Season's Greetings and all that jazz

FREE DECEMBER 22-23, 2012

Nighthawk here, wishing you a Happy Look-We're-Still-Here Day! I've got Chief of Detectives Igor Thorsen from Deadly Legacy back in the studio. The chief doesn't observe Christmas at this time of year. He and his family celebrate Yuletide.

Which predates Christianity, you know. In fact, Christmas stole many of it's traditions from the old religion.

Stole? A bit harsh. How about adopted?

Don't try to tell an old cop about what is and what is not theft.

Um... mistletoe.

Hmph! Clever hanging that in here. Peace then. Just don't expect me to kiss you, bird beak.

Isn't it bad luck not to kiss under the mistletoe?

Only if you're a couple... or wannabe couple. Mistletoe gives permission for young couples to kiss - but only as long as the berries hold out.  Of course I wouldn't pass up a chance to kiss my wife under the mistletoe... or any other time either.

Which mistletoe tradition is older - peace or kissing?

Good question. Motivated by jealousy, Loki the Trickster was determined to kill Baldr the Good. Warned by a prophesy, Frigg got all things living and inanimate to swear not to hurt her son. Mistletoe got left out of the pact on a technicality. Loki tricked the Blind God Hodr into shooting Baldr with an arrow poisoned with mistletoe. Baldr died, but fortunately that doesn't usually last with gods. Frigg forgave the mistletoe and kissed everyone associated with Baldr's return as a token of thanks.

So, you can see, the kissing part is there from the get-go, but it's about making peace, not making love. Enemies who meet under the branches of a tree growing mistletoe must keep the peace. On the other hand, mistletoe is also associated with fertility and that might go back before the Loki-Baldr incident. Lot's of strong magic in mistletoe.

And you, Chief of Detectives Thorsen, believe in magic.

I'm talking to you, aren't I?

Point taken. So, no kiss?

Maybe a peck.

On that note folks, whatever way you celebrate the season, we wish you...

Happy Holidays

and

Peace and Prosperity in the New Year

Santa Claus

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

Welcome everyone to the last Nighthawk Talks for 2011. We've managed to nab the big red elf himself for a quick interview.


Tell us a bit about the real Santa Claus.
<Ho-ho-ho> The average person over the age of ten would say there’s no such person. But here I am.

You certainly are, red suit and all. But this is a relatively new look for you, isn’t it? You’ve worn white furs, red velvet, coloured robes... Not to mention different names: Father Christmas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle...
Don’t forget Pere Noel, Sinnterklaus, and Basil.

Basil?
Greek tradition. I answer to many names. Festo Spiritu is another one.

Holiday Spirit?
You know your Latin. I predate Christianity and transcend religious differences - or should. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind that they designated my season as the birthday of Jesus. It’s not historically accurate, but I don’t believe letting the facts get in the way of a good story.

You don’t mind that it get’s called Christmas and that you’re called Father Christmas?
<Ho-ho-ho> Call it a gift. That’s what it’s all about, you know. There’s a reason my day falls in the dead of winter and that the earliest gifts I gave were food-related. Winter can be harsh, food scarce. The spirit of the holiday is all about generosity.

And the toys?
Hey, winter is long where I come from. Books and toys make the time pass. Time to play games, visit family and friends. Once the spring came, with the planting, lambing, calving, shearing and so on, things got busy. They'd stay pretty busy too – until the after harvest.

Do you really have a workshop run by elves?
<wink> If I told you...

You’d have to kill me?
<Ho-ho-ho> Not my style. I don't get much harsher than an occasional piece of coal. There's one line of that song you were singing that I really like: "You better be good for goodness sake." I believe doing good is its own reward.


That doesn't answer my question. Santa? Santa?
Oh well, folks - see you next year.