Christmas all Over

the World

Armenia - Gaghant Baba

Belgium & The Netherlands - Kerstman, Père Noël, St. Nicholas, Christkindl, Black Pete

 
Brazil (Portuguese) - Papai Noel
Canada - Santa, Santa Claus, Saint Nick, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Père Noël, Kris Kringle, Big Fat Guy, Guy with the Gifts

Croatia - Sveti Nikola

Czechoslovakia - Svaty Miklas

Chile - Viejo Pascuero (“Old Man Christmas”)

China - Dun Che Lao ren (“Christmas Old Man”)

Denmark and much of Scandinavia - Julenisse
Finland - Joulupukki, Old Man Christmas, Father Christmas
France - Père Noël

Germany (and German speaking countries) - Der Weihnachtsmann  (”Christmas Man”), Sankt Nikolaus, Kriss Kringle, Christkindle, Pelznickel, Rahklas, Nickel, Klaus, Niglo, Aschenmann, Bartl, Boozenickel, Hans Trapp, Klaubauf, Krampus, Ruprecht, and Schmutzli

Greece - Hagios Nikolaos

Hawaii - Kanakaloka

Holland - De Kerstman

Hungary - Mikulas (St. Nicholas)

India - Ganesha

Indonesia - Sinterklas

Italy - Babbo Natale, Befana

Japan - Santa Claus and Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts)

Latvia - Father Christmas

 
Lithuania - Kaledu Senelis

Mexico - Santa Claus

Norway - Julenissen (“Christmas gnome”)
Poland - Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas),Gwiazdor

 
Russia - Babouschka, Ded Moroz (“Grandfather Frost”), Kolyada

Slovenia - Bozicek

Spain - Papa Noel

Sweden - Jultomten (“Christmas brownie”), Tomten

Ukraine - Sviatyij Mykolai

United Kingdom - Father Christmas

Yugoslavia - Deda Mraz

Say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 in Languages A-Z

Acholi - Mot ki Yomcwing Botwo Me Mwaka Manyen

Adhola - Wafayo Chamo Mbaga & Bothi Oro Manyeni

Aeka- Keremisi jai be

Afrikaans - Geseende Kerfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar

Ahtna - C'ehwggelnen Dzaenh

Aklanon - Malipayon nga Paskwa ag Mahigugmaon nga Bag-ong Dag-on

Albanian - Gëzuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri!

Aleut - Kamgan Ukudigaa

Alsatian - E gueti Wïnâchte & E glecklichs Nej Johr!

Alur - Wafoyo Kado Oro & Wafoyo Tundo Oro manyeni

Alutiiq - Spraasnikam & Amlertut Kiaget!

Amharic - Melkam Yelidet Beaal

Amuesha - Yomprocha' ya' nataya

Angami - U kenei Christmas mu teicie kes a-u sie teicie
kesa-u sie niepete keluo shuzaie we

Apache (Western) - Gozhqq Keshmish

Arabic - I'D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida

Aragonese - Nabidà! & Goyosa Añada benién.

Aramaic - Edo bri'cho o rish d'shato brich'to!

Aranés - Bon Nadau!

Arawak - Aba satho niw jari da'wisida bon

Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Soorp Janunt

Aromanian - Crãciunu hãriosu shi unu anu nãu, bunu!

Araucanian - Wi tripantu in che

Asturian - Bones Navidaes & Gayoleru anu nuevu!

Assamese - Rongaali Bihur xubhessaa lobo

Ata - Maroyan na Pasko woy kaopia-an ng Bag-ong Tuig kaniyo't langon mga sulod

Aukan - Wi e winsi i wan bun nyun yali

Aymara - Sooma Nawira-ra

Azeri - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun

Bafut - Mboni Chrismen & Mboni Alooyefee

Bahasa/Malaysia - Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru

Bamoun - Poket Kristmet & Poket lum mfe

Banen - Enganda ye hiono mes & Hion Hios Hes

Bandang - Mbung Mbung Krismie & Mbung Mbung Ngouh Suiie

Basque - Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!

Bassa - Ngand Nwi Lam & Mwi Lam

Batak Karo - Mejuah-juah Ketuahen Natal

Bemba - Kristu abe nenu muli ino nshiku nkulu ya Mwezi

Belorussian - Winshuyu sa Svyatkami i z Novym godam!

Bengali - Shuvo Baro Din - Shuvo Nabo Barsho

Bhojpuri - Naya Sal Mubarak Ho

Bicolano - Maugmang Capascuhan asin Masaganang Ba-gong Taon!

Bislama - Mi wisim yufala eerywan one gutfala Krismas & mo wan hapi New Year long

Blaan - Pye duh di kaut Kristo klu munt ug Felemi Fali!

Blackfoot - I'Taamomohkatoyiiksistsikomi

Bohemian/Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a Stastny novy rok

Brahui - Arkas caik xuda are

Breton - Nedeleg laouen na bloav ezh mat

Bulgarian - Chestita Koleda i Shtastliva Nova Godina

Bulu - Duma e bo'o

Bura - e be Zambe e Usa ma ka Kirisimassu

Catalan - Bon Nadal i feliç any nou!

Cantonese - Seng Dan Fai Lok, Sang Nian Fai Lok

Carib - Sirito kypoton ra'a

Carrier - Zoo dungwel & Soocho nohdzi doghel

Carolinian - Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layi Luugh me raagh fee

Cebuano - Malipayong Pasko ug Bulahang Bag-ong Tuig!

Chamorro - Filis Pasgua & Filis Anu Nuebo

Chaha Bogem h n  mh m & Boxem as nana-h m

Chamba - Wi na ge nyare Su dome Kirismass

Cherokee - Danistayohihv & Aliheli'sdi Itse Udetiyvsadisv

Cheyenne - Hoesenestotse & Aa'e Emona'e

Chichewa - Moni Wa Chikondwelero Cha Kristmasi

Chiga - Mwebare khuhika - Ha Noel

Choctaw - Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito

Cornish - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth

Corsican - Bon Natale e Bon capu d' annu

Cree - Mitho Makosi Kesikansi

Creek - Afvcke Nettvcakorakko

Creole/Seychelles - Bonn e Erez Ane

Croatian - Sretan Bozic

Dagbani - Ni ti Burunya Chou & Mi ti yuun

Damara/Nama - Khiza

Danish - Glædelig Jul og godt nytår

Dibabawon - Marayaw na Pasko aw Bag-ong Tui g kaniyo tibo na mga soon

Dinka - Miet puou yan dhiedh Banyda tene Yin

Dine/Navajo - Ya'at'eeh Keshmish

Divehi - Ufaaveri aa ahareh

Dschang - Chrismi a lekah Nguo Suieh

Duri - Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak

Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

Egyptian - Colo sana wintom tiebeen

English - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Eritrean - Rehus-Beal-Ledeat

Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon & Bonan Novjaron

Estonian - Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi ja Head uut aastat

Éwé - Blunya na wo

Ewondo - Mbemde abog abyali nti! Mbembe Mbu!

Faroese - Gledhilig jól og eydnurikt nýggjár!

Fali - Use d'h Krismass

Farsi - Sal-e no mubarak

Fijian - Me Nomuni na marau ni siga ni sucu dei na yabaki vou

Finnish - Hyvää Joulua or Hauskaa Joulua - 0nnellista uutta vuotta

Flemish - Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar

French - Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!

Frisian - Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!

Friulian - Bon Nadâl e Bon An Gnûf

Fulfulde - Jabbama be salla Kirismati

Gaddang - Mangamgam Bawa a dawun sikua diaw amin

Galician - Bon Nadal e Bo Ani Novo

Gari - !Soalokia God i gotu vasau, mi lao ke ba na rago vanigira ara dou i matana!

Gciriku - Mfiyawidi yaKrisimisa & Marago ghaMwaka waUpe

Georgian - Gilotsavt Krist'es Shobas & Gilosavt akhal ts'els

German - Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!

Gikuyu - Gia na Thigukuu njega Na MwakaM weru wi Gikeno

Gitskan - Hisgusgitxwsim Ha'niisgats Christ gankl Ama Sii K'uuhl!

Golin - Yesu kule nongwa kaun umaribe ongwa ena mone di mile wai wen milo

Greek - Kala Christougenna Ki'eftihismenos O Kenourios Chronos

Greenlandic - Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluarit

Guahibo - Pexania Navidadmatacabi piginia pexaniapejanawai paxainaename

Guambiano - Navidadwan Tabig tugagunrrigay & Sru pilawan kasrag utunrrigay

Guarani - Avyaitete ahi ko Tupa ray arape qyrai Yy Kapyryin rira

Guarayu - Imboeteipri tasecoi Tupa i vave! & Ivve ava Tupa rembiaisu toyuvirecoi turpi oyeaisusa pipe!

Gujarati - Natal ni shub kaamnao & Saal Mubarak

Gwere - Osusuku Omusa & Masuke Omwaka

Gwich'in - Drin tsal zhit shoh ohlii & Drin Choo zhit zhoh ohlii

Han - Drin tsul zhit sho ahlay & Drin Cho zhit sho ahlay

Hausa - Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!

Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou

Haya - Waihuka na Noeli & Waihhuka n 'Omwaka

Hebrew - Mo'adim Lesimkha. Shanah Tova

Heiban - Ati kalo gathje uwa gigih

Herero- Okresmesa ombwa Ombura ombe ombwa

Hiligaynon - Malipayon nga paskua & Malipayon Nga Bag-ong tuig

Hindi - Shubh Naya Baras

Holo - Seng-tan khoai-lok! 

Hmong - Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tahiab

Hungarian - Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket és Boldog újévet!

Hungduan - Maphon au nitungawan.  Apo Dios Kituwen baron di toon

Iban - Selamat Ari Krismas enggau Taun Baru

Ibanag - nga Pascua

Icelandic - Gleðileg Jól og Farsaelt Komandi ár!

Igbo - Ekelere m gi maka Keresimesi na ubochi izizi afo ozo

Ikiribati - Te Mauri, Te Raoi ao Te Tabomoa nakoimi nte Kirimati ao te Ririki ae Bou

Ilocano - Naimbag a Pascua ken Naragsac nga Baro nga Tawen!

Imbongu - Gotenga malo Jisasi Karaist

Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal & Selamat Tahun Baru

Inupiaq - Annaurri Aniruq & Paglaun Ukiutchiaq 

Inupiatun - Quvianaq Agaayuniqpak

Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit

Iroquois - Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson homungradon nagwutut & Ojenyunyat osrasay

Italian - Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo

Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto

Javanese - Sugeng Natal lan warsa enggal

Jèrriais - Bouan Noué et Bouanne Année

Kabyle - Assegwas ameggaz

Kadazan - Kotobian Tadau Do Krimas om Toun Vagu

Kahua - Na vagevageha surireua na Kirisimasi ma na harisi naoru

Kala Lagaw Ya - Ngi ngayka Koei trimal Kaz

Kambaata - eman haaro wegga illisholce

Kamba - Ithiwa na Kisimsi Kiseo & Na Mwaka Mweu Museo

Kannada - Hosa Varushada Subhasayagalu

Karelian - Rastawanke Sinun, Uvven Vuvenke Sinun

Kaqchiquel - Dios tik'ujie' avik'in

Kashmiri - Christmas Id Mubarak

Kawalib - Amirnar Krismas Gi

Khasi - Krismas basuk & Snem thymmai basuk

Kinyarwanda - Umunsi Mwiza

Kirundi - Noeli Nziza & Umwaka Mwiza

Kom - Isangle Krismen & Isangle beng i fue

Konkoni - Khushal borit Natalam

Korafe - Keremisi ewewa Korean Sung Tan Chuk Ha

Kosraean - Tok Tapeng & Engan ya sasu

Koyukon - Denaahto' Hoolaank Dedzaanh Sodeelts'eeyh

Krio - Appi Krismes en Appi Niu Yaa

Kuanua - A Bona Lukara na Kinakava

Kurdish - Seva piroz sahibe u sersala te piroz be

Kwangali - Kerekemisa zongwa & Erago moMumvho gomupe

Kyrghyz - JangI jIlIngIz guttuu bolsun!

Ladin - Bon Nadel y Bon Ann Nuef

Lakota - Wanikiya tonpi wowiyuskin & Omaka teca oiyokipi

Lamnsó - Kisheri ke Kisimen & Vijung ve kiya kefiyki

Lango - Afoyo Chamo Mwake & Apoyo Mwaka Manyeni

Latin - Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis

Latvian - Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!

Lausitzian - Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto

Lebanese - Milad Saeed wa Sanaa Mubarakah

Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu ir laimingu Nauju metu

Livonian - Jovi talshpivdi un Vondzist uto aigasto

Lower Tanana - Bet'oxdilt'ayi bedena' ch'exulanhde dranh ninoxudedhet

Lozi - Kilisimasi ya nyakalalo & Silimo se sinca sa tabo

Luganda - Amazalibwa Agesanyu & N'Omwaka Omujaa Ogwemirembe  

Luhya - Isuguku Indahi & Nu Muhiga Musha

Luo - Sikuku Mar Higa Kod Mor & Mar Kiga Manyien

Luritja - Wai! Nyuntu Larya?

Luxembourgeois - Schéi Krëschtdeeg an e Schéint Néi Joer

Macedonian - Srekan Bozik I Nova Godina

Madura - Pada salamet sabhala bengko areja

Makassar - Salama' Natal & Selamat Tahun baru

Malagasy - Arahaba tratry ny Krismasy

Mambwe - Kristu aye namwe umu nsikunkulu ino iya Mwezi

Malayan - Selamat Hari Natal

Malayalam - Christumas Mangalangalangal & Puthuvalsara Aashamsakal  

Maltese - Nixtieqlek Milied Tajjeb u Sena Tajba

Mandarin - Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan

Mandobo - Mepiya Pagasaulog sa pagka-otawni Jesus aw maontong kaling Omay!

Mangyan - Mayad paq Pasko kag

Mansaka - Madyaw na Pasko aw malipayong Bag-ong Tuig kamayo, mga lumon

Manx - Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa

Maori - Kia orana e kia manuia rava i teia Kiritimeti e te Mataiti Ou

Marathi - Shub Naya Varsh

Margi - Use aga Kirismassi

Marshallese - Monono ilo raaneoan Nejin & Jeramman ilo iio in ekaal

Mataco-Mataguayo - Lesilatyaj ihi Dios ta i ppule ye, Letamsek ihi wichi ta Dios ikojejthi ta i honat e

Maya/Yucateco - Utzul mank'inal

Medlpa - Enim Mutuiyo!

Meithei - Krismas Hlomum & Kumthar Lawmum

Mingrelian - k'irses mugoxuamant & axal ts'anas mugoxuamant

Mongolian - Zul saryn bolon shine ony mend devshuulye

Monégasque - Festusu Natale e Bona ana noeva

Moro - Nidli pred naborete nano

Moru - Medu amiri ovuru Yesu opi amaro

Muyu - Lip Ki amun aa Natal Kowe

Naasioi - Tampara Kirisimaasi

Naskapi - miywaaitaakun mikusaanor & kiyaa maamiyupiyaakw minuwaach pipuun

Ndjem - Mbeya mbeya Ebiel & Mbeya mbeya mbu

Ndogo - Esimano olyaKalunga gwokombandambanda! & Nombili kombanda yevi maantu e ya hokwa!

Ndonga - Okrismesa iwa & Omude Mupe wa Punikwa

Nepali - krist Yesu Ko Shuva Janma Utsav Ko Upalaxhma Hardik Shuva & Naya Barsa Ko harkik Shuvakamana

Newari - Nhu Da Ya Vintuna

Nii - Nim Ono

Niuean - Monuina a Aho Kilisimasi mo e Tau Foou

Norweigan/Nynorsk - Eg ynskjer hermed Dykk alle ein God Jul og Godt Nyttår

Norweigan/Bokmål -  God Jul og Godt Nyttår

Notu/Ewage - Keremisi dave be

Nyanja - Kristu akhale ndi inu munyengo ino ya Christmas

Nyankore Mukhulukhe Omwaka

Occitan - Polit nadal e bona annada

Ojibwe (Chippewa) - Niibaa' anami'egiizhigad & Aabita Biboon

Oneida - Wanto'wan amp; Hoyan

Oriya - Sukhamaya christmass ebang khusibhara naba barsa

Orokaiva - Keremisi javotoho

Oromo - baga wagaa hara isinin gaye

Palauan - Ungil Kurismas

Pompangan - Malugud Pascu at saca Masayang Bayung Banua!

Pangasinan - Maabig ya pasko & Maliket ya balon taon

Papiamento - Bon Pasco i Feliz Aña Nobo

Pashto - De Christmas akhtar de bakhtawar au newai kal de mubarak sha.

Pennsylvania German - En frehlicher Grischtdaag unen hallich Nei Yaahr!

Pohnpeian - Peren en Krismas & Peren en Parakapw

Polish - Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku.

Portuguese - Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo

Punjabi - Nave sal di mubaraka

Pashto - Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha

Q'anjob'al - chi woche swatx'ilal hak'ul yet yalji Komami'

Quechua - Sumaj kausay kachun Navidad ch'sisipi & Mosoi Watapi sumaj kausay kachun

Quiche' - Dioa kkje' awuk'

Rapa-Nui - Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi & Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua

Rarotongan - Kia akakakaia te Atua i runga i te rangi Teitei,
e ei au to to teianei ao, e kia aroaia mai te tangata nei.

Rengma - Anu keghi Christmas nu amapi kethighi wa salam pi nthu chupenle

Rheto-Romance - Bella Festas daz Nadal ed in Ventiravel Onn Nov

Romani - Bachtalo krecunu Thaj Bachtalo Nevo Bers

Romanian - Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit!

Rongmei - Mei kathui nata neila mei Khrisrmas akhatni gai mei tingkum kathan tu-na arew we

Roviana - Mami tataru Kirisimasi koa gamu doduru meke qetu qetu vuaheni vaqura ia

Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom

Salar - YangI yilingiz gotlI bulsIn!

Sambal - Maligayang Pasko at Masayang Ba-yon Taon!

Sámi - Buorit Juovllat ja Buorre Oddajahki

Saamia - Muwule Omwaka Enjaya

Samoan - Ia manuia le Kilisimasi ma le tausaga fou

Sango -Gloire na Nzapa na ndouzou aho kouè, Na siriri na ndo sessé na popo ti ajo so amou nguia na Lo.

Santali - Raska nawa Serma

Saramaccan - Nuan wan suti jai o!

Sardinian -  Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou

 Scots Gaelic - Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur!

Secoya -Sihuanu'u Ejaerepa aide'ose'ere & Sihuana'u huaje ametecahue

Semandang - Selemat gawai Natal

Seneca - a:o'-e:sad yos-ha:-se:'

Serbian -  Sretan Bozic. Vesela Nova Godine

Sicilian - Bon Natali e Prosperu Annu Novu !

Sinhala - Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa

Slavey - Teyatie Gonezu

Soga - Mwisuka Sekukulu

Songe - Kutandika kua Yesu kuibuwa! & Kipua kipia kibuwa!

Sorani - Newroz le to Piroz be

Sorbian - Wjesole hody a strowe Nowe leto.

Somali - ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican.

Sotho/North - Mahlatsi a Matswalo a Morena le Ngwaga o Moswa

Sotho/South - Litakalerso Tse Monate Tsa Kere Semese Le Mahlohonolo a Selemo Se Secha

Slovakian - Vesele Vianoce a stastny novy rok

Slovene - Vesele bozicne praznike in srecno novo leto

Sorbian - Wjesole hody a strowe Nowe leto

Spanish - Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo

Sranan - Wan switi kresneti nanga wan bun nyun yari!

Subanen - Piak Pasko Pu Piag Bago Tawn

Sudanese - Wilujeng Natal Sareng Warsa Enggal

Suena - Kerisimasi kokopai

Surigaonon - Malipayon na pasko sanan bag-on tuig!

Swahili - ºKrismas Njema Na Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº

Swedish - God Jul och Gott Nytt År

Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon

Tahitian - Ia ora i te Noere e ia ora na i te matahiti 'api

Tagakaulu - Madyaw Pagsalog sa Pagka-otaw ni Jesus & Aw mauntong na bago Umay!

Tala Andig - Maayad ha pasko daw bag-ong tuig

Tamazight - Asseggwas Ameggaz

Tarifit - Asuggas Asa'di

Tamil - Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal

Tanaina - Natukda Nuuphaa

Tayal - Pqaquasta ta.  Pquasta hentang na Jesu

Telugu - Christmas Shubhakaankshalu & Nootana Samvatchara Subhakanshalu

Thai - Suksan Wan Christmas lae Sawadee Pee Mai

Tlingit - Xristos Khuwdziti kax sh kaxtoolxetl

Tok Pisin - Meri Krismas & Hepi Nu Yia

Tokelau - Ke whakamanuia te Kirihimahi & Tauhaga Fou fiafia

Tonga - Kristo abe anduwe muciindo ca Christmas

Tongan - Kilisimasi Fiefia & Ta'u fo'ou monu ia

Toraja - Salama' Natal & Selama' taun baru

Trukese - Neekirissimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!

Tshiluba -   Diledibua dilenga dia Mfumu - Tshidimu tshipia - tshipia th silenga

Tswana - Keresemose o monate le masego a ngwaga o montsha

Tubetube - Yayaliyaya Yesu sikabi kaiwena

Tumbuka - Kristu wabe namwe munyengo ya Christmas

Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

Tutchone/Northern - Ut'ohudinch'i Hulin Dzenu & Eyum nan ek'an nenatth'at danji te yesohuthin ch'e hadaatle sh'o

Ukrainian - Veseloho Vam Rizdva i Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku!

Umbundu - Natale, Natale, Oyo O Natale & Eteke Lio Bowano, Illimo Ciwa

Urdu - Naya Saal Mubarak Ho

Uvean - Italo fa ide tau fou nei eseke

Uyghur - YanghI yiling ahlqIs bolgey!

Valencian - Bon Nadal i millor any nou

Vespi - Rastvoidenke i Udenke Vodenke

Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Giang Sinh - Chuc Mung Tan Nien

Votian - Yvaa rashtagoa! & Yvaa uutta vootta!

Waray-Waray - Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-o nga Tuig!

Warlpiri - Miri Kirijimiji & Nyuntunpa Ngurrju nyayirni yapa

Welsh - Nadolig LLawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

 Yup'ik/Central - Alussistuaqegcikici

Yupik/Siberian - Quyanalghii Kuusma & Quyangalleq Nutaghamun Aymiqulleq

Xhosa - Siniqwenelela Ikrisimesi EmnandI Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo Namathamsanqa

Yiddish - Gute Vaynakhtn un a Gut Nay Yor

Yoruba - E ku odun, e hu iye' dun!

Zarma - Barka da Issa hay-yan hann & Barka da djiri barey-yan

Zaza - Newroz'a tu Piroz be

Zia - Kerisimasi wosewa

Zime - El ma ka bar vra aso vei Lu & El ma ka kim na mireu

Zulu - Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo

 North Pole Facts

Facts by Brian Handwerk

National Geographic News, November 2004

Uncover the real story of the Arctic with these North Pole fast facts:

• There's only one Santa, but there are two North Poles. The north terrestrial pole is the fixed point that, along with the South Terrestrial Pole, forms the axis on which the Earth spins. All meridians of longitude—imaginary lines that stretch from the North Pole to the South Pole—begin at this pole.

 The north magnetic pole, to which compass needles point from all over the Earth, moves day by day. The magnetic pole shifts, on average, some 6 to 25 miles (10 to 40 kilometers) each year as Earth's magnetic field is affected by underground molten metals and charged particles from the sun. The magnetic pole is currently about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the terrestrial pole.

Some scientists believe the Earth's magnetic field is reversing, and that some day compasses may point south instead of north.

• There is no land beneath the ice of the North Pole. The Arctic ice cap is a shifting pack of sea ice some 6.5 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) thick - floating above the 13,000-foot-deep (4,000-meter-deep) Arctic Ocean. During the winter the Arctic ice pack grows to the size of the United States. In the summer half of the ice disappears.

• Polar sea ice is melting. While Arctic ice is always dynamic -increasing during winter and shrinking during summer - during recent decades the ice cap has been shrinking in both area and thickness.

In the 1950s the minimum area of summer ice started getting smaller. By the mid-1970s the winter maximum area also began to decline. Ice thickness has also been on the wane. The ongoing process may be a consequence of global warming. If the polar ice continues to melt, it could eventually cause rising sea levels and spur further global climate change.

 The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment—a four-year study by hundreds of scientists which was released on November 8, 2004 - determined that the ice in Greenland and the Arctic is melting so rapidly that half of it could be gone by the end of the century. The results could be catastrophic for polar people and animals, while low-lying lands as far away as Florida could be inundated by rising sea levels.

 • The tiny Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) undertakes the world's longest migration - traveling nearly from pole to pole. The bird breeds in the Arctic Circle, but migrates during the Northern Hemisphere winter to the edges of the Antarctic ice pack. The annual journey is some 21,750 miles (35,000 kilometers) - nearly equal to flying all the way around the world.

 • Robert E. Peary is generally recognized as the first person to reach the North Pole, on April 6, 1909. Peary, Matthew Henson, and four Eskimos achieved the feat via a grueling over-ice dogsled journey. On May 9, 1926, Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett became the first people to reach the pole by airplane. Approaching from beneath the ice, the U.S. atomic submarine Nautilus became the first vessel to cruise under the North Pole, in 1958.

 Santa can be difficult to spot, but the legend of the unicorn is alive and well in the Arctic. The narwhale (Monodon monocerus) is a smaller whale that lives most of its life north of the Arctic Circle. One of the male narwhal's two teeth grows into a distinctive tusk, which can reach 10 feet (3 meters) in length—earning the animal the moniker "unicorn of the sea." Legend has it that finding a narwhal tusk is lucky, but killing an animal for its tooth is bad luck.

 • July is the North Pole's warmest month, when the mean temperature rises to a freezing 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). In frigid February the average plummets to -31 degrees Fahrenheit (-35 degrees Celsius). Wind chills make these temperatures even worse and create one of the planet's most inhospitable environments.

• Polar bears never, ever eat penguins. Why? Because they are found at opposite ends of the Earth! Polar bears roam within the Arctic Circle—including the North Pole. Penguins are found only in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly near Earth's South Pole, in Antarctica.

 • The North Pole spends half the year in darkness and half in light. As the Earth orbits the sun, its axis stays constant. That means for half the orbit the Earth's axis is tilted toward the sun and for the other half the axis is tilted away from the sun.

Sunrise at the North Pole occurs on the spring equinox—around March 21. The sun then climbs higher each day until the summer solstice on about June 21. Sunlight is continuous throughout the summer, but after the solstice the sun slowly sinks to the horizon until it drops below on the autumn equinox (around September 21). Twilight then prevails until early October, and then full darkness endures until the spring sunrise.

 • The famous northern lights appear as bands, clouds and rays of green, red, and blue lights in the night sky. The aurora borealis (Latin for "northern dawn") occurs in an oval around the north magnetic pole. The aurora is caused when charged electrons and protons from the sun reach Earth and collide with atoms and molecules (like oxygen and nitrogen) in the upper atmosphere near the pole. Some of the energy released by these collisions becomes visual light—and treats onlookers to a spectacular sky show.

• What's Santa's proper mailing address? Some 100,000 letters addressed to "Santa Claus, North Pole," wing their way each year to 99705. (local zip code)

 About 1,750 miles (2,820 kilometers) south of its polar namesake, North Pole in Alaska is a lot more festive than the arctic Pole. The town, which bills itself as a place "where the spirit of Christmas lives year-round," has street names like Snowman Lane and Saint Nicholas Drive and dresses its lampposts like candy canes.

 In Canada the address for Santa is North Pole H0H 0H0. This official Canadian postal code lets 15,000 volunteer postal employees help Santa personally answer over one million annual Christmas letters - many from outside Canada.

 • Polar flights allow airlines to trim hours off flight times from North America and Europe to Asia and the Pacific Region. By crossing over the polar region, planes are able to fly shorter distances and burn less fuel. The routes help keep ticket prices down and reduce harmful emissions. The flights became possible only after the ending of the Cold War, when Russia allowed commercial airliners to fly over Siberia.

• No one lives at the North Pole, but plenty of people survive in its Arctic neighbourhood. Oil, minerals, and diamonds have lured waves of new immigrants to the often-challenging environment north of the Arctic Circle. In Russia, Alaska, and Canada some 170,000 Aleuts, Indians, Eskimos, Métis and other indigenous people adapt their ancient ways to a quickly shifting economic and environmental landscape.

 • The long dreamed-of Northwest Passage, an Arctic shipping shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, could be ice free and open for summer travel sometime this century. The route passes below Iceland and Greenland, through Arctic Canada and along Alaska's north coast.

Scientists disagree on just when the shrinking ice cap could make the route feasible, but if it happens, ships traveling from Europe to Asia could shave some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) from their current route through the Panama Canal.

Happy Exploring!