Every day references

Do you have those every day references that come from stories?

Today I have one.
Because it is a Blustery Day!



The wind is howling around the building, I hear the roof creaking.
But in my head, I'm humming the Blustery Day song from Pooh!

Now let's hope tonight the Heffalumps and Woozles stay calm.

New Year's Eve

The last day of the year is here.

New Year's Eve.

I have to say, for a Dutchie, that's a strange word. The Eve before New Year, we call it Old Year's Day (oudejaarsdag). Both are of course correct, but the word New Year a day ahead, strange?! In Eastern Europe they call it Sylvester, because it is the celebration day for Saint Sylvester. But than, the Germans also "slide" into New Year. They wish everybody "einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr" (a good slide into the New Year). They are probably partying big time!

The evening is celebrated amongst family and friends. Having some food, playing games or watching TV.

Just before midnight, the champagne is pulled from the cooler so that everybody has a glass in their hands to welcome the new year and leave behind an old one. And wishing everybody a very happy new year.

And than, to make it an even bigger party, fireworks. In most places in the world it is an organised big fireworks display (for instance from the Sydney Harbour Bridge), in The Netherlands we all fire our own fireworks. That is a lot of noise and smoke in the air those first few hours of the new year. Yes, the first few hours. Don't expect to go to bed before 2, because you will be woken up by somebody who did find a new batch to fire off.

Closing the stories of this year and starting new stories for a fresh new year.

See you in 2014!

Christmas stories

First of all, a very merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

Christmas is of course a wonderful time for storytelling. There are so many stories involving Christmas. The ancient stories, the religous stories, the commercial stories.

Let's mention a few.

Solstice
The stories surrounding the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, which is on December 21st. After that the nights get shorter and the days longer. Celebrating the return of light with using lights everywhere. Like in trees (hello Christmas tree) and burning the Yule-log.

The birth of Jesus Christ
Telling the story of the birth of a little baby boy on December 25th 0. Born in a manger in Bethlehem because the inns didn't have place for his mother Mary and father Joseph. Heralded by angels and welcomed by the shepherds and their sheep. Getting visits from 3 Kings following a star. And being hunted by a mad king. Now that is a story! After Easter the biggest holiday in Christianity. 

Commercial Christmas
The stories involving lots of presents, lots of eating and being together with friends and family. The story of Santa Claus. He comes from various cultures, also from the Dutch Sinterklaas. Bringing gifts to children. Coca Cola used him very smart to boost their sales. Winter is of course downtime for cold drinks. But with introducing Santa in their commercials around Christmas time in the 1930s, the got a a big boost to their sales and setting a tradition of Coca Cola being a partner in Christmas with their distinct description of the jolly fat guy and nowadays their lighted Coca Cola Trucks.
With loads of songs, singing about family, being together and snow. A fact I find very funny, since most people in the world won't see snow on Christmas. But by now it is so common to associate snow with Christmas, that when I was traveling to New Zealand with a stop-over in Kuala Lumpur, the hotel lobby was decorated with snow flakes, while outside it was 30C.

No matter what you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful day. Share the story of this day with your friends and family.

Winter Tale

The Christmas time brings Christmas commercials.

And I love the one Cartier is using this year, Winter Tale.

I wouldn't mind if that cute leopard would bring along one of the delivery guys to bring me such a little red box.

Sinterklaas

Today, December 5th, is a very important day for Dutch children. 

Because today we celebrate Sinterklaas. 

This Saint comes each year to The Netherlands. On his ship, all the way from Spain. Bringing with him gifts for the little children. Assisted by his loyal helper Zwarte Piet (Black Peter).

The story around Sinterklaas dates back from a very, very long time ago. First he came in the form of Wodan, one of the old Northern European Gods. Collecting the offerings from the people and bringing them new seeds for next years harvest.

Later the Catholic church gave Saint Nicolas, protector of children and sailors, the role of the bringer of gifts in the cold December month.

Nowadays Sinterklaas arrives half November and from that day children are allowed to put out their shoe during the nights. Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet come around to bring some sweets and maybe a small present. In return they love to receive letters, drawings and maybe something for Amerigo, Sinterklaas' loyal horse.

And on December 5th they bring around the big gifts. For the adults in the evening, so they can have fun unwrapping, reading poems and teasing eachother a bit. For the kids, a big pile of gifts awaits them December 6th in the morning.

Hmmm, it just came to my mind
Writing about a story this kind
I should write in rhyme
That belongs to this time.

So on this day fair
A story to share
A tale for you
To give to friend or two

And now, off to unwrapping gifts. Lets see what Sinterklaas has brought me.
And do tell me, what did you get?