#Saint Nick night Germany

[cyberr-v0id]

Shout out to my mum telling us this morning that last night was saint nicks night, and we should have put out our shoes for chocolate. Could have done with that info. Like. Last night

[brookston]

Holidays 4.23

Holidays

Alfred G. “Alferd” Packer Day (Colorado)

Aragon Day (Spain)

Army Reserves Day (US)

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Boice Day (South Korea)

Book Day (Canada)

Book Day and Lover's Day (Spain)

Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day

Castile and León Day (Spain)

Children’s Day (Turkey)

Community Day (Spain)

Content Creator Day

Copyright Day

Day of Aragon (Spain)

Day of Books and Roses (Catalonia, Spain)

Drive It Day (UK)

Electric Mixer Day

English Language Day (UN)

Flag Day (England)

George Castriota Day (Albania)

Hawthorn Day (French Republic)

Impossible Astronaut Day (Dr. Who)

International Choro Day

International Creator Day

International Day of the Book

International Fibrodyysolasia Ossificans Progressive Awareness Day

International Nose Picking Day

International Pallas Cat Day

International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day

International Share a Secret Day

International Sing Out Day

Jurgi Day (Ancient Latvia)

Khongjom Day (Manipur, India)

La Diada de Sant Jordi (Catalonia, Spain)

Linnaeus Day (Sweden)

London Marathon Day (UK)

Lover's Day

Movie Theater Day

National Bryan Day

National Email Day

National Grief-in-Public Day

National Lost Dog Awareness Day

National Lover’s Day

National Lugaw Day (Philippines)

National Read Me Day

National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Turkey, Northern Cyprus)

National Take a Hike with Nick Day

National Vagina Appreciation Day

Navy Day (China)

Penny Day

Pet Tech CPR Day

Psychologist Day (Ukraine)

Public School Day

Sigurd the Dragon Slayer's Day

Slay a Dragon Day

Spanish Language Day (UN)

Take a Chance Day

Talk Like Shakespeare Day

Teach Your Children To Save Day

Veterans Day (Estonia)

Visalia Priora

Wild Hyacinth Day

World Book Day (UN; except Ireland, UK)

World Book Night (Ireland, Germany, UK, US)

World Laboratory Day

World Table Tennis Day

YouTube Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Allagash Saison Day [original date]

Bavarian Beer Day

Biertag (Germany)

Cherry Cheesecake Day

German Beer Day

International Cava Day

International Reinheitsgebot Day

National Asparagus Day (UK)

National English Muffin Day

National Licorice Day

National Picnic Day

National Taffy Day

New Coke Day

St. George's Day (traditional end of Bavarian lager brewing season)

4th Tuesday in April

National Library Day [Tuesday of Library Week]

National Library Workers Day [Tuesday of Library Week]

School Bus Driver’s Day [4th Tuesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning April 23 (4th Week)

Global Road Safety Week (UN) [thru 23-29]

National Princess Week (thru 4.29)

Independence & Related Days

Australland (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized)

Conch Republic (Declared; 1982) [unrecognized)

Israel (a.k.a. Yom Ha’atzmaut; Declared; 1948)

National Sovereignty Day, Day 2 (Turkey)

Festivals Beginning April 23, 2024

Les Printemps de Bourges (Bourges, France) [thru 4.28]

London Marathon (London, England)

Feast Days

Adalbert of Prague (Christian; Saint)

Antoine Vollon (Artology)

Cervantes (Writerism)

Chance Day (Shamanism)

Cynical Bastards Day (Pastafarian)

Day of the Glorious Fuckup (Church of the SubGenius)

Feast of Hephaestus (Greek Blacksmith God & Brewer)

Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus (Christian; Martyrs)

Festival of Saint Sarah the Egyptian (Sara Kali the Black Queen; Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France) begins [until 25th]

George [England, traditional end of Bavarian lager brewing season] *

Gerard, Bishop of Toul (Christian; Saint)

Giles of Assisi (Christian; Saint)

Gerard of Toul (Christian; Saint)

The Goddess is Alive Day (Everyday Wicca)

Ibar (a.k.a. Ivor) of Beggerin (or Meath; Christian; Saint)

Ji-Young (Muppetism)

J.M.W. Turner (Artology)

J.P. Donleavy (Writerism)

Miltiades (Positivist; Saint)

Shakespeare Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Snood Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Toyohiko Kagawa (Episcopal and Lutheran Church)

Vinalia Urbana (a.k.a. Vinalia Prima or Priora; Ancient Roman wine festival)

Vulcan's Day (Ancient Rome)

Walpurgisnacht, Day I (Pagan)

William Shakespeare (Writerism)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Full Moon [4th of the Year] (a.k.a. ... 

Awakening Moon (Neo-Pagan)

Breaking Ice Moon (Traditional)

Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Traditional)

Egg Moon (Alternate)

Fish Moon (Alternate)

Flower Moon (Cherokee)

Gold Star Spouses Day

Grass Moon (Alternate, North America)

Growing Moon (Celtic)

Hunter’s Moon (South Africa)

Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Traditional)

Peony Moon (China)

Pink Moon (Amer. Indian, Traditional)

Planter’s Moon (Colonial)

Seed Moon (England, Wicca)

Southern Hemisphere: Blood, Harvest, Hunter’s

Wildcat Moon (Choctaw)

God of Medicine Day (Taiwan) [15th Day, 3rd Month]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 113 [30 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It, by Richard Hofstadter (Political Theory; 1948)

Benny & Joon (Film; 1993)

Black and Blue, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1976)

The Black Marble, by Joseph Wambaugh (Novel; 1978)

Cherrybomb (Film; 2009)

Dogville (Film; 2003)

Election (Film; 1999)

The Excursions of Mr. Brouček to the Moon and to the 15th Century, by Leoš Janáček (Opera; 1920)

Fall Out - Fall In (Disney Cartoon; 1943)

Frog Jog (Tijuana Toads Cartoon; 1972)

Gregory’s Girl (Film; 1981)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou (Autobiography; 1969)

Indian Summer (Film; 1993)

A Jolly Good Furlough (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1943)

Lemonade, by Beyoncé (Album; 2016)

Man on Fire (Film; 2004)

Merry Wives of Windsor, by William Shakespeare (Play; 1597)

Nexus, by Henry Miller (Novel; 1959) [Rosy Crucifixion #3]

The Penguin Parade (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Ramones, by Ramones (Album; 1976)

Return to Paradise, by James A. Michener (Novel; 1951)

Shadow and Bone (TV Series; 2021)

Sita Sings the Blues (Animated Film; 2010)

Snow Place Like Home (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1966)

Sticky Fingers, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1971)

The Stories of John Cheever, by John Cheever (Short Story Collection; 1979)

Symphony No. 1 in C Major, by Mily Balakirev (Symphony; 1898)

Symphony No. 2 in D Minor, by Mily Balakirev (Symphony; 1909)

Teen Titans Go! (Animated Film; 2013)

There’s Good Boos To-Night (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1948)

13 Going on 30 (Film; 2004)

Touch of Evil (Film; 1958)

Two for the Record (Disney Cartoon; 1954)

When I Was Cruel, by Elvis Costello (Album; 2002)

Who Scent You? (WB LT Cartoon; 1960)

Today’s Name Days

Adalbert, Georg, Jörg, Jürgen (Austria)

Toma, Tomislav, Tomislava (Bulgaria)

Adalbert, Đurđica, Đuro, Juraj (Croatia)

Vojtěch (Czech Republic)

Georgius (Denmark)

Georg, Jürgen, Jürgo, Jüri, Jürjo, Jürnas, Jüts, Ürjo (Estonia)

Jiri, Jori, Jyri, Jyrki, Yrjänä, Yrjö (Finland)

Georges (France)

Georg, Gerhard, Jörg, Jürgen (Germany)

Georgios, Giorgos, Thomas, Yorgos (Greece)

Béla (Hungary)

Giorgio (Italy)

Georgs, Jorens, Jurģis, Juris (Latvia)

Adalbertas, Daugaudas, Jurgis, Vygailė (Lithuania)

Georg, Jørgen, Jørn (Norway)

Adalbert, Gerard, Gerarda, Gerhard, Helena, Jerzy, Wojciech (Poland)

Gheorghe (Romania)

Vojtech (Slovakia)

Jorge (Spain)

Georg, Göran (Sweden)

George (Ukraine)

Brayan, Breana, Breanna, Breanne, Brian, Briana, Brianna, Brianne, Brielle, Brien, Briona, Bryan, Bryana, Bryanna, Bryant, Brynn, Bryon, Shirlee, Shirleen, Shirley (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 114 of 2024; 252 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 17 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Wu-Chen), Day 15 (Ding-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 15 Nisan 5784

Islamic: 14 Shawwal 1445

J Cal: 24 Cyan; Threesday [23 of 30]

Julian: 10 April 2024

Moon: 100%: Full Moon

Positivist: 2 Caesar (5th Month) [Leonidas]

Runic Half Month: Man (Human Being) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 36 of 92)

Week: 4th Week of April

Zodiac: Taurus (Day 4 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 4.23

Holidays

Alfred G. “Alferd” Packer Day (Colorado)

Aragon Day (Spain)

Army Reserves Day (US)

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Boice Day (South Korea)

Book Day (Canada)

Book Day and Lover's Day (Spain)

Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day

Castile and León Day (Spain)

Children’s Day (Turkey)

Community Day (Spain)

Content Creator Day

Copyright Day

Day of Aragon (Spain)

Day of Books and Roses (Catalonia, Spain)

Drive It Day (UK)

Electric Mixer Day

English Language Day (UN)

Flag Day (England)

George Castriota Day (Albania)

Hawthorn Day (French Republic)

Impossible Astronaut Day (Dr. Who)

International Choro Day

International Creator Day

International Day of the Book

International Fibrodyysolasia Ossificans Progressive Awareness Day

International Nose Picking Day

International Pallas Cat Day

International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day

International Share a Secret Day

International Sing Out Day

Jurgi Day (Ancient Latvia)

Khongjom Day (Manipur, India)

La Diada de Sant Jordi (Catalonia, Spain)

Linnaeus Day (Sweden)

London Marathon Day (UK)

Lover's Day

Movie Theater Day

National Bryan Day

National Email Day

National Grief-in-Public Day

National Lost Dog Awareness Day

National Lover’s Day

National Lugaw Day (Philippines)

National Read Me Day

National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Turkey, Northern Cyprus)

National Take a Hike with Nick Day

National Vagina Appreciation Day

Navy Day (China)

Penny Day

Pet Tech CPR Day

Psychologist Day (Ukraine)

Public School Day

Sigurd the Dragon Slayer's Day

Slay a Dragon Day

Spanish Language Day (UN)

Take a Chance Day

Talk Like Shakespeare Day

Teach Your Children To Save Day

Veterans Day (Estonia)

Visalia Priora

Wild Hyacinth Day

World Book Day (UN; except Ireland, UK)

World Book Night (Ireland, Germany, UK, US)

World Laboratory Day

World Table Tennis Day

YouTube Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Allagash Saison Day [original date]

Bavarian Beer Day

Biertag (Germany)

Cherry Cheesecake Day

German Beer Day

International Cava Day

International Reinheitsgebot Day

National Asparagus Day (UK)

National English Muffin Day

National Licorice Day

National Picnic Day

National Taffy Day

New Coke Day

St. George's Day (traditional end of Bavarian lager brewing season)

4th Tuesday in April

National Library Day [Tuesday of Library Week]

National Library Workers Day [Tuesday of Library Week]

School Bus Driver’s Day [4th Tuesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning April 23 (4th Week)

Global Road Safety Week (UN) [thru 23-29]

National Princess Week (thru 4.29)

Independence & Related Days

Australland (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized)

Conch Republic (Declared; 1982) [unrecognized)

Israel (a.k.a. Yom Ha’atzmaut; Declared; 1948)

National Sovereignty Day, Day 2 (Turkey)

Festivals Beginning April 23, 2024

Les Printemps de Bourges (Bourges, France) [thru 4.28]

London Marathon (London, England)

Feast Days

Adalbert of Prague (Christian; Saint)

Antoine Vollon (Artology)

Cervantes (Writerism)

Chance Day (Shamanism)

Cynical Bastards Day (Pastafarian)

Day of the Glorious Fuckup (Church of the SubGenius)

Feast of Hephaestus (Greek Blacksmith God & Brewer)

Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus (Christian; Martyrs)

Festival of Saint Sarah the Egyptian (Sara Kali the Black Queen; Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France) begins [until 25th]

George [England, traditional end of Bavarian lager brewing season] *

Gerard, Bishop of Toul (Christian; Saint)

Giles of Assisi (Christian; Saint)

Gerard of Toul (Christian; Saint)

The Goddess is Alive Day (Everyday Wicca)

Ibar (a.k.a. Ivor) of Beggerin (or Meath; Christian; Saint)

Ji-Young (Muppetism)

J.M.W. Turner (Artology)

J.P. Donleavy (Writerism)

Miltiades (Positivist; Saint)

Shakespeare Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Snood Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Toyohiko Kagawa (Episcopal and Lutheran Church)

Vinalia Urbana (a.k.a. Vinalia Prima or Priora; Ancient Roman wine festival)

Vulcan's Day (Ancient Rome)

Walpurgisnacht, Day I (Pagan)

William Shakespeare (Writerism)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Full Moon [4th of the Year] (a.k.a. ... 

Awakening Moon (Neo-Pagan)

Breaking Ice Moon (Traditional)

Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Traditional)

Egg Moon (Alternate)

Fish Moon (Alternate)

Flower Moon (Cherokee)

Gold Star Spouses Day

Grass Moon (Alternate, North America)

Growing Moon (Celtic)

Hunter’s Moon (South Africa)

Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Traditional)

Peony Moon (China)

Pink Moon (Amer. Indian, Traditional)

Planter’s Moon (Colonial)

Seed Moon (England, Wicca)

Southern Hemisphere: Blood, Harvest, Hunter’s

Wildcat Moon (Choctaw)

God of Medicine Day (Taiwan) [15th Day, 3rd Month]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 113 [30 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It, by Richard Hofstadter (Political Theory; 1948)

Benny & Joon (Film; 1993)

Black and Blue, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1976)

The Black Marble, by Joseph Wambaugh (Novel; 1978)

Cherrybomb (Film; 2009)

Dogville (Film; 2003)

Election (Film; 1999)

The Excursions of Mr. Brouček to the Moon and to the 15th Century, by Leoš Janáček (Opera; 1920)

Fall Out - Fall In (Disney Cartoon; 1943)

Frog Jog (Tijuana Toads Cartoon; 1972)

Gregory’s Girl (Film; 1981)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou (Autobiography; 1969)

Indian Summer (Film; 1993)

A Jolly Good Furlough (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1943)

Lemonade, by Beyoncé (Album; 2016)

Man on Fire (Film; 2004)

Merry Wives of Windsor, by William Shakespeare (Play; 1597)

Nexus, by Henry Miller (Novel; 1959) [Rosy Crucifixion #3]

The Penguin Parade (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Ramones, by Ramones (Album; 1976)

Return to Paradise, by James A. Michener (Novel; 1951)

Shadow and Bone (TV Series; 2021)

Sita Sings the Blues (Animated Film; 2010)

Snow Place Like Home (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1966)

Sticky Fingers, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1971)

The Stories of John Cheever, by John Cheever (Short Story Collection; 1979)

Symphony No. 1 in C Major, by Mily Balakirev (Symphony; 1898)

Symphony No. 2 in D Minor, by Mily Balakirev (Symphony; 1909)

Teen Titans Go! (Animated Film; 2013)

There’s Good Boos To-Night (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1948)

13 Going on 30 (Film; 2004)

Touch of Evil (Film; 1958)

Two for the Record (Disney Cartoon; 1954)

When I Was Cruel, by Elvis Costello (Album; 2002)

Who Scent You? (WB LT Cartoon; 1960)

Today’s Name Days

Adalbert, Georg, Jörg, Jürgen (Austria)

Toma, Tomislav, Tomislava (Bulgaria)

Adalbert, Đurđica, Đuro, Juraj (Croatia)

Vojtěch (Czech Republic)

Georgius (Denmark)

Georg, Jürgen, Jürgo, Jüri, Jürjo, Jürnas, Jüts, Ürjo (Estonia)

Jiri, Jori, Jyri, Jyrki, Yrjänä, Yrjö (Finland)

Georges (France)

Georg, Gerhard, Jörg, Jürgen (Germany)

Georgios, Giorgos, Thomas, Yorgos (Greece)

Béla (Hungary)

Giorgio (Italy)

Georgs, Jorens, Jurģis, Juris (Latvia)

Adalbertas, Daugaudas, Jurgis, Vygailė (Lithuania)

Georg, Jørgen, Jørn (Norway)

Adalbert, Gerard, Gerarda, Gerhard, Helena, Jerzy, Wojciech (Poland)

Gheorghe (Romania)

Vojtech (Slovakia)

Jorge (Spain)

Georg, Göran (Sweden)

George (Ukraine)

Brayan, Breana, Breanna, Breanne, Brian, Briana, Brianna, Brianne, Brielle, Brien, Briona, Bryan, Bryana, Bryanna, Bryant, Brynn, Bryon, Shirlee, Shirleen, Shirley (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 114 of 2024; 252 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 17 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Wu-Chen), Day 15 (Ding-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 15 Nisan 5784

Islamic: 14 Shawwal 1445

J Cal: 24 Cyan; Threesday [23 of 30]

Julian: 10 April 2024

Moon: 100%: Full Moon

Positivist: 2 Caesar (5th Month) [Leonidas]

Runic Half Month: Man (Human Being) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 36 of 92)

Week: 4th Week of April

Zodiac: Taurus (Day 4 of 31)

[therogerclarkfanclub]

★ Roger's Audiobooks (I—L) ★

UPDATED: August 21, 2024

If Audible isn't your thing, Roger's audiobooks can also be found at these other sites but selection varies from site to site:

Apple Books ☆ Audible ☆ Audiobooks.com ☆ AudioBooksNow.com ☆ AudiobookStore.com ☆ Barnes & Noble ☆ Binge Books ☆ Books-a-Million ☆ Chirp Books ☆ Downpour ☆ Everand ☆ Google Play ☆ Hoopla ☆ Libro.fm ☆ Overdrive + Libby ☆ Rakuten Kobo ☆

Links to more of Roger's Audiobooks:

A-D ☆ E-H ☆ I-L ☆ M-P ☆ Q-T ☆ U-Z

··································⋆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅⋆··································

BOOK SERIES: "Inspector Kenny Mystery" by Eilís Dillon • Death at Crane’s Court (Vol. 1) • Death in the Quadrangle (Vol. 2)

··································⋆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅⋆··································

• Ireland’s Forgotten Past: A History of the Overlooked and Disremembered by Turtle Bunbury

• The Irish Assassins: Conspiracy, Revenge and the Phoenix Park Murders That Stunned Victorian England by Julie Kavanagh

• The Kaiser’s Pirates: Hunting Germany's Raiding Cruisers 1914-1915 by Nick Hewitt

• Karl Marx: Philosophy and Revolution by Shlomo Avineri

• Knights Apocalyptica by Zach Skye

• Knights Apocalyptica 2 by Zach Skye

• The Land of Always Night by Kenneth Robeson

• Landing on the Edge of Eternity: Twenty-Four Hours at Omaha Beach by Robert Kershaw

··································⋆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅⋆··································

BOOK SERIES: "Legacy of Lucky Logan" by J.R. Frontera • Bargain at Bravebank: A Western Steampunk Adventure (Vol. #1) • Bastard of Blessing: A Western Steampunk Adventure (Vol. #2) • Bones in Blackbird (Vol. #3) • Demon at Devil's Deep (Vol. #4) [ Release Date TBA ]

··································⋆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅⋆··································

• The Lion and the Cross: A Novel of Saint Patrick and Ancient Ireland by Joan Lesley Hamilton

• The Lionkeeper of Algiers: How an American Captive Rose to Power in Barbary and Saved His Homeland from War by Des Ekin

• Lost Heirs of the Medieval Crown: The Kings and Queens Who Never Were by J.F. Andrews

• Loving the Dead and Gone by Judith Turner-Yamamoto (Narrators include: Roger Clark, Sophie Amoss, Cassandra Campbell)

[watusichris]

Rock Gunfight in the Antipodes

Listening today to the hot new Grown Up Wrong! comp by Sydney’s Lipstick Killers, whose lone officially released single was produced by Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman, it occurred to me that my old Music Aficionado faux faceoff between Australia’s pioneering bands of the ‘70s (all of which I dearly love) has disappeared into the online ether. It’s time to bring it back.

**********

By Chris Morris

The mid- to late ‘70s were fertile days for rock ‘n’ roll in Australia. Here and there across the vast but not terribly populous island continent, fires were started by several attitude-filled bands bent on doing things their own damn way. They all managed to make their way off the island, but if they hit the American consciousness, it was for little more than a nanosecond during their heyday.

Who were the truest Rock Wizards of Oz? For this Down Under face-off, I’ve selected three contenders: the Saints, Radio Birdman, and the Scientists. All of them had fairly slim discographies; ironically, the act probably least known in the U.S., the Scientists, recorded most prolifically, with their core line-up producing several magnificent albums and singles during a productive four-year stretch in the early ‘80s. But none of these bands ever stayed together long enough to make a deep impression among the Yanks.

So where’s the Birthday Party, you ask? There are a few things to consider. First of all, though the band and its precursor unit the Boys Next Door were in business from 1976 on, they didn’t release their first LP until 1980. Also, Nick Cave is well known enough that more (king) ink needn’t be spilled on him. Finally, I still resent the fact that Cave stole PJ Harvey away from me, so it’s personal.

On with the showdown…

HIT ME LIKE A DEATH RAY, BABY

The Saints, founded 1974 in Brisbane

The prime movers of the Saints were a pair of literal outsiders: vocalist Chris Bailey, born in Kenya to Irish parents, and guitarist Ed Kuepper, raised in Germany. Thus the otherness of their work is no surprise.

With schoolmate Ivor Hay – who over time would play drums, bass, and piano with them – the pair founded a combo originally known as Kid Galahad and the Eternals (borrowing their handle from a 1962 Elvis Presley picture), but they swiftly renamed themselves the Saints and began playing in their hometown on the northeast coast of Australia.

Listening to their records, which were made in something of a cultural vacuum, it’s difficult to get a handle on where the Saints’ distinctive, aggressive sound came from. To be sure they were aware of such homegrown precursors from the ‘60s as the Master’s Apprentices and the Missing Links (whose 1965 single they covered on their debut album). It’s safe to assume they were conversant with the Velvet Underground, the Stooges, and Lenny Kaye’s 1972 garage rock compilation Nuggets. Yet they bred something utterly their own in the ocean air of Brisbane.

With Hay on drums and Kym Bradshaw on bass, Bailey and Kuepper mounted noisy local gigs that swiftly attracted the antipathy of the local constabulary; they wound up turning their own digs into a club to play shows. In 1976, they recorded and issued a self-financed single featuring two originals, “(I’m) Stranded” and “No Time.” These dire, ferocious songs were distinguished by venomous lyrics, unprecedented velocity, and guitar playing by Kuepper that sounded like a (literal) iron curtain being attacked with a chainsaw.

The record died locally, but a copy of its U.K. issue found its way into the hands of a critic at the English music weekly Sounds, which declared it the single of the week. This accolade got the attention of EMI Records, which signed the band and financed the recording of an album, also titled I’m Stranded, in a fast two-day Brisbane session.

The album, which was ultimately released in the U.S. by Sire Records, blew the ears off anyone who heard it, and it landed with a bang in England, where punk rock was lifting off in all its fury in early 1977. It was hurtling, powerful stuff that stood apart from punk in several crucial ways: While some of the songs were clipped and demonic in the standard manner, the Saints proved they could take their time on expansive numbers like the almost Dylanesque “Messin’ With the Kid” and the sprawling, hellriding “Nights in Venice.” And one has to wonder how British p-rockers took to their perverted take on Elvis’ squishy “Kissin’ Cousins.”

Made by musicians who never considered themselves “punks,” and who in fact abhorred the label, (I’m) Stranded is nevertheless one of the definitive statements in the genre, and it has maintained its force to this day.

Settling in England for the duration, the Saints decided to throw a curveball. One could not find a more profoundly alienated album than Eternally Yours (1978), a series of yowling protests, twisted prophecies, and savage put-downs, including the snarling second version of the single “This Perfect Day.” But, though the record was loud and for the most part swift, the group applied the brakes to their sound somewhat, and a couple of songs, including the caustic album opener “Know Your Product,” were dressed by a soul-styled horn section. Punk loyalists ran for cover.

By the time Prehistoric Sounds was issued in late ’78, the dejected Bailey and Kuepper were moving in different directions, and you can hear it in the grooves. The record is slow, almost listless at times, and its logy originals are complemented by incongruous Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin covers with none of the energy of earlier Saints soul-blasts. It is an album primarily for loyalists, and by then there were few in that number.

Kuepper exited the band on the heels of the third album’s release and returned to Australia, where he enjoyed a long career as leader of the Laughing Clowns; Bailey continued to perform under the Saints mantle with a shifting lineup that at last count numbered more than 30 players over the course of 37 years

Bailey and Kuepper reunited for one-off gigs in 2001 (at the ARIA awards ceremony) and 2007 (at Australia’s Queensland Music Festival).

THERE’S GONNA BE A NEW RACE

Radio Birdman, founded 1974 in Sydney

People who toss the “punk” handle around often throw Radio Birdman into the mix, but the sextet from Australia’s Southeast Coast may be best referred as the world’s youngest proto-punk band.

Its mastermind was guitarist, songwriter, and producer Deniz Tek, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who emigrated to Sydney in 1971 to study medicine. As a teen, he got a chance to witness Detroit’s most explosive pre-punk bands – the MC5, the Stooges, and the Rationals; he would later wind up collaborating with important members of all those groups.

After apprenticing with and getting bounced from a Sydney band called TV Jones, Tek formed Radio Birdman (its name a corruption of a lyric from the Stooges’ “1970”) with singer Rob Younger; the lineup ultimately solidified with the addition of guitarist (and sometime keyboardist) Chris Masuak, bassist Warwick Gilbert, drummer Ron Keeley, and (on and off and then on again) keyboardist Pip Hoyle.

Rapidly acquiring a fan base made up of some of Sydney’s lowest elements, including members of the local Hell’s Angels, Radio Birdman ultimately took over a bar, re-dubbed (in honor of the Stooges, of course) the Oxford Funhouse, as their base of operations. The band’s severe Tek-designed band logo emanated fascist-style vibes for some; at a co-billed appearance in Sydney, the Saints’ Chris Bailey remarked from the stage, “We’d like to thank the local members of Hitler Youth for their stage props.”

Despite much antipathy and some attendant violence, the band maintained a loyal local following, and in 1976 it issued a strong four-song EP, Burn My Eye, via local studio-cum-independent label Trafalgar. This was succeeded the following year by a full-length debut album, Radios Appear.

Anyone looking for something resembling punk will likely be disappointed by that collection. The band wears its all-American hard rock/proto-punk influences on its dirty sleeve. Radios Appear is dedicated to the Stooges (whose “No Fun” was the lead-off track on the Aussie issue of the LP), and a song co-written by Tek and Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, “Hit Them Again,” was cut during sessions for the record. Tek pays deep homage to MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer with his playing, and blatantly cops a signature lick from the 5’s “Looking at You” at one juncture. The album title was lifted from a Blue Öyster Cult lyric, and the Tek-Masuak guitar-bashing bows to their multi-axe sound. Finally, in both Younger’s sometimes Morrisonian vocalizing and Hoyle’s Ray Manzarek-like ornamentation, homage to the Doors in paid in full. Given that Sydney is a beach town, there’s even a frisson of surf music in the mix.

Bursting with power-packed originals like the apocalyptic “Descent into the Maestrom,” youth-in-revolt anthem “New Race,” the cryptic, insinuating “Man with the Golden Helmet,” and Tek’s autobiographical “Murder City Nights,” Radios Appear was a power-packed set that established Radio Birdman as Oz’s leading rock light.

However, renown did not equal success in Antipodean terms. In 1978, the band cut its second album, Living Eyes, at Rockfield Studio in Wales; it was a solid effort that included remakes of three Burn My Eye numbers (including the wonderful Tek memoir “I-94,” about the Michigan interstate) and excellent new originals like “Hanging On,” “Crying Sun,” and “Alone in the End Zone.” But, with success seemingly within their grasp, Sire Records – their American label, and the Saints’ as well – switched distribution and cut their roster, leaving their new work without a home. Within months of this catastrophe, Radio Birdman disbanded.

The principals scattered, to Younger’s New Christs and Tek and Hoyle’s the Visitors; Tek, Younger, and Warwick Gilbert later joined MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson and the Stooges’ Ron Asheton in the one-off New Race. Tek also later recorded with Wayne Kramer and Scott Morgan of Ann Arbor’s Rationals in Dodge Main.

Radio Birdman’s original lineup reunited for a 1996 tour; in August 2006 – after four of the original sextet regrouped to record a potent new album, Zeno Beach – the band played its first American date ever, at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theater. Your correspondent was there, and it was freakin’ incredible.

IN MY HEART THERE’S A PLACE CALLED SWAMPLAND

The Scientists, founded 1978 in Perth

Among the important Aussie bands of the ‘70s, the Scientists were among the first to be directly influenced by the punk explosion in New York.

As guitarist-singer-songwriter Kim Salmon – the lone constant in the Scientists’ lineup during their existence – wrote in 1975, “Reading about a far-off place called CBGB in NYC and its leather-clad denizens, all with names like Johnny Thunders, Richard Hell, and Joey Ramone, got me thinking…I immediately went searching for Punk Rock. What I found were The Modern Lovers and The New York Dolls albums.”

Salmon first dabbled in the new sound with a band bearing the delightfully punk name the Cheap Nasties. Cobbled together in Perth – the Western provincial capital of Australia – from members of such local acts as the Exterminators, the Victims, and Salmon’s the Invaders -- the early Scientists were as derivative as one might imagine. Their early songs, heard on their self-titled LP (the so-called “Pink Album”) and an early single and EP, sport original songs authored by Salmon and drummer-lyricist James Baker, the backbone of shifting Scientific crews through 1980. The tunes range from straight-up Dolls/Heartbreakers rips (“Frantic Romantic,” “Pissed On Another Planet,” “High Noon”) to buzzing romantic pop-punk in a Buzzcocks vein (“That Girl,” “She Said She Loves Me”).

Not terribly promising stuff, but, after the departure of Baker for the Hoodoo Gurus in 1981 and a brief stint in a trio called Louie Louie, Salmon assembled a new Scientists who would prevail for nearly four years. That outfit – Salmon, guitarist Tony Thewlis, bassist Boris Sujdovic, and drummer Brett Rixton – promptly relocated to Sydney and started making the noise they are noted for.

By that time, Salmon had begun cocking an ear to the Birthday Party (and no doubt paid careful attention to the sordid noise on the Melbourne group’s 1982 album Junkyard), had discovered the miasmic voodoo of the Cramps, and started grooving to the dissonant, slide guitar-dominated racket of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. In short order, he would also absorb the bluesy downhome assault of Los Angeles’ roots-punk outfit the Gun Club.

The Sydney-based Scientists hooked up with indie label Au Go Go, which issued a devastating run of careening, mossy records by the band in 1982-83 – the vertiginous singles “This is My Happy Hour”/“Swampland” and the corrosive “We Had Love” (backed by a faithful cover of Beefheart’s “Clear Spot”), and the heart-stopping mini-album Blood Red River, which bore the churning “Set It On Fire,” “Revhead,” and “Burnout.” Others were essaying a similar style, but the Aussie youngsters were beating their elders at their own game.

Eying the big time, the band moved to London in 1984. Some opportunities presented themselves initially: The band got European tour slots with the Gun Club and early Goth act Sisters of Mercy. But their deal with Au Go Go fell apart acrimoniously; while they made a pair of fog-bound albums, You Get What You Deserve (1985) and The Human Jukebox (1987) for Karbon Records (and a set of re-recorded songs, Weird Love, was issued in the U.S. by Big Time Records), they scraped by in Britain.

Defections from the ranks commenced in ’85, and by early 1987 the depleted Salmon used money from a housing settlement to move back to Australia, where he founded a new band, the Surrealists.

Still valued among the cognoscenti, Salmon, Thewlis, Sujdovic, and latter-day drummer Leanne Chock appeared, at the invitation of Seattle’s Mudhoney, at London’s All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival in 2006. Earlier this year, Chicago-based archival label the Numero Group issued a comprehensive four-disc box of the band’s original recordings.

So, at the end of the day, who is the all-time champeen of ‘70s Oz rock?

Scoring on points, the Saints are tops for Being Punk First with additional wins in the Pure Noise and Weltzschmerz categories, Radio Birdman takes the Technical Ability and Old-School Attitude slots, and the Scientists prevail in the Loud Young Snot and Grunge Thug division.

And the championship belt goes to…the Saints!

Of course, that could all change tomorrow, but that’s rock ‘n’ roll for ya.

[themousefromfantasyland]

Creatures of Yuletide: Krampus, the Christmas Demon

He sees you when you're sleeping

And he knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good FOR YOUR OWN GODDAMNIT SAKE!!!

Christmas season is full of magical beings and creatures that travel through our world. Jolly old men from the north, elves that sleep in our homes, goats that give presents, the holiday season is full of all sorts of weird and wonderful characters. However, Santa Claus tends to me the most famous among them, and the most remembered in popular culture. This was, until some years ago, when a forgotten Christmas character rose in popularity in pop culture as an antithesis of good old St. Nick. I’m talking about Krampus, the Christmas Demon from German and Alpine lore.

One of the reasons why I believe Krampus became so popular recently is because he’s a scarier and less commercial alternative to Santa. In older posts I talked about how people used to tell scary ghost stories during Christmas and how Christmas once had this spooky side to it. Then one day it hit me that, in a way, Krampus is exactly a call back to these traditions. While not a ghost, Krampus brings back the scary atmosphere to the holiday. People tell stories about Krampus, they dress like him, they fright their neighbors in these costumes. People in general like to be scared, and in particular, even though they won’t admit it now, children too. Krampus is celebrated because he brings back the fun that overly commercialized Santa took out from Christmas.

Jeremy Seghers, organizer of the first Krampusnacht festival held in Orlando, said this in an interview to the Smithsonian Magazine:

"The Krampus is the yin to St. Nick's yang. You have the saint, you have the devil. It taps into a subconscious macabre desire that a lot of people have that is the opposite of the saccharine Christmas a lot of us grew up with."

Krampus is mainly a holiday tradition from the Alpine region and Central Europe in general. His name is derives from the German word krampen, meaning claw. On the night of December 5th, the eve of Saint Nicholas Feast, Krampus, and Saint Nicholas himself go out in the streets to punish or reward kids. This makes him one of the Companions of Saint Nicholas, a group of holiday figures that would help him in punishing kids. While they do the punishment, jolly old Nick brings the kids gifts, in a sort of Good Cop, Bad Cop dynamic.

Our friend St. Nick fills the shoes of good children with fruits and sweets. Krampus carries birch branches for senseless beating the misbehaving ones. On his back he is often depicted carrying a sack or a basket. This is to carry the naughty kids to his layer for more torture later. He can also eat them, threw them out in the river to drown, or bring them straight to the depths of Hell. In some parts of Austria, Krampus presents the families with gold-painted twigs that are to be displayed year-round in the house, constantly reminding the kids of his ever-watching presence.

What lovable fellow!

It was common in the 19th century to exchange Gruß vom Krampus, “Greetings from Krampus” cards that contained humorous rhymes and poems. In these Krampus is depicted looming menacingly over children. In others the creature receives sexual undertones, pursuing scantily dressed women.

There is also the Krampuslauf, or, Krampus Run, where people dress up as him and parade through the street dressed in fur suits and carved wooden masks and carrying cowbells. This one is very important for understanding Krampus origins.

Now, no one really know where Krampus comes from. The most popular theory is that he was a fertility god from the Alpine Region before Christianity retconned him as demon. Scholars often link him, Pan, and the satyrs to the archetype of the Horned God. Some claim he’s the son of Hel, but I didn’t find any real or credible source to this.

What we do know is that Krampus has some connections to a goddess in the Alpine region called Frau Perchta.

Now Frau Perchta is a very mysterious figure from the German folklore. She had many different names depending on the era and region. We don’t know a lot about her before Christianization, but what we do know is that in the folklore of Bavaria and Austria, she was a witch said to roam the countryside at midwinter, and to enter homes during the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany. Good children would find a silver coin in their shoes. Bad children would have their bellies sliced open, their stomach and guts removed, and she would stuff the straw and pebbles in the hole left behind. She had two forms in which she could be encountered, beautiful and white as snow, or elderly and haggard.

Perchten is plural for Perchta. Originally, the word referred to female masks representing her, but the name come to refer to the animal masks worn in parades and festivals in the mountainous regions of Austria.

A Perchten mask

In the 16th century, the Perchten took two main forms: Schönperchten, "beautiful Perchten", or the Schiachperchten, "ugly Perchten”. The beautiful Perchten came during the twelve nights of Christmas and festivals to bring luck and wealth to the people. The ugly Perchten, who had fangs, tusks and horse tails which were used to drive out demons and ghosts. Men dressed as the ugly Perchten during this time and went from house to house driving out bad spirits.

From the Smithsonian Magazine: A man dressed in a traditional Perchten costume and mask performs during a Perchten festival in the western Austrian village of Kappl, November 13, 2015. Each year in November and January, people in the western Austria regions dress up in Perchten (also known in some regions as Krampus or Tuifl) costumes and parade through the streets to perform a 1,500 year-old pagan ritual to disperse the ghosts of winter. (DOMINIC EBENBICHLER/Reuters/Corbis)

People would masquerade as these devilish figures and march in processions known as Perchtenlaufs. The Church didn’t like these creatures and tried many times to ban these practices, but due to the sparse population and the rugged environments within the region, the ban was useless.

In Catholicism, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children. His saint day falls in early December, which helped strengthen his association with the Yuletide season. A seasonal play that spread throughout the Alpine regions was known as the Nikolausspiel, "Nicholas play". In these plays St. Nick would make questions about morality and reward children for their scholarly efforts. Eventually the Perchtenlauf, in an attempt to pacify the Church, introduced Saint Nicholas and his set of good morals. Krampus, the in-chains helper of Saint Nicholas, was then born.

In 1975, anthropologist John J. Honigmann wrote that:

"The Saint Nicholas festival we are describing incorporates cultural elements widely distributed in Europe, in some cases going back to pre-Christian times. Nicholas himself became popular in Germany around the eleventh century. The feast dedicated to this patron of children is only one winter occasion in which children are the objects of special attention, others being Martinmas, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and New Year's Day. Masked devils acting boisterously and making nuisances of themselves are known in Germany since at least the sixteenth century while animal masked devils combining dreadful-comic (schauriglustig) antics appeared in Medieval church plays. A large literature, much of it by European folklorists, bears on these subjects. ... Austrians in the community we studied are quite aware of "heathen" elements being blended with Christian elements in the Saint Nicholas customs and in other traditional winter ceremonies. They believe Krampus derives from a pagan supernatural who was assimilated to the Christian devil"

Is worth noting that this is exactly what happened to the Yule Goat. He was a pagan symbol, people dressed like him to keep winter spirits at bay, but the Christians demonized him. There are illustrations of Saint Nicholas or of Father Christmas riding the Yule Goat during Christmas and these were meant to represent the power of God over the power of the Devil. Krampus is represented in chains by the same reason. However, the Yule Goat came to become a gift-giver and a more positive force in holiday lore, with people dressing as goats to deliver gifts to their families in the 19th century. Krampus didn’t have the same luck. I really wonder if the Yule Goat and Krampus came from variants from the same or similar cultural traditions, but that took drastically different routes.

I must say that, although I'm more in the team Santa, I learned to love Krampus over the years. It’s undeniable the amount of fun he brought to those who wanted something a little more darker and creepier in the holidays, and as someone who identifies itself as 90% lover of cheesy, cutesy and sappy stuff and 10% lover of everything earie and macabre, the idea of a monstrous boogeyman in the shadows of good old Santa Claus is fun. I personally think there’s enough space for both, the terrifyingly scary and the joyful jolliness.

Fun fact: Krampus, the one people rescued from German obscurity to combat the overly commercialized Christmas, is now being criticized as being too commercialized. C'est la vie

Story time: In my country I once heard the tale of a guy that went as Santa to deliver Christmas presents to children in a poor community. He brought many gifts and toys with him. The children loved them, until there were no more gifts to be delivered. The remaining children and their parents became so angry that they chased away the guy, throwing rocks at him. The guy came to them with free stuff, helped as much as he could, and people still threw rocks at him and chased him away, almost seriously hurting him.

I admit, there are cases where Krampus is truly needed 🤣🤣🤣

Art by Helen Mask

[lustresky]

awmd ; prolouge ; your love will cling to me through the lonely daytime

auf wiederseh’n, my dear masterlist & lily’s lil’ stories

Satisfaction runs through your veins as you hear the loud thwap, your bullet cleanly and perfectly hitting the tiny dot marked on the paper dangling itself a few feet in front of you.

You lower your dominant arm, stance straightening out as a clank of a metal shell rings against the cement floor. The words of your father about safety echo in your mind and make you double check your firearm before doing anything else. A series of clicks and clacks follow your every movement, making sure that everything is safe.

Once you’ve fully inspected your weapon, you turn your body around to place the arm back to its rightful position; but before you can do so, your father halts you in your tracks.

Panic and fear bubbles up in your chest.

Oh no.

He wasn’t supposed to be back till 2!

He motions for you to take off your muffs, lips in a tight line and eyebrows straight.

As your hands follow his instructions, your eyes follow his gaze up to your marked piece of paper. You follow his every move as he trudges along to where the pulley sat. He wheels the piece of paper back to where you both were standing with his own hands, calloused and littered with nicks and scars.

You can’t help but lower your head down in shame.

I’m definitely going to get in trouble…

A pause as he examines your damage— a million thoughts wrapped in anxiety running through your head, the empty silence of the shooting range deafening against your eardrums.

Suddenly, he lets out a small chuckle.

You look up, and to your surprise, you see his once strict and pointed expression soften.

He whistles proudly, a smile on his lips. “My lil’ girl’s gone and became better than her dad, didn’t she?”

Your cheeks heat up from his praise, but despite it, you can’t help but ask, “You ain’t mad, pa?”

He laughs and pats you on your shoulder, the weight of his hand a reassuring pressure. “Sweetheart, I ain’t ever seen such a clean shot like this— not even from the men that I’ve been teachin’ for the last five years!”

You giggle at his words.

Your father sets a hand on his hip, a big smile on his face. He shakes his head.

“You’ve got a future ahead of ya, sweetheart.”

That was the first time that you’ve ever fired a pistol.

You were fourteen, raised by a strict yet caring father who served in the Great War and a nosy yet loving mother who was determined to have you betrothed as soon as you were eighteen.

Your father ran a shooting range, a place to continue practicing the talent he had honed during his service as a sharpshooter. Never once did he let you fire before that time; but you had mentally practiced and memorized all of the little techniques that he did as he fired every shot.

Whenever you had time, you would tune in to what he would say to his students, sitting all by yourself a few meters away, books and pencils strewn about on a small table under the guise of studying.

You definitely weren’t taking notes on grammar, most times.

Until you had showcased your natural talent at shooting, they were strict and disciplined and apprehensive of every single decision that you made for yourself. You knew it was only because of their concern, but as soon as they saw how much of a second nature it was for you to defend yourself, they mellowed out. Of course, your family wasn’t perfect— your parents had their disputes and disagreements like any other couple, though you knew deep down that they really only wanted the best for you. As an only child and as a woman, no less, their concern for your safety and well-being was and always has been the first priority in their mind.

Times were tough, and it didn’t seem like they were getting any easier, either.

What with all the stories you’ve heard about Germany attacking Poland in Europe, there’s been a constant blanket of unease in the community.

You truly couldn’t wrap your head around it. Aren’t people sick of fighting? Though the turmoil has provided your range with more people wanting to learn and subsequently more money, the whole thing didn’t exactly help you sleep at night.

Who knows how this whole thing will play out?

You shake your head, reminding yourself of your mother’s mantra.

Focus on the now; you can worry about the future later.

Cracking your neck, a small noise of satisfaction slips past your lips as the tension alleviates. The afternoon’s sun’s rays were slowly dissipating beyond the horizon, leaving the arena to bask in a soft, golden hue. The silence in the building seems like a stranger; the clangs and whoops and cheers nowhere to be heard as the last noises of a customer rang about around half an hour ago.

As Pa had instructed you before he left to take a break, you start cleaning the ammunition in your hands with a cloth. A hum falls past your lips, a melody that you had heard in the radio just a few weeks prior. Slowly and steadily you work, the metal between your fingers glinting back to life as the ash and smoke disappear into your rag.

Then, three knocks on the open wooden door.

You look up, expecting your Pa back.

Instead, your attention is caught by an unknown man: black hair coiffed and slicked back with gel, a casual suit and tie on his tall frame. He raises an eyebrow upon laying eyes on your form, back hunched over to clean and skirt covered with specks of soot.

It’s you who breaks the silence. “D’ya have an appointment, or?” You ask with a tilt of your head, eyes scanning for any sense of familiarity in him— which quickly turns futile as you’re quite certain that you’ve never before seen this man in your life, much less as a client in your range.

Brooklyn sure is a big city.

He clears his throat and his lips scrunch up in a half-smile, apprehensiveness clear in the way he holds himself. Whether it be because you intimidate him (Which, truth be told, you’ve heard said about you in a few hushed whispers before.) or because it’s most likely his first time to fire a bullet, you can’t make out.

“Yes, I— uh, I do,” His eyes scan about the place, which you can feel is a purposeful way of not keeping contact with yours. “I’m James Buchanan Barnes?”

At the mention of his name, you silently sigh to yourself, now realizing the real reason as to why your father had decided to conveniently choose this hour to take his ‘break’— he hates teaching rookies.

James Buchanan Barnes, huh?

Though your Pa’s patience in the house could rival that of a saint’s, outside of the family home it was a whole other story. He had never liked explaining techniques nor starting off from scratch, and his method of teaching resembles that of a professor more so than a kindergarten teacher.

Thankfully, though you had definitely inherited his talent, your pond of patience was a little bit bigger than his.

You stand up from your chair, making your way to the reception area. Shaking off the dust on your fingers and onto your apron, the distance between you two gradually became less and less as you reached the small table on which a log book sat. You set down the unloaded rod on the side and flip the book open, grabbing the pen lying on the side and drawing a check at the side of his name.

“Alright,” You clap your hands together, looking up from the book and onto his face, preparing to relay the basic information that rookies ought to know before even entering the range.

You pause in your tracks for a second as your gaze catches his, the afternoon light entrancingly illuminating the specks of cerulean in his eyes. His eyelashes flutter, and you force your head back down as you feel the heat rise up your cheeks.

Lord, help me. Of course he’s gotta be as cute as a bug’s ear!

You busy your eyes and hands with the pages filled with names you can hardly recount as you clear your throat, trying to reign your words back in your mouth. “So,” You start, inhaling a breath as you prepare yourself to look at him once again. “Basic rules, which are really just common sense.”

“One,” You look up, ignoring the funny feeling in your stomach as his eyebrows raise up in anticipation to hear your words. “You gotta protect ya ears and eyes. We don’t want ‘em uncovered, so get some of those—” You nod your head to the rack containing all of the ear and eyewear. “Before comin’ to the range, alright?”

He nods. “Yes ma’am.”

You let a small smile appear on your lips at the word falling from his lips.

“Two,” You point at the flags, the green ones hoisted high above each lane. “Remember what those colors mean in a range: green is no, red is yes.”

You see him open his mouth to retort, but you shut him back down with a, “Don’t question me on that one, I ain’t interested in doin’ history right now.”

He chuckles, and the rumble in his voice makes your chest flutter.

“Third, and don’t ya ever forget this one unless ya wanna lose your feet,” You hold up the unloaded rod you were cleaning before he came in. “Always make sure that ya gun ain’t got any more bullets in her before celebratin’, alright?”

He nods again, and in turn, you smile. You set the gat down once more, and motion with your head to one of the lanes.

“Let’s see whatcha’ got then, Barnes.”

[teamatsumu]

Hero In Disguise

Summary: Steve shows up injured and nearly unconscious at your front door.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader

Word Count: 3,647

Warnings: Swearing

A/N: The fact that i’ve gone so long without writing steve is frankly a bit unbelievable so, here y’all go! lemme know what you think!

Main Masterlist

Ukraine was a good country to hide in. It was also a beautiful place. The cities were chock full of looming skyscrapers, the churches were rich with colors and intricate architecture. The sunsets were an absolute wonder to look at, especially from the windows of your fourth story apartment. It was a good hiding place because no one would think that a high ranking HYDRA official would hide in Ukraine of all places. Maybe Russia. Or Germany. But Ukraine? Unlikely.

That's why it was so perfect a choice.

When HYDRA fell under the hands of one Steve Rogers, you hadn't told anyone where you were going, not even your trusted workers and colleagues. You didn't know who was HYDRA and who was SHIELD anymore. You couldn't risk the SHIELD members finding out. If Nick Fury got word that you had faked your death and were, in fact, still alive, he would skin you himself. You wouldn't blame him. Despite being so young, you were Alexander Pierce’s second in command. If anything, you were more dangerous than Pierce himself.

If only Fury knew all you'd done for SHIELD undercover of HYDRA. How many tragedies you had prevented. Sure, HYDRA had caused a lot of destruction, but it would have been ten times worse if you hadn't been at Pierce’s side, telling him to wait and to not be reckless. In some twisted way, you had helped. No one was willing to see that though. No one would believe you if you said you had helped. No one could vouch for you, because no one knew.

Hiding out the rest of your life was your only option.

It wasn't too bad. The amount of privacy you were getting was definitely enjoyable, and almost all of the time you could get by on the streets without being recognized. It wasn't hard to blend in, and slowly as time passed, you became more relaxed and less on edge all day. You had more than enough money to last you your entire life. Technically, it was Pierce’s money, but somehow you didn't feel bad stealing from the dead guy. He wasn't exactly a saint.

Truth be told, neither were you.

Summer was finally starting to lose its footing, being replaced by sweeping winds and leaves falling off their branches. The whole country seemed to collectively breathe a sigh of relief as Fall took over and heavier clothes started coming out from storage boxes. You liked the weather a little colder, so your mood was considerably better in the days that followed. It was almost surreal how you went from worrying about the fate of the world to worrying about the weather. But it was a change you didn't mind.

It was on one of these comparatively colder nights that your eyes popped open, roused from sleep because of the banging on your front door. You blinked up at the clock, seeing it was nearly 2am.

Immediately, your limbs tensed, sitting up slowly as you tried to think of who was knocking at your door so late at night. Your paranoia had died down in the last couple of years, but had you been wrong to let your guard down? Had someone found you?

The banging got more insistent, making you get up and leave your room. You were wide awake by now, standing just behind the door and staring at the dark wood. You reached for the gun you kept strapped below the lobby table, softly clicking off the safety as your left hand unlocked the door. Taking a deep breath, you opened it just enough to look out, blood running cold at the sight before you.

Steve Rogers was leaning against the doorframe, slightly hunched on himself and clutching his side. Through his hand, you could see blood pouring out steadily, almost invisible against his navy blue stealth suit. His face was severely cut up and bruised, complete with a black eye, busted lip, cut cheek and blood seeping from his forehead trailing down his face. His suit was dirty with blood and grime, and he swayed slightly on his feet. You stared at him, speechless, opening the door farther.

“I didn't know where else to go.” He choked out, eyes rolling up in his head as he fell forward. You gasped and stepped back instinctively, his body making a loud thud sound as it hit the floor. Then, he didn't move.

Your heart was beating wildly, cursing when you realized he was unconscious. You peeked out of your door, praying no one was seeing this. The hallway was empty. You stepped back over his body, fingers finding his carotid to see how bad the situation was. His heart was still beating, albeit faintly. You sat back on your heels, contemplating on what to do. How had he known where you were? And why did he come here?

I didn't know where else to go.

You groaned a bit, placing your gun back on the table before leaning down. You grabbed his body by hooking your hands under his armpits and pulling. It took a lot of effort to drag him enough to close the door, so no one would walk by and see what was going on. You braced yourself, taking a breath. Moving him from the lobby all the way to the couch in the living room was gonna take every ounce of strength you had. He wasn't exactly light.

By the time you had dumped his limp form on the couch, you were breathing heavily, not used to the physical exertion. You stared at him as you caught your breath, looking back at the trail of blood on your floor. He was still bleeding, and it hadn't slowed at all. Looking at his face, which was almost white as a sheet, you realized you had to do something before he went into hypovolemic shock.

The next two hours were spent cutting away the Captain's suit in order to mend the gash on his side. As you worked, placing towel after towel on the wide wound, you realized it wasn't the only source of blood loss. He had a bullet in his shoulder, a deep gash on his arm that would definitely need stitches, and what looked like a stab wound in his thigh.

Damn. Someone had seriously messed him up.

It was a tedious process, getting the bleeding to stop. You could see the differences immediately though. You guessed it was the serum that helped heal him quicker than normal humans, but turns out even the serum needed external help. Looks like Captain America wasn't invincible after all.

By the time you had cleaned him up and made a half decent bed for him on the couch, it was almost dawn. You sighed and sat back on the chair you'd placed before him, looking over your work and nodding in approval. You'd done well, considering it had been ages since you'd last had to stitch up a wound. As you waited for him to wake up and arranged pain meds for him, you allowed yourself to finally think about the situation at hand.

He couldn't have possibly been here to take you down. He was in no condition to do that. Coming here to attack you when he was already injured so bad would be suicide. He knew you enough to know that. You thought of the past then, remembering when you had assisted in various missions led by the Captain. Before Brock Rumlow took over, you had led the STRIKE team. Needless to say, you knew the Captain well. You knew how his mind operated, what train of thought he used while working missions. He strategies were often stealthy, but not unpredictable. You would even say you were past the stage of acquaintances. Well, up until he found out about HYDRA. You had often wondered over the years how he had felt when he found out about you being in on the HYDRA thing. You hadn't stuck around to see. Had he been shocked? Upset? Or did he anticipate it? Did it bother him at all?

You looked back at him from where you stood at the kitchen sink. He was still motionless, though he was breathing easier now. You could see the top of his blond head over the back of the couch. You turned back to the sink, concentrating on getting the blood out from under your nails.

So he didn't come here to take you down. But he knew where you lived. Who else knew? Would someone else show up now? In better shape and much angrier than him, ready to run you into the ground? You thought of the various guns and knives hidden in every corner of the house, feeling yourself stiffen. If someone did come, you would be ready. You hadn't made your way so far up HYDRA's ranks by kissing ass. You knew how to fight. Back in the day, you rivaled Black Widow. Sure, you were rusty and extremely out of practice, but you weren't helpless.

Your tank top clung to you by now, but thankfully not stained with blood. You walked back to the living room, placing a glass of water and some paracetamol on the table next to the couch. You sat down on a chair on the other side of the room, sighing. Then, you waited.

It was probably another hour or so before he stirred, arm twitching and inhaling sharply, eyes squeezing. It was the pain registering, you knew. Then, his eyes opened. You could see the exact moment his memory came rushing back to him, head turning and body freezing when his eyes met yours across the room. You nodded in acknowledgment.

“Captain Rogers.”

He stared a bit more before his eyes traveled around the room, taking his surroundings in. His next focus was himself, hands going over the various bandages now covering his bare torso. With a little effort, he sat up.

“I didn't expect you to fix me up.” His voice was slightly rough. He cleared his throat.

“Then why did you come here?”

He seemed to think about it before shrugging. “It was a bit of a gamble. Best case scenario, I thought you'd let me bleed to death on your living room floor.”

You huffed out a scornful laugh. “You think I'm that cold?”

He didn't reply to that, eyes falling on the medicine on the table. He silently asked for your permission and you nodded. He reached for the tablets and the glass, downing in gratefully.

“How'd you know where I lived?” You asked the burning question.

He was sitting up now, though his movements were still a bit shaky as he placed the empty glass back down. “I've known for a while.”

That made you grit your teeth. A while? What did that mean? Had he been watching you? Had someone else been watching you on his orders? What did he have planned? For the first time, you felt a little sliver of doubt creep into your mind. Had you made a mistake by helping him?

You had forgotten how perceptive he was, because the next minute, his lip was twitching up a bit. “Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you.”

You nodded slowly. “Uh-huh. That's a little hard to believe.”

His smile widened just a bit at that, and he shook his head. “If I wanted you hurt, I'd have done it already. Believe me, I've had many chances.”

You scowled, uncrossing your arms and leaning forward. “What do you want? Why are you here? And I need straight answers.”

He stared at you a bit, eyes running over your face. You stared right back, face set in stone. You took in his wide eyes, realizing you'd forgotten how blue they were. Something stirred inside you and you pushed it down. For Christ's sake, right now wasn't the time to be thinking about your old crush on the Captain.

“I need a place to lay low.” He said finally, voice low and soft. “Just for a while.”

“I'm sure SHIELD has at least one safehouse in Ukraine.”

“It's been compromised.”

You huffed out a laugh, shaking your head. “And this was your second best option? Coming to the enemy's apartment?”

He leaned his head back on the couch, eyes still fixed on you. His expression softened to one of amusement. “I'm not the most up-to-speed guy, but I'm pretty sure that enemies don't patch you up.”

You watched him for a bit. He continued talking.

“I came here looking like I went twenty rounds with a block of cement. But you didn't kill me. You did the exact opposite. So yes, I was right about this being the second best choice.”

Your face burned a bit and you sat back again. “I'm pretty sure a block of cement’s got nothing on you.” You mumbled.

He huffed out a laugh at that, followed by silence. You watched as a line of blood trailed from his forehead wound down the side of his face.

“Crap, you pulled a stitch.” You stood up, moving to grab some cotton and medicinal alcohol. You leaned before him, wiping the dark fluid before pressing an alcohol soaked wad to his wound. He winced.

“Sorry.” You muttered as you worked to close the wound again. Both of you remained silent for a few moments.

“Y/N?” You froze, hand still holding the needle, halfway through making a suture. He'd never said your name. Well, not your first name at least.

“Thank you.”

You shakily finished up, jaw clenched. “For not killing you?”

He smiled then, and you both knew it was a thank you for so much more. “Sure.”

……………….

Steve slept like a dead man for most of the morning, only waking when it was time for lunch. By then, you'd set up the guest room for him and made him something to eat, both of which he was grateful for.

“I would have been okay with the couch.” He had said as he stared at the room. He was still a bit dizzy on his feet. He'd lost a shitload of blood, and you weren't exactly giving him transfusions here. He'd need time before he was back in form. You shrugged a bit.

“That's my favorite couch. I want you off it so I can sit there and binge watch Netflix like I always do.”

He snorted but said nothing further. You weren't the only one who knew him. He knew you too, enough to know that you used snarky one-liners to diffuse even slightly emotional situations.

As you moved to leave the room so he could have some privacy, he said something that made you stop in your tracks.

“I know about you Y/N.” He muttered. You stood in the doorway, staring at him, but he didn't look at you. His eyes were trained to the ground. You swallowed a bit. Of course he thought you were evil to the bone. You were HYDRA after all.

“You know nothing about me.” You replied.

“No.” He immediately interrupted, looking at you finally. “I do. I know what you did for HYDRA. Or more specifically, what you didn't do for HYDRA.”

You hesitated, eyebrows furrowing. “How…?”

“It's not hard to realize what your intentions were. All I did was follow the paper trail you left behind.”

Silence descended on the two of you as you shuffled on your feet, realizing this answered a lot of questions.

“That's why you came here. Because you knew I wasn't really the bad guy.”

Steve nodded. “And because I trust you. Even now.”

Your lips twitched a bit with a smile, making him smile too. You nodded and turned around, shutting the door softly behind you. You let your smile widen.

The very air felt lighter now. You hadn't realized how much lighter clearing your name would make you feel. Now you knew.

……………

How long did it require a super soldier to go from the brink of death to perfect physical fitness? The answer to that was 4 days. It took Steve 4 days to be back to normal, which was insane with the amount of injuries he had. You knew obviously how his body was doing it. But it didn't mean it didn't shock you.

In those four days, Steve brought you up to speed on everything that had been happening since your disappearance. He talked about how many HYDRA bases him and his fellow Avengers had taken down. How the pursuit of one of HYDRA's mutants had sent him all over Europe, ending up there in Ukraine.

“I'm sure his trail is cold by now.” He said. “But I'm not too mad about it. I need to figure out a way to trap him. We both know what will happen if I go up against him face to face again.” He gestured to his various wounds.

“I'm sure you'll figure it out.” You grinned. “Like that time in Detroit. Remember that?”

His smile was wide. “Or down in Panama. That was pretty rough too.”

You laughed, nodding. “See? You've got nothing to worry about. Soon as you're back in shape, this guy's toast.”

Steve leaned back in his chair. “You might be a bit overly confident in me, but sure.”

You scoffed, rolling your eyes. “Please. I have just the right amount of confidence in you, Rogers.”

Steve shrugged. “I could use your input, you know?”

You raised an eyebrow, stilling. “My input?”

“Yeah. You and I always made a great team. And be honest with me, you're not made for the white picket fence life, are you?”

You remained silent for a bit. “I don't know…”

Steve leaned forward on the table, eyes burning into yours. “You've operated within HYDRA for so long because you wanted to make things better. This is your chance to do that in the open.”

You smiled sadly. “And what makes you think I won't be executed for being part of the enemy?”

That made him smile. His hand reached forward across the table to cover yours. Your heart skipped as you looked down at it.

“Because I'll be right there to make sure that doesn't happen.”

You threw his line back at him then. “You might be a bit overly confident in me, Steve.”

He did the same, a smile on his face. “I have just the right amount of confidence in you.”

………………….

On the fourth day, one of Steve's Avenger friends finally got in contact with him, tracking him to where he was staying at your place. He introduced himself as Sam, a guy with an exceptionally sharp wit and enough loyalty to last four whole generations after him. He brought along a new suit for Steve, greeting you silently. Apparently, Steve had told him about you, hence why he hadn't attacked you yet.

Once Steve was dressed in a brand new stealth suit (did they grow those on trees or something?), Sam left the apartment, saying he'd be waiting downstairs.

Steve lingered in the living room, watching you. “So, are you coming?”

You hesitated, shuffling on your feet. You wanted to go, you really did. But the hesitation was still there. You couldn't pinpoint what was holding you back.

Steve sighed, walking over to where you stood. “What can I say to change your mind?”

You shook your head. “You misunderstand me, Steve. I'm not- it's complicated. You know why I did what I did. But everyone else doesn't-”

“Maybe everyone else doesn't matter.” His face was hard set, staring at you with a determination that was very characteristic of him. You blinked.

“I know you.” His hands grabbed your arms. “I know your intentions. I know your reasoning. And I want you with me, by my side. If anyone else has a problem with that, they can fuck off.”

You stilled in his grip. “America's Golden Boy shouldn't swear.” You mumbled, not being able to take your eyes off him.

Steve huffed, using his grip on your arms to pull you closer to him. Your breath halted at the proximity, at his manhandling of you, your eyes falling to his lips. They were plump, rosy and slightly parted. You felt his hold on your arms tighten. His face was inches from yours.

“Come with me?” He asked, voice barely above a whisper. You inhaled, his scent filling your nose, a mix of cologne, engine oil and leather, and something that was him alone. Your eyes fluttered shut.

“Okay.” Your lips brushed his, and you couldn't take it anymore, you closed the minute distance between you two.

His lips were soft but firm against yours, hands loosening on your arms to travel down your sides and behind you, settling just at the small of your back. His palms pressed to your spine to pull you closer to him, your front connecting with his torso. Your heart was beating a mile a minute, something you were sure he could feel. Your own hands ran over his biceps and shoulders, trying to find purchase. His head tilted a bit to deepen the kiss, and you pushed your lips harder to his, feeling his tongue brush against yours.

His moan made you break out of your trance-like state, realizing how much you needed air. You pulled back just enough to suck in a gulping breath, forcing your heavy eyelids open to be greeted with his baby blues. His nose nudged yours.

“I'll come, but I don't know how much help I'll be, considering how dizzy I am now.” Your words were slightly slurred. Steve chuckled, his breath hitting your lips, making you smile. His arms still held you close to him.

“I'll make do.” Was his reply. You couldn't stop grinning. And neither could he.

.................

As always, feedback is appreciated!

[p-artsypants]

Nine Lives (1- The Plan)

When Adrien Agreste is scheduled to go to a Military School in Germany, Chat Noir must make a critical decision. Does he give up his Miraculous? Or does he give up his life as Adrien? I'll save you the trouble of guessing, he gives up being Adrien.

Full disclosure, I’ve been planning this in my head for a few years now, but I just wanted to write other stuff first. But now, I’ve fallen back into Miraculous Ladybug hell, and I had to get this out. I have no update schedule. But I hope you all enjoy!

FF.net | Ao3

—

Finally, it was done. All his planning, all his underhanded dealings. It was all worth it. Now he'd live in peace. That is, after he died.

It was complicated.

Adrien Agreste was planning something big.

It all started when he came home from a late night photoshoot two weeks ago. As soon as he walked in the door, his father was standing on top of the stairs, staring at him.

"My office. Now."

His father never even said his name. He knew this had to be bad.

It turned out to be even worse.

The chairs in the office were uncomfortable, and hard. His father looked at his computer and files on his desk, anywhere to avoid eye contact.

Finally, he looked up briefly. "You're moving to Germany.” He stated.

These words were French, yet they might have been Swahli, because all comprehension flew from Adrien’s head.

“What?”

“You heard me,” said Gabriel, heartlessly. “Germany.”

“G-Ge-Germany?!” Adrien stuttered.

"Don't stutter, boy. It makes you look foolish."

"But—Germany!”

"That's what I said."

"But why?"

“There is a very prestigious school in Tannenwalde. If you insist on going to school, I’ll have to ask you to attend on my terms.” Gabriel stood, his hands behind his back, and paced over to the windows. “I only want what’s best for you, after all.”  

"I think...it's a lousy idea.” Adrien crossed his arms. Though it was an act of rebellion, it sounded weak in his ears.  

Mr. Agreste met his eyes, a look of intense focus on his face. "Listen here, boy."

Oh no, here we go.

"You have no right to speak to me like that! I am your father and you will do as I say! I own you!”

Adrien didn’t like the use of the word ‘own.’ Was he a slave? A pet? Or a trophy?

He winced. “Did you even think about how I'd feel?”

“Yes, but you’ll get over it.”

“Not likely! This is my future!”

“Watch your tone.” His father glared. “And I know it’s your future, that’s why I took it into my own hands. You’re only 17 years old. You’re still a child, just learning how to walk. You can’t possibly make these kinds of decisions on your own.”

“I wasn’t planning on it! Father—Germany?!”

“Yes, Adrien! How many times must you make me repeat it?”

Adrien stood and paced. “This is just unreal…I don’t…I’m only 17! I can’t live that far away from everyone! This is the only place I’ve ever known.”

“Your bodyguard will be going with you.”

Stellar.

“And it’s only a day’s drive, it’s not that far.”

It is when there’s an akuma attack, he thought bitterly. “Why?”

“I already said, there’s a prestigious school—…”

Adrien cut him off. “But why now? Why not when I started school? Why do you have to do this to me?”

“Paris is too dangerous for you. What with all this superhero nonsense.”

Adrien slouched in his seat. “Isn’t it dangerous everywhere? Why not just keep me home, where you know I’m protected?”

“Oh, did I not mention? Saint Erhard’s is a Military school. Highly regulated dorms, schedules planned out to the minute, maximum security. I know you’ll be fine.”

Adrien’s mouth fell open. “You’re joking, right? I can’t believe this. This is completely unfair!”

Gabriel looked away from him, and returned to his desk. “Life is unfair. It’s nothing you won’t get used to. It’s a lot more fair if you respect my wishes and listen to what I have to say.”

Adrien shook his head, his body filled with rebellion. “I won’t do it.”

Gabriel glanced at him, quirked an eyebrow and frowned. “You will. You’re enrolled and set to begin at the next trimester. You have no choice. I know what I’m doing. End of discussion. You are dismissed.”

“Discussion?! More like commandment! Please don’t make me do this!”

“Adrien, you are dismissed.” His father raised his voice. Then he turned back to his computer without another word.

The teen, more angry then he had ever been in his life, stomped to the door. Before he left, he threw, “I hate you,” over his shoulder, and then slammed the door.

Adrien was fuming, surely there was smoke coming out of his ears.

Plagg zipped out of his jacket and whizzed in front of his face.

“Germany! Why that man is a monster! German cheese is vastly inferior to French!”

Adrien snatched the cat out of the air, a bit forcefully. “Not now Plagg!”

When he reached his room the threw open the door, slammed it behind him, dropped Plagg, drop kicked his backpack, and slammed face first onto his bed, where he laid silently for many moments.

The black cat came an nestled next to the boy, a small paw playing with a tendril of hair. “I’m sorry for joking. I’m not good at taking things seriously.”

Adrien didn’t answer.

“Please say something Adrien, these are the emotions that get someone possessed by an akuma. If you get taken, who will help Ladybug? Surely, you wouldn’t make her fight you, would you?”

That got a response. The teen turned his face to his Kwami. “Plagg…what am I going to do? It’s easy being Chat Noir when my dad ignores me. But Germany? I’ll never be able to help Ladybug! Forget Hawkmoth, I’ll never have a minute to myself! This is a mess!” He buried his face back in his pillow. “I want to die.”

Plagg sighed. “C’mon. You don’t want to die. You can’t help Ladybug if you’re dead. And…would you really make me find someone else to be Chat Noir? Some poor boy that can’t afford Camembert more then once a month? You’d do that to me?”

Adrien could tell the Cat would actually miss him if he was gone, and he was trying to convey that, in his own way.

“Well, I don’t wish I was dead. I wish Adrien was dead.”

���How would you manage that? You can’t kill one without the other…unless you faked it.”

Adrien had to hand it to Plagg. Sometimes his wisdom of a thousand years really showed. ���Fake it, huh?”

The kwami stared at him, wide-eyed. “Now, don’t do anything rash. You know your father sometimes changes his mind.”

“Yeah, like the amount of times he’s pulled me out of school, because he changed his mind. Fencing, piano, Chinese, modeling…those were all his ideas. He made me do all of those, despite the fact I didn’t want to.”  

Plagg was quiet for a moment, thinking. “So what are you going to do?”

Adrien was getting angry again, and had to take a calming breath. “God, I wish there was someone I could talk to about this.”

“What about Ladybug?”

That much was obvious. It just took some prompting to get to. With only a nod, Adrien uttered ‘Claws Out,’ and Chat Noir was off into the night.

It wasn’t a patrol night, so Chat just had to roam around and hope for the best. He withdrew his baton, and called his Lady.

Miraculously, she answered. “Chat? Is everything okay?”

“Um…not really. Like, Paris is fine, but I’m not. Can we talk? Like, face to face?”

Her soothing hum came from the line, “Of course, Chaton.”

The city was peaceful, but ever bustling. The lights glittered in the cool autumn mist, and the sounds were drowned out in the height of the Eiffel Tower. Chat had arrived first, but was only alone for a moment before Ladybug arrived.

“Hey,” she greeted softly.

“Hi,” he returned.

She hurried her steps to him and enveloped him in a comforting hug. Whatever was wrong, she would do her best to fix it.

“So,” she began, after many moments of silence. “What’s wrong Chat?”

Chat pulled away from her to sit, his knees up and rested his arms on them, folding his hands in front of his face. “My lady…would you be able to fight without me?”

“No.” She didn’t even hesitate. “You have always saved my butt, and swooped in in the nick of time. I just…I know I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. Why would you ask such a thing?”

Chat took a shuttering breath. “My father wants to send me away. Countries away.”

Ladybug’s eye brows rose. “I—…” She didn’t know what to say.

“I don’t want to go. Some of my friends I could keep in contact with, but you…my best friend…” His brows knotted together. “I don’t know what to do,” he whispered.

Ladybug had never seen her partner so lost. Her heart went out to him. “Oh kitty…” She rested her head on his shoulder, and wrapped her arms around him. She felt him press a soft kiss to her head as he leaned into her embrace. “I don’t know what to do either…” She bit her lip. “I’m…I’m still a kid, there’s so much I don’t know…did you talk to your kwami?”

He hummed. “Plagg…helped me come up with pretty extreme solution.”

“And that is?”

Chat hesitated. “For the sake of my secret identity, I probably shouldn’t tell you.”

She nodded in understanding, as she thought, “God, I don’t want you to have to give up being Chat. You’re my partner, I trust you with my life.”

“As I trust mine with you.” He admitted. “And my heart.”

She scratched the back of his head with affection and then asked. “Have you met Master Fu?”

“Oh!” He shouted, nearly forgetting. Chat sighed with relief. Having a real human adult on their side really made him feel like there was a security net underneath them for this exact scenario. “Yes, but…I don’t know how to get in contact with him.”

“I’ll reach out to him for you.”

“Thank you, My Lady.” Chat said sincerely.

Ladybug smiled back, “and if there’s anything else you need, you just let me know. Okay? Chat Noir comes first, and that includes who you are under the mask.”

Feeling a bit more relieved, Chat sat up straighter and managed a genuine smile. “Thank you Ladybug, I knew you’d be able to help.”

—

The next day, Adrien came home from school. He hadn’t had the courage to tell any of his friends that he would be leaving soon, in one way or another. So he acted as normal as possible, and as far as he could tell, no one suspected a thing.

“Your Chinese Instructor is sending a substitute again today,” Nathalie explained. “Mr. Chang, if you remember him.”

Adrien smiled. Ladybug worked fast! “Oh, okay, Nathalie! He was really good, and I liked him.”

The secretary offered a twitch of a smile and went about her business.

Master Fu arrived within the hour, bowing respectfully to Adrien. “It is good to see you again,” he said in Chinese.

“It’s nice to see you too.” Adrien responded in kind.

Satisfied, Nathalie closed the door and left them alone.

“So, Ladybug said you needed to speak with me.”

Adrien invited him over to the couch and sat heavily. “Yeah, I have…a pretty big problem.”

“Regarding the Miraculous?”

“Well, sort of. It effects it.”

Fu nodded, urging him to continue.

“My father wants to send me to a Military school in Germany. 24 hour surveillance, and even if I was able to get away, it would take hours to get here to fight an akuma.”

“Well, I suppose I’ll just have to find a new Chat Noir.” Fu said easily, stroking his beard.

Adrien winced, clenching his fists.

Plagg looked to Fu with sadness, and then anger. “That’s it!? You’d just replace him!? That’s not why he called you here! If you take that ring…I’ll— I’ll—“ He frowned, knowing that he couldn’t do anything.

“Now we know that Plagg is willing to do what it takes, are you Adrien?”

The question stunned Adrien, as he hunched in on himself. “I…” There was real, true conflict in his eyes. “Chat Noir is the only freedom I’ve ever had. And now that I’ve had it, I can’t go back. It…it would destroy me.” He nodded once to himself, steeling his resolve. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Even if it means hurting those you love?”

With still great hesitation, he nodded. “Yeah…”

Fu smiled wisely. “You would not be the first Miraculous holder to seek a new identity. I myself had to do it once before. Whether they were compromised by public knowledge, or they wanted to invest full time in being a hero, the reasons vary, but the process changes little. Though in this modern world, we will have to take new steps. Are you 100% committed to this?”

“I just have a few concerns…”

“And they would be?”

“If I were to run away, my father would hire PIs to find me. He will not stop until he finds me.”

“So we make it that he won’t look for you.”

Adrien’s understanding grin was wavering. “You mean…fake my death?”

“It is the most drastic, but obvious solution. But you are a celebrity, with a very rich and powerful father. Drastic means to an end.”

“I figured.”

“When are you being shipped out?”

“My father said I’m starting next trimester…which is only in a few weeks.”

“Then we better work quickly. I will set up a private bank account for you and make up a Birth Certificate. Since you are younger than 18, I’ll will be your legal guardian. It only makes sense, right?”

Adrien could only nod, a lump in his throat.

“You can stay with me until you are ready to go out on your own. I don’t have much room, but it’ll be a safe place to go. I also don’t have a lot of money, so don’t expect me to pay for university.”

“My father gives me a pretty good allowance in my personal bank account. He hardly checks the balance either, so I can funnel it into the new account.”

“If it is your own personal account, that will work, I think. I will need you to create a private email address so that I can contact you with the details. Are you following me?”

“Yes sir.”

“Alright, your new surname will be Fu, same as mine. But you get to pick your first name, whatever you desire.”

Adrien thought a moment. “Emile. Emile Fu.”

[batsandbloodmoons]

Pagan Origins: Christmas

WARNING: LONG POST

So I’ve always had a love for knowing why we as people do certain things, it’s kind of a strange marriage between history and psychology. This really blossomed when I became a witch and started working on my craft. As part of developing my Sabbat traditions, and I plan on celebrating the pagan origins of Christmas as well as Yule, I figure I should learn about the history of them.

One of the things that baffled me were the major holidays that are celebrated in the United States. I was raised Roman Catholic, and have long since became disillusioned with the Church and ultimately switched to paganism. But I remember as a child, wondering about why we gave and received presents on Christmas when it was supposed to be Jesus’s birthday, why did we believe in a jolly fat man that delivered the presents, and why did we have a tree in the house? When I posed these questions to my family as a child, I never got a satisfactory answer... until now.

*Note* the following is for how Christmas is celebrated in the United States and are not universal to all cultures. Nor is it a hit at any religion.

❄️☀️🎄🎁🎅🎁🎄☀️❄️

GIFT-GIVING AND MERRYMENT

This custom started as far back as Ancient Rome and thier festival of Saturnalia. Originally, a farmers’ festival that was dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture and the harvest. According to Roman Mythology, Saturn was a titan and the father of Cronus, thus grandfather to Jupiter. Saturn was eventually overthrown by Cronus and moved west into the Italian peninsula. He then taught the people he meant there how to farm the land. In Greek Mythology, Saturn doesn’t have a name.

Saturnalia starts on December 17th and lasts until the 24th. Homes are decorated in wreaths and greenery. Feasts and parties werr thrown. People would overeat, overdrink and burst into songs in the streets (origin of caroling). Originally, the festival was only one day but grow longer and longer over time. By the time Rome converted to Christianity, Saturnalia now incorporated other festivals including Sigillaria, the day of gift giving which was on 12/23, and Died Natalie Solis Invicti, the birthday of the sun god Sol Invictus, which was on 12/25 because that is when it is noticeable that day is getting longer.

Saturnalia was so popular with the people that cancelling it was unthinkable when the Christian Coversion happened. So Saturnalia was transformed into a Christian holy day instead by replacing the sun god with baby Jesus. Despite the fact, that the Bible gave references to the time of Jesus’s birth being around the lambing season, in other words springtime. (bbc.co.uk)

SANTA CLAUS

Santa Claus has a number of origin stories and a number of different forms depending on the country in question. This will focus on the American version of Santa.

He can be traced back to a monk named Nicholas, later St. Nicholas by the Church, who was born around 280 A.D., in modern day Turkey. According to St. Nick’s legend, he was born into a wealthy family but gave away all of his possessions to travel the country and help the sick and the poor. One of his best know of these stories was when he raised enough money to cover the dowries of three sisters so they could marry instead of being sold into slavery or prostitution by thier father who couldn’t afford to care for them.

Over the course of the centuries, he became the protector of children and sailors. He died on December 6th, which became the day of his feast. It is also said to a lucky day for making a big purchase or getting married. By the time of Renaissance, he was the most popular saint in Europe and remained so during the Protestant Reformation, especially in Holland.

St. Nick was introduced into mainstream American culture at the end of the 18th century. In December 1773 and 1774, a New York newspaper reported that groups of Dutch families have gathered to celebrate St.Nick on the anniversary of his death.

The name Santa Claus evolved from his Dutch nickname, Sinster Klaad, which is a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas.

As his popularity grew, St. Nick was described as everything from a rascal with a blue three-cornered hat, red waistcoat, and yellow stockings to a man wearing a broad-brimmed hat and a “huge pair of Flemish Trunk hose.”

The Santa that most Americans know today didn’t emerge until 1822, when Clement Clarke Moore, an Episcopal minister, wrote a poem about Santa. He described Santa flying from house to house on Christmas Eve in a sleigh led by eight reindeer, leaving presents for deserving children. He gave Santa the ability to magically squeeze down the chimney and his love of milk and cookies.

In 1881, Santa got his iconic look from political cartoonist Thomas Nast, who used Moore’s poem as inspiration. His cartoon depicted Santa as rotund, cheerful man with a full, white beard, while holding a sack laden with toys. It was Nast who gave him his famous red suit trimmed with white fur, the Northpole workshop, the elves, and his wife, Mrs. Claus.

Other versions of St. Nicholas:

-Christkind or Kris Kringle was believed to deliver presents to well-behaved Swiss and German Children. Meaning “Christ Child”, Christkind is an angel-like often accompanied by St. Nick on Holiday missions.

- In Scandinavia, a jolly elf named Jultomten was thought to deliver gifts in a sleigh drawn by goats.

-English legend says that Fathrt Christmas visits each home on Christmas Eve to fill children’s stocking with treats.

-Pere Noel is responsible for filling the shoes of French children with treats that were left by the fireplace.

-In Russia, it is believed that an elderly woman named Babouschka purposely gave the three wise men the wrong directions to Bethlehem so that they couldn’t find Jesus. Later, she felt remorseful, but could not find the men to unto the damage. To this day on, 1/5, she visits Russian children leaving gifts at their bedsides in hope that one of them is the baby Jesus and she will be forgiven.

-In Italy, a woman called La Befana, a kindly witch who rides a broomstick down the chimneys of Italian homes to deliver toys into the stocking of lucky children. (History.com)

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSE REINDEER

Rudolph was created over a hundred years after the other eight reindeer, in the 1920’s, by Robert L. May, a copywriter at the Montgomery Ward department store.

In 1939, May wrote a Christmas-themed story to bring holiday traffic into his store, which is the story Americans know today. In 1949, one of May’s friends, Johnny Marks, wrote a short song based on the poem. It was recorded by Gene Autry. The television movie, narrated by Burl Ives, was released in 1964. (History.com)

CHRISTMAS TREES

Plants and trees that remained green year had a special meaning for ancient people. One myth I heard, but couldn’t find a source for, for the reason Evergreens stay green was that. During the first winter, the sun spoke to the trees and told them that he would be resting for a few months and told them not to loose faith in his return. Months later the sun had not returned yet, many trees and plants began to lost faith and dropped thier leaves in thier despair. All except the Evergreens. When the Sun finally returned he saw what had happened, disappointed in those who lost faith, he cursed them to lose thier leaves every year while the Evergreens were allowed to keep their needles.

Another belief is that Evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness when hung in the home.

In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, which falls on December 21st and 22nd. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and the winter came very year because the sun had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun would began to regain strength. Evergreens remind them of all the plants that would grow again when the sun was strong and summer would return.

Even ancient Egyptians worshipped the sun, in the form of Ra. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from the illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes to symbolized the triumph of life over death.

Early Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. They decorated their homes and temples with Evergreens. In Northern Europe, the Celtic Druids also decorated their temples with Evergreens as a symbol of everlasting life. Vikings would bring whole trees inside to preserve the spirit of nature.

However Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we know it. In the 16th century, Christians would build pyramids out of wood and decorate them with evergreens and candles. It was widely believed that Martin Luther, the 16th century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. The story goes that while walking home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of the stars twinkling amidst the evergreen trees. To recreate this for his family, he hung a tree’s branched with lighted candles.

In 1659 the General Court of Massachusettsenacted a law that made any observance of Christmas illegal because Christmas was too pagan in thier Puritan eyes. People were fined for hanging decorations, singing carols, decorating trees or any other joyful expression. That is until the 19th century when an influx of German and Irish immigrants came to America.

Before the then, Americans found Christmas trees to be an oddity m. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830’s by German immigrants in Pennsylvania, although the trees had already been a long standing tradition in German households. But as late as 1840’s, Christmas trees were still seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.

That changed in 1846, when Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert were illustrated in a London newspaper, posing with thier children around a Christmas tree. Due to her popularity, Christmas trees became fashionable through out British and American societies.

By the 1890’s, Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and the tree’s popularity was on the rise in the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about, 4 feet in height, while Americans liked tall trees reaching from the ceiling to the floor.

The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees with homemade ornaments, while German-Americans continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. The invention of electricity brought about Christmas lights, allowing trees to glow for days in end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition. (History.com)

MISTLETOE

Mistletoe is actually a poisonous plant and its use as a peaceful symbol is rooted in Norse Mythology.

Baldr, the son of Frigg and Odin, was one of the most beloved of the gods. But he was plagued by dreams of his own death. So in an effort to protect her son, Frigg made everything: plant, animal, or rock, living in or growing in the earth, swear never to harm Baldr. As a result, he became invincible and the other gods began to use him for target practice because he always survived. But Loki, being his usual mischievous self, realize that mistletoe had been missed by Frigg, as it didn’t actually grow on the ground. He fashioned a weapon from some mistletoe. Whether that weapon was an arrow, dart, or spear depends on which version is told. But Loki persuades Hod, Baldr’s blind brother, to strike Baldr with the mistletoe weapon during a target practice session. This ensured that Hod took the immediate blame. Baldr died from a single wound and he was mourned deeply by all, especially his mother. Some versions say he was brought back to life, but most agree about what happened after his death, that Frigg‘ tears became mistletoe’s pearlescent berries, and in her grief, Frigg decreaded that mistletoe shall become a symbol of peace and love. Which is why now, people kiss under it today. (Mistletoe.org.uk)

HOLLY

Holly is another evergreen that is believed to ward off evil spirits when planted outside the house. When brought indoors, it increases fertility. Holly is believed to be linked with masculinity and most people use the holly bushes that produce red berries. But it is female holly bushes that produce said berries. Ivy is often the female equivalent to holly’s masculinity.

WREATH

It was difficult to find a definitive source about wreaths but the general consensus is that wreaths were made in a circle out of evergreens (holly, Laurel, or pine) to represent either the sun and life, or the wheel of the year. In fact the word Yule is believed to have stemmed from the Norse word “Jol” meaning wheel.

CANDY CANES

These are entirely Christian and were invented in 1670 when a German choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral bent all white sugar sticks into canes for the children who attended the ceremonies. The shape is believe to represent a shepherd’s cane or the letter “J” for Jesus. After the advent of mass production, in the 1950’s, the red stripes were added. The red represented the blood of Jesus and the white was his purity. The three finer stripes were said to be the Holy Trinity (God, Jesus, and the Joly Spirit). The hardness is to symbolize the solid foundation of the Church. The peppermint flavor is supposed to stem from an herb called hyssop because, according to the Old Testament, hyssop was used to symbolize the purity of Jesus and his sacrifice. (Candyhistory.net)

ANGELS AND STARS

These refers to the debate of the tree toppers, angels or stars. The angel is represent the angel Gabriel, who came to Mary to ask her to bear God’s son, Jesus. The star refers to the Star of Bethlehem that wise men supposedly followed to find.

However since it was discussed above that Christmas lights are representations of the nighttime stars, then it could be argue that the star on top of the tree and being the largest, could be the sun, as it is the closest thus largest star to Earth.

🎄Please feel free to add to this as I tried to get most famous symbols of Christmas!! 🎄

[sketchingtina]

Fröhlichen Nikolaus! Ich hoffe das eure Schuhe reich befüllt waren. Little Christmas illustration I did in celebration of ‘Nikolaus’, a holiday we celebrate in several parts of Europe (mostly central Europe like Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, etc). You clean your shoes (well boots) on the evening of the 5th December and then during the night Nikolaus (Saint Nick) will come and give you candy and maybe a present. Well if you were a good person during the year. The 6th December is also the national day of Finland, so happy birthday Finland! :D Also, this is available as little sticker on my Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/SketchingTina?asc=u I also hope to put up some original Christmas drawings on my Etsy during the next few days: https://www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/SketchingTina And if you want to see more of my art follow me here: Instagram Twitter YouTube

[brookston]

Holidays 10.3

Holidays

Brenda Lee Day (Lithonia, Georgia)

But British Day (UK)

California Clean Air Day

Dysgraphia Awareness Day

Francisco Morazan Day (Honduras)

Fullmetal Alchemist Day

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day

International Musketeer Day

Leiden Day (Netherlands)

Look at the Leaves Day

Mean Girls Day

Mickey Mouse Club Day

Morazán Day (Soldier’s Day; Honduras)

National Boyfriend Day

National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day

National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery & Understanding

National Education Day (Kiribati)

National Family TV Show Day

National Kevin Day

National Techies Day

National Virus Appreciation Day

National Wide Awakes Day

Oktoberfest ends (Munich, Germany; began 9.16)

Oschophoria (Ancient Greece)

Relief of Leiden Day (Netherlands)

Scottish Museums Day (UK)

Semana Morazánica (Honduras)

Stevie Ray Vaughan Day (Texas)

Unity Day (Germany)

Universal Children's Day (UN)

Virus Appreciation Day

World Day of Medical Social Work

World Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Day

World Romance Scam Prevention Day

World Temperance Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Dionysus’ Day

Global Smoothie Day

National Caramel Custard Day

National No Sugar Day

National Soft Taco Day

1st Tuesday in October

Customer Experience Day [1st Tuesday]

IEEE Day [1st Tuesday]

National Advising Day [1st Tuesday]

National Fruit at Work Day [1st Tuesday]

National Night Out (Alternative) [1st Tuesday]

News Engagement Day [1st Tuesday]

Independence Days

Dershowo Musograd (Declared; 1990) [unrecognized]

Iraq (from UK, 1932)

National Foundation Day (a.k.a. Gaecheonjeol or Kae Chun Jul; Korea)

Timo (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Abd-al-Masih (Christian; Saint)

Adalgott (Christian; Saint)

A. Y. Jackson (Artology)

Dionysius the Areopagite (Christian; Saint)

Eccentricity Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Ewald the Black and Ewald the Fair (a.k.a. The Two Ewalds; Christian; Saint)

Feast of Free Spirits

Festival of Bacchus

Francis Borgia (Christian; Saint)

George Bell and John Raleigh Mott (Episcopal Church)

Gerard of Brogne (Christian; Saint)

Gluck (Positivist; Saint)

Gomer Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Henry Lerolle (Artology)

Hesychius of Sinai (Christian; Saint)

Maximian of Bagai (Christian; Saint)

Njord’s Blot (Pagan)

Penny Pig (Muppetism)

Pierre Bonnard (Artology)

Szilárd Bogdánffy (Christian; Blessed)

Théodore Guérin (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 19 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [19 of 24]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [19 of 24]

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [40 of 53]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series; 1952)

The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series; 1960)

Black Lagoon (Anime Series; 2006)

Blood and Sand or Three for the Show (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 113; 1961)

Boston Legal (TV Series; 2004)

Bullwinkle’s Landing or Moosle Beach (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 114; 1961)

Can You Top This? (Radio Series; 1950)

Dark Angel (TV Series; 2000)

Death Note (Anime Series; 2006)

The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV Series; 1961)

Duck! Rabbit, Duck! (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

The Elephant Man (Film; 1980)

Extraordinary Machine, by Fiona Apple (Album; 2005)

The Family Under the Bridge, by Natalie Savage Carlson (Children’s Books; 1958)

Father Knows Best (Radio Series; 1954)

Friday Night Lights (TV Series; 2006)

Genesis, by Genesis (Album; 1983)

Gone Girl (Film; 2014)

The House at Pooh Corner, by A.A. Milne (Children’s Book; 1929) [Winnie the Pooh #3]

Lend a Paw (Disney Cartoon; 1941)

Lost in Translation (Film; 2003)

The Maltese Falcon (Film; 1941)

The Mechanical Cow (Disney Cartoon; 1927)

The Mickey Mouse Club (TV Series; 1955)

Mickey’s Delayed Date (Disney Cartoon; 1947)

Milk and Money (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Film; 2008)

One More Time (WB MM Cartoon; 1931)

One-Trick Pony (Film; 1980)

Out of the Blue, by Electric Light Orchestra (Album; 1977)

Painted Rhythm, recorded by Stan Kenton (Song; 1945)

Peter Pan’s Flight (Disneyland Attraction; 1971)

Pushing Daisies (TV Series; 2007)

Real Gone, by Tom Waits (Album; 2004)

The Secret Commonwealth, by Philip Pullman (Novel; 2019) [The Book of Dust Trilogy #2]

School of Rock (Film; 2003)

She’s Not There, by The Zombies (Song; 1966)

The Stand, by Stephen King (Novel; 1979)

The Station Agent (Film; 2003)

Star Wars Rebels (Animated TV Series; 2014)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated TV Series; 2008)

The Temptress (Film; 1926)

Timeless (TV Series; 2016)

Underdog (Animated TV Series; 1964)

Underworld, by Don De Lillo (Novel; 1997)

Yeoman of the Guard, by Gilbert & Sullivan (Comic Opera; 1888)

Zenyatta Mondatta, by the Police (Album; 1980)

Today’s Name Days

Bianca, Ewald, Udo (Austria)

Dionizije, Kandida, Svjetlana (Croatia)

Bohumil (Czech Republic)

Mette (Denmark)

Eevald, Eevo, Evald, Evert (Estonia)

Raimo (Finland)

Gérard, Sybille (France)

Bianca, Ewald, Paulina, Udo (Germany)

Dionysis (Greece)

Helga (Hungary)

Gerardo (Italy)

Elza, Gudruna, Ilizana (Latvia)

Alanta, Evaldas, Kristina, Milgintas (Lithuania)

Evald, Evelyn (Norway)

Eustachiusz, Eustachy, Ewald, Gerard, Gerarda, Gerhard, Heliodor, Józefa, Kandyd, Sierosław, Teresa (Poland)

Dionisie (Romania)

Stela (Slovakia)

Francisco, Gerardo (Spain)

Evald, Osvald (Sweden)

Dennis, Denise (Ukraine)

Erskine, Esmond, India, Kali, Kallie, Kelvin (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 276 of 2024; 89 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 40 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 21 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 19 (Jia-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 18 Tishri 5784

Islamic: 18 Rabi I 1445

J Cal: 6 Shù; Sixday [6 of 30]

Julian: 20 September 2023

Moon: 79%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 24 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Gluck]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 10 of 89)

Zodiac: Libra (Day 10 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Gort (Ivy) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 10 of 13]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.3

Holidays

Brenda Lee Day (Lithonia, Georgia)

But British Day (UK)

California Clean Air Day

Dysgraphia Awareness Day

Francisco Morazan Day (Honduras)

Fullmetal Alchemist Day

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day

International Musketeer Day

Leiden Day (Netherlands)

Look at the Leaves Day

Mean Girls Day

Mickey Mouse Club Day

Morazán Day (Soldier’s Day; Honduras)

National Boyfriend Day

National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day

National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery & Understanding

National Education Day (Kiribati)

National Family TV Show Day

National Kevin Day

National Techies Day

National Virus Appreciation Day

National Wide Awakes Day

Oktoberfest ends (Munich, Germany; began 9.16)

Oschophoria (Ancient Greece)

Relief of Leiden Day (Netherlands)

Scottish Museums Day (UK)

Semana Morazánica (Honduras)

Stevie Ray Vaughan Day (Texas)

Unity Day (Germany)

Universal Children's Day (UN)

Virus Appreciation Day

World Day of Medical Social Work

World Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Day

World Romance Scam Prevention Day

World Temperance Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Dionysus’ Day

Global Smoothie Day

National Caramel Custard Day

National No Sugar Day

National Soft Taco Day

1st Tuesday in October

Customer Experience Day [1st Tuesday]

IEEE Day [1st Tuesday]

National Advising Day [1st Tuesday]

National Fruit at Work Day [1st Tuesday]

National Night Out (Alternative) [1st Tuesday]

News Engagement Day [1st Tuesday]

Independence Days

Dershowo Musograd (Declared; 1990) [unrecognized]

Iraq (from UK, 1932)

National Foundation Day (a.k.a. Gaecheonjeol or Kae Chun Jul; Korea)

Timo (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Abd-al-Masih (Christian; Saint)

Adalgott (Christian; Saint)

A. Y. Jackson (Artology)

Dionysius the Areopagite (Christian; Saint)

Eccentricity Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Ewald the Black and Ewald the Fair (a.k.a. The Two Ewalds; Christian; Saint)

Feast of Free Spirits

Festival of Bacchus

Francis Borgia (Christian; Saint)

George Bell and John Raleigh Mott (Episcopal Church)

Gerard of Brogne (Christian; Saint)

Gluck (Positivist; Saint)

Gomer Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Henry Lerolle (Artology)

Hesychius of Sinai (Christian; Saint)

Maximian of Bagai (Christian; Saint)

Njord’s Blot (Pagan)

Penny Pig (Muppetism)

Pierre Bonnard (Artology)

Szilárd Bogdánffy (Christian; Blessed)

Théodore Guérin (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 19 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [19 of 24]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [19 of 24]

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [40 of 53]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series; 1952)

The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series; 1960)

Black Lagoon (Anime Series; 2006)

Blood and Sand or Three for the Show (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 113; 1961)

Boston Legal (TV Series; 2004)

Bullwinkle’s Landing or Moosle Beach (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 114; 1961)

Can You Top This? (Radio Series; 1950)

Dark Angel (TV Series; 2000)

Death Note (Anime Series; 2006)

The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV Series; 1961)

Duck! Rabbit, Duck! (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

The Elephant Man (Film; 1980)

Extraordinary Machine, by Fiona Apple (Album; 2005)

The Family Under the Bridge, by Natalie Savage Carlson (Children’s Books; 1958)

Father Knows Best (Radio Series; 1954)

Friday Night Lights (TV Series; 2006)

Genesis, by Genesis (Album; 1983)

Gone Girl (Film; 2014)

The House at Pooh Corner, by A.A. Milne (Children’s Book; 1929) [Winnie the Pooh #3]

Lend a Paw (Disney Cartoon; 1941)

Lost in Translation (Film; 2003)

The Maltese Falcon (Film; 1941)

The Mechanical Cow (Disney Cartoon; 1927)

The Mickey Mouse Club (TV Series; 1955)

Mickey’s Delayed Date (Disney Cartoon; 1947)

Milk and Money (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Film; 2008)

One More Time (WB MM Cartoon; 1931)

One-Trick Pony (Film; 1980)

Out of the Blue, by Electric Light Orchestra (Album; 1977)

Painted Rhythm, recorded by Stan Kenton (Song; 1945)

Peter Pan’s Flight (Disneyland Attraction; 1971)

Pushing Daisies (TV Series; 2007)

Real Gone, by Tom Waits (Album; 2004)

The Secret Commonwealth, by Philip Pullman (Novel; 2019) [The Book of Dust Trilogy #2]

School of Rock (Film; 2003)

She’s Not There, by The Zombies (Song; 1966)

The Stand, by Stephen King (Novel; 1979)

The Station Agent (Film; 2003)

Star Wars Rebels (Animated TV Series; 2014)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated TV Series; 2008)

The Temptress (Film; 1926)

Timeless (TV Series; 2016)

Underdog (Animated TV Series; 1964)

Underworld, by Don De Lillo (Novel; 1997)

Yeoman of the Guard, by Gilbert & Sullivan (Comic Opera; 1888)

Zenyatta Mondatta, by the Police (Album; 1980)

Today’s Name Days

Bianca, Ewald, Udo (Austria)

Dionizije, Kandida, Svjetlana (Croatia)

Bohumil (Czech Republic)

Mette (Denmark)

Eevald, Eevo, Evald, Evert (Estonia)

Raimo (Finland)

Gérard, Sybille (France)

Bianca, Ewald, Paulina, Udo (Germany)

Dionysis (Greece)

Helga (Hungary)

Gerardo (Italy)

Elza, Gudruna, Ilizana (Latvia)

Alanta, Evaldas, Kristina, Milgintas (Lithuania)

Evald, Evelyn (Norway)

Eustachiusz, Eustachy, Ewald, Gerard, Gerarda, Gerhard, Heliodor, Józefa, Kandyd, Sierosław, Teresa (Poland)

Dionisie (Romania)

Stela (Slovakia)

Francisco, Gerardo (Spain)

Evald, Osvald (Sweden)

Dennis, Denise (Ukraine)

Erskine, Esmond, India, Kali, Kallie, Kelvin (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 276 of 2024; 89 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 40 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 21 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 19 (Jia-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 18 Tishri 5784

Islamic: 18 Rabi I 1445

J Cal: 6 Shù; Sixday [6 of 30]

Julian: 20 September 2023

Moon: 79%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 24 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Gluck]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 10 of 89)

Zodiac: Libra (Day 10 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Gort (Ivy) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 10 of 13]

[discoveringthebible]

Saint Nicholas

         I think we are all familiar with “Jolly Ol’ St. Nick.” The big man himself: Santa Claus, with that iconic red suit, hat, black boots, white beard, flying reindeer and all of his house elves making all the toys for the good boys and girls.

         Over the decades and centuries, the legends of Santa have only gotten more extravagant. And the idea of Santa Claus doesn’t just originate in the United States, but Germany has also contributed to the classic stories.

         Is there an origin to Santa Claus? Was there an actual person that Santa is based from? As it turns out, there is a person at the heart of the origins of Santa Claus. And the man’s name was Nicholas.

         Although there are not a lot of details about St. Nicholas, we do know a few details about his life and it is easy to see how he became the inspiration for Santa.

         According to Wikipedia, “Very little is known about the historical Saint Nicholas. The earlier accounts of his life were written centuries after his death and contain many legendary elaborations.”

         We know that Saint Nicholas was an orphan from an early age, but he had wealthy parents and they had left him a great inheritance. And he used it to help others.

         One story that has been officially attributed to him has been around since shortly after his death. The story goes that Saint Nicholas had heard about a poor man who had three daughters. He was too poor to marry them off (doweries were required) and he was considering selling his daughters off as slaves or prostitutes. Three separate times, Saint Nicholas dropped money off on the man’s doorstep, under the cover of darkness, to cover dowry costs for each of the man’s daughters. On the third night, the man had caught Saint Nicholas, and thanked him for his generosity.

         Another story that is attributed to him is that he had saved three men who were falsely accused and sentenced to death.

         Saint Nicholas is even credited with saving sailors who were trapped by a violent storm by calming the storm. The legend says he was also on this ship, traveling either to or from the Holy Land. It was said that he had calmed the storm and saved everyone on board.

         It is even said that he even chopped down a tree that was possessed by a demon.

           A few other facts about his life that we do know of was that after becoming the Bishop of Myra, he was cast into prison during the “Great Persecution” or Diocletian Persecution that began in 303 A.D. in the Roman Empire. However, a few years later, he was released by Constantine.

         It is rumored, but has not been confirmed or denied, that he was at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (among other things, this council was partly responsible for putting together what we know today as the Holy Bible, consisting of the current order of Biblical books and classifying the Old and New Testaments.) The rumor is that he was eventually barred from the council because he had slapped Arius in the face for being a heretic. (Arius believed that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were subordinate to God, not that they were equal in nature.)

           Saint Nicholas is considered to be the patron saint of many things, including, but not limited to:

-      Children

-      Sailors

-      Unmarried People

-      The Falsely accused

-      Fisherman

-      Pawnbrokers and

-      Wolves

         (Although in my research, I have yet to discover why he is considered the patron saint of wolves, if anyone has resources, or knows why this is, please let me know!)

         Obviously, his life was much different than what we know and understand about the fictious Santa Claus (sorry kids!), but Saint Nicholas’ life brings us back to Christianity, servanthood and what it means to take the Gospel and live it out.

         Below are some Scripture Passage, both Old and New Testament to inspire us to be more like Saint Nicholas: to serve the poor and the wrongly accused. (All of these passages today comes from the New Living Translation, the NLT.)

Deuteronomy 15:10: Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

Proverbs 31:8-9: 8: Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. 9: Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 28:27: Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

Proverbs 14:31: But those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.

Luke 12:34: Wherever your treasure is, there the desire of your heart will also be.

Proverbs 22:9: Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

Proverbs 21:13: Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.

Isaiah 58:10: Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

James 2:1-9: 1: My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 2: For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3: If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, ‘You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4: doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? 5: Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6: But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7: Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? 8: Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Referring to Leviticus 19:18) 9: But if you favor some people other others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

Proverbs 17:15: Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—both are detestable to the Lord.

Proverbs 14:20: The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many “friends.”

Zechariah 7:10: Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.

Psalm 82:3: Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

Matthew 5:7-9: 7: God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8: God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9: God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Proverbs 28:3: A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.

 As we get closer to the Christmas season, let us take time, right now, in this time of Advent to really show hope, peace, joy and love to our neighbors, especially our poor, widowed, falsely accused, orphaned neighbors to share with them the redeeming power and saving grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

[lifejustgotawkward]

365 Day Movie Challenge (2018) - #103: The Nomi Song (2004) - dir. Andrew Horn

I can’t imagine how many people exist who have not experienced the unique artistry of New Wave singer Klaus Nomi (1944-1983), but for those who are willing to give his music a try, there is so much inspiration to be found in his unforgettable story and songs. As Star-Ledger film critic Lisa Rose wrote, The Nomi Song is akin to “’Behind the Music’ meets ‘The Twilight Zone.’ The story is as haunting as the music, and the film leaves a lingering impression."

Nomi, born Klaus Sperber, grew up in postwar Germany with dreams of becoming an opera singer, and he listened to records of Maria Callas’s arias and Elvis Presley’s rock ‘n’ roll with equal fervor. After formally training his voice in Berlin, he moved to New York City in the 1970s, where he made ends meet as a pastry chef and eventually made his into the burgeoning East Village scene, where the “Klaus Nomi” persona was born in 1978. Singing the aria “Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix“ from Camille Saint-Saëns‘ opera Samson and Delilah in a show at Irving Plaza, Nomi’s high countertenor voice stunned the punk audience and immediately earned him legions of fans. He developed his extraordinary vocal range and his love of science fiction into an androgynous, alienesque character that was unlike anybody that the New York crowd had ever seen. Wearing extreme white makeup, black lipstick and eyeliner with his distinctive receding hairline - and eventually incorporating the oversized, avant-garde tuxedo that would become his signature fashion - Klaus Nomi carved out his own space in musical culture during the late 1970s and early 80s.

Watching the documentary, I found that I hadn’t realized the extent of Nomi’s popularity. Although he was never a household name in America at large, he had a tremendous following. His concerts at Manhattan rock clubs frequently sold out and forced attendees to line up outside for several blocks; network TV news reports interviewed him and brought his face and name mainstream. Most famously, Nomi and one of his closest friends, Joey Arias, sang backup vocals for David Bowie on “Saturday Night Live” in December 1979, performing “The Man Who Sold the World” (which I consider superior to the original album version), “TVC 15″ and “Boys Keep Swinging.” (Bowie gave Nomi and Arias a few thousand dollars to buy outfits, but the Thierry Mugler originals that they bought on sale at Henri Bendel cost only about $100 each.) As director Andrew Horn points out on the DVD commentary, Nomi and Arias didn’t even have enough cash between them to pay for cab fare to get to Bowie’s downtown party after their SNL gig; they had to walk from Rockefeller Center to Washington Square on that freezing cold night, just to attend their own celebration. Furthermore, although Bowie supposedly told Nomi and his creative team that more collaborations were a possibility, no such opportunity arose again.

Still, Nomi pressed on, taking the leap from cabarets to the studio when he made his two albums, Klaus Nomi (1981) and Simple Man (1982). According to the many talking head segments in the film, Nomi’s friends and associates considered his decision to elevate his recordings and shows with “real” musicians made the results too clean and polished, like selling out. What had made his club dates so special, they claimed, was the innovative style in the staging, a magic that was lost when the futuristic sets and dancing by Joey Arias, Janus and Boy Adrian were replaced by “normal”-looking background guitarists, drummers and other instrumentalists. Nomi antagonized a number of his pals with his ambitions to be a bigger star.

Tragically, Nomi’s time in spotlight was short-lived. He was one of the first celebrities to die of AIDS, passing away in August 1983. The disease was so new and misunderstood at the time that nearly all of Nomi’s loved ones and business partners refused to visit him in the hospital, so petrified were they about potentially catching the illness. (Multiple interviewees said that they had no idea whether HIV/AIDS was airborne, so they all considered their fear far greater than the need to spend time with Nomi.) Ironically, for a man who built his career on his visual appearance, AIDS completely destroyed his face and body; respectfully, the director refrains from showing any images of Nomi in his dying days, although in a deleted scene on the DVD’s special features, we learn that one of the few people who did visit Nomi at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was photographer Michael Halsband, who was commissioned by Nomi to take one final series of photos that I don’t think have ever been published.

To quote one of Nomi’s friends, performance artist and actress Ann Magnuson, a New Wave’s artist’s show “wasn’t really a success unless you had totally outraged everybody.” On some level, the point of Klaus Nomi’s persona was to be different and stand out from the rest of his contemporaries, but at the same time there is a universality to his story. He came to the United States with no money and without even knowing any English, but still he achieved his own version of the American Dream. Nomi’s songs have appeared on the soundtracks of films by Maurice Pialat, Nick Broomfield and François Ozon; both musically and sartorially, Nomi’s influence has been noted by Lady Gaga and by fashion designers Jean-Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs. I urge you to listen to Nomi’s original tunes - “Nomi Song,” “Total Eclipse,” “After the Fall” (Nomi’s favorite among the songs he performed), “Simple Man,” “Enchanté” (from his unfinished space rock opera, Za Bakdaz) - and his covers - “Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix,” “You Don’t Own Me” (probably the best example of his vocal range within a single track), “Falling in Love Again,” “The Cold Song” (a clip of his last live performance, done with a full orchestra in Munich), “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (my personal favorite) - and perhaps, if you are lucky, you will be as excited and moved by the man’s work as I have been for many years.

[themousefromfantasyland]

The Creatures of Yuletide: The Companions of Saint Nicholas

Do you know what Santa has in common with Batman? They don’t work alone, but adaptations what you to believe they do

Art by Spearhafoc on Deviantart

A common motif in European Christmas lore is that when old St. Nick goes to deliver gifts to well-behave children he often doesn’t go alone. The Companions are the figures who would assist him in his role as a gift-giver, and they change a lot depending on the time period and local.

In theory, these companions are local variants of the same guy, a somber and darker figure that would punish the bad kids, while Nicholas himself would reward the good ones. Krampus, who I talked about in my last post, is one of these, and his characterization as a half-goat demon comes from the context of the alpine region. The context of the place in question and the way the legends about St. Nicholas are told there shape the form of the sidekick that comes with him. In some places the companion assumed the form of a terrifying old man, in others, he stays in the middle ground with Krampus, as scary man with horns.

Some of them came to a more positive light is recent times and are considered now the Robin to St. Nick’s Batman.

I will talk about three of them today.

Quick note, where’s my Christmas movie where Santa is a (Batman voice) “I work alone” type of hero and then a young wide-eyed sidekick comes in and says, “Teach me in the ways of Christmas, Santa!”. I would watch it

Knecht Ruprecht

“From out the forest I now appear;

To proclaim that Christmastime is here!

now speak, what is there here to be had?

Are there good children, are there bad?”

“Knecht Ruprecht”, Theodor Storm

In my last posts I made a mistake. I associate Krampus with Germany, but now, it seems like he’s more from the Austria and the Alpine region as a whole. Germans have the Knecht Ruprecht, and instead of being a half-goat demon from Hell, he’s a sinister man with a black beard bearing a black furry robe, a chain and bells along with a bundle of birch sticks to punish the naughty children. The word Knecht in German means servant or farmhand, so in English his name would be Servant Ruprecht or Farmhand Ruprecht, and you can even get a Rupert or Robert if you anglicized his name.

It seems that in traditional German Christmas lore, it’s the Christkind, a magical version of baby Jesus, who brings gifts on Christmas Eve. However, Saint Nicholas do appear, but only on December 5th, the eve of his feast, bringing along Ruprecht. St Nicholas would open the big book to see if the devil had written anything bad about the children. Then Knecht Ruprecht would ask them if they knew their prayers. Kids who had been good and could recite the Lord’s prayer would be given apples or nuts by Nicholas as a treat. Bad children would receive sticks, coal, or could even be stuffed in Ruprecht’s sack and be dragged away to never be seen again.

I don’t know if this is true, but during my research I learned that some German parents went to great lengths to teach their misbehaving kids a lesson. They actually had someone to take them away, and some even remember being taken out to the woods. Don’t mess around with Germans!

His backstory is nebulous. Remember what I told, variants of the same guy. In some tellings he is closer to Krampus, with horns in his head as a result. In others he is a wounded foundling that St Nicholas rescued and raised. And in others he is told to be the butcher from St. Nicholas’ lore, that would inspire our next companion.

Père Fouettard

French for, “Father Whipper”. One of the darkest and most vicious companions.

There’s a very dark legend about St. Nicholas. A butcher (in some versions an innkeeper) kills three children that were on their way to enroll in a religious boarding school. In some versions he and his wife drugged the kids, sliced their throats, cut them into pieces and put them in a salting tub. When St. Nicholas turned up at the door the butcher attempted to ingratiate himself to his visitor by offering him his best meat, the children. St Nicholas immediately discovered the horrible crime and brought the boys back to life and punished the butcher by forcing him to work alongside him for all eternity.

In France, it is Père Noël, Father Christmas, who distributes gifts to good children, generally on Christmas Eve, except in eastern France where St. Nicholas Day and the night of December 5th still are observed. He is traditionally accompanied by Père Fouettard.

Pere Fouettard is portrayed as a man with a creepy face, disheveled, messy hair, and a long white beard. He is often described as clothed in murky robes, covered in soot, wearing a scruffy hat and buckled shoes. He follows Père Noël/St. Nicholas from house to house, acting as his punisher, dispensing coal, and beatings to the naughty. In some tellings, he carries a wicker back-pack to carry naughty children away. It is also believed that Pere Fouettard tells St. Nicholas, which children misbehaved during the year, and consequently, they are deprived of the treat. Some even say that, he cuts out tongues of children who are caught lying.

Why in the world St. Nick would trust a cannibal child killer to be near children is beyond me.

Zwarte Piet, “Black Pete”

Oh boy! You know where this is going!

Zwarte Piet is that type of character that the more you research, the worse it gets

Sinterklaas is the form that Saint Nicholas assumes in the Netherlands and Belgium, and he is the main source for the American Santa Claus.

In the first Saturday after 11 November, he arrives by a steamboat at a designated seaside town, coming from Spain. In the Netherlands this takes place in a different port each year, whereas in Belgium it always takes place in the city of Antwerp. The steamboat anchors, then Sinterklaas disembarks and parades through the streets on his white horse, welcomed by children cheering and singing traditional Sinterklaas songs. He then parades through schools, hospitals, and shopping centers until the evening of December 5th, where he would deliver gifts to the children.

I will admit, this sounds so much cooler and more fun than modern day Santa.

Sinterklaas has a sidekick, a moor from Spain, Zwarte Piet, the Black Pete, usually portrayed as a blackface caricature, wearing a colorful Renaissance attire in addition to curly wigs and bright red lipstick. His role is to be Nicholas’ servant, a rascal and a prankster, amusing children and distributing traditional sweets during parades and public events. In older lore he was said to act just like the other companions, punishing bad children with coal in their shoes and threatening to kidnap them.

Some older traditional Sinterklaas songs claim that he and Sinterklaas could even drag the naughty kids to their home in Spain, were they would force them to work in their workshop for an entire season or longer. They essentially used slave labor! 😬

Some link him and Sinterklaas to Odin, and Huggin and Munnin. Huginn and Muninn would often fly through the Nine Realms, bringing a report of who was good and who was bad back to Odin. So, the black guy's role may have come from Odin’s crows 😬

Others link him to Krampus and Krampus-like figures, evil demons who were show to be under the control of Saint Nicholas and the power of God. According to a theory firstly proposed by Karl Meisen, Zwarte Piet and many other companions, like Krampus, were inspired by these enslaved demons.

Zwarte Piet and many modern traditions about him and Sinterklaas came from a children's book written school teacher Jan Schenkman, in 1850. The book was titled Sint Nikolaas en zijn Knecht, "Saint Nicholas and his Servant". In Schenkman's version, the devil figure that followed St. Nicholas was changed to a Moorish helper.

More modern lore presents him as a more of a Robin-like figure, a more heroic and charismatic sidekick. He is said to be a Turkish orphan rescued by St Nick, or an Ethiopian slave freed by him. Or he is just completely whitewashed, and the dark skin is explained as the ashes and ambers from the chimneys.

He is very controversial, and said to be a remnant of colonialism, slavery and racism. Some say he may be even inspired by a slave brought by one member of Dutch Royal family in market in Cairo in the mid-19th century.

As far as I know, Netherlands is very divided into those who want to keep the tradition, and others who see him as racist stereotype. A lot of protests and acts of violence had come from this simple problematic character. It’s very common for neo-nazi groups who want to keep him as he is to brutally attack and threw racial slurs on those who want a revised version of the character or his removal from the holiday tradition altogether.