FreestyleGod
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Interesting info on the origin of SANTA CLAUS.
The story begins in the northern regions of Europe where the supreme god
Odin, also known as Wodan among the German tribes, reigned. Wednesday comes from Wodan's day). Odin/Wodan was the god of wisdom, magic and occult knowledge, runes, poetry and war. Odin means inspired one. Like a shaman he could travel in other worlds to gather more insight while his two black ravens Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory) kept him informed about the news in the world. Odin was a tall, old man with a white beard and wearing a cloak. He rode the skies and seas on his fast white horse Sleipnir with his 8 legs, while carrying his never missing spear Gungnir (clear and focused intent) in his hand. He had one eye, for he had offered the other eye in exchange for wisdom at the well of the head Mimir and with that he became a shapeshifter, able of seeing in the outward world with his normal eye and understanding the inward worlds with his black, removed, eye. (an enlightened being?) His enemies he could paralyze or kill with his sight (insight, the truth). Odin trained many men and women as warriors for the final battle against the forces of evil in the underworld at Ragnarok (the Norse judgement day).
Odin represents goodness with his wisdom, and he is wise enough to understand that black is not similar to dark in the sense of evil and taboo for his helpers are black ravens and black (spiritual) warriors. The evil he fights is the underworld dragon of false beliefs, untruth and selfishness (we would call this ego ).
(So now we have a wise, good man performing magic/miracles with a white
horse riding the skies, a white beard, a cloak, a spear and black
advisors/informers/helpers and he is also god of poetry).
Next we go to the Roman empire where between December 17 and 24 the pagan
Saturnalia were celebrated, big feasts with a lot of partying, dancing,
gambling, sensuality and the exchange of gifts. This festival to celebrate the return of the sun on the shortest days of the year and to counteract the depression due to lack of sunlight.
Time goes by. Christianity develops itself. In the 4th century in Myra,
Turkey, a Christian bishop named Nicholas lived with a great reputation for
goodness, benevolence and performing miracles for the poor and unhappy. He
miraculously supplied gold to three girls and he brought three children back to life who had been killed by a butcher. During the poverty of the Middle Ages (also called Dark Ages) this bishop became extremely popular as Saint Nicholas in all parts of Europe. His feastday, it was said to be his birthday, was December 5 or 6, nobody knows. There is no historical evidence however for
the true existence of this saint. (So now we see a benevolent, miracle performing bishop with a white dress and a red cloak.)
After the Reformation Saint Nicholas became forgotten in all the protestant
countries of Europe except Holland. There he became Sinterklaas; a kind,wise old man with a white beard, white dress, red cloak, a crosier and riding
the skies and roofs of the houses on his white horse, accompanied by his
Black Jacks. Sinterklaas will visit you on his birthday December 5 or 6 and
donate gifts. His Black Jacks have miraculously gathered information about
your behavior during the last year; if it were good you will now be rewarded
with presents, if it were bad you will be punished by the Black Jacks who
will beat you with their rods or even worse: put you in a big bag and take
you with to Spain, said to be the residence of Sinterklaas. The last thing
seems to be a Christian influence: punishment by a severe father if you don't
behave morally just. On the other hand: if you do behave nice you will be
rewarded with sweets and gifts accompanied by humoristic poems that give
insight in your weaknesses.
(Here the mix becomes clear between Odin the good magician god and the
miracles of the benevolent Sinterklaas. They both ride a white horse in the
skies,wear a white beard, a cloak and a spear/cosier. They both have black
helpers. They try to support goodness and dispel evil through knowledge. And
remember the poetry part? And the blend with Roman influences shows itself in
a December feast with partying and presents.)
In the 17th century Dutchmen emigrated to America and brought the
tradition of Sinterklaas. In America the name changed to Santa Claus. In 1930 a designer for the Coca-Cola Company was asked to draw attractive advertisements for this drink that did not sell well in wintertime. He had to use the company colors red and white and create some cosy type. He remembered the Dutch Santa Claus with his white dress, red cloak, long white beard, kindness and benevolence. The eight-legged horse was replaced for eight flying reindeer.This new Santa Claus became a big hit. He became so popular that in Europe he is competition for Sinterklaas.
The story begins in the northern regions of Europe where the supreme god
Odin, also known as Wodan among the German tribes, reigned. Wednesday comes from Wodan's day). Odin/Wodan was the god of wisdom, magic and occult knowledge, runes, poetry and war. Odin means inspired one. Like a shaman he could travel in other worlds to gather more insight while his two black ravens Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory) kept him informed about the news in the world. Odin was a tall, old man with a white beard and wearing a cloak. He rode the skies and seas on his fast white horse Sleipnir with his 8 legs, while carrying his never missing spear Gungnir (clear and focused intent) in his hand. He had one eye, for he had offered the other eye in exchange for wisdom at the well of the head Mimir and with that he became a shapeshifter, able of seeing in the outward world with his normal eye and understanding the inward worlds with his black, removed, eye. (an enlightened being?) His enemies he could paralyze or kill with his sight (insight, the truth). Odin trained many men and women as warriors for the final battle against the forces of evil in the underworld at Ragnarok (the Norse judgement day).
Odin represents goodness with his wisdom, and he is wise enough to understand that black is not similar to dark in the sense of evil and taboo for his helpers are black ravens and black (spiritual) warriors. The evil he fights is the underworld dragon of false beliefs, untruth and selfishness (we would call this ego ).
(So now we have a wise, good man performing magic/miracles with a white
horse riding the skies, a white beard, a cloak, a spear and black
advisors/informers/helpers and he is also god of poetry).
Next we go to the Roman empire where between December 17 and 24 the pagan
Saturnalia were celebrated, big feasts with a lot of partying, dancing,
gambling, sensuality and the exchange of gifts. This festival to celebrate the return of the sun on the shortest days of the year and to counteract the depression due to lack of sunlight.
Time goes by. Christianity develops itself. In the 4th century in Myra,
Turkey, a Christian bishop named Nicholas lived with a great reputation for
goodness, benevolence and performing miracles for the poor and unhappy. He
miraculously supplied gold to three girls and he brought three children back to life who had been killed by a butcher. During the poverty of the Middle Ages (also called Dark Ages) this bishop became extremely popular as Saint Nicholas in all parts of Europe. His feastday, it was said to be his birthday, was December 5 or 6, nobody knows. There is no historical evidence however for
the true existence of this saint. (So now we see a benevolent, miracle performing bishop with a white dress and a red cloak.)
After the Reformation Saint Nicholas became forgotten in all the protestant
countries of Europe except Holland. There he became Sinterklaas; a kind,wise old man with a white beard, white dress, red cloak, a crosier and riding
the skies and roofs of the houses on his white horse, accompanied by his
Black Jacks. Sinterklaas will visit you on his birthday December 5 or 6 and
donate gifts. His Black Jacks have miraculously gathered information about
your behavior during the last year; if it were good you will now be rewarded
with presents, if it were bad you will be punished by the Black Jacks who
will beat you with their rods or even worse: put you in a big bag and take
you with to Spain, said to be the residence of Sinterklaas. The last thing
seems to be a Christian influence: punishment by a severe father if you don't
behave morally just. On the other hand: if you do behave nice you will be
rewarded with sweets and gifts accompanied by humoristic poems that give
insight in your weaknesses.
(Here the mix becomes clear between Odin the good magician god and the
miracles of the benevolent Sinterklaas. They both ride a white horse in the
skies,wear a white beard, a cloak and a spear/cosier. They both have black
helpers. They try to support goodness and dispel evil through knowledge. And
remember the poetry part? And the blend with Roman influences shows itself in
a December feast with partying and presents.)
In the 17th century Dutchmen emigrated to America and brought the
tradition of Sinterklaas. In America the name changed to Santa Claus. In 1930 a designer for the Coca-Cola Company was asked to draw attractive advertisements for this drink that did not sell well in wintertime. He had to use the company colors red and white and create some cosy type. He remembered the Dutch Santa Claus with his white dress, red cloak, long white beard, kindness and benevolence. The eight-legged horse was replaced for eight flying reindeer.This new Santa Claus became a big hit. He became so popular that in Europe he is competition for Sinterklaas.