Recent blog posts

Santa Claus and magic mushrooms

Posted on December 23, 2015

In the previous blog, I looked at the real Saint Nicholas who was one of the key influences on our current Santa Claus. I say “one of” because, despite everyone thinking that the figure portrayed in Clement C Moore’s poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” (more commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”) is the epitome of the Santa we know and love, it turns out that’s far from the truth. And the popular theory that Santa wears red and white because of a Coca Cola advertising campaign is not as straightforward or as accurate as it may seem.

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Saint Nicholas - patron of sailors, bank managers and prostitutes

Posted on December 13, 2015

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
…
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
…
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

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Why horror is so much better at Christmas?

Posted on December 4, 2015

I remember being bought my first proper horror book. It was Halloween and my father had driven us into Richmond to go shopping. On the way, we’d passed Ellerton Abbey, whose long driveway had carved and lit pumpkins lining up each side in readiness for a wedding. It was a fantastic sight, one which alas I’ve never seen repeated. (For a sense of scale, check out this picture and imagine it’s lined with carved pumpkins rather than snow).

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