*Here are the posts from 2010:
Christmas Traditions: The Tree
Christmas Traditions: The Nativity
Christmas Traditions: Counting Down
Christmas Traditions: The Meal
Christmas Traditions: Waiting for Santa
*And in case you get bored of watching Christmas TV specials, here are some holiday themed posts from the past:
How I was trapped at my parents' house during a snow storm
What kids in poverty wish for
Some holiday advice
Suspicious holiday activity
*And here is something I wrote three years ago about how Santa Claus is totally real
Santa Claus is real. I’m fighting tooth and nail for this guy. When I was eleven, my mother sat me down in May and told me Santa doesn’t really exist. I never believed her. I secretly wrote him a letter the next year. This jolly old man needs some credit. Santa Claus is real and I’ll tell you why. First, you have to take some things in to account, such as:
1) Adults who don’t believe (that’s like most of the grown-up population)
2) Kids who don’t believe (which accounts for most children over age 12)
3) Time zones
4) The flying reindeer. Duh.
5) The different countries’ traditions.
Maybe you’re not familiar with the celebrations of various countries. Let me enlighten you. If you are a doubter, you are sure to become a believer (just in time, too.)
In Mexico, Los Reyes Magos deliver gifts. That means all of Mexico has three separate wisemen to deliver the joy. Santa doesn’t even touch Mexico. Instead, those kids write letters to Melchor, Gaspar, or Baltasar. The three magi don’t even go to Mexico until the night of January 5th, because on the 6th is the epiphany. In case you didn’t know, the epiphany marks the day when the Three Wise Men followed the star to Bethlehem, arriving to bear their treasured gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Baby Jesus. So forget about the population of Mexico (and Spain too, because they follow the same tradition).
In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas is known as Sinterklaas. Dutch children are told that he sails from Spain on his feast day, December 5. They fill their shoes with hay and sugar for his horse and awake to find them filled with gifts such as nuts and candy. Not only are they low-budget in Netherlands, but this is a whole different time frame we’re talking about. There are several other areas that celebrate St. Nicholas day on December 6, so Santa doesn’t have to go to these places on the 24th.
In the British Isles, it is more common to exchange gifts on New Year's Day or Twelfth Night. Santa Claus is known by British children as Father Christmas. Children write letters to Father Christmas asking for what they want, but instead of dropping them in the mailbox, the letters are tossed into the fireplace. The draft carries the letters up the chimney and Father Christmas reads the smoke. Gifts are opened Christmas afternoon. That buys him a few hours because the kids aren’t expecting to open presents at 6am.
In Sweden it gets really exciting. Santa can really chill out. On Christmas Eve a certain Christmas gnome, known as the tomte, emerges from his home under the floor of the house or the barn. He carries a sack over his shoulder and leaves gifts for all. It’s not Santa, it’s not a wiseman, it’s a freaking gnome. Personally, I think the tomte gnome has visited me before, because in our old house we definitely had some floor boards that were never nailed down completely.
In Russia St. Nicholas Day (on Dec. 6th) was popularly celebrated, but it was suppressed during the communist revolution. Other religious traditions were suppressed during the communist era. Before the revolution, a figure called Babouschka would bring gifts for the children. The story is that Babouschka failed to give food and shelter to the three wise men during their journey to visit the Christ Child. According to tradition, she still roams the countryside searching for baby Jesus and visiting the homes of children during the Christmas season. You'd think she would have figured out by now that Jesus is no longer an infant. Babouschka never completely disappeared, and now in the post-communist era, has returned openly. Santa sure loves his Babouschka for helping out. So knock out the population of Russia.
In Brazil Papai Noel is the gift-bringer. According to legend, he lives in Greenland. This is not necessarily the North Pole.
Finnish people believe that Father Christmas lives in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturi, north of the Arctic Circle. People from all over the world send letters to Santa Claus in Finland.
In Germany, Der Weihnachtsmann brings presents in the late afternoon of Christmas Eve (December 24th), after people have been to church.
You may say to yourself, Santa has a bunch of different names, but he’s still one person. Hogwash. Clearly, St. Nicholas delivers gifts the evening of December 5th, Los Reyes Magos deliver on January 5th, the Tomte gnome delivers on the 24th, Babouschka visits children’s homes all throughout the Christmas season, and then there’s Papai Noel and Father Christmas. Santa is more than one person because he lives in different places, including: The North Pole, Greenland, Finland, and the floorboards under your house.
This is what I’m telling you: It is highly likely that Santa Claus exists and visits all of the children who truly believe in him and live in a country that supports him. While I am American and believe in Santa Claus, I think that perhaps I shall change my views and begin to believe in Sinterklaas, because he brings presents a lot earlier in the month.
P.S. I stole a lot of info off of http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/
