The Stories of Santa

Most children the world over have heard of Santa Claus, or a variation of him. In America, he’s imagined to be an immortal old man who lives at the North Pole and makes toys to give to children each Christmas Eve. We see him in books and movies as a rotund, jolly old soul, his white beard flowing over a red suit trimmed with fur and gold buttons. And, of course, always chortling that merry greeting: “Ho! Ho! Ho!”

You may be surprised to learn that Santa Claus hasn’t always been Santa Claus. He has quite a history, beginning in present-day Turkey. But first, let’s start in the New World.

The legend of “Sinterklaas” (sounds a lot like “Santa Claus,” doesn’t it?) was brought to New York by Dutch settlers in the 1600s. The Dutch first called him “Sint Nicolaas,” which eventually evolved into Sinterklaas.

Sinterklaas had a sidekick (companion) named Black Peter. Tall and lanky with dark hair and skin, he was the physical opposite of Sinterklaas in looks and was believed to give punishments to Dutch children who’d misbehaved. He also sported a large sack that many children were afraid of, believing he carried naughty little ones away in it. He was also said to hand out coal, which birthed the tradition of mischievous children finding coal in their stockings on Christmas morning. In a way, Sinterklaas and Black Peter were the “good cop/bad cop” of their time.

The Feast of Sinterklaas is celebrated in most Roman Catholic countries on December 6 and is primarily a celebration for young children. The Eve of the Feast of Sinterklaas, on December 5, is celebrated in lowland countries – such as The Netherlands – by all ages, including the religious and non-religious. People give gifts, poke fun at each other, and generally just have a good time on this day.  This story is bit hard for me as I don’t know how you couple a “good cop/bad cop” with Santa.

Saint Nicholas the man from whom the legend grew, began life simply as Nicholas in AD 271 on the southern coast of what is now Turkey (at the time, the land belonged to Greece). The son of wealthy parents who raised him to be a devout Christian, he found himself orphaned at a young age when they died in an epidemic. He became a priest and dedicated his life to using his wealth to help those less fortunate.  This story is my personal favorite.  Imagine dedicating your life to using your wealth to help those less fortunate.

One popular story tells how Nicholas saved three sisters from being sold into slavery. Their father couldn’t afford dowries for them, and without a dowry it was almost impossible to find a husband. It’s said that Nicholas, who was fond of throwing gifts through open windows, threw a bag of gold into their house on three separate occasions, landing in either the girls’ stockings or shoes. This kind and selfless act saved three sisters from the auction block, and also began the tradition of children putting out stockings for Saint Nicholas to fill.

Nicholas the priest eventually became the Archbishop of Myra (now Demre, Turkey, near Anatolia), making him the youngest archbishop of his day. He lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who began persecuting and locking up the clergy while robbers and murderers ran free. Nicholas was imprisoned for a time, but eventually released.

After his time in prison, he attended the famed Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died on December 6, 342 or 343 in Myra, but his remains were taken to Bari, Italy in AD 1087 after the region fell to Islamic forces. The day of his death was decreed by Rome to be his “name day,” on which the Feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated.

Popular American author Washington Irving was the first to write about the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas in 1809 under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker. He wrote of Saint Nicholas arriving on horseback every Christmas Eve, but not accompanied by Black Peter as in the Dutch story.

The combined Dutch American Saint Nicholas was “fleshed out” by Clement C. Moore in his classic poem, “The Night Before Christmas,” also known as “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.” From Moore’s poem we were given the names of Saint Nick’s reindeer (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, and Blitzen), how he laughed, and even how he looked when he laughed. He was referred to as a “lively old elf” who entered and exited houses through the chimneys.

A famous American illustrator named Thomas Nast is the man we have to thank for the larger version of Saint Nick. Nast drew Santa for Harper’s magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s, and showed him to be rather round and filled out. His imaginative contributions of Santa working at a North Pole workshop and carrying lists of who was “naughty” and who was “nice” became staples of modern Santa lore. Santa’s girth grew again in the 1930s when ads for Coca Cola depicted him as a full-sized human rather than an elf.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  May “selfless acts” abound !!!!!!!

Do-It-Yourself Pest Control

Do-It-Yourself Pest Control Tips

A pest is not just a word that’s used to describe an annoyance; in fact, it’s also the term given to a destructive animal that destroys crops, food and even livestock.  Whether you have a garden that has become a hot spot for neighborhood pests or you simply want to keep them from entering your home, it’s important to keep in mind several do-it-yourself pest control tips.

Spruce Up Your Space

One of the most attractive places for a pest is that which is filled with food.  Ants love anything sweet, including sugar, so make sure that any spills are cleaned up completely.  It’s equally important to keep your food containers and bags sealed properly to avoid a problem.

Landscape Designs That Pests Hate

If you have weeds in your lawn, remove them to avoid attracting pests.  Additionally, pay close attention to the plants and/or flowers that you use in your landscaping as certain types tend to attract pests, while others repel them.  For specifics, ask a local gardening professional or a representative from your local home improvement gardening center.

The Buzz On Mosquito Control

Nobody likes mosquitoes, but they are still a part of life and it’s important to deal with them.  You may not be able to rid your entire yard of these nuisances, but you can make it a place where they are not welcome.  One way of doing this is to remove anything that could result in standing water, which attracts mosquitoes.  Remove old flower pots, tires or anything else that could be a place for water to gather.  Not only is this a health concern as mosquitoes often carry diseases, but it’s also a good way to clean up the yard.

Home Repair

If you know that pests are getting into your home, the next logical step is to find out how.  Once you locate the entry point, repair the area so that it no longer allows for outside intruders to enter your home.  If you notice cracks, holes or other needed repairs, make sure that they are corrected to prevent future pests from setting up shop in your space.

Pest Control Products

In some cases, homeowners are forced to deal with pests by using products designed specifically for the purpose of pest control.  These products, which are commonly available at any retail and/or home improvement store, should be used as directed in order to prevent harm to yourself, your family and your pets.  It’s important to keep all pest control products locked in a cabinet and out of reach of children.   Here’s some handy sites that you might want to check out. http://www.doityourselftermitecontrol.com/ Personally, I would hire this done because I don’t know everything about termites.  But if it saves you money and it is not dangerous, I would go for it. Spiders are another pest that really get you in the Spring and some are very dangerous.  http://doyourownpestcontrol.com/spiders.htm You can also go to your local Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/or Lowe’s  store http://www.lowes.com and ask them what works best for your area.

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5 Quick and Easy Home Improvements

Image via Wikipedia

Go Green: A few changes to the landscaping of your home can make a world of difference!  You might want to consider planting some fruit trees in the backyard, adding a touch of color with some bright and unusual flowers, or perhaps finally starting the vegetable garden you’ve always dreamed about.

Add a touch of color: Feeling creative?  Why not give the family room, bedroom or bathroom a whole new look?  By focusing on the improvement of one room at a time, you’ll find that what can seem like an overwhelming job becomes fun and simple.  Repainting a single room can be inexpensively completed over a single weekend.

Bright and beautiful: Replacing the light fixtures in your house with personally selected pieces can drastically increase your home’s beauty and value.  Choose a cohesive look for the entire house, or decorate room by room!  The installation of new fixtures is generally a quick do-it-yourself task.

Tile it up: While it might seem like a daunting task, installing new tile in a kitchen or bathroom can be easily accomplished with a little know-how and the right supplies.  Your local home improvement warehouse will have everything you need to revamp and personalize the flooring of your choice!

The beauty beneath: Always dreamed of having beautiful hardwood floors?  Choose a room, pull up the carpet, and you’ll be on your way to accomplishing just that!  Repairing, refinishing, and staining the floor is a simple step-by-step process that you can achieve without the heavy expense of installing new wood panels.

Give Your Curb Appeal a Punch!

Whether you are looking to sell your home or just think it’s time for a new look to improve your curb appeal, here are a few simple ways to spruce up your front porch without taking a bite out of your wallet!

What to do with Concrete?

If your home has a simple concrete porch, there are a number of great ways to give it a more refined appearance that won’t involve replacing it.  One option is using concrete paint.  Available in many colors and textures, you can create the look of a more expensive stone porch at a fraction of the cost of replacing it.  Here’s a company that can do it for you.  http://concretecafe.com

Take a Picture?

Most homes have a front entry that includes a covered porch or front door entrance.    During the winter months, have your lights on a timer to give an additional welcoming touch at sun down.  Also, if your entry is “post card perfect” make a picture while the snow is on the ground.  These are great pictures for marketing and give people in the heat of summer another view of your house.

One of the easiest ways to dress up your exterior entry is to choose interesting and complementary final touches.  A new mailbox, a handmade or antique-looking street number sign, and a nice welcome mat can all make the space look more homey and finished.  If you have the space, also consider adding a few chairs and a small table, or add the nostalgia of a porch swing.