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#181208 12/24/08 08:37 PM
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Just in time to wish you all joyful days in whichever way. Good wishes to those who are present and to those who must be somewhere, I hope doing and being well.
My computer is on repairs trip.
My son's is rarely accessible. Merry Christmas!TO TEDS AND MILO'S AND ANNA'S AND ANU'S AND HYDRA'S AND BAWDY BELMARDUKS AND WORDWINDS AND.............so many.

(All I want for Christmas is my front door blocked with snow)

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To you,BranShea, a very Merry Christmas as well. I see from
noradsanta.org that the jolly ole fellow is leaving Europe now
and heading west. I wish you lots of snow. And if there were
a way to send all that is in my yard I would gladly do so.
Blessings for Christmas to you and your family.

Last edited by LukeJavan8; 12/24/08 10:58 PM.

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BranShea #181212 12/25/08 07:44 AM
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Done stuffing stockings... going off to bed.... god bless :0)

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The old fellow is not really generally regocnized here and we stuff no stockings at Christmas. Thanks for the generous gift of snow. Nice tree, twosleepy ! Most certainly considering the after 2.00 AM.
Have a jolly day.

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Originally Posted By: BranShea
The old fellow is not really generally regocnized here and we stuff no stockings at Christmas. Thanks for the generous gift of snow. Nice tree, twosleepy ! Most certainly considering the after 2.00 AM.
Have a jolly day.


Interesting,Bran. Isn't their a Kris Kringle character in Germany? and Father
Christmas in UK. You're being betwen I 'd think some sort of character would
exist. He's even in Japan now.
Oh, yes, I'd give you the ice under the snow too. I see lots of people
out with ice-breakers trying to get it off the cement. I just put down
some chemical, which probably ruins the environment (despite its disclaimer)
and hope someone does not take a tumble.


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Originally Posted By: LukeJavan8
Originally Posted By: BranShea
The old fellow is not really generally regocnized here and we stuff no stockings at Christmas. Thanks for the generous gift of snow. Nice tree, twosleepy ! Most certainly considering the after 2.00 AM.
Have a jolly day.


Interesting,Bran. Isn't their a Kris Kringle character in Germany? and Father
Christmas in UK. You're being betwen I 'd think some sort of character would
exist. He's even in Japan now.
Oh, yes, I'd give you the ice under the snow too. I see lots of people
out with ice-breakers trying to get it off the cement. I just put down
some chemical, which probably ruins the environment (despite its disclaimer)
and hope someone does not take a tumble.

In Germany traditionally Father Christmas brings sweets on December 6 and "The Christ Child" brings the presents on Christmas Eve.

But I suspect that nowadays perhaps they've given in to American cultural imperialism like everyone else, for whom the Coca-Cola version of Santa invented ca 1930 is the central act at Christmas.

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And in Asian nations where the Saint Nicholas is not even part
of their culture,it is rightly called
American Cultural Imperialism: the almight Dollar controls
everything. (actually the dollar is the central act of Christmas,
in my opinion.)

Last edited by LukeJavan8; 12/26/08 04:36 PM.

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Dec. 6 corresponds with our celebration of St.Nicolaas. On the evening of Dec.5 we celebrate this family-friends feast by unwrapping the gifts from st. Nicolas and Black Peter (his aid).
For kids up to 7 / 8 present the bagful of gifts is thrown over the threshold by a unnoticed temporary absentee of the gathered group or by one of the neighbours willing to do this.

Families with children over 8 fun give eachother gifts in diguised forms: the "surprise", pronounced the French way. This surprise should be a comment on actualities or merits or bad habits of the one who recieves the gift.
This fun side used to prevail over the importance of the present, but alas, money value is taking over everywhere.

There has been a political fight over whether ( fake) Black Peter should change color for reasons of discrimination. Fortunately this has passed and now real blacks join the Black Peter crowd (two or three weeks before Dec.5 many help-St. Nicolasses and Black Peters tour the country, scaring the 'bad' and cheering the 'good' children.

Why it is that in a predominantly Protestant country a Catholic Martyr has become the Saint of the season's gifts party no one really knows for sure. There is a famous Jan Steen ( 17th C.) painting showing the 'Sint Nikolaas avond' complete with a crying boy who got no present because he had not been good during the year.

There has been some competition between SantaClaus and Sinterklaas, but for now Sinterklaas still holds the lead. I know no of no other European country where Sinterklaas is really celebrated. (?)


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I know no of no other European country where Sinterklaas is really celebrated. (?)

Well, Sinterklaas seems to be confined to Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium). But other countries do celebrate feasts involving St Nicholas (link).


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Oh, well thank you Jim, for this wonderful update on old oude Klaas.
Even in Armenia! What a widespread traditon it then is! I guess it just stands out more distinctly in Holland. It really is THE big thing. Thanks for all the interesting details and Christmas time is not yet over here. No presents, but we always have a double holy free day. So Merry Christmas to you.

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