trivia thursday: the santa edition

just about 200 days left until christmas... a little santa trivia for you on this friday eve.

• Santa Claus began life as a sort of Christian version of Poseidon, Greed god of the sea and all waters. Poseidon became known as the giver of all good things and festivals were held to celebrate his existence in December in the third century B.C., the event officially becoming known as the feast day of St. Nicholas in the fourth century B.C. Later Christian in Rome gave him the name of Nicholas and claimed he was a bishop who gave anonymous gifts by night.
• St. Nicholas is also the patron saint of pawnbrokers.
• Our current vision of Santa Claus came from an illustration by Thomas Nast in 1863 made for Dr. Clement Moore’s tale A Visit from St. Nicholas

the santa express

one of my favorite christmas traditions in chicago is when the L trains get decked out for the holidays.

The Chicago Transit Authority pulls out all the stops to spread Yuletide cheer and good will to its customers with CTA's Santa's Express Train!

The train -- a festive six-car model decked with ornaments, holiday music and Santa riding a sleigh aboard a flatcar -- operates around the outer Loop 'L' between 4:00 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. The impressive display is decorated by CTA's Rail Operations employees and has more than 30,000 lights.

CTA customers paying regular fares are welcome to ride on any of the six passenger cars on the train.

The CTA's Santa's Express Train pulls up to rail stations throughout the city on selected dates and times, with CTA employees on hand spreading holiday cheer by distributing candy to customers along the routes.

For over 20 years, the CTA also uses the train to distribute food baskets to needy families. CTA elves team up with Santa Claus to distribute more than 150 holiday meal boxes to needy families at three stations along the Blue Line: Division, 18th Street and UIC-Halsted.

[source: http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?Archive=y&pg=93&ArticleId=1716 ©2009 Chicago Transit Authority]

feeling zen'd out

last night i spent some time on my planners & idea books and they look fabulous. i need to take some photos and show them on my blog but until i get around to that, i am just taking a cue from zen santa here.