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GRANNY MYTHBUSTER is “MAD FOR PLAID”

3/3/2023

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Anderson (m) Bruce of Kinnaird (a) Campbell Dress (a) Campbell Dress (m) Gordon Dress (a) Gordon Dress (m) Macdiamid

Updated 03/03/2023 / Originally posted 2018

MAD FOR PLAID
March is the month designated month to celebrate the textile pattern “plaid”. Primarily associated with Scottish culture, Tartan — or plaid, as it is called in North America — is a particular twill weaving pattern of multicolored and crisscrossing horizontal and vertical bands, i.e. two sets of stripes at right angles. An individual tartan - with its color palette and stripe widths - is called a “sett”.

This pattern, a fall and winter wardrobe staple, is found today all over the world. Although it is claimed by some that plaids originated as a way to distinguish Scottish clans in battle, when I traveled in Scotland, a guide explained that Clan plaids were really the product of the 19th century mercantile industry. An advertising ploy!

What a buzz kill!

I assumed the "Clan Plaid" story is what most people believe, so I put on my Granny Mythbuster disguise to find out. Digging up the origins of traditions and languages is never short and sweet. And, as a general principle, never believe what a tour guide tells you.

IT IS WHAT IT IS…MAYBE
If you look up the words tartan and plaid on merriam-webster.com/dictionary/, these are the definitions you will get.
● “tartan (n)
1.= a plaid textile design of Scottish origin consisting of stripes of varying width and color usually patterned to designate a distinctive clan.
2a.) = a twilled woolen fabric with tartan design
2b. = a fabric with tartan design
2c. = a garment of tartan design.”

● “plaid (n)
1. = a rectangular length of tartan worn over the left shoulder as part of the Scottish national costume.
2 a. = a twilled woolen fabric with a tartan pattern
2 b. = a fabric with a pattern of tartan or an imitation of tartan.
3a. = TARTAN sense 1 [Don't ask me. I have no idea what this means]
3b. = a pattern of unevenly spaced repeated stripes crossing at right angles.”

In other words, a Tartan is a pattern and a Plaid is a piece (usually large) of tartan cloth.

IF YOU ARE SCOTTISH…

“Plaid” Means "A Blanket"
In North America we often – mistakenly-- use the term plaid to mean tartan. The word plaid -- derived from the Scottish Gaelic word plaide, which means blanket – is a tartan cloth worn over the shoulder as a kilt accessory or a plain blanket such as one would put on a bed.

◄ Soldiers from a Highland Regiment circa 1744.
Image Credit: image scanned from “Clans and Tartans,
Collins Pocket Reference”
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47104132

The earliest written use of the word plaid is a 1510 entry in the account of the diocese of Dunkeld, referring to an expense of two shilling for dying four ells of “pladis”. An "ell" was a length of 37.2 inches.

According to Danny Lewis, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/, the word “Plaid only replaced tartan once the patterns became popular with British and American textile manufacturers who would recreate fabrics that looked like tartans, but without centuries of symbolic meaning embedded in their clothing.”

“Tartan” Means A Pattern
The word tartan means a woven fabric made of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors; alternating bands pre-dyed threads woven with warp and weft at right angles to each other. This creates a distinctive pattern of squares called a sett.

Diagram of weaving a tartan plaid
Source of Images: bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=Gotc0Gfp&id

In North American we not only use the word plaid to mean the pattern -- instead of tartan -- , but the term no longer applies only to woven cloth.

EARLIEST ORIGINS OF TARTAN WEAVE
Even though evidence of the Celtic tartan dates back to the 3th century, the oldest example of a tartan fabric goes back at least 3,000 years. It was found buried with the remains of “Cherchen Man,” a 6 foot tall mummy of Caucasian descent found in Turkestan in the western Chinese desert. The man was found buried wearing a red twill tunic and tartan leggings, the earliest example of tartan ever discovered.

Source of Images: eternalcivilizations.blogspot.com/2019/cherchen-man

According to the textile historian E. J. W. Barber, the Hallstatt culture of Central Europe, which is linked with ancient Celtic populations and flourished between the 8th and 6th centuries BC, produced tartan-like textiles. Other finds have been made in Europe and Northwestern China.

Cherchen Man/ Ur-David -- mummy found in Cherchen, located in current Xinjiang region of China. The mummy is a member of the group known as Tarim mummies.

Image Source: economist.com/china/2012/fast-and-loose

SCOTTISH TARTANS
The earliest documented tartan in Britain, known as the "Falkirk" tartan, dates from the 3rd century AD. It was uncovered at Falkirk, Scotland, near the Roman-built Antonine Wall. The fragment of tartan cloth was stuffed into an earthenware pot containing almost 2,000 Roman silver coins. It is now in the National Museum of Scotland

Remains of the only original Falkirk tartan – Image Credit: Fickr-
Image Source: oldest.org/culture/tartans/

Registered “recreation” of the Falkirk tartan - Image Source:tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails

So this pattern of weaving has existed in Scotland since the third century, and I assume it was used, along with others, through the centuries. The original goat-like sheep of ancient Scotland provided the fibers from which wool fabrics were made. The sheep were black, brown, or white. Thus, the early tartans were made of combinations of these colors.

Presumably, weaving skills were passed down from mother to daughter, and over time a particular design came to be associated with a specific district and possibly with an individual clan. Eventually, these local patterns became synonymous with the regional clans scattered throughout Scotland,

At some point, weavers began to dye yarn, which resulted in new or at least brighter patterns. Even then, the dyes, which come from local and accessible plants and minerals, likely determined the colors and still identified the wearer of a tartan to the district.

Image Credit and Source: By derivative work:
Celtus Scottish soldiers in service of Gustavus Adolphus,_1631.j
ttps://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5042497

SCOTTISH CLAN TARTANS - IT’S ALL POLITICS
Like everything, it’s all politics. Clan Tartans as we know them today are thought to originate in Scotland in 16th century. In 1703, Martin wrote A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, in which he noted that the tartans could be used to distinguish inhabitants of different regions. That was the beginning of a more formal recognition of a clan association with a particular tartan.

At that time, tartan designs were produced by local weavers for local tastes using the dye materials of the local area. The patterns and colors were the choice of the weaver and people picked and wore those based on personal preference.

During the Scottish Rebellion of 1745, tartan was used in the uniforms of the leading Scottish military troop, The Royal Highland Regiment, or the Black Watch. The green and dark blue patterns became strongly associated with rebellion. However, depictions of the Battle of Culloden in 1746 show the monarchy’s forces battling against the clansmen, all wearing different tartans.

David Morier's An incident in the rebellion of 1745. Black Watch Tartan-ancient

After Scottish forces were defeated at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the monarchy adopted the Dress Act of 1746, banning tartans (except for British military uniforms) for nearly a century. By the time the law was repealed, tartan kilts were no longer the ordinary dress of the highlands. The tartan kilt was, however, adopted as the symbolic national dress of Scotland, which revived interest in tartans and one’s Scottish heritage.

According to Wikipedia – who agrees with my tour guide in Scotland – the clan tartans date no earlier than the beginning of the 19th century. They are an invented tradition.

THE "BOTTOM" LINE
“The clashingly exuberant history of tartan’s history is a jumble of fact with outrageous fiction. Nearly everything you think you “know” about tartan was invented, then furiously believed until fact seemed pale and unsporting in comparison.”

According to Wikipedia – who agrees with my tour guide after all – the clan tartans date no earlier than the beginning of the 19th century. They are an invented tradition. Nonetheless, today the Tartans represent the pride the Scottish have in their ancestral warrior clans, family, and Gaelic culture … the pattern, the idea of tartans in the abstract.
It’s all about what it means!

And speaking of “bottoms”, the topic of “underwear beneath the kilt” -- so often a cause for humor -- is a relatively modern development. In the past men wore nothing. This is still true of several Scottish regiments, apart from some sentries and dancers, on whom the kilt might fly up. Most other people wear shorts or pants, according to personal taste."
http://www.kinnaird.net/tartan.htm

JUST SAYIN’
□
2023 Sources
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tartan
https://eternalcivilizations.blogspot.com/2019/01/cherchen-man-cherchen-man.html
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/539024649135050696/
https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/history-tartan-falkirk-mod-1488081
https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=1146
https://www.oldest.org/culture/tartans/
https://www.ibtimes.com/what-do-scots-wear-under-their-kilts-lot-nothing-2428643

Photos only
Scanned from “Clans and Tartans, Collins Pocket Reference, George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire, Harper Collins, Glasgow 1995 ISBN 0-00-470810-5., Public Domain.”
https://www.pinterest.com/annbharrison/men-in-kilts/
http://www.theconomist.com/china/2012/fast-and-loose

2018 Sources: [Some no longer available]
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brief-history-plaid-180957342/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan
https://psmag.com/social-justice/that-plaid-tho
https://startupfashion.com/fashion-archives-history-plaid/
http://www.kinnaird.net/tartan.htm
http://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/tartan-pattern-book/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaid
http://www.ancient-wisdom.com/chinacherchen.htm
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/plaid
https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2015/10/plaid-tartan.html

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MEET THE PLAYERS: Top Black Classical Musicians

2/3/2023

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Not long ago my book club chose to read The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb ‒ himself a black classical violinist ‒ about a young black boy, Ray MacMillian who falls in love with classical music and playing the violin. However, Ray is a black kid with a beat-up, cheap school rental. Teachers won’t give him attention because he’s black, and they don’t believe that he can possibly master classical music.

In an interview, Slocumb states that only 1.8% of the classical music performers, directors, and composers are black and about 25% are other people of color. That intrigued me. Statistics can be deceiving, and I wondered how that number compared with other professional endeavors.

After all, 67% of all players in the NFL are black. That fact by itself says one thing. If you add on other pieces of the picture – the facts that there are no black owners, and there was only one general manager, Ozzie Newsome, who became an NFL team's first black General Manager in 2002, one gets a different impression. Now add on the fact the Newsome is now an Executive Vice President. What does that mean?

A different perspective, indeed.

CLAWING YOUR WAY TO THE TOP
Studies show that only about 2% of practitioners of any profession manage to claw their way to the top of the hierarchical heap. Being someone who scrambled to reach a higher level in my own profession, I can attest that women have to work harder, longer, and be twice as good as any man to have the same position. I’m white, so I can only imagine how much harder it is for blacks and other people of color.

Another part of the equation is the size of the heap we’re talking about. When it comes to just classical musicians, conductors, and composers – that is, excluding all the support and other staff involved in classical music – the total number of people is, undoubtedly, smaller number than the total number of people in some other professions, such as scientific researchers… which one survey puts at six million. Granted, there are many fields of research, but there are also various fields of classical music to pursue… but I doubt the total is anywhere near six million. Unfortunately ‒ or maybe fortunately, since my math is more than rusty ‒ I do not have the numbers to do the math.

But there is no doubt that prejudice is still alive and well and still making it much harder for people of color to break the chromium [the hardest know metal] ceilings. Yet there are those who are doing in anyway, despite the odds. Meet the top players in today’s classical music, taken primarily from: https://www.dandelionchandelier.com/2022/02/22/top-black-classical-musicians/ .

CONDUCTORS

Roderick Cox
The 2018 recipient of the Sir George Solti Conducting Award, Roderick Cox, is at the very top of the list of classical musicians today. Originally from Macon, Georgia, he has worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, and many other musical groups.

Image Credit: Roderick Cox. Courtesy Photo.
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

2022 includes debuts with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Seattle and New World Symphonies, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Malmo, Kristiansand and Lahti Symphony Orchestras. He is also the founder of the Roderick Cox Music Initiative. It is an organization that provides young musicians of color with the funding necessary to provide instruments and instruction on their paths to success.

Tania Leόn
A composer and conductor of considerable acclaim, Tania León and her signature sound can be found throughout the world of classical music. As a conductor, she has performed with the Symphony Orchestra and Chorus de Marseille, and the Symphony Orchestra of Johannesburg – among many others.

Tania León speaks at the premiere of her piece “Stride,” commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
Image Credit: Chris Lee/Courtesy New York Philharmonic
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

Her work has been commissioned and performed by groups such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony. Her opera Scourge of Hyacinths, based on a play by Wole Soyinka, has been performed twenty times across multiple continents.

Jonathon Heyward
The 2020 recipient of the Sir George Solti Career Assistant Award, Jonathon Heyward is a conductor to watch. Originally trained as a cellist and chamber musician, Heyward has gone on to appear as the Los Angeles Philharmonic Dudamel Coducting Fellow.

Image credit: Jonathon Heyward. Courtesy Photo. (cropped)
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

CELLISTS

Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Though only twenty-one years old, Kanneh-Mason garnered global acclaim when he performed a cello piece and the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Susses. After winning the 2016 BBC Young Musician Competiton, Kanneh-Mason went on to release two albums, and to play with many of the most renowned orchestras around the world. He is currently a full-time student at the Royal Academy of Music.
Image Credit: Sheku Kanneh-Mason. Courtesy Photo. (cropped)
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

He comes from a talented family and all of his six siblings share his exceptional musical talents. In December 2019 they all played as a family on stage at the Royal Variety Performance, amazing the audience with Vittorio Monti’s Czárdás. Sheku made his New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall that same month in a program he shared with his sister Isata.

VIOLINISTS

Daniel Bernard Roumain
Both a composer and a violinist, Daniel Bernard Roumain is a household name in the world of classical music, having appeared everywhere from American Idol to the Sydney Opera House. He is known both for his prowess as a musician, and also his work as an activist.

Image Credit: Daniel Bernard Roumain. Courtesy Photo. (cropped)
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

Not only has he composed countless award-winning pieces, receiving recognition for his artistry across genres, but he has also made his mark by serving on the Board of Directors for the American League of Orchestras, and the advisory committee for the Sphinx Organization.

Jessie Montgomery
A violinist and composer, Jessie Montgomery was raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the child of a musician. A recipient of the Leonard Bernstein award, she is a chamber musician and an educator, as well as a former composer-in-residence for Sphinx Virtuosi, the touring company of the Sphinx Organization.

Image Credit: Jessie Montgomery. Courtesy Photo. (cropped)
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

Her work has been commissioned by prestigious orchestras across the country, including the New York Philharmonic, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony. In 2021, she was named the Mead Composer-in-Residence of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Ashleigh Gordon
As well as being an internationally regarded violist, Ashleigh Gordon is also the co-founder of Castle of Our Skins. It is an organization devoted to supporting and celebrating black artists, past and present, through both education and performance.

Image Credit: Ashleigh Gordon. Courtesy Photo. (Cropped)
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

Based out of Boston, they are a major voice in classical music, and Gordon is the leading force behind them. She herself has performed in festivals throughout the United States and Europe, making her recognized equally as a talented musician and as a voice for social change.

Aaron Dworkin
A giant in the world of classical music, President Barack Obama made Aaron Dworkin his first appointment to the National Council on the Arts. A MacArthur Fellow, Dworkin is an author, artist, and violinist, and an educator and a dean for the University of Michigan’s School of Music.

Image Credit: Aaron Dworkin. Courtesy Photo (cropped)
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

He is also the founder of the Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based group that aims to use diversity in art as a method of transforming people’s lives.

COMPOSERS

Jonathan Bailey Holland
Perhaps one of the best-known composers in the classical world, Jonathan Bailey Holland's legendary music has been commissioned by ensembles across the United States, including by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Image Credit: Jonathan Bailey Holland. Courtesy Photo.
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

A native of Flint, Michigan, Holland was awarded a commission by the Isabells Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston to compose a piece inspired by John Singer Sargent’s dance-inspired painting, “El Jaleo.”

Notably, he served as the first composer-in-residence with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, from 2018 to 2019. His pieces draw inspiration from many genres, including jazz, hip hop, and other classical works.

PIANISTS

Damien Sneed
From piano and vocals, to composition and conducting, to working with icons like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder – it seems like Damien Sneed has done it all. Winner of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, he’s also known as the founder of the Chorale Le Chateau – a group that performs vocal interpretations of Renaissance literature.

Image Credit: Damien Sneed. Courtesy Photo (cropped).
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

Most recently, Sneed embarked on a 36-city North American tour titled, “We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The tour coincided with the 35th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

VOCALISTS AND OPERA SINGERS

Julia Bullock
A classical singer originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Julia Bullock has completed residencies with the San Francisco Symphony and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Image Credit: Julia Bullock. Courtesy Photo
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

A soprano, Bullock is a founding member of the American Modern Opera Company and has also starred in numerous operas herself, including Le Nozze di Figaro and The Magic Flute. Alongside Joyce DiDonato and Jakub Józef Orliński, Bullock starred in a new production of Handel’s Theodora at Royal Opera House in the beginning of 2022. She also released a debut solo album later that year.

Lawrence Brownlee
Tenor Lawrence Brownlee has been universally praised as one of the stars of the current opera scene. He has starred in numerous performances, including The Barber of Seville, La Cenerentola, and Donizetti’s La Favorite.

Image Credit: Lawrence Brownlee. Courtesy Photo
Image Source: dandelionchandelier.com/top-black-classical-musicians/

You can regularly find him performing with the most prominent opera houses all over the world. For the 2021-22 season, he debuted as Platée in Rameau’s opera “Platée” with the Opera National de Paris.

JUST SAYIN'
Sources:
https://www.dandelionchandelier.com/2022/02/22/top-black-classical-musicians/
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/black-musicians-pioneering-in-classical-music/#:~:text
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/black-composers-who-made-classical-music-history/
https://www.nateholdermusic.com/post/12-black-female-classical-composers-you-need-to-know
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:African-American_classical_musicians
https://www.nateholdermusic.com/post/12-black-male-classical-musicians-you-need-to-know
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African-American_women_in_classical_music
https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/people-global-african-history/black-composers-and-musicians-classical-music-history/

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MORE UNIQUE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

12/23/2022

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Every country has their own traditions related to their religious celebrations. Following are a few with unique Christmas traditions. Many traditions are centuries old, but some new ideas catch on quickly and become new traditions within a few years or decades.

REPUBLIC OF CATALONIA
“Feliz Navidad” - [Spanish]
“Bon Nadal" - [Occitan and Catalan]
“Felibres Nadal” - [Aranese]

Catalonia was part of Spain but the 2006 Statute of Autonomy adopted by the Spanish government gave Catalonia the status of a semi-independent, self-governing Republic, but always under the laws of Spain. There are two Christmas traditions that are unique to Catalonia and the Aragon region.

● Tió de Nadal [The Christmas Log]
One of the most important Christmas traditions in Catalan culture is the Tió de Nadal [Christmas Log], also known as simply Tió or Tronca. The tradition dates back many centuries to the time when logs were burned in the fireplace to give light, shelter and warmth. The tradition of placing a log in your house to burn during the holidays somehow evolved into Tió de Nadal.

The contemporary Tió is a hollow wooden log with eyes, nose, and mouth painted on one end. He wears a red barretita, a traditional 19th century hat worn by men. It also has two or four stick legs and a big smile. Starting on the 8th of December, the day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Catalonian kids place the Tió in the house, cover it with a blanket and give it something to eat it every night during the month.

The whole point of this process is to make Tió warm, feed it and basically take good care of it until Christmas day. The parents usually replace the Tió for a bigger one from time to time making it look like it is growing. On Christmas day, the fully grown Tió is then placed in the center of the room, and children gather around it, singing songs and hitting the log with sticks. If they “do good job”, they get their presents.

● The Cagener [The Pooper]
A somewhat disrespectful tradition in Catalan Christmas culture is the Pooper. Basically a figurine to be hidden somewhere in the nativity scenes, the Caganer is a figure of a Catalan man, wearing traditional Catalan clothes, squatting with his trousers around his ankles and taking a poop.

◄Typical small figurine for nativity scene
Image source: pinterest.com/301881981267185779/

However, these figurines have become very popular and you can find a replica of almost anyone you can think of, including Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth. There are also full scale or larger statues put up in malls and other public places.

COLUMBIA
“Feliz Navidad” [Spanish]

● Día de las Velitas
In Colombia, Día de las Velitas [Day of the Little Candles] initiates the Christmas celebrations on December 7. The streets, houses, and other buildings are decorated with lanterns and candles to begin the festive season.
Image Source: soycolombiano.com/dia-de-las-velitas

COSTA RICA
“Feliz Navidad” [Spanish]

Costa Ricans hit the beach in December and celebrate Christmas with exuberance. Bright lights and festive music fill the air as the country becomes even more vibrant. At the center of the celebrations are the traditional nativity scenes called “Portals.” Small toys and fruit are commonly laid in front of Portals as a small offering.

● Festival of Lights
The highlight is the Festival of Lights in the form of a parade with dancers, bands, and floats, all glowing with lights.

◄ Image Source: costaricantimes.com/costa-rica-christmas

CZECH REPUBLIC
“Veselé Vánoce" [Czech]

● The Shoe Toss
Feeling lonely this Christmas? Czech women use this Christmas ritual to see what lies in store for their love life in the coming year. .Standing with their backs to their front doors, unmarried ladies toss their shoes over their shoulders. If one lands with its toe pointing towards the door, the woman will supposedly get married within the next 12 months.

● Finding a Star in an Apple
A typical household scent at this time of year comes from the baking of štrůdl, strudel, a home-made cake consisting of apples and cinnamon. With all those apples around, it is tradition, upon finding a star at the center of an apple, to believe you will have good health in the coming year.

Image Credit: Pixabay, author: 743976.
Image Source: discoverwalks.com/czech-christmas-traditions

FRANCE
“Joyeux Noel!” [French]

● Nativity Scenes
The French go "Creche Crazy," and are wild about Nativity scenes. You find them everywhere. In addition to the usual figures, all sort of other people [called Santons] are present, such as the baker, the street sweeper, the butcher, street vendors, and so on.

Crèche filled with figures Americans cannot recognize! The santons of Provence include not only the Holy Family, the Magi and the shepherds, but the whole village who has come to worship the Baby Jesus!
Image Source: confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/french-nativity-sceneor

● Shoes on the Harth
On Christmas eve, children put their shoes on the hearth for Santa to fill.

● Le Réveillon / New Year's Eve
In addition to the Christmas Eve banquet called Le Réveillon, the French traditionally have 13 desserts to symbolize Christ and the 12 apostles at the last supper.

GERMANY
“Frohe Weihnachten!” [German]
“Froehliche Weihnachten!”

● Advent
Advent, which starts four Sundays before Christmas, is the beginning of the holiday season for Germans. An Advent Calendar is used as a countdown to December 25. It is often a: wreath of fir tree branches with four advent candles or a fir branch decorated with 24 decorated bags or boxes hung from it, each marked with the day and holding a small present. The Advent calendar tradition supposedly dates back to the 1850s.

● Shoes outside
German children leave a shoe outside the house on December 5th which is then filled with sweets overnight. Naughty children awake to find a tree branch in the shoe instead!

● Hiding A pickle
It's a very old Christmas Eve tradition in Germany to hide a pickle (of the ornament variety) in the branches of the Christmas tree. In the morning, the child who finds it first gets a special gift from Santa, while the first adult traditionally gets good luck for the coming year.

ICELAND
“Gleðileg jól!” [Icelandic]

Christmas in Iceland is known as "Yule" or "Jól" and originated as the ancient winter solstice celebrations which were absorbed into early Christian tradition. Yule includes New Year through Epiphany.

● Jólakötturinn, The Yule Cat
Children in Iceland are warned that if they don’t finish their work on time or don’t behave, they will be stalked by Jólakötturinn, the enormous Yule Cat, who eats children [and sometimes adults] who don’t receive any new clothes before Christmas night.

This legend has its roots in a time in the middle ages when Iceland had established itself as a producer of wool cloth. First, it was common for households to have a large furry cat [probably to control rodents]. Second, everyone needed warm clothing due to the weather. Third, wool production was vital to the economy and everyone in the household had to work hard to make the wool cloth. Image Credit: PBC
Image Source: boredpanda.com/icelandic-legend-yule-cat

Christmas gifts during this period were sparse and usually consisted of a piece of wool clothing, and even that was possible only if everyone completed the work on time. Hence, the legend was born and has carried on through the centuries.
Jólakötturinn is not a nice kitty!

● The 13 Yule Lads
The 13 Yule Lads are the sons of Grýla, half ogre and half troll. And she is very bad news. Grýla and her family live high in the mountains with a huge furry cat. [You guessed it… the Yule Cat!] Around Christmas time, when the food supply is running low, she sends her 13 lads down the mountain and into town to look for children who misbehave.

The first lad leaves twelve days before Christmas, and each day another lad goes down to the town, until on Christmas day all thirteen have arrived. The first lad then returns up the mountain with bags of misbehaving children. Each day, one of the brothers returns home until on January 6, they have all arrived with their bags of naughty children. [Presumably, the ogress and the cat have also been hunting during this time.]

Then Grýla takes the children out of the bags and cooks them alive in a huge caldron, making a stew. The family eats the stew for the rest of the cold season.

The tale got so scary that in 1746 the Icelandic government stepped in and parents were officially banned from frightening their children with tales of the Yule Lads and their gruesome family.

Today Grýla and the 13 Yule Lads have been reinvented as mischievous benevolent Christmas icons.

Imag Sourcee: meer.com/en/thirteen-yule-lads

ISLE OF MAN
“Merry Christmas”

The languages spoken on the Isle of Man are English and Manx English. Manx English [also called Anglo Manx] differs widely from any other dialect of English. However, Manx English is in decline, so most people would Merry Christmas.
Location map – Isle on Man ►
Image Credit: Cnbrb [Public Domain]
Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?
● Hunting the Wren
Originally Hunting the Wren was quite a blood thirsty Christmas ritual, where gangs would scour the countryside looking for the tiny "sacred" birds to trap and kill it as a sacrifice, before it was plucked and buried in the local church with much pomp and ceremony. The feathers were spread around for good luck.

In 2022 it is a more humane activity. Instead of hunting the wren by beating the bushes, people go around in groups making noise with sticks and singing. The wren is represented by an artificial bird which is the centerpiece for a "bush" which consists of two wooden hoops placed on top of a pole, covered with ribbons and evergreens. The pole is carried from house to house. The theory as to why the wren is targeted for 'revenge' is that it's the reincarnation of an enchantress who lured Manx men to their deaths. The good luck feathers have been replaced by ribbons.

● Eating Raw Whale Skin With Blubber And Moldy Birds
Sounds totally yucky, but this moldy birds isn't some dead turkey that's been left in the trash to decay. Moldy bird is a great delicacy in Green-land called Kiviak, and it is the centerpiece of the Christmas feast.
Image Source: travelfoodatlas.com/kiviak-greenland-inuit-delicacy

Kiviak is made with a small bird called an auk which has been preserved in the hollowed-out body of a seal, buried for several months, and then eaten once it's decomposed. Still sounds yucky, but what do I know.

Another treat on the menu is mattak, made from the skin and blubber of a whale and usually eaten raw, although sometimes it is deep-fried and munched on with soy sauce.
Suaasat is a barbecued caribou soup includes berries and apples with a crisp topping making for the sweet part of the feast.

IRELAND
“Nollaig Shona” [Galic]

Ireland celebrates Christmas in the same way people in the UK and US do, but still have some of their own traditions.

● Meat Pie and Guinness
On Christmas, instead of leaving out milk and cookies for Santa, its tradition to leave out meat pie and a glass of Guinness.

● A Morning Swim
Dublin celebrates Christmas morning with a swim in the sea. The 40 Foot in Sandycove near Dublin is the area where hundreds of brave swimmers dive into the freezing waters all for the sake of charity.

Image Source: globalexperiences.com/christmas-around-world

● Women’s Christmas
Holidays celebrations come to an end on January 6, called Little Christmas or Women’s Christmas. Men take over the household duties for the day, while women go out with their friends and family to celebrate. On the same day, the tree is taken down, and the decorations are put back into storage.

MEXICO
“Feliz Navidad” [Spanish]

● The Night of the Radishes / Noche de Rábanos
On December 23, The Night of the Radishes, an annual Christmas time event, is held in the city of Oaxaca, not far from Mexico City. Here artists display statues and scenes carved out of radishes and compete for prizes. The carvings may be anywhere in size from a small figurine to nativity scenes of all sizes, to figures and scenes bigger than life. .

Part of the fun is being able to watch craftsmen at their work, showing the skill needed for such carvings. The contest now attracts more than 100 competitors and thousands of visitors.

Credit for Images: Getty Images
Sources of Images: theculturetrip.com/mexico/festival-of-radishes/

The tradition of holding an yearly radish carving competition dates back to 1897 when Oaxaca City’s mayor, Francisco Vasconcelos, decided to make the contest part of that year’s Christmas market, which sold traditional flowers, herbs and ingredients for holiday dishes as well as decorations for the home. Because radishes had always been integral to Oaxaca’s Christmas cuisine as both an essential ingredient and a decorative garnish, the radish contest was seen as a fun way to promote local agriculture. Everyone loves it.

NEW ZEALAND
“Meri Kirihimete!" [Maori]

Even though Christmas comes in the summer in the southern hemisphere, the European traditions of the Christmas trees, snow, and Santa Claus, are familiar but have local twists. The native Maori have influenced some of the Christmas traditions. Notice how the gingerbread cookies mimic Maori Haka dancers with fierce expressions.

Image Source: postkiwi.com/2007/gingerbread-haka/ Image source: thinglink.com/1098832104315158529

Haka is a Māori war dance that was traditionally saved for the battlefield. The action-packed dance is a display of strength and pride, which includes powerful stomps of the feet, wide eyes and the well-known tongue poking.

NORWAY
“God jul” [Norwegian]

While Norway is predominantly a Christian country, Christmas wasn’t celebrated here until about the 10th and 11th centuries. Before then, people celebrated yuletide in the middle of the winter, and drank beer in honor of the Norse gods, waiting for the warmer weather to return.
● Advent
Advent is a preparation period before December 25 which starts four Sundays before Christmas. On the first Sunday before Christmas, people light the first purple candle which represents hope. On the second Sunday of Advent people light the first and the second purple candles, which represent love and peace. On the third Sunday of Advent, people light the first and second purple candles and then the pink candles. These represent joy. On the fourth Sunday, the first three candles and the fourth white candle are lit, representing Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

● The Nisse
A nisse [nisser = plural] is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore, similar to a garden gnome or a goblin. According to tradition, they are present in farmhouses where they act as guardians of those living there and even occasionally help with house chores.

They were believed to be the ‘soul’ of the first person living in the property, and are described as small creatures resembling old men with long beards and red conical caps. Today, they have been assimilated into Christian culture in Scandinavia and appear in Christmas tales, decorations, and cards. Santa Claus, known in Norwegian as Julenisse, is himself a sort of nisse.

Image Source: target.com/s/norwegian+gnomes
● Lille Juaften
December 23, Norwegians celebrate Lille Julaften, or Little Christmas Eve, a time when the family comes together to clean and decorate the house and tree. Ornaments include heart-shaped Christmas baskets filled with goodies, paper chains, and On Norwegian flags, pepperkakehus, or gingerbread houses, which Norwegians refrain from eating before the end of the Christmas season. Julaften [Christmas Eve] is the main day of celebration for Norwegians.

RUSSIA
“с Рождеством” [Russian]
"S rozhdyestvom Hristovym” [Congratulations of the birth of Christ!]
The Soviet Union suppressed the practice of Religion in Russia. Since it was banned, Christian people didn’t partake of the religious part of Christmas -- or did so secretly in their homes -- but they ingeniously incorporated many of the traditions into New Year’s celebrations.

Today, Christmas in Russia is most widely celebrated on January 7 because the Russian Orthodox Church adheres to the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Preceding the Russian Orthodox Christmas, New Year's Day is on January 1 and is often considered the more important holiday.

● Ded Moroz / Father Frost
The Russian Santa Claus is named Ded Moroz, or Father Frost. On New Year's Eve, he places presents for children under the New Year tree [as opposed to a Christmas tree].

He is accompanied by Snegurochka, a snow maiden said to be his granddaughter. He carries a staff; dons a red, blue, silver, or gold coat lined with white fur; and wears valenki, traditional felt boots made of wool. Unlike Santa, Ded Moroz is tall and thin—and instead of traveling via sleigh, he gets around Russia by taking a troika, a vehicle led by three horses.

Typical depiction of Father Frost and granddaughter
Image Source: shutterstock.com/search/father-frost?c3apidt=

SLOVAKIA
“Veselé Vianoce” [Slovakian]

● Loksa Pudding Tells Fortunes
In Slovakia and parts of Ukraine it is traditional to have pudding at Christmas. So far nothing unusual. However, the dessert is said to have guessing skills. The oldest member of the family throws the Loksa pudding onto the ceiling with a spoon; the more it sticks, the happier it will be for the family in the next year

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
"Geseënde Kersfees" [Afrikaans]
"UKhisimusi omuhle" [Zulu]
“Krismesi emnandi” [Xhosa]
"Le be le keresemese e monate" [Sotho]

Similar to New Zealand and Australia, Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa. Most of the Christmas traditions are based on Dutch and British heritage from the time the area was settled in beginning in the mid-sixteen hundreds.

The Republic of South Africa has population of 55 million inhabitants of diverse cultures, religions, origins, and languages, of which Bantu-speaking people number 35 million. Only some are originally from that area; others have come from other regions. Some of the major ethnic South Africans include Zulu, Basotho, Venda, Xhosa.

● Picnics and Bar-B-Que
Some people start the morning with a church service, while others get straight to opening their Christmas presents. After the morning of activities, friends and families gather together for a Christmas lunch or dinner, followed by some backyard games like cricket, or a well-earned nap!

● Santa’s sleigh is drawn by Giraffes, not reindeer.

Image Source: Image Credit: Dan Cross,Durban interaksyon.philstar.com/christmas/ Source of Images: ▲ sapeople.com/christmas-in-cape-town ▲

● Crispy Caterpillars
Rather than pass around the cheese board on Christmas Day, South Africans choose to snack on caterpillars from the Emperor moth.

Image Source: dailymail.co.uk/Deep-fried-caterpillars

SPAIN
“Feliz Navidad” [Spanish]

● National Lottery
The Christmas celebrations begin on the 22nd of December with Spain’s National Christmas Lottery which has been held every year since 1812. The winning numbers, which are contested for by millions, are sung by children in a televised performance.

● The Three Kings
In Spain Christmas has nothing to do with Santa Claus. Instead it is the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men (Reyes Magos - Melchior, Baltazar and Gaspar) who bring the presents to well-behaved children at Christmas time. On the night of January 5th you’ll likely see massive Three Kings parades through towns and cities as families and friends get together to mark the occasion.

SWEDEN
“God Jul" [Swedish]

● Festival of St. Lucia
In Sweden the Christmas festivities start with the St. Lucia ceremony on December 13, the Winter Solstice on the old Julian calendar. Image Source: lehighvalleylive.com/lucia_fest

The youngest girl in each family dresses in white with a red sash and wears a crown of evergreens with tall candles attached to it. Small children now use battery candles, but real ones are used after about 12-years-old.

Originally Catholic, St. Lucia was a young saint from Italy who became convicted for illegal witchcraft. In Sweden, she is celebrated in December in the form of young girls dressing up as her and singing to an audience at schools, work places, and nursing homes.

UKRAINE
"З Різдвом” [Ukrainian]

Ukrainians actually have two Christmases. One on December, 25, which is Catholic Christmas, and another one is on January, 7, which is Orthodox Christmas.

● Decorating With Spider Webs
The Ukranian custom of adorning the Christmas tree with a fake spider and web is believed to bring good luck and stems from an old tale. According to ancient folklore, there once was a widow living in her cramped, cold hut with her children. One day, a pinecone dropped from the tree outside and took root. The children, excited by the prospect of a tree for Christmas, tended the seedling and made plans about how they would decorate the tree. Poverty was a way of life for the small family, and when Christmas approached, the widow knew that they would not be able to decorate the tree. The children and the widow accepted their fate and went to bed on Christmas Eve, the tiny tree branches bare.

The household’s spiders heard the children’s sobs and spun intricate webs on the tree. On Christmas morning, the children cried, “Mother, mother wake up and see the tree. It is beautiful!” She rose to find that during the night a spider had spun its web around the fragile branches. As the rays of the sun crept along the floor and silently climbed the tree, the glow touched the threads of the web turning each one into silver and gold, and, as the story goes, from that day forward the widow never wanted for anything. The Ukranian custom of adorning the Christmas tree with a fake
Image Source: spider and web is believed to bring good luck.
ssjosephandcabriniparish.weconnect.com/

VENEZUELA
“Feliz Navidad” [Spanish]

Some traiitions are centuries old, others take hold very quick.
● Roller Skating To Church
In the capital city there is a popular tradition involving large number of people roller skating to the early morning church services throughout the Christmas period. The city even closes the roads off specially to allow for the unconventional commute.

.According to Hispanic Culture Online, children are put to bed earlier than normal the night before to give them enough strength to wake up and attend the Mass. Afterwards, those who attended apparently all go out, eat tostados and drink coffee.

Image Credit: Getty Images
Image Source:
thesun.co.uk/christmas-traditions

WALES
“Nadolig Llawen” [Welsh]

● Mari Lwyd / Y Fari Lwyd
The ancient custom of Mari Lwyd is used to mark the passing of the darkest days of midwinter.The Mari Lwyd is a wassailing folk custom from South Wales which entails the use of an eponymous hobby horse made from a horse's skull mounted on a pole and carried by an individual hidden under a sackcloth.

This tradition was first recorded in writing in 1800, described as a Christmas tradition performed by groups of men who would accompany the horse on its travels around the local area. The makeup of such groups varied, but all typically included an individual to carry the horse, a leader, and individuals dressed as stock characters such as Punch and Judy.

The men would carry the Mari Lwyd to local houses, where they would request entry through song. The householders would be expected to deny them entry, again through song, and the two sides would continue their responses to one another in this manner. If the householders eventually relented, the team would be permitted entry and given
Image Source: marilwyd.wordpress.com/2016/ food and drink.

Look around. The world has so many interesting things to offer.
"MERRRY CHRISTMAS" from SAN DIEGO, CA, USA

JUST SAYIN'!
Sources:
https://www.smallworldfs.com/en/blog/hispanic-christmas-traditions#:~:text=For%20Spanish%20speaking%20countries%20Christmas%20is%20especially%20important,Colombia%20they%20all%20celebrate%20Christmas%20with%20different%20traditions.
https://www.globalexperiences.com/blog/christmas-around-world
https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/g4933/christmas-traditions-around-the-world/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/1960812/christmas-traditions-strangest-world/
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/norway/articles/how-to-celebrate-christmas-in-norway/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Lwyd
https://marilwyd.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/welcome/comment-page-1/
https://clrn.org/lifestyle/the-8-strangest-christmas-traditions-in-the-world/#:~:text=The%20strangest%20Christmas%20customs%20in%20the%20world%201,probably%20especially%20scared%20of%20cats.%20...%20More%20items
https://www.expatica.com/fr/lifestyle/holidays/christmas-in-france-871680/#:~:text=Christmas%20in%20France%3A%20a%20guide%20to%20French%20Christmas,...%208%208.%20Table%20decoration%20...%20More%20items
https://www.tripsavvy.com/russia-christmas-traditions-1502306#:~:text=Christmas%20Traditions%20in%20Russia%201%20Russian%20Christmas%20Religious,Christmastide%20...%205%20Christmas%20Gifts%20From%20Russia%20
Photos and more
http://www.soycolombiano.com/dia-de-las-velitas-tradicion-en-colombia/
https://www.costaricantimes.com/watching-the-costa-rica-christmas-festival-of-lights/58200
https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/10-czech-christmas-traditions-that-you-will-love/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalonia
https://staybarcelonaapartments.com/blog/catalan-christmas-traditions-barcelona/
https://widowcranky.com/2017/12/15/el-caganer-catalan-tradition/
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/events/2010/12/lucia_fest_at_muhlenberg_colle.html
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2019/05/20/the-haka-new-zealands-fearsome-dance-of-war/
http://www.thinglink.com/scene/1098832104315158529
https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2018/12/25/141150/look-christmas-day-celebrations-around-the-world/
https://www.globalexperiences.com/blog/christmas-around-world
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_English
https://isleofmanhotels.com/hunt-the-wren-ancient-manx-tradition-celebrated/
https://www.transceltic.com/blog/isle-of-man-annual-hunt-wren-performed-torrential-rain
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/a-uniquely-oaxacan-festival-night-of-the-radishes/
https://www.renestance.com/blog/meet-the-santons-a-french-traditional-nativity-scene/
https://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-french-nativity-sceneorsantons-de.html
https://ssjosephandcabriniparish.weconnect.com/blog/view/trivia-ukrainian-christmas-tree-ornament
https://travelfoodatlas.com/kiviak-bizarre-greenland-inuit-delicacy
https://www.target.com/s/norwegian+gnomes?ref=tgt_adv
https://christmasgenius.com/christmas-in-greenland-xmas-traditions/#:~:text=Other%20Greenlandic%20traditional%20Christmas%20activities%20that%20people%20maximize,Ice-fishing%202%20Dog-sled%20races%203%20Greenland%20cultural%20
https://vidviday.ua/blog/en/ukraine-traditions-holidays/#:~:text=Ukrainian%20Christmas%20traditions%20Ukrainians%20actually%20have%20two%20Christmases.,follow%20regularly%20are%20Christmas%20dinner%25

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SCARY CHRISTMAS STORIES

12/16/2022

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Christmas is a joyous time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The season is for love and sharing, gratitude, traditional foods, enjoying time with our families, and general good will to all.

In recent years, we have gone a bit overboard with presents for children [some very expensive ones] whether or not they have been well behaved during the year. I doubt that very many will find a lump of coal or a potato in their Christmas stocking.

But it hasn’t been that long ago that not every Christmas story was about giving and receiving gifts, laughing elves, prancing reindeer or even penny-pincher Scrooge..

In fact, some old world Christmas stories are very scary
and have been used to scare children into behaving.

SCARY CHRISTMAS STORIES FROM ICELAND

JÓLAKÖTTURINN, THE YULE CAT
Children in Iceland are warned that if they don’t finish their work on time or don’t behave, they will be stalked by Jólakötturinn, the enormous Yule Cat, who eats children [and sometimes adults] who don’t receive any new clothes before Christmas night.

Clothes? A big cat? That doesn’t sound too scary. “Besides,” you ask, “How could a cat eat a child?”

Jólakötturinn, the Yule Cat - Image Credit: PBS
Image Source: boredpanda.com/icelandic-legend-yule-cat

Well, Jólakötturinn is bigger than your house, so it’s not a problem. And it’s said, he eats only once a year at Christmas time. On Christmas night he roams the countryside and towns and peeks through the windows searching for anyone who hasn’t received new clothes for Christmas. Then he stalks those he finds, captures, and eats them. He is not a friendly kitty.

This legend has its roots in a time in the middle ages when Iceland had established itself as a producer of wool cloth. First, it was common for households to have a large furry cat [probably to control rodents]. Second, everyone needed warm clothing due to the weather. Third, wool production was vital to the economy and everyone in the household had to work hard to make the wool production successful.

Christmas gifts during this period were sparse and usually consisted of a piece of wool clothing, and even that was possible only if everyone completed the work on time. Hence, the legend was born and has carried on through the centuries.

The threat waned in modern time although the people of Iceland traditionally still gift clothing on the fifth day of Christmas to appease the Yule Cat.

The fame of the Jólakötturinn was renewed in the 1930s when poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum, who wrote of the enormous Christmas Cat, “People know not where he came from / Nor to what place he went.” Written references to this legend date to the 18th century; before that it was passed by word of mouth.

THE THIRTEEN YULE LADS
The 13 Yule Lads are troll brothers from Icelandic folklore who were troublemakers and committed obnoxious or evil mayhem every night during the time they were in the town. Their pranks weren't totally evil, but they came from vary evil family. They were the sons of Grýla and her troll husband, Leppalúði.

Grýla, often depicted as an evil witch, is very bad news. Half troll and half ogre, she is a gross, massive giant. Being a creature of legend, her description varies, but she has horns, a huge nose, cloven feet, and at least fifteen tails, each of which holds 100 bags with 20 children in each. Spoiler Alert!

Grýla the witch Grýla the troll
Image Source: pinterest.es/pin/138133913548763043/ Image Source: mentalfloss.com/gryla-christmas
-troll-iceland#

Grýla and her family live high in the mountains with a huge furry cat. [You guessed it… the Yule Cat!] Around Christmas time, when the food supply was running low, she sent her 13 lads down the mountain and into town to look for children who misbehave.

The first lad, Stekkjastaur the Sheep Cote Clod, leaves twelve days before Christmas December 12, and each day another lad goes down to the town, until the 13th lad, Kertasmikir the Candle Beggar, arrives on Christmas day. The first lad then returns up the mountain with bags of misbehaving children. Each day, one of the brothers returns home until on January 6, they have all arrived with their bags of naughty children. [Presumably, the ogress and the cat have also been hunting during this time.]

Stekkjastaur the Sheep Cote Clod, Kertasmikir the Candle Beggar
Image Source: icelandwonder.com/the-13-yule-lads/

Then Grýla takes the children out of the bags and cooks them alive in a huge caldron, making a stew. The family eats the stew for the rest of the cold season.

Yuk! What an awful thing to tell children!

The tale got so scary that in 1746 the Icelandic government stepped in and parents were officially banned from frightening their children with tales of the Yule Lads and their gruesome family.

Since then the lads have gotten their act together and, in recent times, they are just mischievous creatures pulling harmless pranks, such a slamming door, eating all the yogurt in town, and other annoying but harmless antics. They go around visiting the children and bringing gifts and goodies to eat..

Even Grýla has been modified and is now presented as a witch who protects mistreated children. She's now depicted in statues and Christmas installations all over Iceland, but in many cases, she retains at least a little of her scary vibe.

THE EUROPEAN TRADITION
Another category of Scary Christmas Stories actually predates the birth of Christ ‒ apparently even then parents had to invent monsters to intimidate their children into good behavior ‒ but the original legend was subsumed by the Christian culture sometime in the middle ages, at least in the territories once held by the Holy Roman Empire and the other cultures affected by Roman occupancy. [Remember, the Holy Roman Empire is not the same as the Ancient Roman Empire -- which took in a much greater territory -- but Germany, Italy, and much of central Europe.]

The general gist of the legend is that a companion accompanied Saint Nicholas throughout the territory when he made his Christmas rounds. These companions consist of related characters stemming from the original legend but bearing different names.

They act as a foil to the benevolent Saint Nickolas who brings gift to good children, while the companion’s purpose is to punish naughty children. The name of the character varies depending on what part of the territory you are in and some are darker and more malicious than others. The Holy Roman Empire
Image Source: shutterstock.com/holy-roman-empire

SCARY STORIES FROM THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

KRAMPUS
Krampus [whose name comes “krampen” the Germanic root for "claw"] is one of the oldest and darkest companions of Saint Nicholas. Before Christianity spread, Krampus was thought to have been part of pagan rituals for the winter solstice. According to legend, he is son of the Norse god of the underworld, Hel.

Krampus Krampus
Image Source ranker.com/terrifying-christmas-figures/ Image Source: terrorhousemag.com/krampus/

He is described as a demon-like beast, half goat and half man, with horns, black or brown hair all over its body, one foot and one cloven hoof, and a long pointed tongue. He carried a bundle of birch sticks. He often has chains all over his body which he drags along with him to find naughty children. Some parts of the legend claim that Saint Nicholas keeps him chained up except at Christmas time.

While St. Nicholas was out rewarding nice children by leaving presents, Krampus was beating the naughty ones with his birch branches. In some cases, he is said to drag them off to his lair and beat them again or eat them.

While originally a pagan legend, with the spread of Christianity, Krampus became associated with Christmas and Saint Nicholas despite efforts by the Catholic Church to squelch the connection. He became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and people sent Krampus Christmas Cards like those below.

Image Source: Source of center and right images:
thevintagenews.com/krampus-christmas-devil snapfish.com/Christmas/Cards

In some locations in Europe, Krampus’ popularity is discouraged. Krampus celebrations are encourage in other countries. In the 1930s, Austria banned Krampus for being so terrifying he frightened the children. Today, a toned-down version of Krampus is part of the popular Christmas markets in Austrian urban centers. In these more tourist-friendly interpretations, Krampus is more humorous than fearsome.

KNECHT RUPRECHT
In parts of Germany, the anti-St. Nick is Knech Ruprecht and, according to some references, is also known as Farmhand Rupert or Servant Robert [no explanation of where that came from].

He looks like a cross between a shepherd and a wild man with a long beard wearing a hooded brown cloak and carrying a big stick. And he just might have horns. There are stories about how Knech and St. Nick got together. One is that Knech was a rescued by St. Nicholas as foundling and was raised by him.

The most interesting myth is that one day, when Saint Nicholas arrived at an Inn, he found that the innkeeper had killed three boys and stuffed their bodies into a pickling barrel. St. Nick brought the boys back to life and punished the innkeeper by making him work beside him as Knecht Ruprecht for eternity. https://germangirlinamerica.com/who-is-knecht-ruprecht/

In Germany, Saint Nicholas comes around on December 5 and brings treats, and on Christmas Eve, the Christkind brings presents. On December 5, Knecht’s duty was to go around asking kids if they could pray. If they could, they got treats of fruit, candy, and gingerbread. Those who couldn’t, he beat with a bag of ashes so they would remember the reason for the celebration is the baby Jesus, not presents.

A variation on the theme is that Knecht and St. Nicholas went house to house together, and there checked in a big book whether or not the devil had written anything about the child. Then the child would have to recite h/her prayers for Knetcht. Those they knew their prayers got goodies from St. Nicholas. The children who didn’t, got a lump of coal or a switching from Knetcht, or worse, put in his sack and carried away.

There was a time when some parents actually acted this out and had someone come to the door dressed as Knecht and then carry the child away in a bag. Dark times!

BELSNICKEL
The companion Belsnickel [also known as Belschnickel, Pelznickel, Bell Sniggle and a variety of other names] is, according to folklore, a crotchety, fur-clad figure in Southwestern Germany. He made it across the pond with the Dutch immigrants and continues to exist in the Pennsylvania Dutch and Brazilian-German communities.

On a scale ranging from Santa Claus as we know him today as the kindest and the child-eating Krampus as the worst, Belsnickel falls in the mid-range. Not too good but also not too bad.

Source of Images: christmasisawesomeandsoshouldyou.blogspot.com/belsnickel

He resembles Santa in looks and in some communities he is thought to be Saint Nicholas himself rather than a companion, despite his ragged furs cloak, dirty clothes, and mean demeanor. He is a more recent myth based on the older servant of St. Nicholas, none other than Knecht Ruprecht. He also carries switches to beat naughty children.

Unlike Krampus and Knecht, Belsnickel does not accompany Saint Nicholas but instead visits children by himself and combines both the threatening and the benign aspects which in other traditions are divided between the Saint Nicholas and the companion figure. Even though he may be scary and his function is not specifically punishing bad behavior. If the children have been obedient, he gives them treats as rewards, and he is loved and feared in equal parts by children. As long as you behave, he is like the traditional Santa Claus.

THE PERCHTEN / PERCHTA THE WITCH
The Perchten is described as a dual-gendered spirit who appears during the 12 day of Christmas [December 25 thru January 5]. The female part if called Schonperchten [Beautiful Perchten] and on the other we have the male and aptly named Schiachperchten [Ugly Perchten]. The images are, presumably, the male part of the spirit because they certainly aren’t beautiful.

The Perchten Perchten Festival - Austria
Image Source: fotocommunity.de/photo/perchten Image Credit: Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters]
Image Source: avax.news/pictures/114374

Consistent with other versions of the legend, Schoneperchten gives treats to the good people of the world, while the Schiachperchten punishes the bad.

The terrifying part of this character is that, when it passes by you, you can never be sure which part of the spirit you will be facing.

However, when it comes to folklore, nothing is simple and the characters seem to merge and weave in and out of various myths and legends. According to Otherworldlyoracle.com/ the Perchten are either evil spirits or were originally the spirits that drove away the evil ones. It’s a custom in Alpine regions for men to dress as Krampus-looking monsters and mimic the Perchten by parading through the streets and driving away Christmas ghosts.

The spirit or spirits seem to be derived from an older belief, that of the greatly loved Germanic goddess Berchta [also called Perchta and other names] who was the leader of the Perchten and the goddess who protected babies, children, and women. Some historians believe she was worshiped by ancient Alpine celtic tribes before the time of the Germanic tribes.

As happened with many mythological creatures and ancient beliefs, Berchta, gift-giver, guide and protector of babes, domestic goddess of spinning and women, was nearly stomped out when the Church rose to power. One of the Church’s major tools of conversion was fear. Soon Berchta/Pertcha became an ugly, crooked-nosed, belly-slitting witch [whose consorts were the dreaded demons, the perchten] who captured children and ate them.

It didn’t take long before Perchta was turned into competition with Krampus as the worst Christmas demon around.

The Goddess Berchta [Perchta] The Demonized Perchta - Image Source:
Image Source: bing.com/images/search?view=Berchta theloreyouknow.tumblr.com/perchta

PARTIAL LIST OF NAMES BY LOCATION
Dark and threatening companions include:
Knecht Rupecht in Germany
Krampus in Austria
Parkeji in Slovania
Friuli in Croatia,
Krampusz] in Hungary
Klaubauf in Bavaria
Pelzebock; Befana; Pelznickel; Belzeniggl; Belsnickel in the Palatinate [and also Pennsylvania, due to Pennsylvania Dutch influence]
Schmutzli in Switzerland
Rumpelklas; Bellzebub; Hans Muff; Drapp; and Buzebergt in Augsburg.

Less malicious companions include:
Zwarte Piet or Black Pete in Netherlands and Flanders -
Schmutzli in Swiss folklore - [schmutz meaning dirt]
čert [Devil] and anděl [Angel] in Czech Republic
Rubbels in part of France and German-speaking Lorraine and Hanstrapp
Père Fouettard in Northern and Eastern France [Father Slapper]

Let's be grateful for plain old Santa Claus!
JUST SAYIN’ !
□
Sources:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/1960812/christmas-traditions-strangest-world/
https://mountainmanliving.com/2021/12/16/jolakotturinn-the-icelandic-christmas-cat/
https://www.pinterest.es/pin/138133913548763043/
https://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/news/celebrating-christmas-with-13-trolls/7916
https://terrorhousemag.com/krampus/
https://www.ranker.com/list/the-10-most-terrifying-christmas-figures/molly-mahan
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Krampus
https://blog.redbubble.com/2012/12/the-history-of-the-krampus-card/
https://mysteriawords.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-folklore-of-krampus.html
https://germangirlinamerica.com/who-is-knecht-ruprecht/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/748301294321457364/
https://www.pretty-attitude.com/blogs/news/55347845-the-story-of-knecht-ruprecht
https://christmasisawesomeandsoshouldyou.blogspot.com/2013/12/10-belsnickel.html
http://avax.news/pictures/114374
https://theloreyouknow.tumblr.com/post/168479058960/meet-frau-perchta-or-if-youre-on-friendly
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/568050/gryla-christmas-troll-iceland#:~:text=Gr%C3%BDla%20isn%27t%20a%20standalone%20figure%20in%20Icelandic%20folklore%2C,supposedly%20visit%20on%20the%2013%20days%20of%20Christmas.
https://www.grunge.com/282226/the-untold-truth-of-christmas-witches/#:~:text=The%20creepy%20tales%20got%20so%20bad%20that%2C%20in,Christmas%20justice%20to%20Italian%20children%20Eleonora%20Gianinetto%2FWikimedia%20Commons
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-thirteen-yule-lads-icelands-own-mischievous-santa-clauses-180948162/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companions_of_Saint_Nicholas#:~:text=The%20companions%20of%20Saint%20Nicholas%20are%20a%20group,gift-bringer%2C%20threatening%20to%20thrash%20or%20abduct%20disobedient%20children.
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/12/04/the-story-of-krampus-the-horrific-christmas-devil-santas-horned-helper/?chrome=1&A1c=1
https://otherworldlyoracle.com/berchta-goddess-women-children-perchten/#:~:text=The%20Perchten%20are%20either%20evil%20spirits%20or%20were,through%20the%20streets%20and%20driving%20away%20Christmas%20ghosts.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=cST82gno&id=E96C3F514A8A58363001B850A84269C9C7B7602E&thid

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ODD AND UNUSUAL EVENTS WHICH ARE STRANGE, MYSTERIOUS, OR JUST PLAIN WEIRD

12/9/2022

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Isn’t it annoying when something weird happens and experts some up with an explanation that sounds plausible, but it could be something else… and you’re never going to know for sure?

Strange and mysterious events happen every day, many of which we hear about on the news, most we don’t. Can these just be random events? Coincidences?

Many times scientists or psychologists can explain them. Often strange and mysterious events are natural phenomenon which our science hasn’t caught up with yet. Think about how many things were unexplained during the Middle Ages. Then, people turned to magic rather than science to attempt to understand. Humans always want to understand, and making up things is better than nothing.

Today, we are still in the dark about many things, but the basis of science has put into place a foundation upon which we, at least, can built plausible theories. In the mean time, it’s fun to read about unusual unexplained things. Some are just goofy, although unexplained – probably because no one wanted to do the work. Others are more serious. Prepare to be annoyed.

THINGS THAT GO SQUEEK IN THE NIGHT
Some events are just goofy, mildly unusual, or fairly easy to understand.

● Dog Turns Into Llama
In 1982, a man woke up to find that his dog had been replaced by a llama.

● Crocodile in England
In 1985, residents of Alnwick, England, were startled when a 20-foot-long crocodile was found swimming in their local river. If you come to Alnwick Prison Gardens, you can meet the statue of an ill tempered policeman who tragically lost his first true love to a crocodile on their honeymoon.

Unable to forget the memories, he entered a semi-catatonic state and never came out of it. However, another source implies he had a second wife, which throws the catatonic state into question. [My guess: this is a PR "myth" inspired by the 1985 incident, if there really was one, to promote tourism to the Prison Gardens.]
◄ Constable Croc
Image Source: alnwickgarden.com/constable-croc/

● Unusual Birth
In 1992, an Oregon woman gave birth to twins - one was normal, and the other had two heads. [This is an easy one. Triplets, and two of the fetuses didn’t separate. It was probably twins and one single fetus.]

● Don’t’ Throw Bicycles in the Canal!
The last time the City of Manchester, England, provided bicycles for rent, the authorities literally had to tell people not to throw rental bikes in a canal. [No explanation needed. People are inconsiderate and stupid a lot of the time.]

● Dancer Entertains Lion
In the Bronx (New York City) a woman jumped into the lion enclosure, and danced. She even tossed money to the lion. [Sounds like drugs or mental illness to me.]

● London’s First Escalator to Underground
When the first escalator in the London Underground was put into service in 1911, the public had doubts about its safety. It is a long way down in a relatively snug space.

As the story goes, to reassure the people, the Underground’s one-legged employee William “Bumper” Harris was enlisted to ride up and down. The apparent message was that if a one-legged man could do it, anyone could. Other sources indicate there are doubts about whether or not Bumper actually existed, but he is commemorated with a small figurine in the
First London Escalator - ▲ Image source:   London Transport Museum.
greatwesternstar.com/post/the-first-escalator   Peter Freuchen - ▼ Image Source:
  cracked.com/image-pictofact-7399-weird-world

● Arctic Explorer Burried by Avalanch
Peter Freuchen, an Arctic explorer, miraculously did not die when he was buried by an avalanche in 1929. Most folks in this situation wouldn’t make it out, but Freuchen found a crude but successful way to save himself from death. He made a sort of dagger out of his own frozen feces and used it to dig himself out of the snow. He lost several of his fingers, but he made it out alive.

● Inuit Village Disappears
“A small Inuit village in Canada was known by fur trappers who would pass through it occasionally. But in 1930, something weird happened; a fur trapper named Joe Labelle entered the island's premises and didn't find a single person there. In fact, 7 sled dogs were found dead from starvation in a grave that looked like it was man-made. A search was conducted to find the missing people, but not a single body was found.”
boredpanda.com/mysterious-unexplained-stories-history
● The Porpoise Grave
On a very small island in the English Channel, a team of archaeologists working there found what they believed to be a 14th-century grave. Upon excavation, they were stunned to find the remains of a porpoise instead of a human. No one knows why the body of an aquatic creature was placed in the grave in the 14th or any other century..

● The Ghost Ship
This photo was taken by Jason Asselin as he was filming a music video on Lake Superior. This strange shimmering silhouette which resembled a large ship stayed in sight of the film makers for half an hour, then disappeared. ▼ Jason never found out what it was.

Image Credit: Jason Asselin
Source of Images: boredomtherapy.com/unsolved-mysteries

● Teleportation in Russia
This was believed to be a case of teleportation by those who witnessed the event ▲ in 2012. If you look closely, you can see a figure in a white overcoat standing directly behind the large truck. Apparently, the person had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, leading people to believe they teleported from another location.

THINGS THAT GO BIG BOOM IN THE NIGHT
Some of these so-called mysterious events are serious disasters, at least for the people involved.

● Spontaneous Human Combustion
The case of Mary Reeser has never been completely explained. In 1951, Mary Reeser’s landlord notified the police after she discovered the doorknob of one of her tenants was burning hot. When police entered the St. Petersburg, Florida, apartment, they found a pile of ashes, the remains of a chair in which Mary Reeser had been sitting. Her backbone, part of her left foot (still wearing a slipper) and her skull which had shrunken “to the size of a teacup” [according to those present] were all that was left of her.

Image Source: boredomtherapy.com/unsolved-mysteries Image Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Reeser

The shrinkage was unusual enough to be noted by official investigators although shrinking of the skull is not a regular feature of alleged cases of spontaneous human combustion, which was the suspected cause of the fire.

Florida officials sent a formal letter to the FBI. "We request any information or theories that could explain how a human body could be so destroyed and the fire confined to such a small area and so little damage done to the structure of the building and the furniture in the room not even scorched or damaged by smoke." [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Reeser]

The ultimate conclusions was that Mary had had been incinerated by the wick effect. She used sleeping pills and was also a smoker. Also, the floor was concrete and there was nothing near the chair. The FBI hypothesized that she fell unconscious while smoking and set fire to her nightclothes. They indicated that once a body starts to burn there is enough fat to keep the fire going, sometimes resulting in almost complete combustion of the body.

● Dyatlov Pass Incident
Between the 1st and 2nd of February, 1959, a group of 9 seasoned hikers disappeared in the Ural Mountains of Russia. [There had been 10 to begin with but, at one point, one of them became ill and left the group to return home.]

The night of February 1, this experienced trekking group from the Ural Polytechnic Institute set up their camp on the eastern slope of Kholat Syakh Mountain. During the night, something happened that caused these nine hikers to free themselves from their tent by cutting it open and fleeing from their camp inadequately dressed for the heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures.

A short time after their disappearance, a massive search party was organized. The searchers eventually found the bodies of all nine of the hikers.

Image Credit: Unnamed members of Russian search party 1959
Image Source: santafeghostandhistorytours.com/

The Dyatlov Pass Hiking Group
Yuri Doroshenko left the group before the incident and save his life.
Image Source: exonews.org/tag/dyatlov-pass-incident/

At the time, Soviet authorities determined that six of them had died from hypothermia and three killed by physical trauma. One victim had major skull damage, two had severe chest trauma, and another had a small crack in the skull. Four of the bodies were found lying in running water in a creek, and three of these four had damaged soft tissue of the head and face. Two of the bodies had missing eyes, one had a missing tongue, and one had missing eyebrows. Several had suffered skull fractures. High level of radioactivity was found on their clothing and several seemed to be sunburnt.

Of course, there were a number of theories proposed about how this had happened. One was that an incident such as infrasound ‒ sound waves with frequencies below the lower limit of human audibility ‒ an infrequent natural phenomenon which causes acute panic attacks. Another theory proposed that the deceased were killed accidently by parachutes mines detonated by the Russian Military.

Speculation included animal attacks, hypothermia, an avalanche, katabatic winds, or several of these possibilities combined. However, the official investigation concluded that a "compelling natural force" had caused the deaths. Not much of an answer.

Fifty years later, in 2019, the Russians reopened the investigation. In the resulting 2020 report, the investigators concluded that the hikers’ deaths were due to an avalanche. According to Wikipedia, “Survivors of the avalanche had been forced to suddenly leave their camp in low-visibility conditions with inadequate clothing, and had died of hypothermia. Andrey Kuryakov, deputy head of the regional prosecutor's office, said: ‘It was a heroic struggle. There was no panic. But they had no chance to save themselves under the circumstances.’"(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident)

Scientists from the top two Universities in Europe suggested in 2021 that a type of avalanche known as slab avalanche could explain some of the trekkers' injuries. When stronger snow overlies weaker snow, it is called a slab. Or as Karl Birkeland puts it, “A slab is when you have something sitting on top of nothing.”
[ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/212_fall2003.web.dir/Sarah_Schlichting/Slab.html]

A slab avalanche occurs when the weak layer lies lower down in a snowpack, with other layers of compressed snow on top. When the avalanche is triggered, the weak layer breaks off, pulling all the layers on top of it down the slope. These layers tumble and fall in a giant block, and move very quickly.

A mountain pass in the area was later named "Dyatlov Pass" in memory of the group, even though the incident happened almost a mile away. A prominent rock outcrop, located closer to the campsite, now serves as a memorial to the group.

● The Kentucky Meat Shower
This incident occurred over a very short period of time ‒ only several minutes between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on March 3, 1876 ‒ when a woman named Mrs. Crouch was making soap on her porch in Olympia Springs, Kentucky.

Chunks of red meat measuring approximately 2 by 2 inches, with at least one being 4 by 4 inches, fell from the sky in a 100-by-50-yard area. The meat looked gristly, according to Mrs. Crouch. The exact type of meat was never identified, although according to the first report in Scientific American, two men who tasted it judged it to be lamb or deer. Several reports suggested it was beef, lamb, deer, bear, horse, or even human.

In an article written for the Sanitarian, Leopold Brandeis identified the meat as Nostoc, microscopic single-celled organisms that contain no nucleus (a cyanobacteria). Nostoc are some of the oldest living organisms on earth, first appearing 3.5 billion years ago. His theory that the substance was Nostoc was based on the fact that Nostoc expands into a clear jelly-like mass when rain falls on it. Actually, there was no rain immediately before or after the meant shower.
◄ Actual samples collected from the meat shower

Image Credit: Scientific American
Image Source: allthatsinteresting.com/kentucky-meat-shower

In an article written for the Sanitarian, Leopold Brandeis identified the meat as Nostoc, microscopic single-celled organisms that contain no nucleus (a cyanobacteria). Nostoc are some of the oldest living organisms on earth, first appearing 3.5 billion years ago. His theory that the substance was Nostoc was based on the fact that Nostoc expands into a clear jelly-like mass when rain falls on it. Actually, there was no rain immediately before or after the meat shower. Nostoc blooming on the ground, a possible explanation for the meat shower.
Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Image Source: allthatsinteresting.com/kentucky-meat-shower

He sent samples to the Newark Scientific Association where two samples were re-identified as lung tissue from either a horse or a human infant, three as muscle, and two as cartilage.

The favored theory was that the substance was vomited up by vultures. These bird will vomit as part of making a quick escape and also as a defensive method when threatened. The flattened, dry appearance of the meat chunks as the result of pressure. Nine days later, on March 12, 1876, a similar incident occurred in London. This material was described as red "corpuscles" with a "vegetable" appearance. The phenomenon was reported by Scientific American, The New York Times, and several other publications at the time.

● Dog Suicides at the Overtoun Bridge
The Overtoun Bridge in Dumbarton, Scotland, was constructed in 1895. Ever since the bridge was built the locals believe it to be a place of paranormal activity. There are various stories about strange things that have happened there, but the most puzzling is that of the dog suicides.

In the 1950s and 1960s, rumors were again stirred up when it was realized that dogs had started leaping to their deaths from the top of the Overtoun Bridge. Since that first notice, as many as 50 dogs been recorded as having plunged to death from the bridge. Alarmed, the locals called in a canine psychologist, a veterinarian behavioral specialist, and even a psychic were called upon to shed some light on this gruesome trend, but none of them had any answers.

The behavior specialist, Stan Rawlinson’s conclusion was because dogs have no decision making ability, suicide was not possible. He backed that up with information about dog eyesight, saying dogs can’t gauge where the edge of the bridge is. The people didn’t like that answer.

Overtoun Bridge, Dumbarton, Scotland
Image Source: ststworld.com/overtoun-bridge/

After more investigation Researchers found that dogs were jumping off the bridge on a clear day from the exact same spot and all the dogs belonged to the long snouted breeds (dolichocephalic) such as German Shepherd, Scottish Terrier, Doberman, etc.

Dr. David Sands, animal behaviorist, suggested that the particular odor of certain small animals, particularly minks, under the bridge, lured the canines to pursue the animals by jumping off the bridge. However, no such animals were ever found under the bridge.

To date, approximately 600 canines have tried to leap to their deaths. Those that succeed fall fifty feet onto a jagged rocky surface below. Eyewitnesses also say that if a dog ails in its first attempt, it returns to the edge to jump for the second time.

In 2022, it is now against the law to walk dog on bridges in southern Scotland.

JUST SAYIN’!
□
Sources:
Dyatlov Pass Incident
https://www.santafeghostandhistorytours.com/DYATLOV-PASS-PICTURES-DEATHS.html
https://exonews.org/tag/dyatlov-pass-incident/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=W4Cgft3Y&id=74
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/avalanche

Goofy, mildly unusual, or fairly easy to understand
https://www.cracked.com/image-pictofact-7399-weird-world-12-bizarre-events-that-shouldnt-have-happened-but-did
https://boredomtherapy.com/s/unsolved-mysteries-in-history?as=799&bdk=0
https://unbelievable-facts.com/2017/08/mysterious-unexplained-events.html
https://boredomtherapy.com/s/unsolved-mysteries-in-history?as=799&bdk=0
https://www.boredpanda.com/mysterious-unexplained-stories-history/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_meat_shower
https://www.factinate.com/things/42-facts-historys-bizarre-events/https:/www.factinate.com/things/42-facts-historys-bizarre-events/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_disappeared_mysteriously:_1990%E2%80%93present#:~:text=Since%20the%201970s%2C%20many%20individuals%20around%20the%20world,and%20dates%20of%20their%20deaths%20remain%20a%20mystery.
https://www.livescience.com/11345-top-ten-unexplained-phenomena.html#:~:text=Top%2010%20Unexplained%20Phenomena%20The%20Taos%20Hum.%20Some,beasts%20called...%20Intuition.%20Whether%20we%20call%20it%20

Kentucky Meat Shower
https://theturfgrassgroup.com/turf-care/nostoc-a-green-jelly-growing-on-your-lawn/
https://allthatsinteresting.com/kentucky-meat-shower
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_meat_shower
https://www.boredpanda.com/mysterious-unexplained-stories-history/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

Dog Suicides
https://meaww.com/a-mysterious-bridge-in-scotland-where-600-dogs-have-jumped-off
https://allthatsinteresting.com/overtoun-bridge
https://boredomtherapy.com/s/unsolved-mysteries-in-history?as=799&bdk=0
https://www.ststworld.com/overtoun-bridge/

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CHARITIES? BAH! HUMBUG! Handling Requests for Charitable Donations

11/25/2022

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Today the mailman delivered six more requests for charitable donations. I added them to the pile of 45 that I’ve received since November 1. Generally, I don’t count these; I simply sort out my favorites and try to send a donation to at least one or two per month.

But this is getting ridiculous! Today’s four included two from the same charity. I realize that the Christmas and fall holidays are the time when most charities depend on good will and holiday spirit to accumulate contributions, but I don’t need five letters, a nickel, or address labels to get me to donate to one charity. One request will do, thank you very much..

How many trees does this destroy? How many pieces of paper end up in the solid waste facilities? At what point does the average American middle class bill-payer either go nuts or start dumping all the solicitations into the trash?

More important, how much of the donation goes directly to pay for the administration, PR, and mail campaigns for the charities, and how much goes to funds the on-site services and equipment needed?

THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING TO CHARITY
Don’t get me wrong. I’m certainly not bad-mouthing legitimate charities or making charitable donations. I personally believe that all of us have the responsibility to care for and assist people who are less fortunate than ourselves. Nor am I giving anyone a lecture on how, when, or if they make charitable donations or how good it can make them feel. Giving is a personal decision and nobody else’s business.

RESOURCES ARE SCARCE FOR EVERYONE
Limited resources work both sides of the equation. The resources charities depend on are inadequate to address the needs. The needs are real and endless, and will continue to be. Charities will never have enough, and they have to fight for every dollar. When I was in charge of the San Bernardino County Office of Community Development, the county distributed federal funds for projects to assist low-income persons and communities. The charitable groups were, and still are, fiercely competitive because they have to be. [I found they weren’t hesitant to undercut each other in the process, either.]

In most cases, charities do important work and warrant public support for their efforts. In fact, part of the problem is that they are nearly all worthy. [By “nearly all”, I mean only that there are some that are simply not viable, and there are scams.]

Therein lays the problem for the average middle-class family. Their resources are also limited, and many families struggle to make ends meet just as the charities do.

Every average family that makes donations, however big or small, however often, has to decide which of the many organizations to give their hard-earned dollars to and how much they can afford. I often wonder if the practice of deluging the middle-class with so many demands can lead to frustration, causing at least some people to not make any contributions at all.

AMERICAN GIVING
Fortunately, Americans tend to be empathetic and give generously to the causes they choose.
Bank of America partnered with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to produce the 2021 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy: Charitable Giving by Affluent Households* which provides insight into the charitable habits of affluent households. They found nearly 90% of affluent households gave to charity in 2020, similar to previous years, meaning that in spite of the economic situation in 2020, affluent families continued to be as giving as they had been in better economic times.

[*Affluent households in the study have a net worth of $1 million or more, excluding the value of their primary home, and/or an annual household income of $200,000.]

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION DOLLAR
While some donors may not care, the majority of middle class contributors would like to get the most out of their contribution dollars. They care about percentage of funds which go to administration, including advertizing, vs. the percentage that actually carries out the services.

Here’s the thing. Despite the number of watch dog and reporting organizations all over the internet who are supposed to rate charities and guide the donors in wise decision making, it was practically impossible to obtain any statistics about the charities’ spending practices. At best there are ratings giving up to four stars for the best. Maybe with more diligence, I could find what I was looking for, but it is not something a person can do quickly or easily. [If there are, let me know where.]

Although there is no standard percentage requirement for administrative costs, typical nonprofits spend from 15 to 40 percent of revenue on administrative costs. Other sources say, on average, 75 percent goes to programs. While there are some legitimate reasons for differences, depending on the nature of the charity, 15 to 40 percent is a big spread. When I was administering federal programs, the guidelines usually held agencies to 15 percent administrative costs.

BEFORE DONATING
Advice on checking out charities always begins with determining the causes you care about. Most people already know due to personal circumstances, friends, relatives, and areas of interest.

● Search online for the charities addressing the causes you care about.
You undoubtedly know what some of the charities and non-profits are, but there might be others you don’t know about that would interest you.

● Check them out online.
Search the charity name followed by these words [one at a time]: “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” “fraud,” or “scam.” If you find bad reviews, maybe there are better organizations.

●Check out the charity’s website.
Does it give you details about the programs you want to support or how it uses donations? How much of your donation will go directly to support the programs you care about? If you can’t find detailed information about a charity’s mission and programs, be suspicious.

● Use one of these watchdog organizations to help you research.
All these links were live and correct when I checked them in October, 2022.

• Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance at https://www.give.org/search
• Charity Navigator at https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1887
• CharityWatch at https://www.charitywatch.org/top-rated-charities
• Candid at https://candid.org/about
• Guide Star at https://www.guidestar.org/

● Find out if the fundraiser and/or charity is registered.
Some states require that charities register with the state regulator. Check to see if the fundraiser or charity soliciting your dollars are registered with your state’s Charity regulators.
https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/

● Check if the donation will be tax deductible.
If this is important to you, confirm that the organization you’re donating to is registered with the IRS as a tax-exempt organization. Look up the organization in the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search.
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search

[I can’t imagine a legitimate charity that hasn’t registered with the IRS for tax exempt status. Charities do not want to pay taxes.]

The correct tax status for a non-profit charity is a 501(c)(3). If you donate to a 501(c)(3) organization, you may deduct the donation from your taxes. And by the way, a 501(c)(3) may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities, and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates, local or not.

● Don’t Be Taken In By The Designation “Not-For-Profit”
Although the terms “nonprofit organization” (NPO) and “Not-For-Profit organization” (NFPO) are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same, and neither is a charity. There are key distinctions between the two types of enterprise.

A key one is their purpose. Nonprofits must offer some social benefit and provide goods or services. Not-for-profits need not have such an orientation and may exist simply to serve their membership rather than society at large, such as a health club that only serves its members. These organizations have the tax code status of 501(c)(7).

NonProfit and Not-For-Profit organizations may be tax exempt under the Tax Code 501(c)(7) provisions but they may or may not provide any social benefit. While these organizations may solicit donations, the contributions are not tax deductible. [Taken directly from: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/not-for-profit.asp]

HANDLING TELEPHONE SOLICITATIONS
Charitable calls are allowed under the FTC regulations, even if you are on the FTC Do-Not-Call Registry. If you wish to be listed on the FTC Do-Not-Call Registry or just want to report a call, go to: https://www.donotcall.gov/

However, there are rules that apply to calls that are allowed for charity solicitations.

● Don’t Let Anyone Rush Or Intimidate You Into Making A Donation.
The first rule of thumb is not to let anyone rush or intimidate you into making a donation. Both legitimate charities and scammers try to rush you so there isn’t time to think it over.

While one source I read advises that “Real charities will give you time to mull over the decision to donate,” many genuine organizations write in their printed material “Respond by” and give a date.

I understand that charities, like businesses, have to budget for the coming year, and the more they know about their revenue stream, the more effective the budgeting. However, this bugs me!

[I also dislike those who try to force you into committing an amount, usually by saying something like “The average donation is fifty dollars. Can I put you down for fifty?”]

● Don’t Trust Your Caller ID.
Another rule of thumb is not to trust your caller ID. They lie! Technology has smoothed the way for scammers, and the caller ID can be faked easily from anywhere in the world. Often such calls appear to be from some local utility.

● Be Aware of the Legal Requirements for Charity Solicitations.
• No calls permitted before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. (your time),
• They have to tell you the exact name of the charity, and that they are calling to seek a donation,
• The caller ID must be truthful.
• The caller cannot lie about the answers to the following questions. [see “Ask Questions” below]

● Ask Questions.
Solicitors must be truthful when answering your questions, including:
• Charity’s address (web and mail),
• Whether or not you can get a receipt for your donation,
•The fundraiser’s connection to the charity,
• The mission or purpose of the charity (details, including where),
• Whether a donation is tax deductible,
• How a donation will be used, or how much of the donation actually goes to the charity’s programs,
• The charity’s affiliation with the government.
• If the organization lobbies to support legislation and/or endorses candidates for any public office.
If the caller unable or unwilling to answer any of these questions, beware.

● If The Fundraiser Says You Already Pledged, Check.
They may say — in a phone call or a mailer — that you already pledged to make the donation, or that you donated to them last year. They think that means you’ll be more willing to donate.
● Listen carefully to the name of the charity and write it down.
Some scammers use names that sound a lot like other charities to trick you. Research before you give. The “Cancer Fund of America” is not the “American Cancer Society”.

● Watch out for sentimental claims with few details.
Be suspicious if you hear a lot of vague sentimental claims, but don’t get specifics about how your donation will be used and how the dollars are distributed.

● Don’t donate with a wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency.
Anyone asking you to donate this way is a scammer.

● Don’t donate money to a charity that is pressuring you for cash.
If something feels fishy about the situation, like if a representative is really pushy about you donating money, then you should definitely hang up or end the conversation. You don’t have to give money to people who won’t let you think about the decision first.

●Sweepstakes winning in exchange for a donation? Nope.
If someone guarantees you’ll win a prize or contest if you contribute, that’s a scam. You won’t win anything, and your donation money will go to a scammer.

● Keep an eye out for red flags.
Watch out for an unrecognized organization name, a vague mission statement, or an overly energetic person asking for money. If something seems off or out of the ordinary, such as the caller getting hostile about the questions, you should definitely be wary.

DOOR-TO-DOOR SOLICITATIONS
If someone is at your door asking for money for a charity, you should probably just say no unless it is the Girl Scout living across the street or someone you know and can reasonably trust. You can’t be sure where the money is going, and donating to organizations that come to your door is not good. If you encounter a situation like this, you should definitely be wary of donating. You don’t have to give money to people knocking on your door, and you don’t have to give money to overly pushy people.

CHARITY ROBO CALLS
Charities are not allowed to make robocalls. If you get an illegal robocall, hang up. Don’t press buttons to be taken off a call list or to talk to a live person. It might lead to more unwanted calls. Instead, go to https://www.donotcall.gov/.
Learn more about robocalls at https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/robocalls

THE BEST AND THE WORST
I started out hoping there would be lists of best and worst charities, but a few hours of research took care of that. There are many factors which have to be taken into account in determining best and worst, and by themselves, those words are too vague to be useful. In addition, most of the listings of best charities were in categories according to cause: those that help pay bills, medical research, those that help pay medical bills, animal welfare, charities that address world poverty, and so on. The worst ones listed I’d never heard of and haven’t sent me solicitations.

Below I list a number of websites that provide a variety of lists, more as examples than anything else, but it does not even begin to cover the variety of non-profits and charities that exist. I also include some listings that show ways the cost issue can be broken down which demonstrates some of the considerations in that assessment.

TAKE AWAY
This speaks to the advice that encourages people to research the charities based on what causes they are interested in and deciding in advance, before receiving letters and phone calls.

P.S. By the time I finished this, I had put all but four of my favorite children’s charities in the trash.

JUST SAYIN’!
□
Note 1: Partial List of best charities by limited categories [various sources]
Best Animal welfare charities: https://impactful.ninja/best-animal-rescue-charities/#:~:text
Charities that help with Bills:                           https://nonprofitpoint.com/charities-that-help-with-bills/
Non-Profits that help with funeral costs: https://nonprofitpoint.com/charities-that-help-with-funeral-costs/
Charities/help w/medical equipment costs:    https://nonprofitpoint.com/charities-that-help-with-medical-equipment/
Charities/ help with home repairs:                  https://nonprofitpoint.com/charities-that-help-with-home-repairs/
Charities you should know about:                   https://nonprofitpoint.com/different-types-of-charities/
Charities/ help with legal costs: https://nonprofitpoint.com/charities-that-help-with-legal-fees/
10 best Christian charities:                              https://nonprofitpoint.com/best-christian-charities-to-donate/
10 best Jewish charities:                                 https://nonprofitpoint.com/jewish-charities-to-donate-to/
Charities/ help with hospital bills:                    https://nonprofitpoint.com/charities-that-help-with-hospital-bills/
Best Medical Research Organizations:   https://blog.charitynavigator.org/2018/09/americas-10-best-medical-
                                                                              research.html

Note 2: A way to consider percentages going to programs
[Taken from: https://www.wristbandexpress.com/content/health-charities-ranked-spend-afflicted/?gclid]

The 10 Health Charities That Spend The Most Per Afflicted Person
1. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: $9,089.022. ALS Association: $2,037.08
3. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: $342.29
4. Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: $316.40
5. Muscular Dystrophy Association: $227.72
6. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: $199.96
7. National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: $199.74
8. National Multiple Sclerosis Society: $128.64
9. Alzheimer's Association: $49.14
10. American Cancer Society: $45.19

The 10 Health Charities That Spend The Least Per Afflicted Person
1. American Tinnitus Association: $0.012. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: $0.04
3. National Osteoporosis Foundation: $0.06
4. American Liver Foundation: $0.23
5. Lewy Body Dementia Association: $0.81
6. National Kidney Foundation: $1.05
7. Arthritis Foundation: $1.10
8. National Organization for Rare Disorders: $1.50
9. Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Foundation: $1.72
10. Cerebral Palsy Foundation: $2.03

The 10 Health Charities With The Highest % Of Total Expenses Spent On Programs
1. American Kidney Fund: 97.3%2. AIDS United: 92.9%
3. Cure Alzheimer’s Fund: 92.1%
4. Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: 88.7%
5. National Organization for Rare Disorders: 88.0%
6. National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: 87.9%
7. Kidney Cancer Association: 87.8%
8. Breast Cancer Research Foundation: 87.5%
9. American Lung Association: 87.2%
10. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: 83.2%

Sources:
https://givingforgood.org/goodness-journal/7-benefits-of-giving-to-charity
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/giving-charity
https://charitydonationfoundation.org/views-opinions/
https://daily.sevenfifty.com/5-ways-to-manage-requests-for-charity-donations/
https://blog.fundly.com/donation-requests/
https://hopegain.org/our-programs-2/
https://community-foundation.org/1-2-3-easy-ways-to-check-out-a-charity/
https://nonprofitpoint.com/the-worst-charities-to-donate-to/
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1887
https://charity.lovetoknow.com/Check_Out_Charities#:~:text=7%20Easy%20Ways%20to%20Check%20Out%20Charities%201,With%20Federal%20and%20State%20Departments%20of%20Justice%20
https://www.privatebank.bankofamerica.com/articles/2021-bank-of-america-study-how-affluent-households-gave-back-in-2020.html?cm_mmc=GWIM-USTrust-_-MSN-PS-_-donations-to-charity-_-Philanthropy_Study&gclid=fc111afb51c8138f6abc79bc0b5466ba&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclki
https://consumer.ftc.gov/all-scams
https://prairieecothrifter.com/2011/11/donations-charity-important.html#:~:text=Here%20are%20just%205%20good%20reasons%3A%201%20Help,people%20makes%20you%20feel%20good.%20...%20More%20items
https://prairieecothrifter.com/2011/11/donations-charity-important.html#:~:text=Here%20are%20just%205%20good%20reasons%3A%201%20Help,people%20makes%20you%20feel%20good.%20...%20More%20items
https://www.moneycrashers.com/benefits-charitable-giving-donations/
The households in the study have a net worth of $1 million or more (excluding the value of their primary home) and/or an annual household income of $200,000.
https://www.wristbandexpress.com/content/health-charities-ranked-spend-afflicted/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI45PBi-nn-gIVtI1bCh04Dw7FEAAYBSAAEgJbTfD_BwE

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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED: The Hensel Twins

11/18/2022

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In the 1990s you may have heard about or seen the documentary regarding twins Abby and Brittany Hensel. Or perhaps you saw them on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Extraordinary People, ABC-TV, or the Discovery Health channel.

After the 90s they faded from the public eye to normal twins growing up, and as teenagers posting on social media like others of the same age. They dropped out of sight to the general public, but not their family, friends, acquaintances, and many followers. When they were 16, the Hensel twins invited TLC cameras into their home for a documentary. Ultimately, that resulted in a 2012 TV Reality–Show (Abby & Brittany) using some of the same footage from the documentary. The show lasted for one year.

Since then, they continue to value their privacy, and have shied away from so much public attention, but their names have re-emerged recently due to incorrect, phony reports and photos posted by unknown others on social media, causing a series of updates on their current lives.

“So, who are they?” you ask.

MEET THE HENSEL TWINS
The twins, born in 1990 in rural New Germany, Minnesota, are medically described as dicephalic parapagus twins. While the term means conjoined side-by-side, medical history shows the manner and location of conjoining varies with the individuals. The Hensel twins, conjoined side by side, share one body and two legs, were born with two functional arms, plus a vestigial third arm, which was surgically removed.

Each twin has her own head, heart, spine, spinal cord, stomach, lungs, kidneys, gallbladder and, surprisingly, immune systems. Below the waist, however, everything is shared, including some major anatomical parts like the rib cage, large intestine, liver, and even a single reproductive system. They also have the same DNA.

Image Source: Image Source: Image Source:
viralmurphy.com/conjoined-twins briefly.co.za/conjoined-twins theprecioustimes.com/abby-brittany-hensel

Abby, the twin on the right, controls the right arm and leg but can’t feel anything on her left side. Brittany, the twin on the left, is in charge of the left arm and leg and can’t feel anything on her right side. They are legally classified as two people, have two passports, two driver’s licenses, and very different personalities.

SEPARATION / SURVIVAL
According to most sources, when Patty Hensel, a registered nurse, and Mike Hensel, a carpenter and landscaper, went to the hospital in March, 1990, they were unaware Patty was carrying twins.

Once the difficult birth was over, Brittany and Abby weren’t expected to live more than 24 hours. Surprise! They did.

The occurrence of conjoined twins is about one in 200,000 births, and the survival rate of such is extremely low. Of that small population, only 11% are dicephalic parapagus twins such as Brittany and Abby. This condition does occur with females more often than males.

“Sadly, very few conjoined twins survive gestation and delivery. It is estimated that between 40 to 60% of these births are delivered stillborn, with 35% surviving only one day. Of the survivors, 70% are connected at the chest or upper abdomen, 25% are connected lower down and share hips or legs, and 5% are connected at the head.” historyinorbit.com/the-conjoined-hensel-twins-2/

After a difficult labor and birth, the parents, Patty and Mike, were given the option of operating to separate the twins. It would have been impossible even to consider had the girls not had separate organs, but still extremely risky. The Hensels decided against attempting separation because they believed that one of girls might die, and they did not want that.

Later, as Abby and Brittany grew older, there were several medical interventions. When, at 12, Brittany stopped growing, Abby had spinal surgery to stop her spinal growth to keep them balanced. Abby is 5 feet 2 inches tall and Brittany is only four feet ten inches. They have both had operations for scoliosis and preventative chest surgery to address potential breathing problems. Because of the height difference, Brittany has to walk on tip toes or wear shoes with heels.

As adults, the Hensel girls are often asked if they’ve considered separating, now that the medical technology is much better. Their answer is “no.” After this long, the twins can’t imagine living any other way. They are too active and social to be confined to wheelchairs, and are grateful to have a permanent companion in their journey through life.

DEVELOPMENT: EPITOME OF COOPERATION
Despite being physically unique, the twins learned to coordinate body movements and grew up as normal twins in terms of the sorts of activities kids engage in. With each controlling one arm and one leg, they still walked and talked and developed within the normal age ranges.

Imagine how fully in-sync they must be just to walk and react, much less the kinds of physical activities involved in sports. Their childhood was surprisingly like that of other children. The girls like to swim, bowl, play the piano, ride bikes, and play various musical instruments.

They have a younger sister and a younger brother.

Image Source: Image Source:
interest.com/pin/468655904963179984/ historyinorbit.com/the-conjoined-hensel-twins-2/

Because they each have their own immune systems, one can be sick when the other isn’t. “But they have expressed that being sick is the only time they ever wish they were separated. Once, Brittany was so upset when Abby expressed that sentiment that she cried nonstop until her sister assured her she would stay put.” historyinorbit.com/the-conjoined-hensel-twins-2/

DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES
Despite sharing a body, the girls have developed their own distinct personalities. Abby is bossier and demanding, and she is louder and outspoken. More of an extrovert. She doesn’t like the noise in the city, and loves caffeine, but stays away from it because her twin isn’t supposed to have it. Abby ’s favorite color is pink, and she likes bright colors.

Brittany is a quieter person and more of a tomboy. She tends to be an introverted, fragile, contemplative, and reserved person. Unlike Abby, Brittany loves the city life and the craziness it gives.

As teens and young adults, they showed their differences by choosing different hair colors and cuts, shoes and leggings, but body clothes are more of a problem because their tastes are quite different.
Image Credit: Instagram - @abbyandbrittany
Image Source: historyinorbit.com/the-conjoined-hensel-twins-2/

Their mother was relieved when the teenagers, who fought constantly over what to wear, came to an agreement to let one twin choose one day, the other the next. Apparently they learned to accommodate the tastes of the other with similar “trade-off” systems. Additionally, they have clothing that’s specially made with different necklines and hems to suit their individual tastes. They seem to always know what the other is going to say, and often finish each other's sentences. "We talk in our heads, " they say.

TYPICAL TEENAGERS
They had the usual difficulties in their teen years, like any other twins would have. At 16, when they agreed to let TLC document their life, everything they did was photographed.

That same year, they decided to get their driver's licenses. They each had to pass the written exam. For the actual driving part of the test, they had to operate the vehicle together at the steering wheel, Abby controlling the right side, Brittany the left.

Image Source: Image Source:
theprecioustimes.com/abby-and-brittany-hensel historyinorbit.com/the-conjoined-hensel-twins-2/

Physical cooperation in harmonizing movement had to be learned, but the twins have an inane instinct of anticipating what the other is thinking and feeling without verbal or other cues. “Twintuition" is said to be common among conjoined twin and even separate sets of twins.

HIGHSCHOOL / COLLEGE / OFF TO EUROPE
During high school their interests pretty well overlapped, but Brittany enjoyed writing while Abby preferred math. The twins were given their own assignments, but sometimes peaked at the other’s work. In 2008, the girls graduated with honors from Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, Minnesota. Their graduation made history as the first pair of conjoined twins in the United States to graduate from any high school.

After high school, Abby and Brittany left home and lived on their own while attending the University of Bethel, St. Paul. Both received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Education at the age of twenty-two. The twins had wanted to specialize in different teaching disciplines but felt they couldn’t handle the extra coursework. Image Credit: Instagram - @abbyandbrittany
Image Source: historyinorbit.com/the-conjoined-hensel-twins-2/

Their university days completed, the girls took a trip to Europe with their friends Rebecca Fessler and Erin Junkans. This was filmed extensively by TLC, and later used in their reality show.

Abby and Brittany agreed to do the TV reality show despite their dislike of publicity, because it gave them the opportunity to let the general public know more about their unusual situation. Even with their busy schedule, they have found time to travel to several countries.

Image Credit: Instagram Image Credit: Gentside, UK
Image Credit: theprecioustimes.com/update-on   Image Source: thefrisky.com/abby-and-brittany-hensel
  -abby-and-brittany-hensel

SETTLING DOWN TO A CAREER
Home again, the twins settled down and got a student teaching job as fourth- and fifth-grade math specialists. When they finished the required stint as student teachers, they were offered a full time position (chosen from among 175 qualified candidates) teaching at Mounds View Elementary School, in Elk Mound, Minnesota. Since October 2017, they have worked at the school and enjoy their careers and particularly like working with children, who seem to adore their teachers Abby and Brittany.

Image Credit: YouTube
Source of Images: theprecioustimes.com/update-on-abby-and-brittany-hensel

The school principal, Mr. Paul Good, says “I don’t think there’s anything that they won’t try or something that they couldn’t be able to do if they really wanted to. To bring that to children, especially kids who might be struggling, that’s very special, that’s learnt through lived example.” https://thenetline.com/abby-and-brittany-now/

Image Source:theprecioustimes.com/abby-and-brittany-hensel ▼

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Abby and Brittany are now entering their early thirties, and thinking about their futures.

Each of the twins has expressed a desire to marry an individual spouse some day. They both want to be mothers and have their own families, but how they intend to accomplish that isn’t up for discussion with others. They are tight lipped about their love life. However, the girls have a track record of eventually achieving what they go after, and so far they have beaten all the odds. The rest of us will have to wait and see.

In the mean time, the Hensel twins are opting for a much more private life. In an update on the twins, writer Marc Rhodes writes, “Abby and Brittany Hensel are truly wonderful people. Despite having physical challenges, it hasn’t stopped the twins from having fun and fulfilled lives. They are the perfect example of achieving their hopes and dreams when putting their minds to it. For those in a rut, these two serve as real sources of inspiration.”
And just so you know, the reports that the twins have been separated surgically and that they have married, is false.

Image Credit: Twitter @JubileeBials
Image Source: historyinorbit.com/the-conjoined-hensel-twins-2/

JUST SAYIN’!
□
Sources:
https://www.timesmojo.com/what-are-the-hensel-twins-doing-now/
https://thenetline.com/abby-and-brittany-now/
https://historyinorbit.com/the-unbelievable-true-story-of-the-conjoined-hensel-twins-2/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/468655904963179984/
https://www.mostgreatnews.com/2019/07/01/then-and-now-these-celebrity-kids-are-all-grown-up/
https://www.viralmurphy.com/25-fascinating-facts-about-conjoined-twins-abby-and-brittany-hensel/2/
https://thefrisky.com/abby-and-brittany-hensel-dating-net-worth-bio-personal-life/
https://briefly.co.za/38047-all-conjoined-twins-abby-brittany-hensel.html
https://theprecioustimes.com/heartwarming/an-update-on-abby-and-brittany-hensel-the-worlds-most-famous-conjoined-twins/
https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2022/01/fact-check-no-evidence-that-conjoined-hensel-twins-are-now-separated.html#:~:text=Are%20Abby%20and%20Brittany%20Hensel%2C%20conjoined%20twins%20who,two%20are%20separated%20at%20the%20time%20of%20writing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicephalic_parapagus_twins#:~:text=Dicephalus%20means%20two-headed.%20Parapagus%20means%20joined%20side%20by,two%20arms%20altogether%20%28one%20for%20each%20twin%29%2C%20
https://changecominon.blogspot.com/2016/09/abby-and-brittany-hensel-wedding-pics.html (Untrue information)

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VETERANS DAY QUIZ

11/11/2022

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Image Source: holidays-today.com/veterans-day

Veterans Day, the official U.S. holiday honoring all armed service veterans is celebrated on the end of World War I.

ARMISTICE DAY
World War I formally November 11 each year. The day was originally called Armistice Day and commemorated ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. Thus, November 11 is observed in other parts of the world as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day to mark the end of WWI.

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory,”

The idea of expanding Armistice Day to include all veterans was presented to the U.S. Congress by Representative Ed Rees. Congress amended the act on June 1, 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans." The bill was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower on May 26, 1954.

President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day
Image Source: defense.gov/News/facts-to-know-about-veterans-day/

VETERANS DAY
Since then the holiday has been Veterans Day. The only bump in the road was the change of date for the observance, which took place in 1986.

That year Congress enacted the Uniform Holiday Bill to ensure that a few federal holidays — Veterans Day included — would be celebrated on a Monday. Officials hoped it would spur travel and other family activities over a long weekend, which would stimulate the economy.
Veterans Day was the fourth Monday of every October, which was quite unpopular. Three years passed before the bill was implemented, creating confusion. A number of states continued to observe Veterans Day on November 11.

On September 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed another law (Public Law 94-97), which returned the observance day to November 11, beginning in 1978.

Image Source: defense.gov/News/facts-to-know-about-veterans-day/

VETERANS DAY QUIZ
Take this short quiz provided by the U.S. Defense Department and check out your knowledge of Veterans Day. Source: defense.gov/Quiz/1988530/veterans-day Answers at the end.

Question 1: Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of which war?
● WWI
● WWII
● Civil War, or
● Korean War

Question 2: What federal holiday do most people confuse with Veterans Day?
● Labor Day
● Independence Day
● Memorial Day, or
● Columbus Day

Question 3: Because World War I was a multinational effort, many of the Allied nations celebrate their veterans on Nov. 11, also called Remembrance Day and Armistice Day. Which of these countries doesn't celebrate its veterans on Nov. 11?
● Kenya
● Canada
● Australia, or
● United Kingdom

Question 4: Veterans Day isn't spelled with an apostrophe in ''veterans.''
● True
● False

THAT’S ALL FOLKS
This is a little simplistic for most, but it is what the government puts out. Compare your answers to the correct answers below.

ANSWERS
Question 1: Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of which war?
Answer 1: World War I

Question 2: What federal holiday do most people confuse with Veterans Day?
Answer 2: Memorial Day
Memorial day became a federal holiday in 1971 to honor the men and women who died while serving in the military

Question 3: Because World War I was a multinational effort, many of the Allied nations celebrate their veterans on Nov. 11, also called Remembrance Day and Armistice Day. Which of these countries doesn't celebrate its veterans on Nov. 11?
Answer 3: Kenya
Ceremonies are held in Kenya about two weeks after Nov. 11. This is because word of the armistice took two weeks to reach troops in Africa.

Question 4: Veterans Day isn't spelled with an apostrophe in ''veterans.''
Answer 4: True

JUST SAYIN’!
□
Sources:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1675470/5-facts-to-know-about-veterans-day/
https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Quizzes/Quiz/Article/1988530/test-your-veterans-day-knowledge/
https://www.stonemandouglasband.com/post/memorial-day-2020
https://holidays-today.com/holidays/veterans-day.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day

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IT’S ABOUT TIME: Date Line, Time Zones, and Daylight Saving Time

11/4/2022

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TIME IS IMAGINARY
Our Creator and/or Evolution plunked mankind on earth in a universe which had already established night and day by virtue of the sun in its orbit, a solar system rotating around the sun, and the planet earth rotating on its axis within the solar system. Thus, you might say we inherited the natural cycles upon which time measurements are based: 1) the amount of time it takes the earth to complete one revolution around the sun; and 2) the amount of time it takes for the earth to make one complete turn on its axis.

But earth did not come equipped with a set of definitions, a twenty-four hour clock, time lines or date lines. All these aspects of time which we earth-dwellers are subject to, were made up … by us. Not without good reason or observation and record keeping, of course, but nonetheless created by our minds.

At first things were in a turmoil and nothing mattered to homo sapiens except the rising and setting of the sun, the weather, and surviving. It took quite a while before we took on enough of a world view to notice that if we traveled very far, something wasn’t quite right.

THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF TIME
By definition, a year is the amount of time it takes the earth to complete one revolution around the sun. A day is the time it takes for earth to complete one complete turn on its axis. But what is a day? It is just a word someone invented.
Image Credit: VectorStock
Image Source: in.pinterest.com/854698835516944858/ ▼

The basic unit of time measurement is the day, which can be defined in two ways:

● Solar Day - The interval between the highest point of the sun in the sky on two successive days, averaged out over a year produces the normal 24 hour day.

● Sidereal Day - The time that it takes the Earth to complete one rotation on its axis so that a particular star can be observed twice at the meridian that runs directly overhead. Because the Earth is moving around the Sun as it rotates on its axis, the sidereal day is about 4 minutes shorter than the solar day, being equivalent to 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds in mean solar time. Astronomers use a point that they call the “vernal equinox” to determine local sidereal time. There are a couple other features of time.

● Apparent Solar Time - The time based directly on the Sun's position in the sky, which in ordinary modern life runs from midnight to midnight, beginning when the sun is invisible by being 12 hours from its zenith. Astronomers use the Julian Day which runs from noon to noon for observation convenience.

● Mean solar time – This is used as the basis for local civil and standard time. The mean solar time is based on the position of a fictitious “mean sun.” The reason for this is because the Earth needs the same amount of time to turn on its axis regardless of the season while the Earth’s movement around the sun is not regular (circular) but elliptical. The earth changes its velocity and moves faster in January and slower in July, but the sun does not change its velocity, so the sun will either be ahead or behind the mean sun. This difference is called the equation of time.

ANCIENT AND NOT-SO-ANCIENT MEASUREMENTS OF TIME
Chad Orzel’s book entitled “A Brief History of Timekeeping,” tells us that humans have been recording time and keeping track of their passing hours since Neolithic times. Water clocks and sundials were first ancient timepieces.

Qumran - Mesopotamia - 200 B.C.
ImageSource:downunderpharaoh.patternbyetsy.com/sundial

Modern clepsydra

Greek Ctesibius-Designed Water Clock
Image Source: downunderpharaoh.patternbyetsy.com/sundial

The ancient Greeks were among the first to create mechanicals clocks to measure time. The clepsydra and the alarm clock designed by Plato are among the ingenious inventions. As soon as people began to navigate using the stars and travel longer distances, they became aware of the time differences from one location to another. A pendulum clock was developed during the 17th century, but proved to be insufficiently accurate to use at sea. The chronometer (essentially like a stop watch), invented in 1764, was accurate enough to become popular among mariners during the 19th century.

GREENWICH MEAN TIME
In 1675, the British Royal Observatory established what is called Greenwich Mean Time. The purpose established this set time to assist mariners in navigating at sea, even though they had become pretty good at it with the instruments available. This is also called the Prime Meridian, a planet's meridian adopted as the zero of longitude.

Before this, the time of day was calculated with a sun dial using solar time. This time would be different for every location but gave an accurate representation of the local time depending on where exactly in the world the sundial was being used.

THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
Once mechanical clocks and watches began gaining in popularity during the early 19th century, more activity occurred to increase in time standardization, including the a meeting of the International Meridian Conference.

The International Date Line (IDL) serves as the "line of demarcation" between two consecutive calendar dates. It was created in 1884 by the International Meridian Conference as an imaginary line which follows, roughly, the 180° meridian (and not any other meridian including the Prime Meridian) from North- to South-Pole, with a few zigzags around political boundaries.

The delegates at this conference, attended by 26 nations, decided on the 180° meridian based on its location. Because it divides one day from the next, it made sense to run the imaginary line through open seas (Pacific Ocean) to create as much space and time between land masses for minimum confusion. It does vary in places to keep surrounding nations, which are primarily island countries, within the same day and date.

As odd as it may seem, the International Date Line has no legal international status. Countries are free to choose the dates that they want to observe.

LOCATION OF THE INTENATIONAL DATE LINE
Image Source: maritimeprofessional.com/blogs/international-date-line

Notice the irregular line in the north to incorporate the eastern tip of Siberia. Another one incorporates a number of islands into the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone. In the south, a similar zigzag exists to tie a number of British-owned islands to the New Zealand time system. Otherwise, the Date Line is the same as 180° from Greenwich.

Another surprising fact in this day and age, is the ease of shifting the date line. The country wanting the change can decide for itself. It’s simply a matter of publicizing the event and informing the international community and map-makers. The figure below shows the difference between the IDL.

CHANGES IN THE IDL FROM 1921 to 1995
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Nasky)
Image Source: livescience.com/44292-international

INTERNATIONAL TIME ZONES
Along with the International Date Line, the 1884 Conference also established a system of standard time: Time Zones.

Going back to Solar Mean Time, if all the clocks on earth were set by mean solar time, they would all be “technically correct” in their own locations, but telling time and traveling would be unmanageable. This was the situation until 1884 Conference took action.

A few years before that, in 1876, the first system of time zones was conceived by Sir Sandford Fleming, a Scottish engineer who helped design the Canadian railway system. He felt the system would make the railroad more efficient and avoid complications resulting from the different schedules set by the different train stations, which set the time according to their local astronomical conditions. His proposal, which was put into effect by the railroad companies of Canada and the U.S., ended some 100 conflicting local sun times observed in terminals across the land.

The system adopted at the Conference divided Earth's surface into 24 zones. The standard time of each zone is the mean astronomical time of one of 24 meridians, 15 degrees apart, beginning at the Greenwich, England, meridian and extending east and west around the globe to the International Date Line. For practical purposes, variations occur.

WORLD STANDARD TIME ZONES
Image Credit:: CIA, 2018, public domain.
Image Source: geographyrealm.com/geography-time-zones/

The country Russia spans ten time zones, and there are others which have none at all. The North- and South-Poles are in no time zone because all lines of longitude converge at the poles.

In Antarctica there are no inhabitants except the staffing of the research stations. For practical purposes, time zones are usually based on territorial claims; however, many stations use the time of the country they are owned by or the time zone of their supply base (e.g., the American stations McMurdo and Amundsen–Scott (South Pole Station) use New Zealand time due to their main supply base being Christchurch, New Zealand).

There is no procedure or approval process for a country to change it’s time zone, other than to notify appropriate entities of the change. In the United States time zones can be changed only by Congressional Statute or by regulation of the Secretary of Transportation.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Daylight Saving Time always takes most of us by surprise when it occurs twice a year, and the older I get, the harder it is to adjust. But anyone reading this understands how the system works. No need to repeat. “Spring Forward” one hour! Get used to the hours. Then “Fall Back” one hour. And so on.

Western nations were the first to adopt Daylight Saving Time. In April, 1916 Austria and Germany adopted Daylight Saving Time as a wartime measure to conserve electricity. Other countries in Europe followed suit, including Britain.

● In The United States
The U.S. accepted the idea in March 1918, as a wartime measure, not for the benefit of farmers, as some people believe. After the war ended, President Woodrow Wilson ceded to popular demand and repealed Daylight Saving in the U.S. When WWII came along, President Roosevelt (FDR) mandated the measure, known as "War Time", throughout the United States in 1942.

This time, it stuck for most of the country but for years, different cities and states in the U.S. started and ended their daylight saving time on different dates, creating chaos throughout the country. Congress passed a law in 1966 which set a standard for Daylight Saving Time with the period beginning on the last Sunday in April and ending on the last Sunday in October. The law gave the states the option of remaining on standard time year round. Since then, the October date has been moved to November, so this year, 2022, the “fall back” time change happens on November 6.

● In The Rest Of The World
Not all countries in the world have accepted the practice of Daylight Saving Time, or DST.
Areas of Africa and Asia don’t observe DST and areas of South and Central America and Oceania are mixed.

New Zealand and Southern Australia practice Daylight Saving Time while the rest of Australia does not. In South America the countries of Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and parts of southern Brazil practice Daylight Saving time while places north of the continent of South America typically do not. Russia, across its many (ten!) time zones also has DST in place.

WORLD MAP OF COUNTRIES DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME STATUS
Image Source: geographyrealm.com/daylight-saving-time/

As the map shows, the majority of the world doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time, but the countries that do are fairly steady in their practice. While there are negative and positive impacts of DSL, there is continuing debate as to its value.

TAKE AWAYS
Time, in the sense of accounting for it, is imaginary. In reality, NOW is always one step into the future.

Mankind’s grasp of the abstract essence of time is quite remarkable. From ancient times, humans understood its importance even without understanding the scientific mechanisms and, with great ingenuity, devised ways of measuring it in relation to the patterns of movement of the earth and sun.

JUST SAYIN’!
□
Sources:
https://www.maritimeprofessional.com/blogs/post/international-date-line-13350
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Date_Line
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:International_Date_Line.png
https://www.geographyrealm.com/geography-time-zones/
https://www.geographyrealm.com/geography-daylight-saving-time/
https://www.timeanddate.com/time/current-number-time-zones.html
https://www.livescience.com/44292-international-date-line-explained.html
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/854698835516944858/
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/international-date-line.html
https://greekreporter.com/2022/02/09/ancient-greeks-measured-time/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-13334229
https://www.infoplease.com/calendars/months-seasons/time-measurement-time-zones-and-international-date-line
https://downunderpharaoh.patternbyetsy.com/listing/501693398/sundial-calendar-mesopotamia-ancient

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/five-facts-about-the-international-date-line-1.1023240#:~:text=The%20date%20line%20shown%20on%20most%20maps%20is,it%20is%20not%20recognized%20as%20a%20legal%20entity.

https://www.geographyrealm.com/geography-of-the-international-date-line/#:~:text=The%20International%20Date%20Line%20was%20conceived%20of%20in,the%20world%20began%20becoming%20more%20and%20more%20globalized

https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dateline.html#:~:text=The%20International%20Date%20Line%20%28IDL%29%20is%20located%20at,and%20marks%20the%20Western%20and%20Eastern%20Hemisphere

https://sites.google.com/a/notredameacademy.com/greek-world-history-project-spring-2017/achievements-and-advancements/ancient-greek-inventors

https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/procedure-moving-area-one-time-zone-another#:~:text=Under%20Federal%20law%2C%20there%20are%20two%20ways%20in,Secretary%20of%20Transportation%20may%20issue%20regulations%20making%20changes.

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Turning Real Life Into Words On The Page

10/28/2022

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Turning

INTO WORDS ON THE PAGE

WHAT IS “REAL LIFE”?
Let’s start by acknowledging that “real life” is everything that we perceive::everything we have ever seen, touched, heard, tasted, smelled, felt, and remembered, and it is all filtered through our brains and colored by who we are, what we know, think, and believe. The same is true for everyone else. Therefore, real life is not exactly the same for everyone.

If the events, storyline, and characters in your novel were generated from your imagination, you are using the total of what you know about real life including snatches of what you have personally experienced, read, heard from others, and so on. Good Luck. That’s not what I’m getting at.

In this article, the “real life” being addressed is narrowed down to the parts of real life that can be used in fiction and, potentially, the writer can be sued for. This whole discussion is about how to avoid a law suit.

Image Source: cartoonstock.com/search?type=Sue+the+author

Essentially there are five things from “Real Life” to consider:

● Writing about a real event or experience.
● Writing about a series of events and experiences making up a period of time or a lifetime.
● Writing about or using the persona of a well known / famous event or person.
● Referring to the names of real businesses, products, and places in writing.
● Writing about or using the persona of people we know, acquaintances, people we see,
and those we merely know about, such as celebrities.

In terms of events and experiences [one or a lifetime], these can be something that happened to the writer personally, and that writer wants to tell the story of his/her experiences. Most of the time there will be other real people involved but it is the author’s story, the one s/he lived.

A variation is that the event or events were experienced by several or many people, including the writer, and it is their story to be translated from real life into words on paper. This usually involves getting permission, interviews, review of draft by others, and so on.

The third variation is that the event or events were experienced by several or many people, but not the writer, and one or more of these people has told the writer about the events, or the writer has researched. Again, we’re talking about permissions, interviews, reviews, etc.

In the case of transforming a real live person into words on the page, it depends on whether the intent is to write about the character himself (i.e. that living person is playing themselves as the character) or simply to transfer personality and/or physical characteristics of the living person to a character in a book.

Unfortunately, all of these scenarios can get a writer into trouble.

ARE YOU LIABLE TO GET SUED FOR LIBEL?
Because this is about what a writer can do to avoid getting sued, let’s look at what the risks are. Remember, the purpose of the laws are to protect individuals and organizations from unwarranted, mistaken or untruthful attacks on their reputation.

“Your Honor, it is my client’s view that these scurrilous
allegations have damaged his reputation and have made
almost impossible any further visits to the woods.”

Image Source: cartoonstock.com/slander.asp

● Libel and Defamation
These words mean essentially the same thing, and they refer to any published material that damages the reputation of an individual or an organization. A person is libeled if a publication:

• Exposes them to hatred, ridicule or contempt,
• Causes them to be shunned or avoided,
• Generally lowers them in the eyes of society, or
• Discredits them in their trade, business or profession. Libel is defined as a
“false statement of fact “of and concerning a person that damages their reputation."

The law of defamation is not concerned with who you intended to target, but who gets struck by the low blows. That means an unintentional defamation is actionable. If you intended to pattern the evil aunt in your book after that awful neighbor Mrs. Whatserface, but town librarian Miss Paininthebutt thinks you used her for the evil aunt character [and everyone else in town thinks the same], it will be Miss P. whom the courts care about.

● Slander
Slander is defined as ‘defamation by word of mouth’, which shouldn’t affect authors.

● The Right to Privacy and The Right of Publicity
Libel is not the only issue to consider, but also the Right To Privacy. Something written in a book might be provably true, taking care of the libel issue, but could also expose truths about someone’s personal life that invade their privacy, which is an actionable claim. There are four kinds of Right to Privacy.

• First, there is an intentional intrusion into a private place or affairs of another and that intrusion would be highly offensive to a reasonable person. [Peeping Tom offense.]

• Second is the appropriation of name or likeness, for intentional use without consent of another’s name or likeness for your own benefit. This is the Right of Publicity claim. A person who is not famous [who does not make money from who they are] will not have this claim.

• Third, there is unreasonable publicity given to private life which means publishing facts which are not of valid concern to the public and which would be highly offensive to the reasonable person. True but embarrassing, and no one needs to know.

• The fourth invasion of privacy claim is making someone look like something they are not in a way that is highly offensive.

● The Burden Of Proof Lies With The Defendant
“In libel cases, the burden of proof lies with the defendant [the author or publisher] and not the plaintiff. In other words, you must prove that what you write is true. The person you’ve targeted does not have to prove that you’re wrong. This is because libel laws are meant to compensate people for damage done to their reputations — they’re not meant to punish someone for lying.”
Source: jerichowriters.com/libel-law-for-writers-and-authors

Note: A true statement that damages someone’s reputation is not libel! It may, however, be an invasion of privacy.

● “Do you base your characters on people you know?”
Authors are asked this question frequently. I have heard, or read, many a female author respond by saying she had used her ex-husband as the villain in her novel, exposed all his nasty little habits and the rotten things he’d done, and ripped him a new one. Ha hah!

Understandable, but risky. I’ve never heard about any of these particular authors being sued for libel, but some writers do get sued. It's a real thing, particularly if you are a successful writer who is well known and well paid for your work.

So, the question is how can a writer who utilizes real-life people, prototypes of real people, or real events in books for sale to the public, do so without getting sued?

I’m not saying authors should sit around worrying about getting sued but writers need to know how to avoid it. I’m not a lawyer, so all of this is based on what I have read from legitimate sources and no personal experience whatsoever.

HOW TO USE REAL REOPLE FOR CHARACTERS
Using real people as characters in your book can be done by changing the physical characteristics of your character enough to disguise his/her identity. The risk of being sued is further reduced if your character is treated as a likable character rather than a malicious or hateful person. Risk can also be reduced by using parody. Absurd situations are less likely to be believed as truth by the public. Parody may not work in your story, but it is a option.

Note: The main protagonist may be flawed but should be, ultimately, likeable [even if it takes a few chapters to get there], so it’s touchy to pattern the main protagonist after someone the author dislikes intensely. [The people writers hate usually end up as the villains, obnoxious bystanders, or disgusting interfering relatives.]

Attempt to avoid libel problems by combining or cloning several people’s physical traits and biographical facts, so no single person's actual “DNA” appears in your book. Here are a few clues to using a living person as a character in a novel.
.
• Use your own real life as a starting place and a resource. [All writers do that, I believe, at least at the start of their careers].
• Change the names ‒ all writers know to do that ‒ but also change the initials. Changing the name from real-life Doug Compton to fictional character Dan Crampton may not be enough. This also applies when changing the name of a location.
• Change the physical characteristics and mannerism of your character enough to disguise his/her identity.
• Make the character likeable
• Use a broadly drawn caricature of your real- life prototype.
• Try separating the physical characteristics from the personality characteristic and mannerisms of the prototype.

“I must say, this is the most inspiring and
heart- warming revenge memoir I’ve ever read!”

Image Source: bradveley.com/heartwarming_revenge_memoir/

I keep a file of interesting characters, character traits, names, and physical features. When I need a prototype, I think about what the fictional character has to do in the novel and what character traits are needed to accomplish the tasks I’ve set out for them. Then I try to match the real life prototype to the fictional character. Sometimes my prototypes will sit around doing nothing for years, until the right story and character come along. Most of the time it comes out as a composite, and it works well for me. Each writer needs to develop their own method.

WHAT TO TAKE FROM THE LIVING PROTOTYPE
● Physical characteristics
The most obvious things we can take from a living prototype are physical features [face, body type, posture, hair, whatever]. It can be an entire picture of the person, but often one or two features are enough. The features that make those people memorable and intriguing, like Jimmy Durante’s nose or Freddie Jones in the movie Dune, with eyebrows that grow up over the forehead. This may include some related mannerisms that involve the outstanding feature, such as Groucho Marx always wiggling his thick eyebrows.

And don’t forget body type and other types of physical features besides facial.

Freddie Jones in “Dune”

Freckles Big nose Wrinkles Eyebrows - Image Source:
Source of Images: pinterest.com/amazedhuman/intriguing-faces/ scifibr.wordpress.com/freddie-jones

Overall look - Image Source: Ears Image Source: Youth Jimmy Durante – Image Source:
pinterest.com/pin/2562830 stockphoto.com/large-ears imdb.com/name/nm0002051/
35023540727/

● Physical Mannerisms
Someone with nothing particularly outstanding in their looks can still have mannerisms that are unusual and noteworthy. They could also do something such as always bowing to people when they meet or tipping their hat. Mannerisms such as rubbing the chin or scratching the head when the person thinks, are fairly common. That can work to the writer’s advantage [harder to pin down to a particular real person] or to their disadvantage [not unique enough to make the character interesting.] How about a character who has a strange voice and claps her hands every time she laughs.

● Personality Traits
More often than not, it is the real individual’s personality traits and the things they do that writers want to replicate in characters. [Here is where an ex-husband comes in.] There is more wiggle room using personality traits rather than physical features. More than one cranky, mean boss has a temper and yells at his employees. Lots of people are always moody or react with hostility when confronted with criticism.

Groucho Marx - Image Source: Don’t use all the live person’s traits. If your prototype is time.com/4049402/groucho-marx-125 loud and obnoxious, change the way your character demonstrates these unpleasant traits.

Finally, don’t let your living prototype constrain your fictional character. Allow your characters to do other things than the prototype might have done, to learn from experiences. Don’t keep your fictional character from changing because the real life prototype never learned anything new or changed.

DITCH THE CELEBRITIES
A writer should not use famous people or celebrities in lead or subordinate roles in a novel. If you intend to do that, you are out of this league and need to get a lawyer specialized in this kind of law.

Writers can include famous people in cameo appearances based on fact. You can probably repeat facts from responsible sources and interviews. If characters from your novel run into the famous person on his tour of Europe, the famous person needs to have been on tours to Europe. The writer doesn’t have to identify which tour or what date; just that Celebrity X makes tours to Europe. A politician who travels around the world all the time probably doesn’t even need that.

Actress Dame Maggie Smith
Image Source: pinterest.com/pin/249316529357109064/

Most of the time, if the celebrity is not a main character, you don’t need the name or a fictional one will do. If you want readers to believe you are talking about Celebrity X, a good description of the person and their actions and reactions will say it without needing the name. (Also, using real people tends to date your novel.)

TRADEMARK NAMES
When writing either non-fiction or fiction, a writer may have occasion to mention a trademarked product.

Use of trademarked names in fiction does not violate intellectual property laws. However, the writer needs to be cautious depicting real businesses and products. For example, if you have a character die from a bad hamburger at Wendy’s or hurt himself because of a defective pair of Nikes, then prepare for a trip to libel city.

Also, you must not turn a trademarked brand name into a verb or a non-proper noun [called trademark dilution]. In other words, don't have characters "hovering the living room," "drinking a coke," or "googling their names." Either make the products sound like heaven-on-earth, or simply refer to a vacuum cleaner or soda pop. As long as the portrayal is innocuous, and brand names are capitalized and not "genericized," there is no need for any kind of acknowledgment.

In fiction writing, it is difficult to always avoid using the names of real businesses, products, and locations. It is becoming common to include a section in books that tells the reader who owns the trademark to those businesses. If you don't acknowledge trademarks, you can open yourself to lawsuits from businesses who are trying to protect their trademarks. If a business doesn't protect their trademark, they can lose it. And keep your complaints to yourself. Negative or untrue comments can open you up to libel lawsuits.

Also, be careful if you make up fake business and product names. They may not be fake. Check to be sure before you use them.

REAL PLACES
Most of the time using real places for settings is nothing to worry about. I suppose if the writer wants to defame the community or city, h/she might come toe to toe with the Chamber of Commerce, but that’s unlikely unless your words could be taken to mean the place is dangerous, particularly for tourists. [The movie "Jaws" for example.]

I’ve found that most of the time the biggest concern is an accurate, but not necessarily detailed, description of the city or town regarding streets and where they go, street names, layouts of various districts or quarters, landmarks, and physical features. Don’t put a big river running through the city unless it actually has a big river running through it. You can invent a fancy restaurant, but don’t locate it in the worst part of town or next to the railroad unless your plot has a specific reason to do so.

No matter how obscure your setting is, there is always at least one reader out there who is going to know whether or not your description is accurate. And that person will let you know… but law suits are unlikely.

If you need to, create your own city. Just be careful about what you name it.

“THE WAY IT REALLY HAPPENED” DOESN’T MEAN IT’S GOOD FICTION
As much as we may want fiction to replicate “real life”, or vice versa, they are not the same. Each “reality” has its own rules and, whether or not you are writing fiction or non-fiction, you have a theoretical contract with the reader. If the book is non-fiction, the writer is agreeing to be truthful, at least to the extent that it is possible.

Fiction, on the other hand, promises to deliver to the reader a compelling but plausible story [within the parameters of the genre] with vivid, well defined and believable characters and a dramatic plot.

The fiction writer is expected to make whatever changes needed, big or small, and expand the scope of the story [even if the real events didn’t happen that way] to create good fiction. Besides, “real life”, as most of us experience it, can be pretty routine and dull much of the time, and “dull” is not good fiction.

“I don’t think you can accuse another author
of plagiarizing you for using the same words
when they were in a different order.”

Image source: cartoonstock.com/court_case.asp

TIPS FOR WRITING SAFELY
Harry Bingham, writing for jerichowriters.com/libel-law-for-writers has the following tips for writing safely.

"● Don’t solely rely on proving that your statements were literally true if, when they’re taken as a whole, they have an extended, more damaging meaning.

● Be especially wary when referring to events in the past. If someone did something illegal or bad in the past, don’t imply they are still doing it unless you can prove it. And even if you can prove it, do you want to expend the time and cost to do it in court?

● Don’t exaggerate in your claims or language. Don’t suggest or predict dire consequences.

● Watch out for innuendo. Comments alone may not appear defamatory but in context with other information about the person, they can get you into a libel suit.

● Don’t repeat rumors.

● Don’t quote others. If you publish defamatory remarks about people or organizations made by other people you will be just as liable to be sued as they are. So if you can’t prove the truth of their statements, don’t repeat them.

●Don’t draw unprovable conclusions. It is a common mistake to draw unverifiable conclusions from the basic facts.

● Don’t use irresponsible adjectives. A misplaced word can result in costly action.

“Disclaimer: This article discusses legal issues of general interest and is not designed to give any specific legal advice concerning any specific circumstances. Libel law is fact specific. Further, is no single body of law applies. Today, information travels far and wide. Many countries do not recognize the protections we give authors and publishers. It is important that professional legal advice be obtained before acting upon any of the information contained in this article.” jerichowriters.com/libel-law-for-writers-and-authors