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Horror/Scary: December 16, 2009 Issue [#2776]

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Horror/Scary


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  Edited by: W.D.Wilcox
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

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OMG! IT'S CHRISTMAS!


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Letter from the editor

Santa Vs. Satan

You ever noticed how easy it is to transform "Satan" from "Santa"? Just move the "n" to the end. And presto! "Satan" appears. . . Hmmm. . . coincidence?

Not bloody likely.

Actually the two are very similar. Topic for discussion: Is Santa...Satan?

Talk amongst yourselves.

I'm not the first to bear the burning light of truth upon the similarities of these two gentlemen. Did I say ‘gentle’? No, there is no gentleness here. Even the Big-Fat-Guy runs his toy factory like it was a third world industrial kiddy-plant of under-fed and under-age children. He calls them elves, are they, really? But hey, ya gotta cut corners where you can, reduce overhead, so you can get things done all in one night. It’s the capitalistic way!

But I digress.

Gods of the New Age include Sanatan and Sanatsiyata, . . . New Agers say each name is 'concealed anagrammatically' 'and are aliases,' and are 'an anagram used for Occult purposes. Is Santa, the great usurper of Christ's attention at Christmas, an anagram? "Ole Nick" is listed among the fallen angels or devils in the Dictionary of Fallen Angels. Scholars concur that Christ was born in the fall on the 4th day of the feast of tabernacles. December 25 is actually "the feast in honor of the birth of the son of the Babylonian queen of heaven, later called Saturnaha by the heathen Romans.

It is also worth noting, Santa is Spanish for holy. Santa is also from the Latin word sanctus which means also saintly, holy. Our English words "saint, sanctify, et al" comes from santa. Sounds like Satan’s "I will be like the most High" plan is in action.

God’s name is called "holy" over 40 times in the King James Bible.

"Holy Claus". . .?

The name Santa Claus is also derived from the Dutch Sinter Klaas, which also was a form of Saint Nicholas.

What about Claus? Is "Claus" another anagram for "Lucas"?

It’s no secret Lucas and Lucis are new-age "code words" for Lucifer. The Alice Bailey founded new age, occult publishing company was originally named Lucifer Publishing Company but in 1924 the name was cleverly changed to Lucis Trust. By the way, the Lucifer worshipping Lucis Trust is a major player in the works of the United Nations, formerly located in the United Nations building but now located on prime-time 1200 Wall Street.

Scary, isn't it?

Claus sounds a lot like "claws."

Maybe Santa Claus means "Satan's Claws"? Like a lion's "claws"?

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter 5:8

Jolly Old St. Nick

While Santa and Claus may be disguising their real meaning – there is no disguising St. Nick. He is a well-known character.
Old Nick: A well-known British name of the Devil. It seems probable that this name is derived from the Dutch Nikken, the devil...

Devil: Besides the name Satan, he is also called Beelzebub, Lucifer . . . and in popular or rustic speech by many familiar terms as Old Nick . . .

It is also interesting, the book American Slang defines the slang word nick: to rob or steal.

The oft-repeated tale of Santa Claus goes like this:

According to the legend, Santa began as a fourth century Catholic bishop named Saint Nicholas. The cult of St. Nicholas was one of histories most widespread religious movements. According to St. Nicholas historian, Charles W. Jones, ". . . the cult of St. Nicholas was, before the Reformation, the most intensive of any nonbiblical saint in Christendom. . . there were 2,137 ecclesiastical dedications [churches] to Nicholas in France, Germany, and the Low Countries alone before the year 1500."

Miraculous folklore and legend surround the mysterious St. Nicholas. Among the more popular legends of St. Nicholas is the rescue of three poverty-stricken girls destined for prostitution. These girls were poor and did not have the dowry for marriage. St. Nicholas saved them from a life of shame, by providing marriage dowries of gold. They then were able to get properly married.

Another amazing miracle in the life of St. Nicholas is the three young boys who were sadistically murdered by a wicked innkeeper. Their bodies were chopped up and preserved in pickle barrels, with the cannibalistic intent of feeding their flesh to unsuspecting house guests. Of course, the amazing St. Nicholas resurrected the boys and their mutilated bodies. And like Santa, Saint Nicholas gave gifts to poor children, hence, his veneration as Patron Saint of Children. During the Middle Ages, hundreds of plays and paintings told and re-told the amazing feats of St. Nicholas.

Now there's a Santa story you don't hear too often.*Sick*

Next, according to legend, Santa magically appears in the Netherlands around the seventeenth century. During this time, Sinter Klaas (a.k.a. Santa Claus) was officially born. Dutch children began the tradition of placing their shoes by the fireplace on December 5, for the mystic fourth century Bishop, Saint Nicholas. (Note: In the Dutch language Saint Nicholas is "Sint Nikolass," which was shortened to "Sinter Klaas," of which the anglicized form is "Santa Claus.") The next morning, the gleeful Dutch children quickly awoke to gifts and goodies in their shoes, left by Sinter Klaas. Like today’s Santa, Sinter Klaas, miraculously, traveled from housetop to housetop, and entered through the chimney.*Smirk*

Our next stop on the Santa highway is the year 1626 in the New World called America. Searching for the "American dream," Dutch settlers sailed from the Netherlands and established the Dutch colony called New Amsterdam (today called New York). The Dutch colonists quickly settled into America, bringing their customs, and of course, their beloved Sinter Klaas.

In December 1809, American essayist Washington Irving published a popular satire of the Dutch founding of New York titled A Knickerbocker History of New York. More than any other event, it was Irving’s Knickerbocker History that is credited for creating our modern day Santa Claus. The following history-making words from The Knickerbocker History became the public inauguration of Santa Claus. Who could have possibly imagined the significance these simple words would soon have?

Next stop on our investigative journey for Santa, surprisingly, comes from the pen of a New York theology professor named Dr. Clement Clarke Moore. In 1822, inspired by Irving’s popular, Knickerbocker History’s portrayal of jolly St. Nicholas, Dr. Moore quietly wrote a trivial poem titled, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for his own children as a simple Christmas present. Dr. Moore had no intention of publishing his poem, but in 1823 it was published anonymously, by a friend, in the Troy Sentinel. Moore’s extremely popular poem was the spark that lit the Santa Claus wildfire. Santa quickly began flying through America. Dr. Moore’s poem was later renamed the famous, "Twas’ The Night Before Christmas."

The finishing touches for Santa occurred around 1863 from the artistic hands of cartoonist Thomas Nast. Inspired by Moore’s popular poem, Nast illustrated scores of Santa pictures in Harper’s Weekly and the world was officially baptized with the face of Santa Claus. Nast’s early Santa was burly, stern, gnome-like, and covered with drab fur, much unlike today’s colorful and jolly fellow. But make no mistake – it was Santa.

But let us investigate the traditional Santa story a little closer. . .

The first major problem in the Santa Claus saga is the person of St. Nicholas. There is very little evidence, if any, that the man St. Nicholas actually existed.
*GiftG*Nicholas' existence is not attested by any historical document, so nothing certain is known of his life except that he was probably bishop of Myra in the fourth century. . .
("Nicholas, Saint" Encyclopaedia Britannica 99)
*GiftR*Nicholas, Saint (lived 4th century), Christian prelate, patron saint of Russia, traditionally associated with Christmas celebrations. The accounts of his life are confused and historically unconfirmed.
("Nicholas, Saint" Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99)
*GiftV*Unfortunately, very little is known about the real St. Nicholas. Countless legends have grown up around this very popular saint, but very little historical evidence is available. (Del Re, Gerard and Patricia. The Christmas Almanack. New York: Random House, 2004, p. 130)

In 1969, the final 'nail in the coffin' to the feeble fable of St. Nicholas was officially hammered down. Despite the fact, St. Nicholas is among Roman Catholicism’s most popular and venerated "Saints," Pope Paul VI officially decreed the feast of Saint Nicholas removed from the Roman Catholic calendar. UPI Wire Services reported that St. Nicholas and forty other saints were deleted because "of doubt that they ever existed."

The next devastating error in the traditional "Santa comes to America" legend is Irving’s Knickerbocker History. Irving claims the early Dutch planted the legend of Sinter Klaas in America. One little problem – it is historically false. In fact, Irving, a well known fiction author of such classics as Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, never intended Knickerbocker History as historical fact, but silly satire. To heighten the satire and humorous effect, Irving even used the comical pen-name of Diedrich Knickerbocker as author.*Shock*

When examined with historical facts, the oft-repeated history of Santa is so full of gross errors it ranks among histories greatest goofs.

The final death-blow to the traditional tale of Santa Claus is the belief that Santa Claus is actually the mystic Bishop St. Nicholas. We previously established that no historical evidence exists collaborating the person of St. Nicholas, but ignoring that serious blunder for a few minutes, let us investigate the fable that Santa and St. Nicholas are the same.

The truth is, there exists no factual connection from St. Nicholas to Santa Claus. None. Zero. Zip. Nada.

So, where did Santa come from?

*Snow3*Nearly all Santa researchers agree that some traits of Santa was borrowed from Norse [Scandinavian] mythology.

*Snow2* Encyclopedia Britannica describes the role of Nordic mythology in the life of Santa:

*XMasTree*Sinterklaas was adopted by the country's English-speaking majority under the name Santa Claus, and his legend of a kindly old man was united with old Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents. ("Santa Claus" Encyclopaedia Britannica 99)

*XMasTree*Some Santa researchers associate Santa with the Norse "god" of Odin or Woden. Odin is described as riding through the sky on an eight-legged, white horse name Sleipnir. (Santa originally had eight reindeers, Rudolph was nine). Odin lived in Valhalla (the North) and had a long white beard. Odin would fly through the sky during the winter solstice (December 21-25) rewarding the good children and punishing the naughty. (Crichton, Robin. Who is Santa Claus? The Truth Behind a Living Legend.)

*XMasTree*Mythologist Helene Adeline Guerber presents a very convincing case tracing Santa to the Norse god Thor in Myths of Northern Lands: Thor was the god of the peasants and the common people. He was represented as an elderly man, jovial and friendly, of heavy build, with a long white beard. His element was the fire, his color red. The rumble and roar of thunder were said to be caused by the rolling of his chariot, for he alone among the gods never rode on horseback but drove in a chariot drawn by two white goats (called Cracker and Gnasher). He was fighting the giants of ice and snow, and thus became the Yule-god. He was said to live in the "Northland" where he had his palace among icebergs. By our pagan forefathers he was considered as the cheerful and friendly god, never harming the humans but rather helping and protecting them. The fireplace in every home was especially sacred to him, and he was said to come down through the chimney into his element, the fire. (Guerber, H.A. Myths of Northern Lands.)

The unusual and common characteristics of Santa and Thor are too close to ignore.
*Ornament1G* An elderly man, jovial and friendly and of heavy build.
*Ornament1B* With a long white beard.
*Ornament1R* His element was the fire and his color red.
*Ornament1V* Drove a chariot drawn by two white goats, named called Cracker and Gnasher.
*Ornament4B* He was the Yule-god. (Yule is Christmas time).
*Ornament4G* He lived in the Northland (North Pole).
*Ornament4R* He was considered the cheerful and friendly god.
*Ornament4V* He was benevolent to humans.
*Ornament4Y* The fireplace was especially sacred to him.
*Ornament4s* He came down through the chimney into his element, the fire.

Even today in Sweden, Thor represents Santa Claus. The book, The Story of the Christmas Symbols, records:
Swedish children wait eagerly for Jultomten, a gnome whose sleigh is drawn by the Julbocker, the goats of the thunder god Thor. With his red suit and cap, and a bulging sack on his back, he looks much like the American Santa Claus.

Thor was probably history’s most celebrated and worshipped pagan god. His widespread influence is particularly obvious in the fifth day of the week, which is named after him – Thursday (a.k.a. Thor’s Day). *Sad*

It is ironic that Thor’s symbol was a hammer. A hammer is also the symbolic tool of the carpenter – Santa Claus. It is also worth mentioning that Thor’s helpers were elves and like Santa’s elves, Thor’s elves were skilled craftsman. It was the elves who created Thor’s magic hammer.

In the Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, author Francis Weiser traces the origin of Santa to Thor: "Behind the name Santa Claus actually stands the figure of the pagan Germanic god Thor."

The fact is that Santa and Satan are alter egos, brothers; they have the same origin. . . On the surface, the two figures are polar opposites, but underneath they share the same parent, and both retain many of the old symbols associated with their "father" . . . From these two paths, he arrived at both the warmth of our fireplace and in the flames of hell.

REMEMBER! Christmas is, and always will be, about the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Never forget that, and teach it to your children.

Merry Christmas and May God Bless!

Until next year,

billwilcox


Editor's Picks

Evil Santa Picks

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#573563 by Not Available.

The Truth About Christmas  (18+)
In which a boy meets the real santa claus. Edited to account for review comments.
#1068224 by Hopkin Green Frog

The New Christmas Toy  (13+)
Troublesome Musings Contest entry.
#978921 by Laurel

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1348767 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1624292 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1620165 by Not Available.

Where Evil Dwells  (E)
What horrors lie where evil dwells?
#1608789 by SHERRI GIBSON

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1599979 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1608252 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1508855 by Not Available.

STATIC
The Scream  (18+)
No good deed goes unpunished
#1611352 by W.D.Wilcox





 
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Ask & Answer

Remembering The Last Newsletter


Starr* Rathburn
*Snowman*Submitted Comment:
Enjoyed your newsletter, my friend!
-Starr* R



Toni L James
*Snowman*Submitted Comment:
Yay, I see my name, Toni L James! People should read "The Scream too, loved it!



Arwen9
*Snowman*Submitted Comment:
Awesome! *Cool*
I love when you slip stories or pieces of them, into your newsletters. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate it. This story is just as good as those others. The creeping dread is all through this, and then the last line clinches it.
Good job and keep up the good job with the newsletters.*Thumbsup*


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