Today is a video Thank you. Good evening. You're listening to the Hour of the Time, and I'm Michelle. Tonight we reach the fourth and final installment of our special holiday presentation of the Carols and Customs of Christmas. In spite of the fact that we will have spent four hours on this subject, we've only made a tiny dent in the research material available to those interested in pursuing this history in even greater depth and detail. The following reference materials were used in the preparation of these four episodes of the Hour of the Time, and are highly recommended. Babylon Mystery Religion, Ancient and Modern by Ralph Woodrow Kings and Queens of England by Jane Murray Mythology by Edith Hamilton The Message of the Sphinx by Graham Hancock and Robert Boval Santa Claus, a Dossier by Paul Froyland And the King James Version of the Holy Bible I am sure that some of you received, or will receive, holiday gifts that you don't intend to keep. Sweaters that don't fit. Ties you won't wear. House shoes that aren't warm. Items you already have. Gifts you don't want. Or perhaps even gifts you don't like. This is why the day after Christmas is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Not only are all of the Christmas specialty items marked down about 75%, but it is also the great day of gift exchanges. Woe to the person who doesn't have a sales receipt. Plan ahead for these things. Ask your relatives to always include a receipt with every gift they give you, just in case. And whenever possible, trade that unwanted or useless gift back to the store for Federal Reserve notes. You know what to do. Transform those greenbacks into real money. Gold, silver, or platinum. And whenever possible, encourage your friends and loved ones to give you the gift that really shows they care. Precious metals. The one gift that is always valuable, always fits, and never needs earning. The one gift that is always valuable, always fits, and never needs earning. The one gift that is always valuable, alwaysIs than everes. It's always valuable for a lifetime Into the world to give her worth $100 billion. The two gift that is always valuable is making whole lives In a beautiful gift that I'd love to see the event of 4612 publishes, The one gift I would give forVER and is kalau Kinder people Katie. The two are all of my Father's entries. Else ök note me when we're not living now. The End The End For the benefit of younger listeners who may now be scratching their heads, what you just heard was The March of the Toys by Victor Herbert from Babes in Toyland. Having discussed in the previous installment of Carols and Customs of Christmas the pagan origin of gift-giving at the time of the winter solstice, this brings us to that most commercialized of all Christmas characters, Santa Claus. In many countries, including America, Santa Claus is the one who brings gifts. Many people do not know that the legend of Santa Claus originated in St. Nicholas, a person who actually lived. But we will get to the details of his life, both documented and legendary, in a moment. First, let's review his different incarnations around the world. Around the year 1000, the legends of St. Nicholas were brought to Russia from Constantinople by the ruler Vladimir, and soon Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia. His fame also spread to the Laps and Samoyeds, and perhaps from these people has come the story of the use of the reindeer by Santa Claus. The Dutch brought the legends of St. Nicholas to the New World. In America, the name St. Nicholas became Santa Nicholas, and eventually Santa Claus. Santa Claus was far from being the only gift-giver to descend down a chimney to invade the homes of unsuspecting laymen. One story associates this custom with the early German goddess Hertha, a goddess of domesticity, also known as the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God. This goddess of many trades was believed to descend the chimney through the smoke and guide the tellers of the fortunes. At one time, the Germans baked cakes in the form of a slipper, which was supposed to be that of Hertha. These were filled with gifts for the children. In later time, it became the custom to clean the chimney at the beginning of New Year, so that good luck could enter the household. In Germany, on St. Nicholas Day, December the 6th, an impersonator of the good saint went about giving gifts to the good children and a touch of the switch to the bad ones. Because his day was so near the Feast of the Nativity, the St. Nicholas custom gradually became associated with Christmas. Martin Luther felt that this idea was becoming too important to the German people and was excluding the central idea of the birth of Christ. Luther introduced the idea of Christkind, now known as Christkringle. The Christkind, a female holiday character created in the imagination of and by means of the influence of Martin Luther, was supposed to be the messenger of Jesus. Sometimes she was accompanied by St. Nicholas or Connect Reprecht, who questioned the children about their behavior during the past year. In Holland and in Belgium, St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas brought gifts to the good children and switches to the bad. The Dutch children believed that Sinterklaas comes from Spain in a boat filled with gifts and is accompanied by a small Moorish servant named Black Pieter. The Dutch incarnation of St. Nicholas is dressed in his bishop's robes and rides a beautiful snow-white horse. The children place their shoes before the fireplace where he can find them, and in them they put hay for his horse. The Santa Claus legend recrossed the ocean from America back to Europe and was gradually adopted in one country after another. Santa Claus did not always supplant other gift-givers, such as the wise men, who are still the bringers of gifts in certain countries. And in some instances he never caught on at all, and a creature of much more ancient pagan origin filled in the night shift for Santa on Christmas Eve in those countries. In Sweden, late in the evening of Christmas Eve, a feast is held. Jull Tomte, the Swedish version of Santa Claus, comes to distribute gifts. He is graciously invited to partake with the family of the feast. In some rural districts of Sweden, it was believed that Jull Tomte was the good spirit of the house, who watched over the crops, animals, and farm buildings all year long. On Christmas Eve, a special dish was placed for him so he could eat and watch the merrymaking in secret. In Denmark and in Norway, it is Jull Nissen who brings the gifts. He is a mischievous elf, who supposedly lives in the attic or stable all year, and makes his appearances only at Christmas. For some reason, he is said to be a special friend of the cat, and comes riding at midnight on Yulbouken, a goat. He wears long white whiskers and a pointed cap. He comes into the house on the goat during the Christmas Eve festivities, and capers around the room while all the little children scamper to keep from being bumped. Finally, he leaps out the door and is gone. In France, some believe it is the Christ child who brings the gifts, while others look to Bonhomme Noël, Father Christmas, or the good spirit of Christmas. The children place their shoes by the fireplace to be filled. Additionally, on Christmas Eve, the house cat is always well fed, since for some unknown reason it is considered bad luck if the cat cries on the sacred night. In Switzerland, Father Christmas and Mother Christmas bring the gifts. At one time, it was believed that these gifts were brought by a beautiful angel who rode in a sleigh drawn by six reindeer. In Spain and Poland and Portugal, it is the wise men who bring gifts to the children. In Russia, Babushka brings the gifts. Legend has it that Babushka misdirected the wise men when they were seeking Jesus, and that when the Holy Family came to her seeking shelter during their flight to Egypt, she refused them. She forever journeys through Russia on Christmas Eve, knocking on doors so that she may enter and see if the Christ child may live there. After looking at a sleeping child, she slips the toy under his pillow and then hastens away on her search for the Christ child whom she has never found. In Italy, it is La Befana who brings gifts to children. Like the Russian Babushka, La Befana was believed to have had the chance to travel with the wise men, but did not go, and she has since constantly traveled searching for the Christ child. The children know her as a sort of good fairy and hang their clothes where she may find them and fill the pockets with candy or gifts. In Greece, St. Basil distributes the gifts, arriving on his Christmas ship, which is loaded with toys and goodies. In whatever incarnation he or she may take, or in whatever disguise, Santa Claus, or one of his multi-personality equivalents, is undoubtedly one of the most universal of Christmas symbols today. You better watch out, you better not cry, better not tell anyone, Santa Claus is coming to come. He's making a list of checks and it's white, gonna find out who's naughty and nice, Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows that you're awake, He knows that you're good, so he could for goodness sake. Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry, better not tell anyone, Santa Claus is coming to come. Santa Claus is coming to come. Call, you better watch out, call, you better watch out, you better watch out, Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town In 1979, Paul Froiland wrote one of the best, most complete compilations of the life and legend of Saint Nicholas for TWA Ambassador Magazine. It remains, in spite of its light-hearted tone and humor, a very well-researched biographical piece, and I would like to share his work with you now. This is Santa Claus, a Dossier by Paul Froiland. Original Name Saint Nicholas Birth Petara in southwestern Turkey, near the end of the 3rd or beginning of the 4th century. Offices held Bishop of Myra in southwestern Turkey, early 4th century until death. Promotions Canonized as a saint of the Catholic Church in the 9th century. Demotions Saint Nicholas Day was dropped from the calendar in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. Celebration made optional in the Roman Catholic Church. Death December 6th, 342 A.D. Reports of death were greatly exaggerated. Charitable Gifts During Nicholas' youth, a nobleman in his neighborhood lost his fortune. The nobleman's three daughters offered their virtue to help their father recoup his fortune. Nicholas overheard this, and for three evenings running he made knife deposits of one large bag of gold per night through the nobleman's window, thus saving the young women from disgrace. Legends Legends about charitable gifts The above story became embellished in the repeated telling to the extent that Nicholas was reported to have hurled the three bags of gold down the chimney instead of through the window, and that the bags landed in the young women's stockings hanging to dry by the fire. Interesting fact connected with charitable gifts The three gold balls that later came to symbolize pawn shops represented the three bags of Nicholas' gold. Health History As an infant, Nicholas reputedly refused to nurse during the fast days of the church. Prison Record Imprisoned by Emperor Diocletian for religious reasons in the 4th century. Released by Emperor Constantine for religious reasons in the 4th century. Work History A. Amateur sleuth and miracle worker While Nicholas was bishop, three scholars were hacked to death by an innkeeper in his diocese who stuffed the remains in pickle barrels. Nicholas pieced both the crime and the scholars together, indicting the innkeeper and restoring life to the scholars who showed no ill effects afterwards except continually smelling of brine. B. Amateur Socialist and Miracle Worker During a famine, Bishop Nicholas stopped grain ships bound for Alexandria and begged sailors to donate some grain to the poor. The sailors did, and their grain was later miraculously restored, enough to last them for two years. C. Amateur Hot Tub Troubleshooter and Miracle Worker While Nicholas was passing through a town, a woman with a small baby suddenly heard people cheering and ran out to investigate, unwittingly leaving her infant sitting in a tub of water over an open fire ready for his bath. C. Amateur Hot Tub Troubleshooter and Miracle Worker By the time she remembered the baby, she was sure it was too late, and that, at the very minimum, all the vitamins would be boiled out of the child. C. Amateur Hot Tub Troubles She asked Nicholas for a miracle, and when she returned, the baby had been brought to a furious boil, but was unharmed, popping bubbles with his fingers. Medical Distinctions After his death, Nicholas' tomb gave forth an oil that was reputedly both fragrant and curative. Travel After Death In 1807, the country that is now Turkey was in danger of being overrun by Turks. Christians of the Western Church, fearing that St. Nicholas' tomb would be destroyed, sent a delegation of 47 men to translate, a polite word for steal, the body of St. Nick and bring us to bury Italy. When the translators arrived, they found the tomb guarded by four monks. The 47 men then explained, in an excess of holy, burning desire, that they wanted to take the body back with them. The monks were horrified. The 47 men then explained that the Pope had had a dream that year, in which St. Nicholas appeared to him, asking him, please, to send some men over to transport him from Myra to Bari. The monks stubbornly refused to be convinced by this logic. Finally, a scuffle broke out, during which a glass vial of the holy oil that seeped from St. Nicholas' tomb fell off of a low column onto the marble floor and was not broken. The men from Bari took this as an irrefutable sign that Nicholas was on their side. Who could argue with such demonstrable proof? And they tied up the four monks, crashed open the tomb, and carried the body off to Bari. Transportation St. Nick, in his post-mortem appearances, originally rode a white horse and carried three bags of gold with him. Later, as the price of gold rose, he was reduced to carrying bags full of fruit and toys. In the 1700s, he attached a wagon to the white horse. In 1821, he exchanged the horse for a team of eight reindeer. In 1841, he took the wheels off his wagon and made it into a sleigh. In 1939, he added a ninth reindeer with a bulbous nose named Rudolph. Professional Associates In Europe, throughout the Middle Ages, St. Nick was accompanied by a demonic monster named Black Pieter, who carried a bag full of birch switches with which to flog naughty children. Black Pieter was also known as Black Piet, or in America, as Black Pete. He accompanied St. Nick until 1946, when his option was not renewed. Beginning in 1876, Santa began employing dwarfs to help him in the manufacture of goodies. Gradually, they came to be called elves instead. Aliases Santa Claus Corruption of the Teutonic Sanct Herklaas, meaning Holy St. Nicholas In January, 1808, Washington Irving, in his journal Salmagundi, mentioned, quote, The noted St. Nicholas, vulgarly called Santa Claus, close quote. Loose women associated with. In Holland, a girl of Santa Claus is a loose woman. Length of temporary annual employment Before the Reformation, St. Nick arrived on December 6th and presided over revelry until January 4th. During the Reformation, it became a punishable offense for an adult to observe St. Nicholas Day, but not for a child. From 1800 to 1860 in America, there was confusion as to whether Santa Claus came on Christmas or New Year's Day. In 1865, Christmas was declared a national holiday in the United States, and it was generally held thereafter that Santa came on Christmas Eve. Litigation In 1936, Judge Michael A. Musmano of the Allegheny County Criminal Court in Pennsylvania ruled that doubters of Santa Claus would be held in contempt of court. Noted Correspondence September 19, 1897 Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West 95th Street, New York City Wrote to the New York Sun asking affirmation of the existence of Santa. December 24, 1901 Edsel Ford, no address given, requested a pair of roller skates and a book. Literature About December 23, 1823 A visit from St. Nicholas, often called The Night Before Christmas, was anonymously published in the Troy, New York Sentinel. In 1837, Clement Clark Moore claimed authorship. Later, the descendants of one Henry Livingston, Jr. claimed that he had written it. It is still hotly disputed, and descendants on both sides do not exchange Christmas cards. 1809 Washington Irving published The Knickerbocker History, which contained 24 allusions to Santa Claus. 1870 Bret Hart wrote How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar Portraits 1837 1837 Depicted with cape, high black boots, and ermine-trimmed red outfits by an anonymous artist. 1841 Depicted in the newspaper Brother Jonathan, wearing knickerbockers and smoking a pipe. 1844 Depicted in The New Mirror, with pipe, white beard, and bag of toys. 1866 1866 Depicted by Thomas Nast as a huge, merry, fat man, slightly narrower than a chimney. Impersonation by U.S. Presidents By Benjamin Harrison, sometime between 1889 and 1893. Songs About In 1947, there were 22 new songs written with the first two words being Santa Claus. Towns named after Santa Claus, Indiana Population 426 Santa Claus, Georgia Population 5 Current home Since the 1860s, a resident of the North Pole Zip code 99701 verses 16 We've been following the action of the North Polesec arrives in His cheering��� lead, by Timothy Being a his barber in the tamamen of neces connecting the barriers to a empire and aanging the cable包 real volume throw. And finally to add to the story of the South Pole Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The silent stars go by. Let in thy dark streets shine at the ever-lasting light. The hope that bears all the years are left in me tonight. How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is here. So God impart the love and heart the blessings of his hands. Though we may hear his coming, for in this world of sin, where he so willingly see him still, a dear Christ's very mercy. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. The silent night is going in line. The silent night is going in the inn. The silent night is going in the inn. the silent night is going in the inn. The silent night is going in the inn. The silent night is going in the night, I'm so gently alive. Save me now and make me rest. Save me now and make me rest. Save me now and make me rest. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and honor peace goodwill toward men Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. I find my feet, I walk that night, that I enjoy an angel's cry. I'll praise my joy, praise my joy, joy, joy, joy. Praise the Lord in your hands on my, praise the Lord in your hands on my. Lord, evermore to be denied, yet some of my heart be filled with joy. I'll praise my joy, praise my joy, joy, joy, joy. Praise the Lord in your hands on my, praise the Lord in your hands on my. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Amen. Away, the manger, no crib for us there. The little Lord Jesus, lay down his sweet head. The sun in the sky, look down where he lay. The little Lord Jesus, lay down his way. The little Lord Jesus, no crying he pray. I brought thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky. And stay by my grave, who watched all my eyes. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. O come, Lord, ye great Lord, joyful and triumphant. O come ye, O come ye, O come ye, O better men. Come and behold him, Lord, my king of Asia. O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Store it to Him, which were known, if the Lord had given them. And the shepherds, won't give them for the pain. Welcome, Corey Golds, won't give them for the things together. Enterprise hizo the Lord, with all His fueled любим' lands prowad yes, and and yet I was tempted to understand, as it was oft to hear and logic just rest assured never made our Chinese Mukherst Keys. LLOYDγο's victory on Jusian not true or death. And today wereж消 the only stone which was created for the lives of the city's in the heart. A nation produced a lesson, which made meek наж Fortnite. Going right to build upon all those things that made different curated teas concepts and Shouldn't have heard them till their livedcem Convention on these gazes incarces OK, which made us know it's craft Yankear setbert têm a purged virt很ng He rules the world with truth and greed, and makes the nations prove the glory of His life on man. And wonders of His heart, and wonders, wonders of His heart. Good night, ladies and gentlemen. And may God bless you and yours with His comfort and joy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.