Papai Noel

Portuguese

Papai Noel em visita ao Amapá.

Santa Claus visiting Amapá.

Alternative forms

• Papa Noel, Papá Noel (obsolete)
• Papai Noël (superseded)

Etymology

Partial calque of French Père Noël. First attested in 1898 as Papá Noel and 1901 as Papai Noël.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /paˈpaj noˈɛw/ [paˈpaɪ̯ noˈɛʊ̯]

Proper noun

Papai Noel m (plural Papais Noéis)

1. (Brazil, folklore) Santa Claus (mythological man who brings gifts to children during Christmas)

   Synonym: (Portugal) Pai Natal

   • 1898 December 25, “Chronica”, in Gazeta de Noticias, volume XXIV, number 359, Rio de Janeiro, page 1, column 2:

     Ah, se o meigo Papá Noel tambem se aventurasse por estas callidas regiões do Brasil, n'esta doce noite de Natal!

     Alas, the lovely Santa Claus also ventured into these warm regions of Brazil, on this sweet Christmas night!

   • 1901 December 22, “Sabot de Noël”, in Gazeta de Noticias, volume XXVIII, number 356, Rio de Janeiro, page 2, column 2:

     6º quatro — Papai Noël, Sr. Carneiro da Rocha.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1925, Armando Erse de Figueiredo, O Despenhadeiro, Porto: Livraria Chardron, page 92:

     Foi o Arnaldo que, há dias, me meteu na cabeça essa história de Papai Noel. Nunca eu tinha ouvido tal nome.

     It was Arnaldo who, days ago, has got this Santa Claus story in my head. I've never heard of such a name.