In Sweden, for example, the entire country shuts down at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve to watch Donald Duck cartoons like this one, an ironclad tradition that's been going on for more than fifty years:
In France, it turns out that Père Noël has a helper: le Père Fouettard, or Father Spanker, dressed all in black and carrying chains and a whip. While St. Nicolas rewards the good kids, Father Spanker works over the bad boys. Hmm.
Which in modern times, it seems, has become the inspiration for good, clean holiday fun: a spankfest for the whole family. Hmm.
In Japan, even though it's not an official holiday, Christmas is a popular celebration. An aquarium even features an underwater Santa . . . which is pretty damn trippy.
In Brazil, where it's midsummer, they kick off the Christmas season in Rio with the world's largest (and only?) floating Christmas tree - which shoots fireworks, yet. That's pretty trippy, too.
And in Blue State America:
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| Pat Oliphant/Slate |
4 comments:
I think I could get used to the Donald Duck cartoons, but only if they show Donald in MathMagic Land, a favorite from elementary school.
Is that one of those with Ludwig Von Drake too? Silly but fun.
According to the latest census and surveys the Red States are gaining in population and the Blue states are losing.
Socialism? I wish!
And this next year, Congressional seats will be reapportioned to reflect the new census. Shit. Thank God DADT got repealed before the teabaggers take over. If they don't repeal the repeal.
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