Last summer we visited the (reproduced) iron age house at the Chilterns Open Air Museum. Unseen in the photo is the hole in the roof for the smoke to go out. And the little thingies (demons, faeries, and the like) to come in as was universally believed.
Chimneys were a great invention. We've dispensed with them in the centrally-heated-now but at the beginning they were a miracle cure for a very nasty problem. But along with the chimney continued folklore about hearth-gods and chimney spirits.
What better place, then, for the magical Santa to come in by than the spirit channel of the chimney? OK, so it messes up his red coat somewhat making the red a sooty red. But he is a power for good after bogeymen of various kinds spooked the chimney.
At least in this respect Santa says something useful about Christmas. I guess one way of retranslating the angel's instruction
Not so much sooty red as blood red.
At least in this respect Santa says something useful about Christmas. I guess one way of retranslating the angel's instruction
you shall call his name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins is
he'll go through a dark place for you but get very dirty in the process.
Not so much sooty red as blood red.
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