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Father Christmas is distributing the presents to the
insects.
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Pulling the cracker. One would imagine that inviting Mr. Frog to an insects’ celebration
would be a disaster, but I suppose that Father Christmas knows what he's doing.
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I haven’t been out much recently, but the other day I went to
the electronics plaza, and this tree outside was cleverly decorated with neon
ornaments showing computers, digital cameras, cell phones, cd’s, etc.
The Taiwanese don’t seem to have gotten Santa quite right; he’s not as jolly as in the Western version.
Maybe it’s his glaring expression or emaciated body, or perhaps it’s that gun
he’s reaching for.
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| You better watch out! |
If that’s what Santa is like in Taiwan, it’s just as
well that there are no chimneys or fireplaces here. For those of you in more
temperate places, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season.
Dear Jim
ReplyDeleteI hope that you are well. May be the Christmas Santa is not so fat the meaning of these days is the same ! Love, health , happiness ,peace ! Sending the warmest Christmas wishes to you and your family. May God shower his choicest blessings on you and your family this Christmas!
Olympia
Hello Olympia, Thank you so much for your kind greeting, and you can be sure that the sentiment is returned and that I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas.
DeleteVery charming, Jim. Thanks for sharing that video link. Those ants ice skating.....wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I quite like the neon ornaments! Clever. But that Santa has to go!
Wishing you a wonderful and merry Christmas!
Cheers,
Loi
Hello Loi, The skating (or is it skiing?) insects are adorable.
DeleteThanks for the holiday wishes; I sure that with twenty-five expected guests, you will have a happy if hectic Christmas.
I do think they are ice skating.....pretty flat. I'm obsessed with this little video....watched it a few times!!
DeleteHello Loi, I think that you are right. I was remembering them going down the hill, but I watched again and they circle around the pond, which definitely is more like skating. Perhaps the problem is that we are looking with modern eyes at Russian winter sports of 100 years ago!
DeleteThanks for sharing the video. I'm not generally a fan of bugs, but I'll make an exception for these guys. I liked the part when each of the insects got a gift from Santa's tree.
ReplyDeleteThat store-front Santa reminds me of Louis Armstrong's song, "Zat You, Santa Claus?" :)
Hello Merry Wife, That is a very sweet scene when Santa distributes the presents; also very inclusive, that Father Christmas prepares a holiday for the insects, and doesn't forget any of them.
DeleteI just listened to the Armstrong recording--very funny, and like the Taiwan Santa a great antidote to too much sugar and lightness in holiday themes.
Action Santa will kick your asses, all of them!
ReplyDeleteHello Cookie, Ha,ha, Action Santa! Actually, I'm surprised that Santa didn't crack a long time ago.
DeleteDear Jim - sending you Christmas greetings across the miles, and thank you for your very kind and encouraging comments throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteI love the naivety of this little film, the wind effect that suddenly arrives from nowhere billowing Father Christmases gown, and like you, the disgruntled doll trying hard to sleep.
Hello Rosemary, Best holiday wishes to you and your family also. I have enjoyed reading your blog, which has been a constant source of enjoyment and edification.
DeleteStarewicz is an amazing animator, and is able to think up so many special effects that add to the film. Computer animators don't seem to realize that it is the slight irregularities of stop-action animation that constitute its charm.
Dear Jim,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this charming video, which brings to mind how much simpler and less commercialized the season used to be. My favorite part of the film is the doll trying so hard to sleep — her gestures and movements are so natural.
Jim, it's always a pleasure to visit your blog, and I've appreciated our exchanges throughout the whole year. I hope that you have a merry Christmas, and I wish for your 2013 to be filled with all the best!
Mark
Hello Mark, If you think about it, the first scene with the tree and doll was pretty elaborate and sophisticated--it is interesting to compare the first tree with the one that Father Christmas conjured up.
DeleteYou have a merry Christmas also, and perhaps during the break you can search out some more of your family treasures to feature on All Things Ruffernian next year.
Thank you for the amusing glimpses of CHristmas in Taiwan. I look forward to watching The Insect's Christmas, and will come back and tell you my favorite part.
ReplyDeleteThat was fun and weird (in a good way). I loved the frog, and when they were all skiing and skating. All of it.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen Le Voyage Dans La Lune? I think you would like it. Here: http://vimeo.com/39275260
Hello Jen, If you liked the frog, you should watch Starewicz' The Frogs who Wanted a King (also called Frogland), which is my favorite film of his.
DeleteI do love Le Voyage and la Lune--it has such an intense French quality to it, especially the chorus beauties who man the rocket factory, and the ones that later appear in the sky!
The contrast between Taiwan and the film.....no words can express it. Loved the skiing. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHello Lindaraxa, I think that you have hit upon it--it is the extreme contrast that makes both more enjoyable.
DeleteI just read your Christmas Eve menu, and what a treat it sounds, especially that wild rice with pecans. I'm sure that your family holiday will be a wonderful event.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thanks for becoming a blogger this year -- your contribution to the 'hood is greaty appreciated. Reggie
ReplyDeleteHello Reggie, A year goes by so quickly, but this past one has been considerably enriched by your blog and the others that I have come to know.
DeleteA very Happy Holidays to you, Boy, and Pompey.
Taiwan's version (or your depiction of some of it) sums up the consumerism that is Christmas - God's gift to retailing. That trend has eliminated the enthusiasm I once enjoyed for the celebration. The test for me nowadays is to try and see beyond that and try and find something meaningful. I hope you do too; my very best wishes to you in that endeavour and many thanks for your visits to The Corinthian Column. I've certainly enjoyed learning from the Road to Parnassus, (as indeed I should).
ReplyDeleteHello Columnist, To be fair, the pictures I took were at an electronics mall, so a certain humor or consumerist slant could be expected.
DeleteThe real family holiday here is Chinese New Year which is coming up in about a month, when most businesses really do shut down for a week or two, and people spend time with their families.
I have enjoyed another year of your unique viewpoint via The Corinthian Column, and wish you a happy and meaningful holiday.
Dearest Jim,
ReplyDeleteThat was a lovely movie about the little forest creatures!
Wishing you a good ending of 2012 and a healthy and happy 2013.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Starewicz has long been one of my favorite animators, and a number of his other early films similarly involve insects and frogs, but this one has a special sweet quality about it.
DeleteThanks for your good wishes, and I also wish you a happy New Year.
Dear Jim,
ReplyDeletePlease accept my tardy but sincere best wishes for the new year! I'm honored to have my blog mentioned here, and so thankful for the introduction to this charming film-- absolutely wonderful!!! The choice of a winter scene with insects, frog and tiny Father Christmas are so strange and fabulous. As well, that Ninja Santa is a keeper! Scary, but no more so than the suburban Mall Santa, I'd say!
I look forward to a new year of your wonderful posts.
Warm regards,
Erika
Hello Erika, Happy New Year to you, too.
DeleteStarewicz has an amazing ability to mix anthropomorphized objects of different scales and natures, and make us believe in them working and acting together, creating a surreal result.
I don't think that mall Santas are as scary as, say, clowns, but I agree that they are up there!
Dear Jim,
ReplyDeleteYou at least understand this factor of currency in such Asian countries. They do have a top layer of extreme wealthy people but with their devaluation, things are almost out of reach for the lower level incomes. I don't see any improvement soon... sadly with the world's economy. But your are right, the experience of living abroad is so valuable but it is also very hard to share with others that never have been there. And if they've been there as a tourist, that barely counts as it is not equivalent to working and living there and speaking the language.
Hugs to you and stay well, above all healthy.
Mariette