advent - The liturgical period preceding Christmas, beginning in Western churches on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and in Eastern churches in mid-November, and observed by many Christians as a season of prayer, fasting, and penitence.
angst - A feeling of anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression.
Let me tell you the story of a Greek guy named Nicholas. Our story actually begins in Turkey, where Nick was residing. The story goes that there was a poor man with three daughters who couldn't afford a dowry for them, meaning they would remain unmarried and probably have to become prostitutes. Hearing of this poor man's plight, he secretly threw three purses filled with gold coins in through the window.
It wasn't long before he was discovered by some of his friends, who encouraged him to spread the wealth to other countries. So he made the trek from Turkey to Germany, to share kind, Christian giving to the pagans. However, almost immediately, there were similarities drawn between Sinterklaas and the Germanic god Odin. For example, Odin rode the sky atop his grey horse, Sleipnir; Herr Klaus rode the rooftops on his white horse, Amerigo.
(not pictured; Santa)
It was also about this time that Herr Klaus hired a tribe of pygmies to work for him, but the Germans associated that with Odin's black ravens. In an attempt to discourage the worship of Odin, he introduced "Das Christkind," a cherubic child with blond hair and angelic wings, intended to refer to the baby Jesus. In an ironic twist, "Christkindl" would later be bastardized into "Kris Kringle," yet another name for St. Nick.
After spending a few years in Germanic countries, his friends decided to make the journey to America. However, at first, puritanical America was less than receptive to this pagan glory-hound. But Nick had friends that knew the only way to get through to Americans; commercialism! He was sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company, who adorned him in the classic Coke red and white. Macy's gave children the opportunity to meet him as their parents were out shopping. Throughout the years, he has also done advertising for cell phones, credit cards, even Coke's competitor, Pepsi.
But Santa Claus grew tired of the spotlight and took up residence in "the North Pole," or more likely, the cold, desolate Yukon. Today, old St. Nick lives as a recluse 10.5 months out of the year. He is a bitter, depressed shadow of his old self. He has diabetes from years of reckless cookie-binging. He has liver problems from years of spiked eggnog. And he is on his fourth unsuccessful marriage, due to narcissism and mild bipolarity. Most days are spent in front of his fireplace, longing for the time he had as a "Secret Santa" in Turkey.
(Santa and his third wife during happier times)
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