Magic Mushrooms May Explain Santa & His 'Flying' Reindeer

Live Science.com ^ | 12/20/12 | Douglas Main

[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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[mitch5501]

and what about Rudy with the big red nose? It’s all starting to make sense.

[RegulatorCountry]

Pinging the resident FR expert upon such matters.

[Former Fetus]

As long as I get my red Corvette, I don’t care how Santa makes it to my place! LOL!

[Freestate316]

I think he’s been out in the cow pasture again!

[RedMonqey]

This also explains other magical flying beings, like Mary Poppins.

You don't want to know the alleged reason witches use brooms to fly....

You will never look at another cartoon witch astride a broom (against a moon background) again without giggling or disgust

(It involves real baby fat and belladonna)

[muawiyah]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1082419/posts?page=42#42

"To: muawiyah Does this explain how Santa Claus flies? The reindeer eat amanita muscaria? ` 42 posted on February 22, 2004 5:48:22 PM EST by CobaltBlue"

[muawiyah]

To: muawiyah
Does this explain how Santa Claus flies? The reindeer eat amanita muscaria?
42 posted on February 22, 2004 5:48:22 PM EST by CobaltBlue

[P.O.E.]

Dang beat me to it by almost (but not quite) 8 years and 10 months. :)

[mjp]

Santa is a modern counterpart of a shaman, who consumed mind-altering plants and fungi to commune with the spirit world,"

Jesus as a symbol of the mushroom

[Vaduz]

True both live in the dark and live off manure.

[muawiyah]

I know i posted my first reindeer/amanita muscaria/sa’ami post sometime in 2000 ~ just before we moved from Alexandria to Arlington (offices) ~ but Google.com didn’t seem to pick up on that one!