Santa Claus - more Mystery than Jolly
The Winter Solstice is linked with the festival of Christmas. The traditions are deeply imbedded within us -- we no longer ask why we decorate a fir tree or whey we place green boughs and candles.
There's a lot more to this "Santa guy", than modern man knows. The red cloaked jolly man is a link to man's ancient past.
Location: New Grange, Ireland
Date: December 21, 2009
The 5,000-year-old Stone Age tomb called "New Grange" fills with light when the sun rises on a winter solstice morning. It is the only time of the year when the tomb lights up with natural sunlight. To the ancients and their shamans, this time of year was filled with mystery. This is the time of Christmas.
A Shaman is, in many ways, similar to what we more commonly refer to in America as a medicine man. The shaman was often the oracle of the community, a man or woman of enormous power. Shamans were important throught ancient Europe. Not everybody can be a Shaman. It is considered that no one can simply "learn" to be a Shaman, it can be received only as the gift.
According to the shamans stories, they have received this gift or from shamans-ancestors, or spirits. The role of shaman is a heavy load, as it is impossible to refuse the role, otherwise the person will be tormented for life by the spirits.
The Real Story of Jingle Bells
In ancient Lapland and Siberia the shamans wore bells on their ritual costumes. The bells were noisemakers to announce his/her coming and to ward off unfriendly spirits.
They climbed up the central poles of their skin tents, and returned with the gifts of prophecy and wonder from the Otherworlds.
It is to these people that we have to look for the first appearance of the figure who, thousands of years later, evolved into the jolly old man of Christmas himself, Santa Claus.
The name "Santa" means saint -- an allusion to his sacredness. The origin of the "myth" of Santa is hidden in the mists of time. But there are clues... It is thought that the red cloak of Santa, signifies the sacred blood that links all human beings and that is also perceived as a link between humans and animals, and between the shaman and the earth. It is also, of course, a symbol of fire, that most powerful of magical weapons.
The reindeer come from Lapland too.
So, when you hear Santa's bells on your rooftop, know that there is more to this jolly old guy -- he's deeper than we think.
