New Year is a universal holiday, loved by adults and children. In Japan, they rejoice at it just as much as in other countries - and even more, if you look at how many Santa Clauses there are, because in the Land of the Rising Sun there are as many as three wizards, each of whom is responsible for individual moments of the celebration.
Japanese Santa Claus - Segatsu-san. It featured in folk tales before the wave of European and American influence. Only the legends about Hoteisho are older. The influence of Western culture led to the emergence of another wizard, whose name is Oji-san.
Oji-san
All-seeing and all-knowing
The name of the oldest Japanese Santa Claus is Hoteyosho. This is the main symbol of the New Year. He knows people's weaknesses and desires, and can interfere with fate at the moment when the year begins “with a clean slate.” This is why the Japanese revere him as a god and worship him, expecting fulfillment of wishes, good luck and prosperity. Japanese Santa Claus in the guise of the god Hoteyosho is portrayed as a good-natured old man who has eyes not only on his face, but also on the back of his head.
Oji-san
Oji-san is a relatively young character. The influence of the world has not bypassed the holidays of Japan and this is a prime example of this. The prototype of the hero is the American Santa Claus. Of course, the Japanese patron of the holiday and the favorite of American children are different magicians, but they have a lot in common. It so happened that the popularity of the borrowed wizard is gradually growing to the detriment of the love for Segatsu-san, because the new character not only congratulates people, but also gives gifts to children. He appears in Japan for one night only. Legends say that a wizard arrives from across the sea.
Oji-san appeared in Japanese traditions at the end of the last century. His appearance corresponds to the American prototype: grandfather is dressed in a red sheepskin coat and looks good-natured and happy. Recently, children are increasingly writing letters to him. Dressing up as Oji-san has become popular - in schools and shopping centers when the New Year approaches, you can see people dressed up as a fairy-tale character. In many ways, this is a tribute to tourism, since Christmas is a season of high travel activity.
Japanese Santa Claus
This is interesting
Japan has its own real Santa Claus. His real name is Paradise Yamamoto. A native of Hokkaido passed the exam in 1998 and received the status of an official Santa - the first in Asia. Later, the 1st World Santa Claus Congress was even organized in Japan.
Japanese New Year characters
Mister January doesn't like fuss
The successor of Hoteyosho in Japan is considered to be a character whose presence at the holiday is more noticeable because he goes from house to house on the eve of the celebration. This is Segatsu-san. The wizard's name comes from the name of the month that begins the year - January, which sounds "segatsu" in Japanese. The particle “san” in the name of the Japanese Santa Claus means a polite form of address, which can be translated as “mister.”
Segatsu-san does not like fuss, and therefore he slowly goes from house to house for the whole week, and not just on New Year's Eve. He congratulates the inhabitants of the houses on the New Year, but does not give gifts. This is one of the main differences between the Eastern New Year's grandfather and his Western colleagues. Another difference is what Japanese Santa Claus looks like. He is dressed, of course, not in a fur coat, but in a kimono, and the color of the outfit is “ao”, in Japanese this word refers to two shades - blue and green.
Japanese Santa Claus
Over the past 10 years, the name Segatsu-san has begun to appear in texts dedicated to the traditions of New Year celebrations in different countries. As indicated in the “directories of Santa Claus’s colleagues”, in accordance with the territorial characteristic, “Mr. January” (or as he is also called “Mr. New Year”) is in charge of New Year’s miracles in Japan. You can also read that traditionally it is an elderly person dressed in a turquoise-colored kimono who travels around the country a week before the new year, it is also called “golden”. He does not have a magic bag with him, does not give any gifts, but only greets the residents and congratulates them “on the upcoming year,” moreover, his name comes from the name of the first month of the year, that is, January. Everyone is carefully preparing for the meeting with the venerable old man... but is it really him they are waiting for?
According to tradition, the Japanese decorate their homes with kadomatsu, mochibana and kagami-mochi to welcome the New Year deity Tosigami. The name of God fully reflects his essence, since “toshi” (年) is translated as “year”, and “kami” (神) is “deity”. It is to him that people turn to him with requests for good luck and protection from troubles in the coming year, and also ask for his divine blessing for the year ahead.
The origin of the name “Segatsu-san” is related to the naming of the beginning of a new year, since “shogatsu” (正月, Shōgatsu) is translated as “new year’s day” or “new year”, and “san” (さん) should be translated as neutral polite a suffix that is added when addressing a person. In fact, it turns out that the Japanese greet the “New Year’s gentleman” and wait for his appearance, but at the same time all the preparations are similar to those that greet Toshigami - the decorations and treats are the same.
Thus, we can assume that Toshigami and Segatsu-san may well be the same character, because in fact they:
- visit Japanese houses on the eve of or on the eve of a holiday;
- don't give gifts;
- they look like a venerable old man with a long white beard (at least a long-bearded venerable gentleman is one of the typical images of the divine essence);
- they do not perform any miracles and do not fulfill wishes, but only bless.
What about January? The name of the months in Japanese is based on the principle of combining the ordinal numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. with the word “month” (月, Tsuki, read as “ski”). Despite the visual similarity in hieroglyphs, “New Year's Day” is not identically equal to January. Moreover, the name of the month has nothing to do with it at all, otherwise Mr. Segatsu-san would have to patronize the entire month, and not just its beginning.
However, there is one curious point: if we appeal only to the writing of the name in hieroglyphs, it should be borne in mind that there is no difference between Japanese and Chinese characters, since kanji were borrowed from the Chinese language. If we compare the translation of 正月 (Shōgatsu) from Japanese and Chinese, respectively, it turns out that in Japan this is what they call “New Year”, and in China it is “the first month”. Here it is January.
“Golden Week” in Japan is a series of spring public holidays that begins on April 29 with Showa Day. Initially, the Emperor's Birthday was celebrated on April 29, but after the death of Hirohito (Emperor Showa), the holiday was renamed Greenery Day, and starting in 2007, the name “Showa Day” was officially adopted. The holiday was established in honor of the memory of the reign of Emperor Hirohito.
Holidays that make up “Golden Week”:
- April 29 - Showa Day
- May 3 - Japanese Constitution Day
- May 4 – Green Day
- May 5th - Children's Day
Happy New Year and “Golden Week”, when Segatsu-san goes from house to house and congratulates residents, the real “Golden Week” has nothing in common.
To begin with, you should understand that Santa Claus largely “borrowed” his magical abilities from the Greek Archbishop Saint Nicholas, and also took an example from the character of British folklore “Father” or “Spirit” of Christmas (Father Christmas) - his love of celebration and fun has British roots. The first time Santa's name was recorded in the American press was on December 23, 1773, in the Rivington's Gazette (New York City) newspaper. We can safely say that over the course of his 247 years, Santa Claus has become a truly legendary figure.
Christian (Catholic) Christmas in Japan has been celebrated since the 16th century, but since 1854, under the influence of Western American culture, it began to be truly celebrated. Until 1912, Christmas in Japan was called the “Holy Birth Festival” (聖誕祭), which sounded like “Seitansai”, but later the name was adapted to English and became “Kurisumasu”.
Obviously, with this order of things in Japan, they simply could not help but know about Santa Claus. By the way, this is a rather remarkable fact - little Japanese love to write letters to Santa and wait for his appearance on Christmas Eve. According to statistics maintained by the Santa Claus Postal Service (postal code FIN-96930), Japan is among the top three countries that send the most letters to the good-natured uncle, after the UK and Poland.
By the way, if we again engage in linguistic analysis and look at how Santa is called in Japan (again, in accordance with various notes that are in the public domain), then “Oji-san” is actually just “uncle” or a man aged 40-50 years. おじ さん (Oji-san) is not a proper noun.
Pre-war postcard, probably dated 1914.
Another interesting fact is related to how Japanese culture “adapted” to Western canons. Typical Japanese houses do not have fireplaces, so as an alternative to Santa's entry into the home, the Japanese came up with the story that he climbs inside through a window or simply materializes in the house. Santa Claus leaves gifts not under the tree, which often may not exist, but at the head of the bed next to the pillow.
History of Japanese Christmas
Christianity is not the leading religious movement in Japan, but everyone celebrates the holiday - how is that possible? If we touch on the meaning of Christmas, then we should emphasize that Kurisumasu Eve is a celebration that can be celebrated with family, friends or lovers. It is on December 24-25 that it is customary to exchange gifts and have fun, walk along beautifully illuminated streets and meet people dressed in Santa Claus costumes (and sometimes his reindeer). The older generation of Japanese expresses respect to each other, the younger generation enjoys life and romanticizes the holiday, and children wait for gifts from Santa, which he will take out of his bag .
The traditions of preparing for Christmas were also adopted from the West and are very much loved by the Japanese - so much so that they even prepare (or buy) a festive sponge cake, generously decorated with whipped cream and strawberries, which they proudly call “Kurisumasu-keki” (Christmas cake).
The seven deities, who bring good luck and are also willing to generously share their treasures with all who believe in them, sail through the skies on their mythical ship called Takarabune on the first 3 days of the new year. The period from January 1 to January 3 also has its own name - 正月三が日 ( Shōgatsu san ganichi). An image of a ship, be it a figurine, figurine or engraving, can also be classified as a traditional New Year's decoration, but there is a nuance.
There is a custom akin to fortune telling - on the night of January 1-2, placing an image of Takarabune under the pillow (originally such were engravings). If the dream is calm and happy, it means that everything will be successful and good in the coming year, but if the dream is restless or unpleasant, you can always “refuse” it by letting the image of a ship float down the river.
One of the seven gods is Jurojin, the god of longevity. He is often depicted as an elderly man with a long gray beard, wearing a blue, turquoise or white kimono and a traditional headdress. One of his attributes is a staff. As you know, Santa Claus also uses a magic staff. The following assumption may not be true, however, apparently, due to the presence of a staff in both characters, they are called colleagues - after all, it is this image of Jurojin that is mistakenly passed off as a portrait of Segatsu-san.
There can be no doubt, because next to the “Japanese Santa Claus” stand Daikoku, Ebisu and Bishamonten - the gods of happiness, sailing with him on Takarabune.
Hotei, another god of happiness, is also sometimes included in the ranks of Japanese winter wizards. The deity of fun and wealth is often depicted surrounded by children, and he also has a bag in which, according to legend, “the whole world” is kept. To form the image of a colleague of Santa Claus, all of the above fits perfectly into the concept, and the fact that Hotei’s appearance in the sky occurs at the beginning of the new year counts towards the overall “characteristics” of Santa or Father Frost. Essentially, this is just a generalization that goes in the wrong direction.
All the Seven Gods of Fortune are sailing on the same ship on New Year's Eve, so considering one of them a colleague of the winter wonderworkers is not a good idea.
Despite the inconsistencies in the overall story with the character whose name sounds like Segatsu-san, it is worth recognizing that he is still a colleague of Father Frost, like Santa Claus. The thing is that over the past ten years this name has been heard most often when mentioning winter sorcerers, so it has already become sufficiently ingrained in people’s consciousness. This is how history is made. Once people begin to believe in something or someone, the creed gains power. In any case, the issue of faith in other beings is periodically raised in the anime and is revealed in exactly this way.
Unfortunately, not a single original Japanese engraving, drawing, description, or even direct mention of one character was found who works miracles, congratulates on the New Year or Christmas, gives gifts and makes wishes come true.
However, there is a photograph of the figurine! But even here there was an explanation. This is an original work, a fantasy about what a Japanese Santa could be like. The original composition is called “Japan Father Snow” and was created in 2008.
Segatsu-san is a modern collective image of all those deities that the Japanese honor and whose appearance is expected every new year.
It is worth noting that everything described in the article may turn out to be a mistake, but to make sure of this, you first need to go to Japan and ask the local residents - but still, who is Segatsu-san?
What do the Japanese do a week before the New Year?
On the days when Segatsu-san visits houses, residents diligently prepare for the celebrations. There are bazaars, fairs, and shops where you can buy gifts: talismans, souvenirs, amulets. Ritual items are warmly welcomed when celebrating the New Year. Hamaim (arrows with white feathers) protect the house from unclean spirits, and boats filled with rice promise wealth. The most popular and even obligatory New Year's gift in Japan is kumade, translated as a “bear paw” made of bamboo, similar to a rake for rowing happiness.
They meet the Japanese Santa Claus at the entrance to the house, in a bamboo gate entwined with pine branches, symbolizing longevity, or pull a rope made of rice straw, decorated with fern leaves and tangerines. In wealthy houses during celebrations you can see dwarf pines, peach and plum trees in bloom. Segatsu-san will be happy if the children show him a show or build snow figures on the porch.
Video: how New Year is celebrated in different countries
May you also be lucky enough to plunge into adventure and go on a trip this New Year!
Elena Rudnik
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Wishes and gifts
Japanese Santa Claus wishes people longevity and good luck and will not forget to remind them to put pictures of sailboats under their pillow on New Year's Eve so that they will be blessed by the seven gods, each of whom “manages” his own virtue: Daikoku gives luck, Jurojin gives longevity , Benton - friendliness, Ebisu - sincerity, Hotei - generosity, Bishamon-ten - dignity, Fukurokuju - benevolence. It is believed that the seven gods sail to the shores of Japan on a ship along with “Mr. January”, who lives on the island of Honshu.
Segatsu-san gives people only congratulations and good wishes, but material gifts are presented by older family members to younger ones. Peers the same age do not give each other gifts. The main gift is “otoshidama”, that is, “treasure of the year”. These are bright envelopes with money decorated with a bow.
Hoteisho
The Japanese deity Hoteisho is not at all similar to European ideas about New Year's wizards. It sees everything in the world - for this, God has eyes in the back of his head. For the Japanese, Hoteisho is the main New Year's symbol, an object of worship. People turn to him with requests to bestow good luck and happiness. Hoteisho has been known longer than other New Year's sorcerers, but recently his popularity has dropped noticeably, because the deity does not give gifts, does not go from house to house, and does not wear beautiful outfits. But in the past, Hoteisho was the main character of the winter holidays.
Hoteisho - an ancient Japanese deity
Eastern Santa
Recently, the kids of the Land of the Rising Sun are well aware of the name of the Japanese Santa Claus: Oji-san. This is exactly the same old man with a bag of toys on his back, familiar to all the children of the world. This Japanese Santa Claus gives gifts to boys and girls who have earned them by good behavior throughout the year.
The word "Oji-san" in Japan is used as a respectful way of addressing an old person. This character appeared relatively recently as a tribute to Western tradition. The costume of the Japanese Father Frost Oji-san also resembles the attire of Santa Claus: a red sheepskin coat trimmed with white fur, boots and a pointed hat with a bomb. Like Santa, Oji-san appears on the night from December 31 to January 1 and gives children and adults an exciting holiday atmosphere. He enters when the copper bell rings, signaling the transition from the old to the new year. The bell rings 108 times, thus performing a ritual of cleansing from all vices.
Segatsu-san
This wizard is named after the first month of the year. Segatsu-san is unlike Western Christmas and New Year wizards. He wears a green kimono, but sometimes chooses clothes of other colors. The sorcerer's head is adorned with a traditional headdress, and his beard is so long that it sweeps the floor. Santa Claus “works” not at night, as is customary all over the world, but at seven. The Japanese called them "golden". They begin to prepare for a long holiday in advance - at least half a month in advance. However, although the character goes around the house, he does not give gifts - this remains the responsibility of the parents. The task of the magical old man is to visit a Japanese house and congratulate the inhabitants on the advent of a new period.
Celebrating the New Year for residents of the Land of the Rising Sun is a responsible task. They prepare for it, trying to make the house look attractive to the magician: they make bamboo gates, install dwarf pine trees, decorated with peach blossoms at the entrance doors. In honor of the New Year, children are given new outfits - a symbol of health and prosperity.
While waiting for Segatsu-san to arrive, the household plays hanetsuki, performs in small productions, and sculpts snow characters and houses. A popular pastime is kite flying. On New Year's Eve, a drawing of a boat is always placed under the pillow - a symbol of happiness, luring the Seven Gods arriving with Santa Claus on a magical ship from Honshu, where New Year's grandfather's house is located in Shiogama.
Santa Claus in a green kimono
Grandfather Mikulash and Grandfather Jerzyshek
The first, Mikulas, delivers gifts to children from the Czech Republic; in his retinue there is an angel and an imp. The angel gives gifts and sweets to children, and the little devil gives coals and potatoes to naughty kids.
Grandfather Mikulash
And the second, Jerzyshek, gives gifts to the little residents of Slovakia. They are often confused because Jerzyszek and Mikulas are actually very similar, because they are brothers.
And here are some other types of Santa Clauses and Snow Maidens
- Austria - Sylvester
- Altai Territory - Sook-Taadak
- England - Father Christmas
- Greece, Cyprus – Saint Basil
- Denmark - Yletomte, Ylemanden, St. Nicholas
- Western Slavs - Saints Mikalaus
- Italy - Babo Nattale. In addition to him, the good fairy Befana (La Befana) comes to obedient children and gives gifts. The naughty ones get a coal from the evil sorceress Befana.
- Spain - Papa Noel
- Kazakhstan - Ayaz-ata
- Kalmykia - Zul
- Cambodia - Ded Zhar
- Karelia - Pakkainen
- China - Sho Hin, Sheng Dan Laoren
- Colombia - Papa Pascual
- Mongolia - Uvlin Uvgun, accompanied by Zazan Okhin (Snow Maiden) and Shina Zhila (New Year boy). New Year in Mongolia coincides with the cattle breeding holiday, so Santa Claus wears the clothes of a cattle breeder.
- Netherlands - Sanderklaas
- Norway—Nisse (little brownies). Nisse wear knitted caps and love tasty things.)
- Romania - Mos Jerile
- Savoie - Saint Chalande
- Uzbekistan - Korbobo and Korgyz (Snow Maiden). On New Year's Eve, a “snow grandfather” in a striped robe rides into Uzbek villages on a donkey. This is Corbobo.
- France - Grandfather January, Père Noel. The French "Father January" walks with a staff and wears a wide-brimmed hat.
- Czech Republic - Ded Mikulas
- Sweden - Krise Kringl, Yulnissan, Yul Tomten (Yolotomten)
Santa Claus
From open sources
Western European and North American fairy tale character
- The prototype of Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas
- Santa was “brought” to America by Dutch immigrants, who in their homeland celebrate the holiday of Sinter Klaas on December 6 (more on that a little later.
- Over time, the Dutch name for St. Nicholas was simplified and changed to Santa Claus, and the celebration merged with the Christmas holidays.
- The modern Santa was invented in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore.
- It is believed that Santa Claus travels on a sleigh drawn by reindeer.
- Names of deer: Swift, Dancer, Prancing, Grumpy, Comet, Cupid, Thunder, Lightning.
- Santa enters homes through chimneys to leave gifts for children and adults.
- By the way, in order to collect and deliver gifts on time, Santa has assistants - elves.
The Japanese custom of taking parents to the mountains: did it really exist?
If the elderly members of the family are a burden, take them to a high mountain and leave them there. They still don’t have long to live, and they don’t need extra mouths to feed. Legend has it that this is exactly what the Japanese did. But did this really happen?
Japanese legends about the ritual of ubasute (“leaving the old woman”) have their roots deep in antiquity. The essence of the ritual was as follows: the family decided to get rid of an elderly relative. Most often it was a woman. The head of the family, her son, took his mother to the top of the mountain and left her there. Grandmother had to wait at the top of the mountain for her death. Historians have never found any real evidence of the existence of this ritual.
Still from the film “The Legend of Narayama”
But there is one wonderful legend: One day one daimyo ordered all his subjects to get rid of the old people and take them to the mountain. Those who do not comply with the order will face execution. Two brothers took their father and went with him on a difficult journey. Along the way, grandfather broke tree branches and threw them onto the road. When his brothers asked him why he was doing this, his father replied that it was all for your benefit. They left the old man and began to descend. Night fell and the sons got lost. When it became a little clearer in the morning, they noticed twigs on the road that their father had prudently left. The branches helped them get onto the right road. The sons appreciated their father’s care and, contrary to the ruler’s orders, returned for him and took him home. They looked after him, respected him and fed him. True, they tried not to show it to anyone. The old man told his children how to act in different situations, how to conduct business, and taught them secrets. Everything was going so well for the brothers that the daimyo decided to ask why this was happening. Here the brothers admitted that they had disobeyed the order and everything was fine with them thanks to their father’s smart advice and care. The daimyo realized his mistake and canceled the crazy orders. And not only did he not punish the brothers, but he also gave them his gifts.
Confirmation that this custom was unlikely to exist is that the legislation provided for harsh penalties for the murder of parents. In addition, Japanese culture is characterized by a respectful attitude towards older people.
In general, in world history, the murder of elderly people is not something exceptional. In the initial period of the history of Ancient Rome, ancient historians wrote that as soon as a man reached 60 years old, he was thrown into the Tiber River. Moreover, this was all explained by mercy. In this way, the elderly were saved from illness, suffering and infirmity.
The Japanese custom of ubasute has left its mark in folklore, poetry and cinema. The novel “The Legend of Narayama” by Shichiro Fukazawa is widely known. In 1983, it was made into a feature film, which received the Palme d'Or.
Père-Noël and Saint Chalande
From open sources
And these are the French. And yes, there are two of them at once.
- Pere-Noel is kind and brings gifts to children. Shaland is not so kind and carries rods in a basket for naughty and lazy children.
- The predecessor of modern Père-Noël first appeared on the modern territory of France - in the border region of Lorraine, where, according to legend, he came to good, obedient children and gave them gifts.
- How to visually recognize who is who? Père-Noël was depicted in several versions: with a staff similar to a bishop's staff and wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Or in a long red robe trimmed with white fur. Shaland is a bearded old man, dressed in a fur hat and a warm traveling cloak.
