Mr. McGintual just sent me a link to an article that he nabbed a year ago, tracing the roots of Santa Claus mythology into the shamanic legends of the Lappland. It’s saved in his archives.

But I recommend reading it at the original source, because it’s got a bunch of great pictures to go along with the different characters discussed in the article.

Also, while I was searching for the original article, I happened across another intriguing number called “The psychedelic secrets of Santa Claus.” (Not coincidentally, it’s from a site called Cannabis Culture)

I’ll read that one and get back to you with details. That one about Lappland is really good though, you should definitely add that one to your reading list. I think it’s time I went back into my mental vaults and found those other articles I happened upon last year connecting Santa, Satan and Saturn.

Plus there was some other good stuff about the roots of Christmas in Mithraism (a popular opponent to early Christianity which was eventually largely absorbed into it), at the celebration of Sol Invictus.

Anyway, this is a super fun area and since it’s getting to be that time of year, maybe I’ll put together a timely article which consolidates all my findings. You know what? I just thought of a good name for the article too. I’ll call it “Keep Christ out of Christmas“