Comments on: Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my madness – textual revelations concerning the pre-history of Santa Claus

By: g

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:10:51 +0000

Russell and rea: You can find a whole performance of one rather good one at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptP0OR-e7rI .

By: Martha Maus

Martha Maus — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:49:51 +0000

Like last year’s, and the year before’s, and the year before that; so beautiful. Thanks.

By: Matthew Battles

Matthew Battles — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:19:27 +0000

Hilobrow: proudly disreputable since 2009.

By: Bill Benzon

Bill Benzon — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:17:27 +0000

Lévi-Strauss on Father Christmas (PDF).

By: rea

rea — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:54:43 +0000

Now you just need some post-punk/thrash-metal band to record “In The Bleak Midwinter” with a Lovecraftian touch

A little Googling discloses that there are several albums of Cthulhumas carols available for purchasee online . . .

By: Russell Arben Fox

Russell Arben Fox — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:14:29 +0000

Awesome. But a question: might all this be in the process of moving from Holboian hobby to clique? Because, if so, I see some real possibilities for it. Faux-Victorian fonts, plus the darkest day of the year, plus nameless horror. Now you just need some post-punk/thrash-metal band to record “In The Bleak Midwinter” with a Lovecraftian touch (I’m thinking with a theremin and a hurdy-gurdy, maybe), throw up a Facebook page, and the New York Times Style section will be all over it.

By: Matt Warren

Matt Warren — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:22:15 +0000

I would love to check out Squid & Owl. I would love to know more about Santa’s past, especially if Cthulhu is involved in some way. I have my own thoughts about present Santa stuff in the link.

Great blog. The touch of bizarre every so often is refreshing.

By: John Holbo

John Holbo — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:11:52 +0000

rea, think about it: suppose you and your star-spawn brethren were hanging out beyond the mountains of madness at the South Pole. Where would you tell everyone you were? At the North Pole, ‘course. Have you no sense of subtle and occult ways?

By: rea

rea — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:49:03 +0000

Well, but the bit about the North Pole is a crucial point, because the received wisdom is that the Elder Things and the star-spawn of Cthulhu hang out at the SouthPole.

By: kid bitzer

kid bitzer — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:39:19 +0000

everybody knows a turkey.

By: Substance McGravitas

Substance McGravitas — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:18:42 +0000

The Santa I met last night seemed to come from a brewery.

By: John Holbo

John Holbo — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:08:30 +0000

Thanks Brock, it’s an adaptation of an actual old Victorian X-Mas card lettering style. But I might have … um, made it even more so.

rea makes an interesting point: namely, that Santa originates from a frozen polar region. I don’t think we focus on this enough.

By: Brock

Brock — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:59:38 +0000

Nice font in “A Visitation of Sog Nug-hotep”. Is that another one of your design?

By: rea

rea — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:51:47 +0000

Everybody knows where Santa comes from—the North Pole!

By: John Holbo

John Holbo — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:34:37 +0000

Also, it has gnomes in it, if that matters to you.