[Sca-cooks] December 19th Holiday Exchange

[kingstaste at mindspring.com]

DEC 19
Opalia - Ancient Rome - 3rd day of Saturnalia

Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine Crowned (1155) King and Queen of England

Yuletide Lads* - Iceland - This country has not one Santa but 13. They're
descendants of Gryla the Ogre and very mischievous. Also known as the
Christmas Men, they start visiting Icelandic families on the 12th, and by
Christmas they've all arrived. No one sees them, but each one may leave a
gift and some other signal of his presence: Door Slammer wakes people by
slamming doors; Candle Beggar makes off with a few candles; and Meat Hooker,
by dangling a hook down the chimney, might even make off with the Christmas
roast.