Disney-comics digest #659.

[Mike Pohjola]

>Sinterklaas is short for "Sint Nicolaas", the bishop of Myra (Turkey) who
>was good for children. The American Santa Claus is a combination of the Dutch
>Sinterklaas and the English (and other country's) "Father Christmas".
>As far as I know, the whole north pole and reindeer thing is an American
>invention. Sinterklaas has a white horse, and a servant called Zwarte Piet
>("Black Pete").

	I say not! The tale of Santa Claus comes from somewhere around Western
Europe (though Father Christmas is probably a better term for him here) at the
time when America was hardly the all-mighty Union with capital U which it is
today. And hmm, I dear say all Finns think FC lives in Finland. In my English
book there was also a story about an English school class coming to Finland
to see Father Christmas, but I don't know if I can count on the educational
value of a school book! Anyway, if here's someone who knows what e.g. English
believe of Santa, please tell that.

	And hmm, "The Day the Earth Froze" is a bad movie of agen Finnish
mythology?-o I'd like to see that film someday, anybody remember some facts
about it (director etc.)?


--

	Mike - The Finnish Trekkie