Scary Santa lurks in Finland's past

[Ivan Seeking]

How about it Janus, should we revive our Finnish traditions?

...The forefather of the portly, bearded man, known in Finland as Joulupukki, was not dressed in red, did not greet children with smiles and he certainly brought no gifts.

Instead Joulupukki, literally "yule goat", donned horns and an animal hide and covered his face with soot or a bark mask. He traveled from house to house frightening children with his wild dancing and singing, and expected offerings of food and booze. [continued]

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=641105

 

[Integral]

Just one more hint that the people trying to but "Christ back into Christmas" don't have a clue. In spite of the name, Christ has Never been a significant feature of "Christmas". Our founding fathers did not celebrate the holiday, which had been OUTLAWED by the Puritans, and in fact, the US congress was in session and working on 25 Dec until well into the 19th century. The US has created the modern Christmas within the last 100yrs, taking customs from all over Europe, and only from Christianity. The modern venison of Santa Clause, reindeer and all, started with the poem "T'was the night before Christmas". The historic roots are closer to the Finnish version cited by Ivan.

So people wanting to but "Christ back in Christmas are simply showing their ignorance of history" The true reason for the season is indeed the birthday of the SUN.

CELEBRATE THE SOLSTICE!

 

[Math Is Hard]

Instead Joulupukki, literally "yule goat", donned horns and an animal hide and covered his face with soot or a bark mask. He traveled from house to house frightening children with his wild dancing and singing, and expected offerings of food and booze.

What a coincidence - my uncle Pete used to do the same thing every Christmas (before he got sober).
And we're not even Finnish.

 

[BoulderHead]

Where is the bus to Finland's past?

Any place where drunken, nasty old goats are allowed to hurl insults and frighten small children can’t be all bad, lol.

 

[Janus]

Added P.S.

How about it Janus, should we revive our Finnish traditions?


http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=641105

We actually have a "Yule Goat" (made of straw) under our tree.

However, though I am bearded, and somewhat "portly", I think that my donning horns and animal hide, covering my face with soot, and then traveling from house to house frightening children with wild dancing and singing, all the while demanding offerings of food and booze, just might put off the neighbors (They're kind of funny that way).

P.S. Less than 3 months to St. Urho's Day!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Any place where drunken, nasty old goats are allowed to hurl insults and frighten small children can’t be all bad, lol.

Do you think you would fit in well there?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

We actually have a "Yule Goat" (made of straw) under our tree.

I've been out Finned!

 

[Monique]

But remember: it were the Dutch who brought the legend of Sinterklaas to America where it took on a life of it's own and became Santa Claus. We still only celebrate Sinterklaas, I've never seen Santa Claus walking around in the Netherlands..

from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

When the Dutch still owned the land that later became New York, they brought the Saint Nicholas' eve legend with them to the Americas, but without the red mantle and other symbols. The name "Santa Claus" is derived from the character's Dutch name, Sinterklaas. In Dutch, the feast is called Sinterklaas Feest, celebrating the birthday of Sinterklaas during Sinterklaasavond ("Sinterklaas's Evening") on December 5 (or, in Belgium, on December 6).

In Washington Irving's History of New York, Sinterklaas was Americanized to "Santa Claus" but lost his bishop's apparel, and was at first pictured as a thick bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat. Irving's book was a lampoon of the Dutch culture of New York, and much of this portrait is his joking invention. Santa Claus appeared in various colored costumes as he gradually became amalgamated with the figure of Father Christmas, but red soon became popular after he appeared wearing such on an 1885 Christmas card. His horse was converted to reindeer and a sleigh, the black peters (which were in fact Moorish slaves) were converted to elves, and, in an attempt to move the origin of the festivities away from their pagan background to a more Christian one, the date was moved back a few weeks to the celebrated day of the birth of Jesus: Christmas.

So exactly what IS the source? As far as I know, it's a celebration of a bishop from Myra in Turkey who saved his village from hunger, who gave presents and weddingtreasures to poor girls. He died on the 6th of december, which is remembered by giving presents to children as he did in his life.

 

[BoulderHead]

We actually have a "Yule Goat" (made of straw) under our tree.

I love it!

However, though I am bearded, and somewhat "portly", I think that my donning horns and animal hide, covering my face with soot, and then traveling from house to house frightening children with wild dancing and singing, all the while demanding offerings of food and booze, just might put off the neighbors (They're kind of funny that way).

Yeah, wouldn't want to do that;
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=253
(I'm thinking horns just might add a crowning touch)

 

[BoulderHead]

Do you think you would fit in well there?

I was thinking there might be more of a chance, yes.

 

[PerennialII]

I was thinking there might be more of a chance, yes.

Anyone with an unhealthy drinking habit fits right in here and is immediately a valued and admired member of the community. And from what I've gathered seeing tanked up Santas even nowadays ain't that uncommon. It's good to know some still uphold traditions. And of course they all live in Korvatunturi.

 

[Phobos]

Hey! My ancestry is 1/8th Finnish...can I get a yule goat costume too?

 

[Evo]

I think it's time we revive the Yule Goat tradition here in America.

 

[Tsu]

Here's mine:
http://hosted.yourimg.com/04/362/13/YuleGoatJulbocken.gif

 

[Evo]

Here's mine:
http://hosted.yourimg.com/04/362/13/YuleGoatJulbocken.gif

That's too cute! I want something scarier.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

That's too cute! I want something scarier.

I'll send you a picture of Bun.

 

[Evo]

I'll send you a picture of Bun.

Can you add a goatee and horns?

 

[Tsu]

No need to...

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Bun!

http://umsis.miami.edu/~dduardo/evil_genius_bun.png

 

[Evo]

Whoa, that's scary!