Posted on 12/22/2012 6:37:44 AM PST by P.O.E.
This Christmas, like many before it and many yet to come, the story of Santa and his flying reindeer will be told, including how the "jolly old elf" flies on his sleigh throughout the entire world in one night, giving gifts to all the good children. But according to one theory, the story of Santa and his flying reindeer can be traced to an unlikely source: hallucinogenic or "magic" mushrooms. "Santa is a modern counterpart of a shaman, who consumed mind-altering plants and fungi to commune with the spirit world,"
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According to the theory, the legend of Santa derives from shamans in the Siberian and Arctic regions who dropped into locals' teepeelike homes with a bag full of hallucinatory mushrooms as presents in late December, Rush said.
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"Because snow is usually blocking doors, there was an opening in the roof through which people entered and exited, thus the chimney story." But that's just the beginning of the symbolic connections between the Amanita muscaria mushroom and the iconography of Christmas, according to several historians and ethnomycologists, or people who study the influence fungi has had on human societies. Of course, not all scientists agree that the Santa story is tied to a hallucinogen.
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(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
OK, I'll start - watch Santa at about 10:20 through 10:40 in MST3K's version of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
probably explains Obama voters as well.
It was magic dust according to Cheech and Chong.
“How did he do all those things? How did he get those reindeer off the ground?”
“Aw man, because he had some magic DUST!”
Cheech and Chong
I'll be durn, they also could explain this judge.
Eligibility judge quotes famous Santa case
Movie judge Henry X. Harper: "Uh, since the United States Government declares this man to be Santa Claus, this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed."
Federal judge abruptly ordering the case dismissed, "Since the United States Government declares this man to be president, this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed.”
It’s not unnecessarily an unreasonable theory. The shaman would drop off magic mushrooms and he would pick up food, clothing, or whatever else is needed. Being done, in the middle of the night, body would ever see him.
I’m personally along the lines that our mythos are based on real events or people.
This also explains other magical flying beings, like Mary Poppins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic
I think the only mushrooms in this story are the ones ingested by the author.
Ho ho ho wow man....
Except it is likely he was seen, for an odd reason.
For many years, anthropologists were somewhat puzzled by common references to a “first sleep” and “second sleep”, prior to the industrial revolution.
As it turned out, sleeping throughout the night has not always been the rule, and for perhaps most people, after their first sleep they would wake up for a few hours, to do a few chores like stoking the fire and going to the toilet, before going back to sleep for awhile before waking up with the dawn or before.
This all changed with the industrial revolution to the idea of work all day and sleep all night. It also explains why so many people have problems with sleeping all night.
In any event, around the world, shaman rarely share any of their drugs with others, except in uncommon ceremonies, because it goes against their business. That is, if anyone can “talk to the gods” anytime they like, there is no need for a shaman.
This rule applies just as much in primitive societies as it does to say, Catholic Priests.
Somebody got into way better shrooms than I ever found
If you read on, the author does make some plausible (klaus-able?) points.
But as for me, I’d rather have candy & toys in my stocking.
See Cheech and Chong: “Santa Clause and his old lady”
See Cheech and Chong: “Santa Clause and his old lady”
btw - the first pic is from Central Park's Christmas display.
Puts a whole new meaning to “dashing through the snow”
“A little for you, a little for Santa Claus!”
It also explains why they were laughing all the way.
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