way of keeping the kids in bed while parents arrange gifts in the night.
Gift-Giving Style:
Like Santa Claus, La Befana supposedly climbs down the chimney to leave gifts for kids, and she also is known to leave behind a piece of coal or ash for those who have been naughty. As the legendary Befana was regarded as the best housekeeper in all of Italy, she also is known to sweep the floor around the chimney on her way out.