K.A.C. 2016 - T - 5 ...

     Ah, there you are ... good morning! We've been waiting for you - SOME of us more patiently than others, as you can see by today's Weird Vintage Christmas Card. Well, you're here now, that's the important thing - time for some history lessons!

     Our tomcats getting ready for a dustup are wildly apropos for our first stop today.  You know the lyrics by heart to the old holiday standby "Jingle Bells", right? Of course you do! But do you know the contentious history behind the song? Think carefully before you answer that - better yet, read the article below, WHICH I am proud to say, came from a fellow BU employee! Take a moment and put your learning cap on ... NOW how much do you want to sing it?

http://www.bu.edu/today/2016/jingle-bells-history/ 

     

      Next up is ANOTHER history lesson and one well worth your time. It's LONG (two parts worth), but fascinating nonetheless. Carolyn Emerick takes a look at the Snow Girl (pictured at left), Frau Holle and others (some of whom you'll recognize from my previous blog posts) in an article entitled 'The Lost Female Figures of Christmas' - read on!

http://hubpages.com/education/The-Forgotten-Female-Figures-of-Christmas 

     

      So - we've covered the history of Jingle Bells, the history of Female Figures of Christmas ... what could possibly be left? How about the history of Santa Claus himself? Did you know he was really a shrunken elf left out in the cold ? What's that, you say? That's not how it goes? Well, read the article, then look at the pictures of how the Jolly One is seen around the world!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/22/living/real-santa-claus/index.html?hpt=hp_t4

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     Coming Tomorrow: Brand new holiday films for you to ponder and enjoy - see you soon!