Saturday, December 22, 2012

Greetings fellow Bizarros:

Like the comedian Jim Gaffigan pointed out, a lot of our holiday traditions seem like the actions of a drunk. Who chops down a tree and drags it inside their house (without drinking a 12 pack of beer and a half pint of whiskey first)? But our holiday oddities seem quaint and homey compared to some of the bizarre things they do to celebrate Christmas around the world.

In Catalonia, families gather around the "caga tio," a log that's decorated with a cartoon face and plied with treats in the weeks before Christmas. On Christmas day, the children sing a song and beat the log with sticks until it 'poops' out presents (caga is the Catalonian equivalent of 'caca,' and means 'pooping').

In Austria, the Christmas season kicks off on Dec. 5 with Krampusnacht Krampus, St. Nick's demonic polar opposite, is a goat-horned devil that shakes fistfuls of rusty chains at passing children. According to legend, naughty kids are snatched by Krampus and dragged to his mountain lair. In more recent years, the custom has morphed into a sort of Halloween in December, giving people a chance to dress up and parade around in their ghoulish costumes.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch add a little fear to their holiday celebrations with Zwarte Piet. In a rather racist custom that has persisted to this day, Zwarte Piet, or Black Peter, is Santa's slave who abducts Dutch children that misbehave, taking them back to Spain, where it is said that Santa and Peter spend their off-season. In a scene many Americans would find shocking, the Dutch dress up as Black Peter, donning black face and Afro wigs, in order to accompany Santa.

So don't be too critical when Dad dresses up at Santa this year and smells a little like scotch and cigarettes. It could be a lot worse.

Bizarrely,
Lewis

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*-- Woman says hypnotists stole her cash --*
MOSCOW - A Russian woman told police two other women robbed her by using hypnotism to trick her into handing over $40,000. The Moscow woman told police the thieves approached her after she withdrew the money from her bank account and hypnotized her to convince her to hand over the cash to break a spell placed on her husband and son, RIA Novosti reported Friday. Police said the thieves could face a possible 10 years in jail if they are caught and convicted.


*-- Dogs chase burglar after presents --*
GAINSVILLE, Fla. - Score one for man's best friend: Barking dogs chased a would-be robber targeting Christmas gifts out of a Florida home, police said. Timothy Devon Lawrence, 36, of Gainsville, Fla., broke into a home around 3 a.m. as the homeowners were asleep upstairs and was allegedly ready to boost some 18 packages, police said. That's when the victim's alert pooches awoke and began barking, the Gainsville (Fla.) Sun said Wednesday. When the victim opened her bedroom door, the dogs raced downstairs and chased Lawrence out of the house. The woman called police who used canines of their own to track the suspect to a nearby residence where Lawrence had also tried to break in, officers said. He allegedly was found hiding in nearby bushes and charged with burglary, grand theft and possession of a concealed firearm, police said.


*-- READER COMMENTS --*
Ewww imagine how much pee is in the pool at the Munich spa for drunkards. -Kari
[Imagine how much fish crap is in the ocean, and you still swim in that!]

While vacationing in Cancun, Mexico several years ago I and other guests was enjoying being served beer and cocktails while in the pool. Then I realized what happens after guys have several drinks and that I was in the world's largest urinal. For the rest of the week I never went into that pool again.

Gives new meaning to getting boned... P
[I guess somebody had to do that joke, might as well be you.]

Lewis, It turns out the Indiana Jones journal was a replica purchased on eBay that had fallen out of it's package and was sent to the university by a well-meaning postal worker based on a postmark contained in the replica. I think they need to promote that postal worker to Postmaster General so the rest of us can get our mail. -Charles
[Don't worry, there are still plenty of postal carriers to steal mail. But when you think about it...sending a letter across the country in four or five days for 45 cents is still a pretty good deal. Even if the occasional check does get stolen.]

*-- END OF READER COMMENTS --*
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