Comments on: How Do Reindeer Fly?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:52:30 +0000

They are a bonfire in waiting, especially in Germany where candles are used instead of lights.

By: Steve Bates

Steve Bates — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:01:28 +0000

Fir trees are perfect for reminding one to sing that old seasonal favorite, “Come on baby, light my fire…”

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:11:44 +0000

It is very traditional on German ‘fir trees’ [that is what Tannenbaum means, not Christmas tree] along with birds and candles. As evergreens they were part of the pre-Christian winter solstice celebration, and the connection with Christmas was contrived to get the priests off their backs during the continuing celebration of ‘pagan’ holidays.

The ‘religious’ ornaments are generally for export in Germany, and not used in country. The whole American custom was started by Prince Albert [Victoria’s hubby] and then exported to the US towards the end of the 19th century.

The custom was observed in areas of German settlement in the US, but it didn’t become mainstream until Victoria and Albert made it an upper class custom in Britain.

Fly agaric was a common ‘medicine’ among Northern European ‘wise men and women’, as was ergot [proto-LSD].

By: Badtux

Badtux — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:58:54 +0000

I wonder at what strange process turned that into balls on American holiday trees? (There, I said “holiday tree”, I made Rush Limpthingy cry!). And, specifically, balls of *glass*? A commentary on American manhood? 😈

– Badtux the Snarky Penguin