Père Noël
père noël french pronunciation pɛʁ nɔɛl father christmas sometimes called papa noël daddy christmas legendary giftbringer christmas france frenchspeaking area identified father christmas andor santa claus englishspeaking territory though traditionally different character different name shared characteristic red outfit workshop north polelapland team reindeer according tradition christmas eve child leave shoe fireplace filled carrot treat père noëls donkey gui french mistletoe go bed père noël take offering child good leaf present place present traditionally small enough fit shoe candy money small toy père noël sometimes confused another older character eastern france alsace lorraine region netherlands belgium germany switzerland eastern europe nowadays also eastern state usa parallel tradition celebrate saint nicolas sinterklaas december followed le père fouettard exists also different part germany knecht ruprecht belsnickel austria krampus netherlands belgium zwarte piet dutch le père fouettard french le père fouettard sinister figure dressed black accompanies saint nicolas spank child behaved badly argentina uruguay brazil due influence french culture th century name papá noelpapai noel adopted opposing example name pai natal portugal turkey noel baba louisiana cajun culture version papa noël modeled santa claus arrives home pirogue towed eight alligator family visit followed arrival figure called la christine new year eve bearing sweet nut others la christine simply another designation santa claus medium related santa claus france wikimedia common