The European Santa Claus has already taken root in Belarusian realities so much that few people think about how he differs from Father Frost. Meanwhile, there are many differences!
1. Headdress
Santa Claus has a fur-trimmed hat. Santa Claus has a nightcap with a pompom.
2. Beard
Santa Claus's is long, to the waist. Santa Claus has a short beard like a shovel.
3. Outerwear
Santa Claus has a warm fur coat to his toes. Santa Claus has a short jacket.
4. Fur coat color
Santa Claus' fur coat can be red, blue or even white (colors associated with frost - Ed). Santa Claus only has red.
5. Staff
Santa Claus holds a staff in his hands. Santa Claus is holding a bag of gifts.
6. Belt
Santa Claus has a white belt. Santa Claus has a belt with a buckle.
7. Shoes
Santa Claus has white felt boots. Santa Claus has black boots.
8. Glasses
Santa Claus has poor eyesight and wears glasses. Santa Claus sees well, so he doesn’t have any glasses.
9. Vehicle
Classic Santa Claus moves on foot. Modern - in a sleigh drawn by three horses. Santa Claus rides in a cart pulled by reindeer.
10. Assistants
Grandfather Frost is helped by his granddaughter Snegurochka. Elves work for Santa Claus.
By the way, the Christian Saint Nicholas is considered the prototype of Father Frost and Santa Claus. He lived a long time ago in the Turkish city of Mira and was a good miracle worker and persecutor of evil, the patron of kidnapped and lost children. In Russia, Nikolai Ugodnik became one of the most beloved saints by the people. Simple peasants prayed to him for help if a cow fell ill, there was no rain for a long time, or some other misfortune occurred. Gradually Saint Nicholas Western countries began to be called in English - Santa Claus. But in Russia the translation of the saint’s name was given in a very unique way. The whole point is that in Soviet years religious symbols were actively supplanted and, according to the resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1937, the saint was replaced by a character named Father Frost () NEW YEAR SHOPPING
By the way, the Christian Saint Nicholas is considered the prototype of Father Frost and Santa Claus. He lived a long time ago in the Turkish city of Mira and was a good miracle worker and persecutor of evil, the patron of kidnapped and lost children. In Russia, Nikolai Ugodnik became one of the most beloved saints by the people. Simple peasants prayed to him for help if a cow fell ill, there was no rain for a long time, or some other misfortune occurred. Gradually, St. Nicholas in Western countries began to be called in English - Santa Claus. But in Russia the translation of the saint’s name was given in a very unique way. The thing is that during the Soviet years, religious symbols were actively supplanted and, according to the resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1937, the saint was replaced by a character named Father Frost ()
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Gift sets, trips to hot countries, plastic windows, building materials... Whatever your heart desires! And all this at a discount! Look for bargains
In winter, we eagerly await the arrival of Christmas and New Year. Of course, these are some of the most fun and favorite holidays. What can we say about children: children wait with special delight and trepidation for the time of gifts and miracles to come. At this time, every child tries not to see who is leaving gifts under the tree, and whether they really will appear there. Without a doubt, it will be interesting to know how Father Frost differs from Santa Claus. Let's start with the history of these characters.
Pagan version of the origin of the image of Santa Claus
Santa Claus has been with us for a very long time. There are several versions explaining the origin of this. One of them is pagan. Our great-great-grandfathers firmly believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors protected the clan from hunger and bad weather. They were given gifts as a sign of gratitude and respect. And the oldest and most terrifying of them was called the elder. And it may very well be that it was he who became the prototype of our modern and beloved Santa Claus.
Folklore origins of the image of Father Frost
There is another point of view on the origin of this character, according to which the prototype of Grandfather Frost first appeared in folk tales. He was Morozko, or Frost. In the old days it was believed that a stern, bearded old man personified the winter cold. He bound rivers with ice, scattered sparkling water across forests and fields. silver snow, and his staff had miraculous powers: it could freeze scoundrels and scoundrels and, conversely, unfreeze those in trouble. As you can see, Santa Claus was, although a strict old man, but fair.
Origin of Santa Claus
How is Santa Claus different from Santa Claus, his Western counterpart? This giver comes to children in English-speaking countries and gives them gifts, but not New Year's, but Christmas gifts. The prototype of Santa Claus is the Wonderworker common to all Christians. He was known for his charity and gave gifts to children from poor families. IN mid-17th century century, this image moved to the North American continent, where over time it experienced some transformations.
Modern Santa Claus
How is Father Frost different from Santa Claus now? Let's find out. Over the long period of his existence, he has changed noticeably. The kind and generous Santa Claus we are accustomed to appeared already in Soviet times. Then, in 1936, the New Year tree holiday was again allowed, after several years it was prohibited to celebrate it. And now the appearance of Santa Claus finally takes on a complete design. This is a welcome guest who comes at the end of the holiday and gives gifts to the children. And he also puts them under Christmas tree. And if you yourself want to come to visit him, then know: the estate of Father Frost is located in Veliky Ustyug, Vologda region. He celebrates his birthday on November 18th.
By the way, giving surprises is also how Father Frost differs from Santa Claus. The latter is accustomed to putting gifts in colorful socks for children. They were usually hung by the fireplace the night before Christmas.
Santa Claus today
How did the modern appearance of Santa Claus come about? This character was invented in 1823 by teacher Clement Clarke Moore. His Santa Claus turned out to be a kind little elf who flies on eight reindeer and sneaks into people's houses through the chimney. And already in the twentieth century, thanks to the well-known advertising of the Coca-Cola company, the final image of Santa was formed - the well-known plump, good-natured old man in a red sheepskin coat.
The character's homeland is considered to be Lapland. His birthday is celebrated on December 6th, because that’s when the Catholic world celebrates the holiday, dedicated to memory St. Nicholas. Orthodox Christians celebrate this holiday on December 19, and children who obeyed adults and behaved well will definitely receive gifts from the saint.
Santa Claus vs Santa Claus
Let's find out how Father Frost and Santa Claus differ in appearance. The first one is always wearing a warm, floor-length fur coat, trimmed with fluffy iridescent fur and decorated with silvery fancy patterns. It can be not only red, but also blue or white. On his head, Father Frost wears a traditional boyar hat, also trimmed with fur, and on his hands - warm mittens. The New Year's wizard does not appear anywhere without his silver staff. Santa Claus' outfit corresponds to the conditions of a Western winter, much milder than the Russian one. Therefore, he looks completely different: a short sheepskin coat (certainly red) with leather strap, short pants, on the head - a night cap with a pompom. In addition, he often appears with a pipe, and also wears glasses, which are completely unnecessary for our Santa Claus.
You already know the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus, if we talk about appearance. But this is not the only difference between them. Let us give some more nuances that help distinguish these two wizards from each other. So, Santa Claus rides three snow-white horses or visits the children on foot. Another difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus is that his assistant and beloved granddaughter, Snegurochka, is with him everywhere. This slender young beauty is dressed in a sparkling snow-white or blue and silver outfit, and on her head is a crown of amazing beauty with eight rays. In turn, Santa Claus flies through the air in a carriage and controls the reindeer. And various fairy-tale creatures help him.
Father Frost and Santa Claus, as you can see, are noticeably different from each other. And yet, despite this, they are similar in one thing: both heroes are the main ones and, undoubtedly, beloved ones during the Christmas holidays. And every year children all over the world write letters to their beloved wizards and enthusiastically await gifts and surprises from them. Therefore, in the battle between Father Frost and Santa Claus there can be no winners.
Of course, our family is much closer to us cultural traditions. However, what is more important is not how Father Frost differs from Santa Claus and which of them is more important, but that both give joy and good mood and, of course, they create magic. After all, a holiday is always a miracle.
Santa Claus and Father Frost are the most Christmas and New Year characters with whom numerous fairy tales are associated. Despite the fact that the characters have similar functions and tasks, the differences are fundamental.
Santa Claus: who is it?
Santa Claus is Christmas Father Frost, folklore character, originating from Western Europe and North America. Santa Claus must give numerous gifts to children on Christmas Day. 
To date, there is no consensus as to which country is the homeland of Santa Claus. Despite this, traditionally people come to visit Santa Claus in Finland, in Lappland.
The prototype of Santa Claus is the saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, and the grandfather’s name is translated as follows: Santa - saint, Klaus - Nikolai. The miracle worker initially became famous thanks to his charity, because he provided numerous gifts to poor people with children.
Santa Claus, as a Christmas character, took over the functions of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Initially, on December 6th, on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, in Europe it was customary to give various gifts to children. However, after the veneration of saints was banned, in Germany and neighboring countries Jesus Christ began to distribute gifts, and the tradition was moved to December 24, when Christmas markets are held. Soon the children began to receive gifts again, but they had to wait until December 24th for their delivery. 
Santa Claus: who is this?
Santa Claus is a fabulous New Year's character who is a Christmas giver and has earned popularity in Eastern Slavic countries. It is this New Year's hero who has special significance for children for many decades. 
During the Soviet era, Santa Claus was accompanied by a boy in a red fur coat and a cap, on which the numbers of the coming year were supposed to be visible. The boy was perceived as a successor, but subsequently the hero’s popularity began to decline and now he is practically forgotten. Despite the fact that the grandfather's pedigree is gradually changing, he still remains the personification of miracles and faith in a fabulous future. 
Santa Claus can ride with forest animals, which is also typical only for the East Slavic New Year's character. Despite the fact that in Western countries people love nature and try to maintain good ecology, a reverent attitude towards winter picturesque landscapes observed only among residents of countries former USSR. In America and the USA it will never be possible to comprehend a real Russian winter.
Santa Claus and Father Frost: main differences
You need to understand that the characters turn out to be completely different, despite the fact that the grandfathers have significant visual similarities.
- The headdress distinguishes grandfathers. The Russian character wears a hat with a fringe of natural fur, which is due to the harsh Russian winters. It is important to note that the headdress is made in a semi-oval shape, which is traditional for Russian tsars. Santa Claus can be proud of his beautiful hat. This headdress is made in red. A white pompom is used as decoration.
- Clothes color. Santa Claus always wears a red suit, but he can never wear a fur coat. White trim is used to decorate clothes. Santa Claus has a rich wardrobe, and the main color of his clothes can be any, but the association with winter and frost turns out to be truly important. The character's clothing is decorated with rich and original patterns, gold and silver embroidery. Everything should testify to the dignity of the wonderful mother winter.
- Cloth. Santa Claus dresses in a thick and warm fur coat. Moreover, the maximum length of the fur coat is assumed. There is the possibility of using not only a belt, but also a sash, which corresponds to Russian national winter fashion. A character cannot wear a fur coat above the knee if he truly respects his ancestry. Santa Claus must wear a short jacket. For a stylish look, a black belt with a buckle is required.
- What's under the fur coat? Santa Claus prefers linen items, which turn out to be natural. Moreover, a geometric pattern is assumed. Santa Claus should wear red stylish pants. The rest remains a mystery.
- Shoes. Santa Claus wears Russian shoes, or rather felt boots. The traditional color of shoes is white. Santa Claus did not receive Russian honor. The Americans wore elegant black boots for their character.
- Gloves or mittens. Santa Claus may wear three-fingered white mittens with silver embroidery. Santa Claus can take off his mittens, but he must tuck them into the belt of his fur coat. In America and many European countries, a warmer climate is expected, so Santa Claus is not ready to put on warm mittens. As a result, the hero received light gloves.
- Beard. Santa Claus has a long and thick beard, which is his pride. Santa Claus has only a short beard with decorative curls.
- What attributes do the characters have? Santa Claus should be with a crystal or silver staff, decorated with a twisted handle and a moon. Occasionally you can notice that the top of the handle is made in the form of a bull's head. Santa Claus has glasses and a pipe, which are not acceptable for an East Slavic hero.
- Transport. Santa Claus must travel on foot or in a sleigh with three horses, Santa Claus must travel in a cart with reindeer.
- Gift bag is the only common attribute. However, Santa Claus must secretly crawl through the chimney and hide gifts in stockings, and Father Frost must enter the house openly and give gifts in hand or place them under the Christmas tree.
- Grandfather Frost is a tall hero with a courageous figure, Santa Claus is a short and plump old man with a cheerful character.
The older generation understands the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus. But not all modern children see differences in them. Many guys think that this is the same character, others think that the winter wizards are brothers. Not all parents are in a hurry to dispel such myths. Some do not consider it necessary to deprive a child of a fairy tale. They say: “Let him believe in whomever he wants, let him grow up, and understand that all wizards are a figment of the imagination.” But you can't do that to children. The guys should see the difference between a Russian wizard and his Western counterpart. After all, if children are not taught this, then in the future our country will lose its history. Today we will look in detail at the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus.
Origin of the Russian wizard
To understand the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus, you need to know the history of these two characters. It is believed that our wizard is the spirit of frost, who was worshiped by our pagan ancestors. People brought gifts to this mystical deity, trying to appease the harsh temper of Frost. A fictional deity from folklore became the prototype for the fairy tale "Morozko". At first, this character had nothing to do with the New Year; this association came much later. After all, in Russia, Christmas has always been considered the main holiday of winter. Only during the Soviet period New Year acquired an all-Union scale. And the symbol of this main holiday became good wizard and his granddaughter.
Many will be surprised, but there is also an American Santa Claus. Santa Claus is not the only hero of Western children's fairy tales. Jack Frost is an analogue of our Russian wizard. But in America they consider him negative hero, he ruins the children's holiday, and it is with him that Santa Claus constantly comes into conflict. Of course, Jack Frost is not exactly our Santa Claus, he smokes, drinks, and looks very repulsive.
The history of the appearance of the Western wizard
Well, now let’s look once again at the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas was taken as the prototype of the Western wizard. When the first settlers moved to live on a new American island, they had to develop their own folklore. This is how Sinterklaas was born. It was he who threw gifts to children who behaved well through the fireplace. But why did Santa Claus give gifts in such a strange way? And this fact has an explanation. They say that Saint Nicholas walked on the rooftops and threw wallets of gold down the chimneys of the poor. And since socks were dried on the fireplaces, wallets were found there.
Santa Claus gained wide popularity in 1931. It was this year that Coca-Cola released its commercial with the famous old man in a red sheepskin coat. Therefore, when thinking about who is older - Father Frost or Santa Claus, we can safely say that our wizard is in the lead here.
Where does Santa Claus live?
Everyone knows that the birthplace of the Russian wizard is Veliky Ustyug. There is the residence of Father Frost, in which he all year round greets his guests. Our wizard cannot stand the heat, which is why he settled in the North. He has his own residence, which is located 11 km from the city. But it is accessible to everyone. It’s especially great to go there during the New Year holidays to get a dose of New Year’s spirit.
Where does Santa Claus live?
The birthplace of Santa Claus is Lapland, and specifically the city of Rovaniemi. Here is his winter residence, where the wizard greets guests and distributes gifts. Santa Claus has a beautiful palace with a wonderfully decorated façade. What can we say, the wizard has his own town, where there is a post office and a bakery is open every day.
We understood where Father Frost and Santa Claus live, and surprisingly, these wizards communicate with each other. In the early 2000s, their joint video message to the children of the planet was recorded.
Character of Santa Claus
As you know, our wizard’s character is not sugar. It is enough to remember the fairy tale “Morozko” to understand how Santa Claus treats lazy and deceitful children. Of course, the wizard doesn’t freeze all the kids. Only the most notorious pranksters suffer such a fate. And Santa Claus brings gifts to the rest of the children. The wizard gives gifts to some children, those who have especially distinguished themselves by their good behavior and academic performance, in person, at the governor’s Christmas tree in Moscow. Santa Claus gives presents to other children at matinees in kindergartens and schools. Well, for those children who study poorly and do not please their parents with good behavior, the wizard brings nothing.
Santa Claus character
The Western wizard is also distinguished by his obstinate character. He may not be as strong in witchcraft as his Russian prototype, but he can still do mischief to children. Instead of gifts for children who have behaved badly during the year, New Year's Santa Claus pours ash into a sock.
Unlike the Russian wizard, the Western one does not have a healthy lifestyle. He loves to eat delicious food and smoke a pipe. As is known, people with big belly They have an eccentric but kind character.
Santa Claus clothes
Today, European and Russian fashion are no different, but this was not always the case. And since Santa Claus is not a hero of our generation, his clothes are already morally outdated and look a little out of date. But this does not mean that it does not suit my grandfather; on the contrary, he looks regal in it. On his head, Santa Claus has a hat trimmed with white fur. Often you can see embroidery on it in the form frosty patterns. Santa Claus is dressed in a fur coat that reaches to his toes. It is belted with a belt embroidered with gold or silver. Yes, it can also be applied to a fur coat interesting drawing. The Russian wizard has felt boots on his feet. These are the most appropriate shoes for a person who lives in the North. Mittens protect the hands of Santa Claus from wind and snow. And his face is adorned with a long white beard. And of course, a red nose. The nose, by the way, can be blue. Everything will depend on the color of the fur coat. IN lately Santa Claus increasingly wears red outerwear, paying tribute to Western fashion. But still, the Russian wizard does not disdain wearing both a blue and a white fur coat. Santa Claus carries a staff in his hands. He casts a spell with it, and he relies on it. Still, my grandfather is getting old and sometimes it’s difficult for him to walk. As the wizard leads healthy image life, he can often be seen skiing. But most often, Santa Claus uses eight white horses as a means of transportation, which he harnesses to a luxurious sleigh.
Western Wizard's Clothes
The Santa Claus costume is different from the Father Frost outfit. The fur coat of the European wizard is short. In a long one it would be inconvenient to climb smoke shafts. Santa Claus has red pants and black boots on his feet. His head is crowned with a nightcap with a pompom, and his face is adorned with a short white beard. White gloves protect your hands from cold and wind. The Western wizard's belt is wide and leather. Santa's suit is red and he has one.
The Western wizard is not without human weaknesses, which is why you can see a smoking pipe in his hands. Although, since anti-tobacco campaigns began in Europe, even Santa Claus has given up smoking. It is not surprising that in a few years the legend about the old man will change, and it will turn out that he was never interested in smoking a pipe. Old age forces the Western wizard to wear glasses. But it’s worth remembering that Santa Claus doesn’t look much like a person. He looks more like an elf. His short stature and round belly, which add charm to the old man, unite the grandfather with pointy-eared creatures.
The birthplace of Santa Claus is Lapland. It takes a long time to get there on foot, so he moves around western wizard on a sled with reindeer. These animals even have their own names, and some of them can talk. Elves often hang bells on the antlers of deer.
Santa Claus's assistants
The Russian wizard does not work alone. He has an assistant - his granddaughter Snegurochka. It is not entirely clear how this girl appeared, but by default it is generally accepted that she was left an orphan, and Santa Claus took her to live with him. It is surprising that there are no analogues of the Snow Maiden in any country in the world. This girl accompanies her famous grandfather on all his trips, helps him give gifts to children, and it is she who spends most of the matinees. Children love Snegurochka for her beautiful appearance and kind disposition. But it’s not only the granddaughter who helps the Russian wizard. In addition to the horses harnessed to his harness, titmice, bunnies and squirrels can be seen in various illustrations. These cute animals are Santa Claus' companions and friends.
Santa's Helpers
The Western wizard has a whole team that prepares gifts for children for Christmas. It consists of elves. These little people sew clothes and make toys day and night. Santa Claus also has a wife. Mrs. Claus does not accompany her husband on trips, but she always waits for him at home and supports him in all his endeavors. Santa Claus travels with his reindeer. They are his friends. The Western wizard talks to them, and it is they who help him get out of various troubles that the fat and clumsy old man gets into.
Why Russian children need to know the differences
Naturally, every person should know his history and the history of his country. It is thanks to her that we exist. Of course, history can be rewritten, but you cannot rewrite the past. And if you forget it, you can make the same mistakes in the future. It seems, what does the comparison of Father Frost and Santa Claus and the future of our country have to do with it? But it turns out there is a connection. After all, every child should know the folklore of their country. Thanks to folk tales Each nationality has its own unique flavor. For example, have you ever wondered: in Germany, Father Frost or Santa Claus wishes children a Happy New Year? It turns out that it is neither one nor the other. The Germans have their own wizard, and his name is St. Nicholas. And this is true in any country. Cheerful or menacing, but always fair old men, with hundreds of years behind them, congratulate children on the holidays. What if these wizards didn’t exist? All countries would celebrate New Year and Christmas the same way, and it would not be interesting. After all, you must admit, it’s nice to come to a foreign country and look at the strange and mysterious rituals that are performed in this foreign world. I want to try this wonderful one national cuisine and enjoy completely new entertainment. This is what makes a person travel. And perhaps this is due to the preservation of traditions and national heroes and symbols of the holiday. And for Russia, the main characters of the New Year are Father Frost and Snow Maiden.