In the Netherlands my parents would tell me that Saint Nick and Santa were different "As the Saint leaves Santa arrives" though my friends grew up being told they were the same person
Though Santa doesn't take bad children back to his workshops on Spain and put them to work making next year's toys. Santa has elves to do that
You missed two regional Italian traditions: Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) brings gifts in the north of Italy on the eve of her feast day (13 December), aided by her donkey. This help is especially important because Lucy was a martyr who had her eyes put out, and indeed is sometimes represented holding them in a plate! Anyway, the kids leave cookies for the Saint and carrots for the donkey, which are duly exchanged for gifts. Meanwhile, in the area around Rome gifts are brought by the Befana, an old lady with broken shoes, who these days has taken on a lot of the iconography of a witch (broomstick-riding, cackling, and so on). She leaves gifts in stockings on the eve of the Epiphany (6 January). Of course these days kids in Italy expect their big present on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day just like everywhere else, so these two are add-ons and often deliver only smaller gifts or sweets.
How did you manage to miss Caga Tio? The most bizarre of them all!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ti%C3%B3_de_Nadal
6 Jan is the biggest day in Spain, when los Reyos Magos, the 3 Wise Men/Kings bring gifts.
Viejito Pascuero translates as old man Easter not Christmas
In the Netherlands my parents would tell me that Saint Nick and Santa were different "As the Saint leaves Santa arrives" though my friends grew up being told they were the same person
Though Santa doesn't take bad children back to his workshops on Spain and put them to work making next year's toys. Santa has elves to do that
You missed two regional Italian traditions: Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) brings gifts in the north of Italy on the eve of her feast day (13 December), aided by her donkey. This help is especially important because Lucy was a martyr who had her eyes put out, and indeed is sometimes represented holding them in a plate! Anyway, the kids leave cookies for the Saint and carrots for the donkey, which are duly exchanged for gifts. Meanwhile, in the area around Rome gifts are brought by the Befana, an old lady with broken shoes, who these days has taken on a lot of the iconography of a witch (broomstick-riding, cackling, and so on). She leaves gifts in stockings on the eve of the Epiphany (6 January). Of course these days kids in Italy expect their big present on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day just like everywhere else, so these two are add-ons and often deliver only smaller gifts or sweets.
You missed Olentzero fron the Pais Vasco