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Friday, November 23, 2012

"Whiskers"

I’ll admit it, I’m a Scrooge.  Bah, Humbug.  I’m pretty sure Jesus didn’t say to bankrupt your family on plastic toys and computer games for your kids.  I’m also pretty sure there weren’t any elves in Bethlehem, but don’t let me stop you from having your fun.  Run around and buy your presents and stick pretty bows on them.  Bake your cookies and send out cards.  I’ll put your cards on the mantle.  I’m just Christmased out.  It’s an occupational hazard.  I’ve spent years of my life making Santa Clauses and snowmen and all things red and green.

I do like some of the less than religious aspects of Christmas.  Elves at the North Pole?  C’mon, that’s just funny when discussing a religion started in the Middle East.  I only have one ornament up, and that’s of the 3 astrologers.  Someone once told me “Real Christians don’t believe in astrology!”  Really?  Then why were the 3 wise men following that star to Bethlehem?

Okay, maybe I’m irreverent sometimes, but I have to behave myself at my job for a religious organization, and can I really stay proper all the time?  God made me, so God must have a sense of humor.  Besides, the history of Christianity was a brilliant display of superior marketing abilities, and as a person who’s worked in marketing, I have to admire that.  For instance, the Celts of Europe worshipped a mother goddess.  The chauvinistic Middle Eastern religion didn’t, but hey, Jesus had a mom.  Mother Mary won the Celts over.  Pagan Germans had a thing for decorating trees?  No problem.  Now it’s a Christmas tree.  Northern Pagans wanted the sun to come back in mid-winter because it’s depressingly dark then.  They had holidays around the winter solstice.  Voila!  That’s when Jesus was born.

Those early Christian marketers weren’t really changing the Bible, they were just practical and creative.  I’ve got to admire that.  Okay, so when absorbing pagan holidays didn’t work, they had the Crusades and Conquistadors, but most people fell in line without having to kill them to save their souls in a frenzy of brotherly love, and the end result is that Christianity has been a tremendously successful religion.  It was successful because it absorbed the other religions without necessarily destroying the parts of them that the masses enjoyed.

The religions that seem to fight with each other the most are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, which is ironic since they’re all siblings, with Abraham of the Old Testament as their common ancestor.  I’d say we should all send them to Dr. Phil for a family intervention, but he’s Christian and would probably take sides.  Maybe we should send them all to Deepak Chopra or the Dali Lama?

I think I’ll stick with thoughts of Santa Claus today instead of trying to resolve world conflicts.  At least Santa has never been associated with wars.  Even Gandalf and Dumbledore can’t claim that, so obviously wisdom and white chin whiskers aren’t the solution.  Besides, today is “Black Friday”, the day Americans go shopping, and Santa is the guy who totally understands presents.

This is really old art, but Santa hasn’t changed too much over the years.  I think the Europeans make him skinnier, but well, there’s all those Christmas cookies over here – and never mind my Scrooge-like tendencies, none of my bah humbugging applies to cookies.  There are never enough cookies!

25 comments:

  1. Wisdom and white chin whiskers aren’t the solution? Dang! Time to shave. Nice Santa, kiddo!

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  2. Count me as a fellow scrooge! I tend to enjoy the Pagan side of Christmas anyway.
    Wonderful "whiskers"! He looks very wise, like he's smirking at the black Friday shoppers today and on through Christmas as they deplete their savings.

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  3. Well you know me well by now Linda... I am your alter ego ;0) What is fascinating is how well we both get on! Keep drawing those fab Santas...I can never get enough of this time of the year! Mind you until this year I had never heard of Black Friday and had to get one of my American friends to explain it...now that sounds pretty grim. Ho, Ho, Ho! Jane x

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  4. I'm such a sucker for B/W illustrations, and this was is WONDerful! I love this Santa! Since my children are grown, I've lost a lot of the commercialism of the holidays...no more Barbies and dump trucks. LOL! I enjoy handmade gifts and enjoy receiving and giving those items. So, BAH to giant stores that run artists/artisans out of business! :)

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  5. With the round glasses and that twinkle and the smile, why this could be HP when he's much older! Bah! but no 'humbug' from this ambivalent person!

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  6. Girl, you worked magic with Santa's eyes! And the whiskers are infinitely touchable.

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  7. Thanks everybody! I looked up "Black Friday" by the way. I guess it's when retailers are "in the black" because of the huge amount of sales that day. And yes Jane, I know you're my alter ego :D That's okay. We can't all be Scrooges!

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  8. great use of contrast. beautiful.
    (You don't want to get me started on holidays.)

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  9. My cats tried to ruin Christmas for me. At least the tree and ribbon part. But we just keep trying to out wit them. Now we have a small tree on a pedestal. I make most of my gifts. Mostly because I hate shopping! And we don't have kids so we don't have all the materialism hoopla to deal with anyway. Oh, and great Santa!

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  10. Thanks, and thanks for the follow Charmaine!!!

    I have one little perfect dog that doesn't care how I decorate for holidays :)

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  11. Beautious Santa, my dear....and I'm totally with you on the humbug stuff, and also on the cookies. This time of year, my thoughts run towards iced cookies in cute shapes, yum! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE presents, but getting and giving presents 'on cue' takes most of the joy out of it for me...

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  12. That's the way I feel about presents too Susan. I like getting and giving, but don't like being told when I have to. I like those little things that come my way when someone just saw something they thought I'd like, and like giving those to people too.

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  13. Lovely image, and I really enjoy reading your posts!

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  14. Thanks Poppy, and thanks for the follow!!!

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  15. Wow, I've missed so many posts! Sorry Linda, I've been sick and just stopping by randomly now and then. Obviously more randomly than I realized! Love the Santa and the post. I love the comment about the Wise men and astrology :D

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  16. well,
    --unfortunately, as an overall grouping we Americans are more rotund than the old world folk too, and just like a student in a life drawing class, we tend to create Santa in a image of ourselves...
    sigh.
    nice interplay with surface on Ol' Nick

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  17. Fantastic contrasts in your old art. :) Really cool! You've got it right on the money that the early Christians were great marketers. I'll just leave it at that. I am happily agnostic but I do like to make people presents this time of year! ;)

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  18. No... Now it's a "holiday tree." LOL The evolution continues.

    I tend to go with the flow with all the Christmas whoopla/festivities. How could I "dare" break tradition and not? Plus, SO many people love it! They love the shopping, the baking, the parties, etc. I don't. But, giving does provide me with fulfillment. Sooo... there you go.

    I appreciate your honesty and historical knowledge.

    Hang in there. Dec 26 is less than a month away. :)

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  19. What a treat it's been to visit here again. My brain is overheating, but hey, I'm fine with that. Great posts, LH.

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  20. Well, I have to admit that I love Christmastime, but I share your frustration with the over-commercialized craziness. This Santa is beautiful. I love the way the line work in the beard contrast with his rendered face.
    And thank you for your thoughtful words on my latest post...much appreciated.

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  21. I like your take on the Christian holiday called Christmas. And I agree with you, what an amazing marketing organisation this endeavour has been. Imagine if I could have the same sale pitch: «You will want to buy my photographs, otherwise you go to hell.» And if that didn't work: «You will want to buy my photographs, otherwise I will send the Inquisition after you till you know what you want.» That certainly would have increased my market shares considerably. Talking about Santa, I think he originally was a Dutch saint. And you are right, Santa is probably somewhat thicker in the USA - but that only reflects the general population. Anyway it's thanks to Disney that he in most of the world today is dressed in red with white rims.

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  22. Thanks everybody!! You know, I worried I might offend people with this post, but I guess I'm not the only one who can laugh at these things, especially since we don't have an active inquisition at the moment. Well, maybe some people are trying, but nobody has made me take a litmus test yet. And Anita is right, December 26 is less than a month away! Yahoo!!!

    I'm going to have to consider Otto's thoughts about marketing art like Christianity now...

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  23. Sorry it took me so long to read this one. I have so much more to add and I will refrain from doing that. I will add that I think the Christians had a Jewish manager that marketed them to the world. In my mind it makes sense. The organization you work for only claims that they are the only way to heaven after you have suffered in purgetory. God knows me and he wouldn't have me purgatory if there was one because I would be screaming my bloody head off until he let me out. Just be annoying that will get God's attention.

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