Santa was Hygge Before He Was Santa

When I first began to hear about adults believing in Santa Claus, I thought it was sweet, cute and wished I could figure out how to do it myself. But then I began to find out that it wasn't Coca Cola's Santa they were talking about but what is likely to have been an antecedent or an inspiration for our current image. And this "Santa" was a shaman who gave hygge to long-winter suffering community. That was his "Christmas" gift. What the heck am I talking about, you ask? Read this and this and this and then, keep reading below...

I have a longing for Santa. Do you, too?

I miss the Santa I see on the sidewalk in all those movies. Not the one who drops presents under each kid's tree. I long for the one whose eyes twinkle as he talks to the grown-up who needs his help, who is completely unaware that he is about to intervene on her behalf in a way that will change her life.

A kind, magical man who helps out in life-changing ways. People-changing ways, too.

The Shaman Santa

"As the solstice drew nearer and the days grew colder and shorter, it is believed that Shamans would visit people’s homes to deliver and administer treasured gifts, to brighten the damp spirits of the families trapped in their cold homes." - Shamanic View of Christmas

I edited that quote a wee bit, so that you could read that thought (so close to what we hear about Santa but adding in the idea of caring for a community that might suffer from winter blues) and feel the warmth of that idea of his caring, without only focusing on what it was he actually gave them.

Which was magical, hallucinogenic mushrooms. The kind that might make reindeers jump high enough to look like they are flying & that could make you feel as if you were flying, too.

So who was the original Santa? From what I have read, he was a Siberian shaman who lived very far north, who sought wisdom for his community by ingesting magic mushrooms and sharing the wisdom he gained during the experience.

He often wore a red coat with a white trim. He collected the mushrooms but they were dangerous in their natural form. So he'd dry them out, sometimes in a sock he hung over the fireplace.

When they were all ready, he'd put them all in a large sack he carried over his shoulder & take them with him to share with his community. He'd go from home to home, passing some out.

But it was always snowing fiercely, and the snow was often too high for him to go through the door. So he'd climb up to the hole on top of the home. The one that let out smoke from the fireplace.

That's right, he'd climb down the chimney each time. :)

"These folk [shamans] were revered amongst their peoples and were regarded with the utmost respect. Shamans were considered essential in a community, as they not only helped the ill and dying but were respected advisors and were often turned to for important decisions." ~ see above for quote link

Modern shamans also seek wisdom they can share with their communities. Connecting with the spiritual realm, soaking up whatever wisdom is offered and then bringing it back so that it can help the people they care about is the gift they offer.

Helping the people they care about in magical ways. That does sound like the Santa I see in Christmas movies.

Love to you this season!

Jeanine