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Santa Claus?!!
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! It's always interesting to me how different things are around
the world - and yet - the same, really. Take Santa Claus:
In Belgium he's Pere Noel, in Brazil he's Papai Noel. In Germany he's
Weihnachtman (Christmas Man), in Hawaii he's Kanakaloka. In Hungary
he's Mikulas (St. Nicholas), in Italy he's Babbo Natale. In Japan he's
Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts), in Russia he's Ded Moroz
(Grandfather Frost). I always wondered how we go so many names - Santa
Claus, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, etc.
Our "Santa Claus" started in the 3rd century. History says a monk named
St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled around
helping the poor and sick. Supposedly - one of his greatest deeds was
when he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or
prostitution when he gave their Father money for a dowery for them all
so they could marry. He became known as a protector of children and
sailors.
The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation
collectors into the "streets" to collect donations since the 1890s.
The name Santa Claus evolved from the Dutch "Sinter Klass" in
(New York) - a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint
Nicholas.). Santa Claus was described (in the beginning) as a man
wearing a blue three-cornered hat, red waistcoat, and yellow stockings.
"Shopping Mall Santas" are derived from 1890s. The Salvation Army
needed money to pay for the Christmas meals they provided for the needy
families. They dressed up unemployed men in Santa Claus-suits and sent
them out into the New York Streets to solicit donations.
In 1882, a guy named Clement Clark Moore wrote a Christmas poem for his
daughters...which is where we get our idea of a "right jolly old elf"
with a portly figure and the ability to ascend a chimney with only the
"nod of his head." In 1881, political cartoonist Thomas Nast created
the first picture that matches Santa Clause - as we know him today. In
Harper's Weekly - Santa was a rotund, cheerful man with a full, white
beard. He held a sack full of toys for the children. Nast gave him the
red suit trimmed with white fur, the North Pole workshop, and Mrs.
Claus - his wife.
Robert May - a copy writer at the Montgomery Ward Department Store -
gave us Rudolph - our ninth reindeer. This was a reported 100 years
after his eight flying counterparts. In order to bring holiday traffic
to his store - May wrote a story of Rudolph - his red nose and the
foggy night Santa feared would stop him from delivering his presents.
Mays friend - Johnny Marks - is said to have written the song about
Rudolph that Gene Autry sang. That song was translated into 25
languages and made into a movie narrated by Burl Ives.
And I'm adding this for you readers to consider. Check out Tomi Lahren
- she's 22 years old and a talk show host from South Dakota. In one of
her "Final Thoughts" segments she says: "Now this won't take long -
but, it's important. Four United States Marines are now dead. Climate
change didn't kill them. Lack of free community college didn't kill
them. The income gap - wage&equality? Nope, not those things,
either. Gay marriage? Nope. Oh - white racism? Not that either. So what
did? President Obama - if you won't say it - I will. Radical Islam.
This is not workplace violence. This is not a criminal act with motives
unknown. This is terrorism. This suspected shooter - Muhammed
Abdul-Azeez - is a devout Muslim. Do I care that he "seemed like an
all-American young man?" Do I care that he is good at mixed Martial
Arts or a quiet, smart guy? Do I care that his high school friends
wouldn't classify him as "overly religious?" Was he linked to Isis, Al
Qaida, or any of the other 15 plus off-shoot terrorist groups? Does it
matter? I'm sorry but, radical Islam is becoming the rule and not the
exception. Yesterday's "moderate" is becoming today's terrorist. I care
that this sob killed four of our US Marines. I care that our
Commander-in-Chief is more concerned with Muslim sensitivity than the
honor and sacrifice made by these Marines. Now, this is the 21st time
our military men and women have been attacked here at home. This is not
a Middle East problem. This is an American problem and I'm sorry but, I
can't sit here and let this go., Not any more. I come from a military
family. Someone very close to my heart is deployed in the Middle East.
The sad thing is - I was telling him last night - "I think you're safer
over there than you would be right here in the United States of
America........."
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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