Christmas Tidbits
As we prepare our Christmas dinner tonight I am giving thanks that we don’t adhere to some of the traditions of the past; for while they were suitably for their time, they don’t go over well with many of the celebrants of today. The people of Upper Canada in 1793 were eating boiled black squirrel, porcupine, roasted passenger pigeon and raccoon for Christmas. The people of that time would eat whatever was in abundance locally. At times the skies were black with ducks and so they would naturally have duck dinner. They ate locally grown foods out of necessity (while we may need to think about eating locally grown foods for the environment’s sake - I would graciously pass on the porcupine).
We have the largest Christmas stocking in the world here in Toronto.The stocking’s final length was measured at 27.46 metres and it is made entirely out of traditional stocking materials. I wouldn’t mind hanging that stocking on my fireplace — Santa could fill it with a lot of clothes, books, music, and I think there would be room for a car too. Oh Boy!
Talking about stockings, did you know that we got the custom of hanging stockings by the fireplace from the Dutch? They started this custom by leaving wooden shoes by the fireplace, not left empty to be filled with gifts by St. Nick but were filled by the household members with fruits for the donkey St. Nicholas used to carry his gifts for the children.
Have you heard the Gene Autry classic “Here Comes Santa Claus” and wondered if the is a real Santa Claus Lane? Yes, Virginia there is a real Santa Claus Lane but it exists just once a year. Every year since the 1930’s, Hollywood Boulevard has been re-named Santa Claus Lane during Hollywood’s annual Christmas parade. Here are some old photos of Santa Claus Lane.
December 25th, 2007 at 6:57 am
Thanks for the link!
And thanks for reading!
Larry
December 26th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Hi :D,
The Dutch had it right, filling the wooden shoes with fruits for St. Nick’s donkey. The gifts get there faster if the donkey is happy and fed. It’s sad that the idea of St. Nick has been carried forward but the Christmas donkey has not. I hope there was not a particular ill tempered donkey who misbehaved so badly one Christmas that he ended up ruining it for all the other donkeys.
Oh, I think I would have liked to be in the Christmas parade during Hollywoood’s Golden Era. Maybe I could have marched and twirled a firey baton while wearing a shiny costume. That would’ve made me quite pleased.
December 27th, 2007 at 5:00 am
Hey Bert,
It is quite possible that if the donkey had a fondness for eating sweaters, just like your grandma’s donkey, that it wouldn’t be allowed to go out with St. Nick for nudity may ensue. And we can’t have that!
I think you’ll be in a parade sometime. Just make sure you work on your baton tricks so that you’ll be ready for your big day.
December 27th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Yeah….I was a bit worried that a donkey may have ate St. Nick’s clothes. Shirtless Santa….Naked Nick…Kinky Kris…however you want to call it, it doesn’t really do it for me.
Do you really think I’ll be in a parade? Oh, I’m so excited! No need to worry about me practicing, I’m lighting the batons as we speak….uh-oh….do you know how long eyebrows take to grow back?