Noel and its cultural cognates (including Christmas and even Easter) is an extra powerful word set owing to the tendency for people to name things, directly or indirectly, after the holiday on which a discovery is made, often during the 16th through 18th century seafaring and discovery days. These include Natalo and Natal in Africa; the South American places called Natal in Brazil and Bolivia (8 localities); Natalia Cuba; Natalau Fuji; Natal, British Columbia (named after Natal and South Africa). Related: Christmas Island, Christmas related names in Australia (at least three) and elsewhere. Worth mentioning: Easter Island. Several localities (including Easter Island) won’t be found in modern gazetteers since their names have been changed back to indigenous terms. In Montana, there is a ghost town known as “New Year,” an old mining town.
Noel and its cultural cognates (including Christmas and even Easter) is an extra powerful word set owing to the tendency for people to name things, directly or indirectly, after the holiday on which a discovery is made, often during the 16th through 18th century seafaring and discovery days. These include Natalo and Natal in Africa; the South American places called Natal in Brazil and Bolivia (8 localities); Natalia Cuba; Natalau Fuji; Natal, British Columbia (named after Natal and South Africa). Related: Christmas Island, Christmas related names in Australia (at least three) and elsewhere. Worth mentioning: Easter Island. Several localities (including Easter Island) won’t be found in modern gazetteers since their names have been changed back to indigenous terms. In Montana, there is a ghost town known as “New Year,” an old mining town.