All About Santa Claus! (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids)

Santaclós— Santa Claus in Spanish —is one of the most iconic figures of the holidays around the world, and Latin America is no exception! 

Across the globe, Santa Claus is a wise old man who has a jolly laugh and makes toys for kids. He has a flying sleigh pulled by reindeers and travels the world on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts to all the good kids. 

Keep reading this blog post to learn how to talk about Santa Claus in Spanish! Let’s get started! 

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡️
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

Holiday Figures Other Than Santa Claus

In many Latin American countries, Santa Claus is just one of many Christmas figures who gives children presents during the holidays. 

For example, in Colombia el niño Jesús (baby Jesus) is the one who gives the presents, so the kids ask him for what they want for Christmas. 

In other countries—such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Guatemala—the ones in charge of giving out presents are los Reyes Magos (the three Wise Kings). Children write letters to them asking for their presents. 

While a lot of people open their presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, those who celebrate los Reyes Magos open more gifts on January 6th. 

For the kings to leave you your presents, you have to put your shoes in your window, and leave candies or cookies for them, as well as water and grass for their camels. Los Reyes Magos will visit during the night and exchange those things for your gifts! 

While Baby Jesus and the Three Wise Kings are in charge of giving gifts to some kids in Latin America, others receive their presents from Santa Claus! 

All About Santa Claus in Spanish

How do you say “Santa Claus” in Spanish? That’s an excellent question with a lot of answers!

There isn’t a direct translation for Santa Claus in Spanish. We all know him as the man that gives us gifts on Christmas. 

Although Santa Claus is a universally recognized name, he has different names all around the world, including in Latin America. Here are some of the different names for Santa Claus in Spanish:

• Old man Pascuero – Viejito Pascuero (in Chile)
• Father Noel – Papá Noel 
• Saint Nicholas – San Nicolás
• Colacho (in Costa Rica)

Some people write his name as Santa Claus or Santaclós. 

Now that you know about Santa’s important role in Latin American Christmas, it’s time to learn how to talk about Santa Claus in Spanish! 

What Does Santa Claus Wear?

Santa Claus is easy to recognize thanks to his signature red suit and hat. You see him wearing it in photos, books, cartoons, movies, and more! 

You can’t talk about Santa Claus without mentioning his iconic clothes. 

Santa Claus Clothes in Spanish

To review all the new words you’re learning today, download this printable content and use it to reinforce the newly acquired knowledge. 

What Does Santa Claus Do?

We all know about Santa’s most important activity: he distributes toys! 

But hundreds of songs and stories tell us that he does so much more than that.

In Disney’s movie The Santa Clause 2, they show us how Santa Claus and his elves prepare for Christmas and deal with different obstacles to make it happen. 

The movie Arthur Christmas presents an interesting story of different generations of Santa Clauses and how they all have to work together to save the holidays.

One of my favorites is the Santa Claus depicted in Rise of the Guardians, whose cool version of Santa wields double swords and commands an army of toy-making yetis.

You’ll find these Santa Claus movies in Spanish in streaming services because all of them are Spanish dubbed. This way, you can practice your fluency while you enjoy the holiday spirit!

Santa’s Activities in Spanish

Now let’s learn how to talk about all the different activities Santa Claus does in Spanish.

Santa Claus’ Reindeers

Papá Noel has the power to make millions of gifts for kids all around the world, but he can’t fly. He’s not Superman! That’s why he has the help of some amazing magical creatures: los renos (reindeer). 

According to the legend, Santa’s sleigh is pulled by an awesome team of 9 reindeer, and Rodolfo, el reno de la nariz roja (Rudolf, the rednosed reindeer) is the one who leads them on their travels. There is even a song in Spanish about him! 

Since reindeer are an important part of Santa Claus’ work, the least we can do is learn their names in Spanish!

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡️
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

Santa Claus’ Reindeers in Spanish

Describing Santa Claus

There are many origin stories about Santa Claus and how he became such an important figure for the holidays.

Most of those different legends and myths depict Santa as a good person with a heart of gold, a jolly old man full of goodness, and someone who shows others the greatness of Christmas. 

But how can you describe him in Spanish? The next vocabulary list is full of adjectives to help you with that. 

Check it out!

Christmas Vocabulary

We can’t talk about Santa Claus and not talk about Christmas or the holidays! That’s why I prepared this short but useful vocabulary list so you can talk all about your favorite holiday season.

Christmas Vocabulary in Spanish

Celebrate the Holidays in Spanish

Today, Spanish ranks among the top five most commonly spoken languages in the world. By knowing Spanish, your child will be able to communicate more easily with those around them. Due to its popularity, there’s a strong chance your child will encounter people who speak the language at school, on the playground, or around the community. With even a basic understanding, they can start and carry conversations that enrich their lives.

Christmas is all about sharing memories, culture, and traditions. Learning Spanish opens your child’s eyes to a world beyond their front door. It encourages conversations around diversity, culture, and respecting others. 

To try it out for your family, sign your child up for a free trial class with one of our certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers at Homeschool Spanish Academy today! Check out our programs and take a peek at our affordable prices and get started on your new Spanish learning adventure! 

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. I have appreciated the one on one interaction and teaching that my son gets from his teachers. He has gotten to know his teachers, which has increased his confidence in speaking Spanish. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Maple, Parent of 3

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies for kids? Check these out!

• How You Can Encourage Your Child To Speak Spanish at Home
• Keep Your Spanish Skills Sharp Over Summer Vacation 
• Discover the Joy of Learning Spanish with Summer Fun Activities
• 7 Powerful Reasons Why Bilingualism in Children MattersPowerful Reasons Why Bilingualism in Children Matters
• Fall En Español: Exploring Autumn Activities for Kids
• Fun and Language: Spanish Playdates for Kids
• Milestone Moments: Tracking Kids’ Spanish Progress
• Building Blocks: Kid-Friendly Spanish Grammar

• Author
• Recent Posts

Carmen Rizzo

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.

Latest posts by Carmen Rizzo (see all)

• An Easy Vocabulary Guide to Describe the Post Office in Spanish - February 10, 2023
• Guatemala’s Biggest, Most Colorful Market: Chichicastenango - December 28, 2022
• 8 Sad Spanish Songs for When Your Heart Is Broken - December 6, 2022