Tis’ The Season * Santa Claus – Immortal Monday

Santa Topper

I’ve finally awoken from my immortal sleep and am now slipping this Monday post into its slot very late in the day. Every now and then a recharge is necessary. So let’s not jump right in.

As I began to mellow from all the craziness that had befallen my life since our return home this last week my daughter and I curled up on the sofa Saturday night to one of our favorite Christmas movies – The Santa Claus. Sunday was spent repairing my son’s faith in the magic of Christmas. I took him to see Rise of the Guardians. The combination of events led me to today’s Immortal MondaySanta Claus.

As I sat with my son discussing whether any of the guardians were real or not we circled around to how Santa Claus goes beyond the big guy in red. He’s a state of mind and a magic within our heart. As long as people believe in that magic the essence of Santa will continue to be immortal.

I checked in with Santa and was lucky enough to get this short interview. I’ll let him explain how Santa fits into the immortal status.Who knew Santa was so funny.

Actually, the Santa Claus we know today stems from a much older story, that of St. Nicholas, who can be traced back to southern Italy in 1087. We first see Santa Claus spring up in the mid to late 1800’s. In 1863 Harper’s Weekly published an illustration of Santa by cartoonist Thomas Nast.

He’s known by many different names across the world, but wherever he is, he is bringing joy to the children. The names of The Big Guy in charge of Christmas are:

Baba Chaghaloo * Babadimri * Gaghant Baba * Pere Noel * Deda Mraz * Papai Noel * Dyado Koleda * Viejo Pascuero (“Old Man Christmas”) * Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”) * Julemanden * Papa Noël * Pere Noel * Père Noël * Joulupukki * Weihnachtsmann (“Christmas Man” or “Nikolaus”) * Kanakaloka * Mikulas (St. Nicholas) * Baba Noel * Vader Kersfees * Daidí na Nollaig * Babbo Natale * Santa Claus * Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts) * Papá Noel * Kaledu Senelis * San Niklaw * Julenissen (“Christmas gnome”) * Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) * Pai Natal * Mos Craciun * Ded Moroz (“Grandfather Frost”) * Deda Mraz * Daidaín na Nollaig * Vader Kersfees * Papá Noel * Jultomten (“Christmas brownie”) * Noel Baba * Father Christmas * Santa Claus * Kris Kringle * Swiety Mikolaj

My dear friend, Tameri Etherton, took a look at some of her favorite Christmas movies this last week. You should pop over there as there are a lot of fun suggestions. I’d like you to share some of your favorite immortal movies here with us today. It can be holiday (Santa Claus), in nature or not. You already know I have a special place in my heart for the original The Santa Claus movie, but I’ll start the list off with something different. Here’s my immortal movie for this Christmas…Nightmare Before Christmas.

Now it’s your turn. Start your lists!

This was a light Immortal Monday as I feel the rest may be through the month of December. But let’s not forget we are in the count down for the Mayan’s projected end of the world an era. Make the best of this holiday season as change is coming! 😉

Next week I’ll be asking for your top immortal reads so start compiling your lists.

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A few of my favorite Christmas themed Friday Fictioneers I thought you’d enjoy:

Brainsnorts: #fridayfictioneers via rochelle – 11/30

This, That, And The Other Thing: A Made Man

bridgesareforburning: The Homeless Man

Words & Pictures : No More Santa

The Bumble Files : Guardian Angel

NOTFORALLMARKETS : Unexpected

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I almost forgot to mention… Today (December 4th) is your last chance to take advantage of all the cool savings at the Christmas Book Fair. Remember, all profits are going to a GREAT cause.

Go Here to Shop at the Christmas Book Fair

33 thoughts on “Tis’ The Season * Santa Claus – Immortal Monday”

  1. PaulPaul

    Debra, thanks for the plug. I’m surprised you like my take on Santa that I posted. Don’t let your son read it!.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Unfortunately, this year my son is going through that adjustment kids must go through when they find out the truth about Christmas. It’s difficult, but he’ll pull through fine. I enjoyed your story. Even if it wasn’t shiny and bright. 😀

  2. The Bumble FilesThe Bumble Files

    Hi Debra, Hey thanks for the mention! That’s sweet of you. I like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Charlie Brown’s Christmas,” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” (I think that what’s it’s called!). It seems every year I’ve been missing them. So, I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled. Thanks again.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      You just named a couple of classics that are near and dear to my heart as well. It’s getting earier to find those broadcasts now with the simple searches provided by the direct TV, tivo, or cable boxes. I’m supposed to set ours for a special Tinker Bell Christmas event airing this Sunday. 🙂 In regards to the mention, you’re most welcome.

  3. Kristy K. James...Living, Loving, LaughingKristy K. James...Living, Loving, Laughing

    It’s a Wonderful Life, The Christmas Box, White Christmas, The Christmas Shoes…and another oldie called A Hobo’s Christmas will always be immortal Christmas movies (in my opinion). Who knew Santa went by so many aliases? I especially like Baba Chaghaloo. Sounds like something Cheech and Chong might have come up with. 🙂

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      I knew he had a lot of names, but this list surprised even me. Another fun movie with a bit of Christmas is Trading Places. 😉

  4. Tameri EthertonTameri Etherton

    What a fun Immortal Monday! Thanks so much for the shout out. I’d forgotten about The Christmas Shoes. That’s a very sweet movie. Pretty much any of the Rankin/Bass animated shows will get me in the mood for Christmas.

    I believe in Santa Claus!

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Those old shows are a must every year. We now own them on DVD. I used to desire ownership of the puppets themselves. Now I desire less clutter. Guess I’m finally maturing with the years.

      Even though my husband broke the news to my son, I told him I still believe. Santa is real. If nowhere else, then in my heart.

  5. Pat HattPat Hatt

    Die Hard, Gremlins and Lethal Weapon count as christmas movies too, right? haha The Santa Claus was grand as well though.

    • Pat HattPat Hatt

      Oh and the mayan’s pffft. Right! haha

      • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

        Oh, and the Mayan’s prediction – I know, right? But it was a topic on Immortal Monday a while back and I had to swing back around to it since the time has come. 😉 Actually, I found a pretty cool theory about the earth’s rotation and how it might slip slightly which could affect tides and heating. And theorists where having a field day relating this to the Mayan prediction regarding the end of an era and big change. We will see. People get it wrong when they say “end of the world.”

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Ha ha! Die Hard is my absolute #1 Christmas movie and the one I named on Tameri’s post, along with Scooged. I can’t believe I forgot about Gremlins though. Not with all the little furbies around to torture my husband. LOL Excellent picks! I highly approve. 😀

  6. Rebecca EnzorRebecca Enzor

    My favorite Christmas movie would have to be Santa Claus, the Movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089961/ It starts with the beginning of the Santa myth and then jumps forward to 1985 and all the cheesy goodness you can imagine in a Santa movie 🙂

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      I missed that movie but the cheese is totally apparent in the trailer. Big grin. I may have to check that out this year. Thank for pointing it out to me Rebecca. I hope you’re enjoying your time off.

  7. Coleen PatrickColeen Patrick

    Baba Chaghaloo!! I love that. So cool, to read all the names. Thanks Debra. 🙂

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Isn’t that one awesome? How about Vader Kersfees? Do you think he’s related to the dark lord? 😉

  8. susielindaususielindau

    I LOVE Santa! I think I read somewhere last year that there is a crazy tradition in Spain where you have to be careful or Santa will spank you! I probably have the wrong country or did I just make that up???
    I was out of town for a couple of days and know what you mean about recharging batteries. I still haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep, but some amazing power naps!

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      I don’t know about Spain, but in Hungry Santa is called Winter Grandfather and he leaves treats in the children’s cleaned shoes at night. If the children have not cleaned their shoes he leaves them golden birch. This is to infer the require a spanking. Could that be what you are thinking of?

      It’s hard to find that recharge time when we are thrown right into holiday prep, isn’t it? I’ll cut you some slack if you grant me the same leverage. 🙂

  9. EmmaEmma

    One Magic Christmas. I don’t know why my sisters and I loved this so much when we were kids. It’s such a sad, bleak film. Tameri mentioned Love Actually on her blog. That’s one of my favourites.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      The trailer for that seriously grabbed me. All I can say is wow. I don’t want to hear that it’s bleak. But I’ll probably check it out all the same. Thanks for bringing it up!

      • EmmaEmma

        It has an uplifting ending. I guess it’s just a realistic view of Christmas. For a lot of people, the holidays can be very sad. Now that there’s a huge recession again, this film is relatable once more.

  10. Angela Orlowski-PeartAngela Orlowski-Peart

    Awesome post – you know how to put a girl in the Christmas spirit! Thank you, Debra. Now I’m ready to do my Christmas shopping. BTW, Santa Claus in Polish is called Swiety Mikolaj 🙂

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      Now how did I miss that? You are the best. Thank you, Angela! So glad I could help get you in the spirit of things.

  11. Jennette Marie PowellJennette Marie Powell

    My favorite Christmas flick is the good-ol “A Christmas Story.” No immortals in that, though, so maybe… Frosty the Snowman?

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      But what if they succeed in melting Frosty? 😉 But seriously, you picked a classic. Nice choice. Thanks, Jennette.

      Reply
      December 11, 2012
  12. Diana BeebeDiana Beebe

    Fun post about Santa, Debra. When I heard about the Mayan calendar, I laughed. So someone in the future is going to find an old calendar from 2012 and wonder, “Oh, no, they predicted the end of the world every December 31!” What. Ever. The Mayans didn’t have printing presses that made it easy to build a new calendar every year. I don’t think they created their calendar with the idea that they wouldn’t be around to see the end of it and the beginning of the next one.

    “A Christmas Story” is a favorite at our house. Classic! “Christmas Vacation” runs a close second.

    • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

      I’ve actually heard some good explanations for the Mayan prediction. It’s because of the celestial calender they used. And it’s not the end of the world, but a changing of the times. There is no need for panic. But it is a good reason to throw a party, if you’re looking for one.

      Reply
      December 11, 2012
      • Diana BeebeDiana Beebe

        I heard that, too. It makes sense to me. I’m sure they would be throwing many parties leading up to the date–if they were still around. It is ironic that they don’t get to see the new era.

        Reply
        December 12, 2012
  13. tedstrutztedstrutz

    Are you sure your son didn’t take You to see the Rise of the Guardians? Fun to read all Santa’s names.

    Reply
    December 10, 2012
    • tedstrutztedstrutz

      p.s. my favorite Santa movie is… Bad Santa.

      Reply
      December 10, 2012
      • Debra KristiDebra Kristi

        Bad Santa. Why am I not surprised? LOL. Actually, i suggested the movie. It’s hard to pull my son away from his computer at times. He’d be fine with staying plugged in 24/7. But he was glad he went.

        Reply
        December 11, 2012

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