December 24, 2009 04:01 PMSome quick facts about Santa Clause.
Interesting Santa Claus Facts
Christmas is approaching, and that means Santa will is getting ready for the busiest part of his year. While many of us just take Santa and his Christmas spirit for granted, there is actually a man behind the legend. However, the real St. Nick didn’t really look anything like the jolly old guy we see today. If you’re wondering why Santa looks the way he does and who is responsible for his present-day attire, read on…
A Man of Many Guises
Santa has existed in many forms throughout the centuries. The current image of Santa Clause being a rotund fellow donning red and white is actually only about 130 years old. Thomas Nast, a well-known painter during the 1800s, is given credit for creating the modern-day Santa that we have all come to know and love.
In 1870, Thomas Nast painted a portrait of Santa that resembles the modern-day Santa, more so than any drawings done previously. Prior to that, Santa took on many forms and names. Santa goes by many aliases depending on what part of the world he is visiting. Around the world Santa is known by Nicholas of Myra (Turkey), Hagios Nikolaos (Greek), Babbo Natale (Italy), Shengdan Laoren (China), Father Christmas , Pere Noel (France), Christindl (Germany), Kris Kringle (Germany), Kerstman (Netherlands), and Papa Noel (Brazil).
Twas The Night Before Christmas…
Clement Moore portrayed Santa Clause during the early 1800s in his poem, The Night Before Christmas. Today, the American version of Santa is similar, and the poem has formed the basis of many children’s books. Many families read a version of The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. That is definitely a tradition you should consider starting if you haven’t done so already. This poem is believed to be the basis for the current legend that Santa enters homes through the chimney.
Even better is wikipedia, which although not a reliable source (thank you Monmouth teachers) does provide some fun information cribbed from journal articles and historical books. Oops, you mean they cited their information?! Those bastards! The best part... Santa Claus may have been spun off from that old curmudgeon, Odin. Check it out.
December 21, 2009 01:53 PMChristmas Build up Part 4
I am working on Ali's suggestion for a topic, but in the process I realized that I had forgotten some Christmas movies that I am rather fond of. So here is another post about Christmas movies that should have been included the first time!
Next up, The Christmas Carol has been reproduced countless times. But my favorite will always be "Mickey's Christmas Carol". It used the staple of Disney characters at that time to tell the story, with some pretty good results. Sure most people don't remember that Disney had a version of Wind in the Willows, but they appear here. So does the Giant from Mickey and the Bean Stalk. And Scrooge has always been one of my favorite characters, probably in part to that little television showhe had. So this is the version I'll sit down and watch, k thanks, Jim Carey.
I'm sure I can remember more later... such as the criminally undervalued Prancer. Besides my day of Santa tomorrow, any other suggestions?
December 20, 2009 12:03 AMChristmas Build Up Part 3 (Or... Decorating is kind of a lame topic, no? ;)
So here are my thoughts on decorating around this time of year. First, I have grown accustomed to strands of single colored lights. Mostly white, which I think look somewhat pretty. However, I have also grown to appreciate both the solid red and green strands of lights. With that said, I do not like the lights that now come in the plastic pipes. It makes your house look like a runway. Santa should not have to clear it with the FFC before making a stop on your roof!
I am also not a big fan of the old plastic decorations, at least not at my own house. Sure I'll go around and go "decoration watching", but at my own place there will not be a plastic drummer boy or a nativity scene of any kind. With that said, the fiber stuff I have grown used to. Like my "candles" i have outside, happily glowing. And the big blow up decorations?! I have one for Halloween... but it spins and makes music and laughs manically. But otherwise, well it's somewhat lazy decorating. They just float there, bouncing up and down in the wind. Either you are going with the comical or you are going with a more streamlined, classic approach.
The tree debate. Nothing is more reminiscent of the holiday times than the smell of a christmas tree. Yet, can we justify the murder of an innocent tree every year? But the alternative appears to be plastic, which means a Christmas tree for lots and lots of years. My goal: To start getting the live trees that you just plant afterwards. Sure, eventually my backyard may look like the but at least I did my eco-part!
Other things I enjoy? Snowmen (The non plastic kinds) and wreaths (evergreen branches with a red ribbon please).
How about you? What do you like to decorate with on Christmas?! And for my Jews out there, throw at me your Hanukkah decorating tips!
