In 10 days we celebrate Christmas. Unlike in America, the Christ Child brings presents on December 24th. In the USA and Canada, Santa Claus is in charge of this. The presents are also given there either in the evening of the 24th or in the morning hours of the 25th of December. But where does this traditional figure actually come from?
The origin of the Santa Claus
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, finds its origin in the western culture. Children who have behaved well throughout the year receive their gifts from him on Christmas Eve. It is also quite common to hang up the traditional Christmas stockings on the evening of the 24th, which are intended for small gifts. Milk and cookies are then provided for Santa - after all, the man with the white beard has to eat a lot during so many house calls. The presents are then given the following day. But first of all, of course, it has to be checked whether the provisions have disappeared!
„Christmas Eve“ J. Hoover & Son, 1878
The basis for the figure of the bearded man comes from the Northern European countries. There a certain Sinterclaas brings the gifts. This custom was finally brought to America by settlers from this European region. Sinterclaas became Santa Claus.
It is claimed that Dutch colonialists revived the Sinterclaas tradition during the American War of Independence. Originally, the day of Sinterclaas is December 06. It actually corresponds to the St. Nicholas Day that we know.
„Das Kriegsbeil ist erst begraben, wenn man nicht mehr weiß, wo es liegt.“
In vielen Western fällt der Spruch, dass die „Indianer das Kriegsbeil ausgraben“. Geprägt wurde dieser Begriff vor allem durch die „Lederstrumpf“ Romane von James Fenimore Cooper. Doch war das Ausgraben eines Beils wirklich gängige Praxis oder wird auch hier wieder ein Klischee bedient, das unsere allgemeine Ansicht der American Natives trübt?
Der „Tomahawk“ – das Kriegsbeil der American Natives
The term tomahawk was adopted into the English language in the 17th century. The word originally comes from the Algonkin language (tamahaac = axe or war hatchet). However, the first tomahawks did not have metal axe heads, as the indigenous population was not familiar with the technique of hot forging until then. Up to then, the heads of the axes were mostly made of stone or were simple wooden clubs, for example with a round carved striking ball. It was only through trade with the first settlers that the metal head, whose shape was based on a ship's axe of the Royal Navy, spread.
Tomahawk of the Oglala Lakota (late 19th century)
The pipe tomahawk - A ritual object
Often the metal heads of the axes were converted into tobacco pipes. They were then used mainly in diplomatic negotiations and as gifts. If the side on which the pipe was placed was presented, this usually meant peaceful intentions. But if the blade was shown, it was often a symbol of war.
Pipe tomahawk (early 19th century)
Wir nehmen an, dass dort auch der Rückschluss zum Spruch „das Kriegsbeil ausgraben“ gezogen wird. Einen Beleg dafür, dass das Beil allerdings im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes „ausgegraben“ wurde, haben wir nicht gefunden.
Halfway to Christmas is done! Or in other words - there is not much time left to get the last presents. And what should there actually be to eat?
Do not panic! We have prepared a delicious pot roast here, which will definitely melt the hearts of those who eat it.
Boef à la mode - or Pot Roast
Boef à la mode – frei übersetzt in etwa „Schickes Rindfleisch“ – ist die französische Version dessen, was in den Vereinigten Staaten als Pot Roast bekannt ist. Dieses simple und zugleich ungemein leckere Gericht darf nicht fehlen, wenn es etwas zu feiern gibt. Gut, dass in diesem Fall Weihnachten vor der Tür steht!
Dieser Rinderschmorbraten, war zur damaligen Zeit so beliebt, dass der niederländische Maler Carel Nicolaas Storm van ’s-Gravesande im Jahre 1906 ein Stillleben davon anfertigte.
Boef à la mode - also known as Pot Roast
Ingredients (For about 4 persons)
Beef from the shoulder (2.7 lbs)
1 tablespoon of clarified butter
2 scallions
1/3 of a celery bulb
1 carrot
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Cognac (0.8 oz)
Heavy red wine (10 oz)
Beef broth (42.3 oz)
4 grains of allspice
1 teaspoon of cubeb pepper
1 cinnamon stick
4 juniper berries
1 bayleaf
2 garlic cloves
Ginger slice (0.8 inches)
Orange peel (1 slice)
Lemon peel (1 slice)
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar (optional)
Preparation (preparation takes about 30 minutes, cooking time about 3 hours):
Remove skin and tendons from the meat, then wash and pat dry.
Cut the scallions, celery and carrot into 1 inch cubes.
Heat the clarified butter in a stewpot and fry the meat on all sides over medium heat until golden brown. Then remove from the pot and put aside.
After that reduce heat and let the powdered sugar caramelize lightly in the stew pot.
Then add tomato paste and let it sauté.
Deglaze carefully with the Cognac.
Then add 1/3 of the red wine step by step and let it boil down like a syrup.
Add the vegetables together with the garlic, bay leaf and ginger.
Add the remaining broth to the pot together with the wine.
Put the beef shoulder into the pot.
Let simmer for approx. 2.5 hours at approx. 185°F with closed lid and slight heat.
Now the chef himself can have a cognac or wine at his discretion.
Remove the meat after 2.5 hours, cover and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
Add allspice, pepper, cinnamon and juniper berries to the sauce.
Let the orange and lemon peel steep in the sauce for the last 15 minutes.
Pass the finished sauce through a sieve and let it thicken.
Season with balsamico if necessary.
Cut the roast against the grain direction - done!
We recommend: boiled or mashed potatoes with seasonal vegetables.
Die Zeremonienpfeifen der Native Americans sind uns gut aus Film und Fernsehen bekannt. Im Volksmund auch als „Friedenspfeifen“ bezeichnet, sind sie wohl das Symbol, wenn es um Zeremonien der indigenen amerikanischen Bevölkerung geht. Doch wie werden die Pfeifen eigentlich wirklich bezeichnet?
Wie lautet die korrekte Bezeichnung der „Friedenspfeife“?
A lucky charm is called amulet. It was part of the religious everyday life of the Natives and had different forms. Amulets in the form of turtles, lizards or bullfrogs were used by the tribes of the Lakota, for example, to keep the umbilical cord of the baby and to protect the child from evil influences.
Amulets from animal claws reported on the hunting luck of the owner and helped at the same time to further hunting success. Round, pearl embroidered amulets have mainly a decorative function until today.
The sacred tobacco pipe of the Native Americans is called Calumet.
The name Calumet is a malapropism of the French word chalumeau (= shawm, reed), because the Calumet with its long reed looked like a flute. The Calumet was revered by the northern tribes on both sides of the Mississippi.
The Calumet was not allowed to come into contact with the earth, but rested on forks and was kept in a bag during transport. A specially appointed high dignitary of the tribe, called "He who covers the pipe", had to watch over it.
This keeper of the pipe was the closest in rank to the war chief among the Sioux tribes; he took part in all public deliberations.
As a diplomatic passport, the Calumet proved peaceful intentions, but accepting or rejecting the sacred pipe also meant peace or war. No important council meeting or conclusion of a treaty was conceivable without the ceremonial use of the Calumet.
Smoking the Calumet was also an important part of a solemn ceremony that peacefully welcomed a stranger into the tribe as a guest.
The Calumet consisted of a feather-decorated wooden pipe of at least 30 cm length and a removable pipe bowl made of red pipe stone, called Catlinit.
Dieses nach der ostindischen Stadt Kalicut benannte bemusterte Baumwollgewebe ist viele Jahrzehnte lang von den Pionieren hauptsächlich für Kleider und Hemden verwendet worden. Nach diesen Kleidungsstücken wurden später Pferde bezeichnet, deren Fell über und über mit kleinen Flecken bedeckt war (Calico Pony oder Calico Horse; auch Pinto).
Today we present another traditional song which originates in Scotland this time. The theme of the song Ye Jacobites by Name deals with a painful period in Scottish history: The Jacobite revolts in the first half of the 18th century. As a diatribe against the followers of King Jacob II of England, known as Jacobites, it took the view of the Protestant bourgeoisie in the Lowlands. The cities there benefited greatly from the rise of capitalism and progress.
In the version of the Scottish poet Robert Burns from 1791, the text refers to both parties to the conflict. On the one hand, it can be interpreted as an outcry against English foreign rule and at the same time as a warning to adopt a positive, republican attitude instead of sentimentally clinging to the past.
Burns‘ Text ist jedoch bis heute Gegenstand unterschiedlicher Deutungen.
The ninth door of the TRP Advent calendar, is again dedicated to a delicious recipe. We wish you a lot of pleasure in preparing it and a good appetite!
Minced meat in North American wild rice
Ingredients:
Minced meat from bison or beef (18oz)
1 bunch of scallions
1 bunch of lovage herb
Wild rice, cooked (11oz)
2 tsp of salt
Pine nuts (3.5oz)
1 tsp of mustard
3 Eggs
2 tbsp of vegetable oil
Freshly ground pepper
Preparation:
Put the minced meat in a bowl, add salt and pepper.
Add mustard, spring onions and lovage finely chopped.
Finally add the whisked eggs and pine nuts and mix everything together.
Lightly heat a heavy, large pan with vegetable oil and fry the prepared minced meat at medium temperature.
Add the cooked rice and serve.
Tip: You can serve the minced rice dish in small ball shapes in green salad leaves.
Rice from America?
Anders als der Reis, den wir kennen, ist Wildreis kein „echter“ Reis. Genau gesprochen sind es die Samen einer Süßgrasart, das bereits vor Jahrhunderten von den Native Americans kultiviert wurde. Der Wildreis, der auch als „Wasserreis“ bezeichnet wird, hat ein nussiges Aroma und ist dunkelbraun im Aussehen.
Wild rice played an important role, especially for the Chippewa Natives, who lived near the Great Lakes.
Ein alter Lakota sprach zu seinem Sohn. „Ein Kampf findet in meinem Inneren statt zwischen zwei Wölfen.
One of them is evil. He is full of anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, self-pity, bitterness, feelings of guilt and inferiority, lies and false pride!
The other wolf is rather friendly. Er ist voller Freude, Hoffnung, Liebe, Frieden, Gerechtigkeit, Freundlichkeit, Wohlwollen, Einfühlungsvermögen, Großzügigkeit, Wahrheit, Leidenschaft und Glaube.“
Er fuhr fort: „Derselbe Kampf findet auch in dir statt – wie in jedem anderen Menschen!“
Der Sohn fragte seinen Vater: „Und welcher Wolf wird gewinnen?“
Worauf der alte Lakota antwortete: „Der, den du fütterst.“
Behind this door of the TRP Advent Calendar, we want to solve the mystery of the mistletoe. Why do we kiss under it? Has it always been like this? What is it about this evergreen plant that decorates homes, especially during the Christmas season?
The mistletoe was not always there just for kissing
If one follows the history of the mistletoe, one finds the original use of the plant in Germanic and Nordic paganism. Mythology describes how Loki had a son of Odin named Balder killed by using a mistletoe. For Balder, these mistletoe were deadly because they were the only form of life that refused to take the oath not to harm the young god. The Celts and also the ancient Greeks saw a symbol of fertility in the white berries of mistletoe. The plant was used in a medicinal way for a long time and is classified as slightly poisonous today.
Baldr is killed by a mistletoe.
Botanically speaking, this plant is a semi-parasite. It extracts nutrients from its host and at the same time carries out photosynthesis. The plant belongs to the evergreen plants and therefore does not get brown leaves even in the winter time. It is therefore often used as a Christmas decoration.
Die Mistel als Glücksbringer – nicht nur in der Liebe
According to tradition, the mistletoe, after being cut off, must not touch the ground until the holidays are over. Some customs say that the branch should remain hanging all year round. It should protect the house from fire and lightning damage until a new branch is hung the following year.
The custom of kissing under the mistletoe dates back to the 16th century in England. According to an old Christmas custom, a man and a woman meeting under a mistletoe were obliged to kiss each other. Afterwards, both were to spend a long and blessed life as a couple. It was not until the 18th century that the plant was increasingly used for general Christmas decoration.
Mistletoe postcard (ca. 1900)
At this point we also wish you a wonderful time before Christmas, with or without the magic of the mistletoe!
„Im Leben eines Indianers gibt es keine schlechten Tage. Auch wenn die Zeiten noch so schwierig sind. Jeder Tag ist gut. Weil du am Leben bist, ist jeder Tag gut.“
A saying that made us stop and think
For our advent calendar we started to collect some sayings in advance and came across this one among others. To be honest - we found it very irritating at first and it caused an inner uneasiness.
Being able to live should be considered taken for granted in our modern times.
Unlike the United States, Germany has a well-developed healthcare system. In very few cases we have to pay medical bills ourselves because we are insured.
In America, however, the situation is different. It is not uncommon that longer hospital stays can mean financial bankruptcy. This is something that we find very difficult to imagine. Where we do not hesitate to call an ambulance, such a decision can cost over $2,200 in the States, and often has to be financed out of one' s own pocket.
However, the slogan is also aimed specifically at the American Natives. Here the situation is a little more tricky - to put it mildly. Most Natives are in a quandary.
Although there are social benefits and some health insurance in the reservations, these are cancelled when the Natives leave the territories. This is also often the case, because the reserves offer hardly any jobs that can provide a livelihood.
The conditions are sometimes so bad that individual Natives have to weigh up the pros and cons: Either they buy gas for the winter or medicines. Conditions that one would not actually expect in the USA.
We want to help and call for donations!
Today is St. Nicholas Day and many may be pleased about own gifts, even if it is just a small one. Others, however, do not have this fortune.
In cooperation with Dietmar Kuegler of Verlag für Amerikanistik and Kerstin Groeper of TraumFänger Verlag, we want to draw attention to the possibility to help!
Dietmar Kuegler (right) - Verlag für Amerikanistik
Dietmar Kuegler is the founder and owner of the publishing house Verlag für Amerikanistik. He has been publishing for over 30 years and is a proven expert on America. Since 1974 he has written over 50 books.
„Der Verlag für Amerikanistik ist der einzige Fachverlag für indianische und amerikanische Geschichte im deutschen Sprachraum. Seit seiner Gründung Ende 1983, sind fast 200 Bücher mit wissenschaftlichem und populärwissenschaftlichem Inhalt erschienen, darunter zahlreiche Dissertationen und Magisterarbeiten.“ – Dietmar Kuegler
The TraumFänger Verlag offers books on the subject of Native American Studies. In addition to historical novels, contemporary literature, ethno-thrillers and children's books are also published.
„Unser Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf den Völkern der Sioux / Lakota, Cheyenne, Blackfeet, Blackfoot, Menominee, Ojibwe, Navajo, Hopi und Apachen.
Wichtig sind uns Autoren, die wirklich Kontakt zu „Indianern“ haben und diese Welt authentisch beschreiben können.“ – Kerstin Groeper
Support of social projects in Pine Ridge by One Spirit Deutschland e.V.
The Pine Ridge Reservation is largely inhabited by Oglala Lakota and is located in southwestern South Dakota on the border to Nebraska.
Originally the area was part of the Great Sioux Reservation, which had an area of 240,000km². In 1876 the U.S. government violated the existing treaty and opened 31,000km² of the area for private interests.
Ab 1911 wurde die Reservation weiter verkleinert, indem das Land im Zuge des „Dawes Act“ an Weiße verkauft wurde.
Today the reserve has an area of 11.000km². According to the Arizona Daily Star, the unemployment rate in 2002 was about 85%. In 2013, the U.S. Department of the Interior calculated an unemployment rate of approximately 64% in the American Indian Population and Labor Force Report. Drug abuse, alcohol consumption and social hardship are widespread.
The association One Spirit Deutschland e.V. has made it its mission to improve the living conditions of the Lakota since its foundation in 2014. Together with the tribal people, programs have been developed to improve the situation of the population in the long term.
The logo of One Spirit Deutschland e.V.
Als gemeinnütziger Verein bietet One Spirit mitunter Jugendprogramme an, in denen sich junge Menschen wieder zunehmend mit der Lakota-Kultur befassen können. „Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe“ soll die Menschen dabei unterstützen, ein gewisses Einkommen zu erlangen. So hilft One Spirit beispielsweise Künstlern beim Verkauf von Schmuck und anderen Werken. Eine Auflistung der aktuellen sozialen Projekte hat der TraumFänger Verlag erstellt. Frau Groeper ist ebenfalls Mitglied bei One Spirit.
Please help today! Even small amounts can work great wonders.
The Lakota Winter Project of the Society for Threatened Peoples (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker GfbV)
About Kerstin Groeper from TraumFänger Verlag, we would like to introduce a special project at this point. The Lakota Winter Project, which is supported by the Förderverein für bedrohte Völker e.V. (GfbV), supports families in the Pine Ridge Reservation with the procurement of heating material in winter.
Many people in the population live far below the poverty line and cannot afford the cost of wood or propane gas. The consequence is that especially old people die of hypothermia due to temperatures as low as -4°F. The special problem: The company that supplies the gas only appears from an order value of meanwhile $200. Money that many families cannot raise. The TraumFänger Verlag also provides further information about the project.
Help now and save lives!
The association assures that every donation reaches the people in need at 100%. The donation is used to purchase heating material and helps those who really need it.
Help for Martin Knife Chief - An initiative of the Verlag für Amerikanistik
Dietmar Kuegler from Verlag für Amerikanistik has been calling for a donation for Martin Knife Chief for some time. The Lakota, who has been fighting cancer since 2015, has few resources of his own to fight the disease. Although medical care in the USA is very advanced, it is hardly affordable for Martin as he is no longer working regularly due to the disease.
Through a donation via PayPal, Martin will benefit from the financial support to continue the fight against cancer.
In a call to the general public, Kuegler asks for help.
My name is Dietmar Kuegler.
I am editor of the MAGAZIN FÜR AMERIKANISTIK and author of many books on American history.
Today I am asking to help a friend. Help for MARTIN KNIFE CHIEF.
The Lakota MARTIN KNIFE CHIEF has been fighting an aggressive cancer disease since 2015. The therapies rob him of his strength and they are very expensive. He has no insurance. Martin can no longer work regularly because of his illness. He makes traditional handicrafts at home and occasionally goes to schools and talks about Indian culture. He is too proud to go begging and is very grateful for the help he has received from Germany so far. It also represents a strong moral force. Since many people who have helped him in recent years feel insecure about sending cash in envelopes, Martin has given me a PAYPAL address. PAYPAL is an easy and safe way to send money to the USA. You don't have to exchange Euros for Dollars at the bank. The amount is converted automatically. Just go to the website of PAYPAL and use this email address:
gurnzey@yahoo.com
Please specify as reason for payment: "Donation for cancer treatment". Don't be surprised that another name appears in the recipient's address; it is the maiden name of his wife. Every small donation helps. It goes directly to the person who needs the help. Some people who have traveled with me on my guided tours of America have gotten to know Martin personally and know what a great person he is.
Thank you very much!
Dietmar Kuegler Verlag für Amerikanistik
Dietmar Kuegler not only offers guided trips to the USA in addition to his publishing work, but also holds seminars and online courses at universities on the topic of American Studies. His magazine appears four times a year and is filled with profound knowledge of American history.
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Whichever path is taken - it is the right one!
It is up to you to decide which way you want to donate. In any case, as Two Rivers Privity we can support the presented projects at 100%. Behind each of these projects are people who give their best every day to make the world a little bit better. This also ensures that your contribution will reach the people who need it the most.
DISCLAIMER: Donations are made through the respective organizers of the projects. The Verlag für Amerikanistik points out the direct possibility of donating to Martin Knife Chief via his PayPal. The Two Rivers Privity does not accept donations, but only draws attention to the possibility to support the presented projects. We do not receive any money, benefits or other remuneration for the presentation of the projects. Also the presentation of the Verlag für Amerikanistik and the TraumFänger Verlag happens without any return service.
With the American folk song Turkey in the Straw, we are introducing a song that is steeped in history, but also has a negative side...
Turkey in the Straw - The first version on camera 1942
In the early 19th century, this song was especially popular among fiddlers and goes on an Irish ballad called „The Old Rose Tree“ zurück. Es war dabei nicht ungewöhnlich, dass sich diese Lieder permanent veränderten. Unterschiedliche Textvariationen waren keine Seltenheit.
This version of the song is by Freddie Fisher and the Schnickelfritz Band. In 1942 the first performance was in front of a running camera.
The big negative side of the song - Coon songs with racist background
Towards the end of the 19th century, so-called Coon songs gained popularity, whose content was mainly aimed at the stereotype of African Americans. This racist genre made use of melodies from songs that were already well established among the population at that time.
So the melody of this song was also used in minstrel shows, where white people dressed up as African Americans. Above all, a romanticizing idea of the everyday life of slaves on the plantations was staged. Such performances provided a distorted image that was far from the cruel and humiliating reality.
