NEIRAD HOLIDAY SEASON 2007 Darien High School Holiday Season 2007 10 H OLIDAY S EA S ON 2 0 0 7 Darien Gets a Taste of Winter Courtney Whiting and Hadley Green Explore Suburban Wintertime Christy’s Santa Story Christy Lattimer ————————————————————————————— Staff Writer Everyone knows the classic movie “A Christmas Story”, one of the funniest holiday tales of all time. And for those who aren’t quite feeling that holiday spirit, I highly suggest you see the film. The movie has an important message – beware of Santa!! “A Christmas Story” is the be- loved tale of young Ralphie Parker a child on a desperate mission to get a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. I especially loved this movie because I was able to connect with dear little Ralphie. As Ralphie and I found, Santa is not always nice. Like every child, Ralphie and I had the dream of fi- nally landing a face-to-face with the “Christy’s Santa Story” jolly fat man: a final chance to tell the Christmas CEO about that one spe- cial present. Imagine how Ralphie and I felt when the moment was de- stroyed. But when Ralphie finally gets his shot he is ripped off Santa’s lap. As Ralphie is about to be pushed down the slide he beseeches Santa with a request for the Red Ryder BB Gun. Santa responds by shoving Ralphie down the slide! This scene rings all too true. When I was a mere six-years-old I too went to visit Mr. Claus filled with hope for that one special gift: a warm little Sinterklass: Back to Ole Europe puppy. I sat on his lap filled with de- Spencer Matson light. I was eager to tell Santa about —————————————————————————— spirit of Christmas. However, Santa So in a sense, Sinterklaas is essen- right? Instead of that elaborate show the only thing I wanted. I had longed Managing Editor Claus is fundamentally derived from tially just a big, red bishop. A big, red of eight (nine if you count Rudolph) for a puppy for many years. I had al- animals of transport, Sinterklaas only It’s hard to find a student at the historical figure of Saint Nicholas bishop who loves to give his small ready brainstormed a list of names for has one humble horse (wouldn’t PETA Darien High School who doesn’t of Myra. gifts to young children. Hmm... a girl and boy dog. I would practice be proud?). Slechtweervandaag rides enjoy Christmas. The nostalgic love Put quite simply, Saint Nicholas While Santa Claus has walking around with an empty leash with Sinterklaas on the rooftops for the yuletide season and all the vari- was a Turkish bishop from 270-343 plenty of helpers in the forms of for hours on end. of the Netherlands’s homes and ous gifts and foods that accompany who was the patron Saint of Sailors his elves, his rein- I hopped onto his lap. In a seem- anxiously eats carrots left by this time of year transcend all matu- and Children. He was the one who d e e r, ingly cheerful voice Santa asked me, Dutch children in their klom- rity levels. Of course, the prior state- began the whole “gift-giving” tradi- “Why hello dear, what would you pen. If Slechtweervandaag ment isn’t meant to insinuate that the tion. The story goes that in like for Christmas?” With the politest is too much of a mouthful following article is at all slanted to- his travels, Saint Nicholas voice I could muster, I squeaked out, for you (and by the way, wards one particular religious holiday. would save children from “I would love a puppy.” Santa turned Slechtweervandaag lit- While Christmas may appear to be the becoming slaves and would to me. His eyes narrowed as he said, erally translate to “Bad dominant religious holiday in Darien give children anonymous gifts “Do you know how much responsibil- Weather Today”), the this season, let it be not forgotten that in the night. In a sense, these ity you need to take care of a puppy! horse also goes by the plenty of other winter festivals are cel- actions “snowballed” (excuse You need to feed it. Take it to the name of Amerigo. ebrated. So to that end, let’s get some the holiday pun) and the tradi- doctor when it gets sick . Pay for all N o w, i t w a s of the bases covered. tion of anonymous gift giving the things it needs. You even have to mentioned earlier that Happy Holidays! Have a now fully symbolizes the winter pick up its crap!” Tears welled up in my Sinterklaas does not Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! season. eyes as I realized my dreams had been actually dole out the Celebrate Kwanzaa with Racial Pride! But, how did Saint Nicholas shattered. My only opportunity for a punishments him- Īd sa‘īd! Glücklich Yuletide! Try become the Santa Claus we know puppy gone forever. How could this self, so he has his to Contain Your Excitement for St. today? If one views Saint Nicholas as man claim to be Santa? Had I gotten little helper Zwarte Stephen’s Day! S’Rozhdestvom being the direct descendent of Santa into a line for the Grinch? Piet, which literal- Kristovym! Feliz Navidad! Claus, then that individual would be I didn’t receive my puppy that ly means “Black Of course, that’s but a triangu- missing perhaps the most awesome year (wonder why) But eventually, Peter.” This usually lar-chunk of the holiday-greetings lineage step of them all. Who could a Christmas angel granted my wish. ends up meaning that whoever Toblerone. But then again, if that were possible forget Sinterklaas?!? Five years later I received my dog, gets the joy of playing Zwarte Piet in to continue much longer, it would For those sorry individuals who a n d Tobey. He is a dear little Westie. The the Dutch celebrations gets to put on probably start becoming redundant. may not know, Sinterklaas is, in a few good, ole Mrs. same color as Christmas snow. blackface and a little Spanish gown. (And pretty tedious!) Although now respects, very similar to Santa Claus. Claus, Sinterklaas has to get Ralphie’s and my dreams both As you can see, Zwarte Piet is prob- that that uninteresting portion of this Essentially, Sinterklaas is a holi- help from a more “eclectic” cast. did come true eventually, even ably the most racially sensitive of the piece is over and done, the main focus day tradition in the low countries of Now, before continuing, let it be though we went through some bunch. How Zwarte Piet came under can begin to emerge. But before that, Europe. Primarily in the Netherlands, reminded that Sinterklaas can take rough patches. Ralphie and I got the Sinterklaas’ rule varies from place to let’s take a look at Santa Claus. Sinterklaas serves as a representation different manifestations in the dif- bad end of Santa. I’ve now come to place, but it really does not matter. In It is probably widely accepted of Saint Nicholas and is celebrated on ferent countries of Europe. For ex- terms with my own Christmas story. the Netherlands, Zwarte Piet serves as that Santa Claus “is the man”. Despite December 5, Saint Nicholas Day. It is ample, in Dutchland, oh pardon, the I have forgiven Santa; I just hope he a sort of mental scare tactic. Parents the threat of poor weather and debili- on this day, that Sinterklaas arrives by Netherlands, Sinterklaas is just plain doesn’t decide to give me coal any- tell children that if they are bad, tating obesity, Santa Claus still man- ferry from Spain and travels through- old Sinterklaas. In France, he goes time soon. out the countries of Europe giving by his predecessor’s name of Saint Zwarte Piet will kidnap them and ages to get around the world every take them to Spain. I wouldn’t mind Christmas Eve to give gifts to all the out small gifts to good children, and Nicholas. In Germany, he comes having his helper Zwarte Piet dole out from heaven in the manifestation of a summer in Spain, but for the effect good children. The jolly fat man serves of it, “Oh the horrors…”. as an international symbol of fulfill- punishments for the bad children. Nikolaus. In Switzerland, he comes Let’s look at the garb of from the Black Forest as Samichaus. If Zwarte Piet scares you, some ment and is one of the most recogniz- of Sinterklaas’ other helpers in differ- able personages in human history. Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas follows a And so on, and so forth. similar hue to Santa Claus by going And as well as that, Sinterklaas’s ent countries will blow the hell out of However, the historical basis what it means to be naughty or nice. for Santa Claus has been, in many along with the whole red/white theme. helpers may vary from country to Sinterklaas is usually dressed in red’s country. But for simplicity’s sake, For example, Knecht Ruprecht , a respects, lost amongst the annals of Sinterklaas companion, is the German American culture. So, let’s look at bishop gown, with white gloves, and it’ll be easier to just characterize them white shoes along with a full white all as one great entity. Now back to equivolent to Zwarte Piet except that Santa Claus’ name as an example. instead of simply abducting children, Without any further research, the name beard. On his head, Sinterklaas dons Sinterklaas’s helpers.