Santas of the World at PPG Place
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Christmas at the PPG Place Wintergarden brings displays of the Santas from around the world in traditional costume. These photographs from 2003-2004 are personal ones from our Christmas visits, and we wish to share those with you. If the display continues through the years, it is a wonderful visit to the PPG Building during the Christmas holiday season in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Contemporary America
From the North Pole, Santa Claus comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve to bring toys and gifts to good little girls and boys.
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Victorian America
Santa Claus, aka Kris Kringle or Chriskind, was first introduced to America by the Pennsylvania Dutch.
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Russia
On New Year's Day, Grandfather Frost brings gifts to all.
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Poland
After the Christmas Eve supper, Star Man brings cookies and other small gifts to the children.
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France
In the Middle Ages, Pere Noel would leave little gifts in the wooden shoes of French peasant children. Pere Foucette, his mean sidekick, left sticks for the bad children.
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Italy
Epiphany Eve January 5, La Befana rings her hand bell as she arrives down the chimney to bring good children firewood and gifts, but coal to bad little children.
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Great Britain
Father Christmas brings gifts and a Yule Log for the fireplaces as he rides to the homes on a white donkey or a goat.
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Germany
The German holiday season begins on December 5 St. Nicholas Day. On Christmas Eve, St. Nicholas visits good children with gifts.
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Norway
In Norwegian mythology, the Gift Bringer, Julesvenn brings lucky stalks of barley during the winter festival of Jul.
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Netherlands (Holland)
The children put out treats of carrots and hay for St. Nicholas' horse. In return, he brings them candies, fruits, nuts and little gifts; sometimes he may leave them a little note.
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Ukraine
On January 6, Christmas Eve, a Holy Supper (Sviata Vechera) is celebrated. |
China
Christmas Old Man of China (Dun Che Lao Ren) carries wicker baskets of gifts to fill children's stockings during the Holy Birth Festibal (Sheng Dan Jieh). |
Ireland
On December 26, boys carrying little straw wrens sing door-to-door for pennies in honor of St. Stephen.
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Haiti
Haitian women dress in their finest and go to a festival with their baskets filled with tropical goodies.
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Latin America
Viejo Pascero (Old Man Christmas) heads the festivities with gift-filled pinatas, poultry and poinsettias.
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Middle East
A more modern tradition is this Holy Man bearing gifts.
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