LL-L 'Traditions' 2010.12.23 (03) [EN]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L - 23 December 2011 - Volume 03
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com> <hannehinz at t-online.de>
Subject: Traditions

Hi, Lowlanders!

Let's figure out the extent and diversity of the pre-Christmas tradition of
what in American English is known as "Secret Santa."

Basically, this involves a group of people (usually not relatives). Most
commonly, a few days or weeks earlier each member receives the name of
another member by lot and keeps this name secret. The task then is to
purchase of make a Christmas gift for that person, and the end result is
that each member receives a gift anonymously. Oftentimes, at the end
everyone must guess who their secret Santa was. There are many variants of
this, but this is basically it.

This tradition clearly began in Europe. In Germany, it is known as *Wichteln
*, in Bavaria and Austria as *Engerln* or *Bengerln*. In Northern Germany,
a region in which Low Saxon is traditionally used, this custom is known as *
Julklapp*. This is a Swedish loanword. Swedish *julklapp*, however, simply
means "Chrismas present". *Jul* (originally 'wheel') refers to Christmas
(hence English "Yule"). *Klapp* means something like "knock" and
refers to *Jultompten
*(Father Christmas) signaling his arrival and the fact that he left gifts.
(Traditionally, you heard a knock, and then the gifts would be tossed into
the house through the door or a window.)

As a child I once asked a teacher why the Secret Santa custom is called *
Julklapp*, and she, although having lived in Sweden, said it's because it's
a type of "club" [klap] ...

*Question*: Why was the Swedish name imported to Northern Germany? Does it
go back to Swedish occupation of various parts of Germany during the Thirty
Year War (1618-1648) and in some areas even later?

(*Julklapp* has no cognates in the other Scandinavian languages: Danish *
julgave*, Dano-Norwegian *julgave*, Neo-Norwegian *julegåve*.)

In the Dutch-speaking world, the custom is known as *lootjes trekken*,* *thus
referring to taking of lots.

*Question*: Does the North American Secret Santa tradition go back to Dutch
influence?

***Question*: Is this tradition found in the rest of the English-speaking
world? If so, is it an American importation, or does it go back to British
customs?

The custom is known in Spanish-speaking America as *amigo
invisible*("invisible friend") or
*amigo secret* ("secret friend"). Apparently, it began in Venezuela.

In Brazil (and now perhaps other Portuguese-speaking areas) it is
known as *amigo
secreto* ("secret friend"), *amigo oculto * ("obscure friend"), *amigo
X*("friend X") or
*amigo invisível* ("secret friend").

*Question*: Is this a North American importation to Latin America, or does
it go back to Dutch influence in Northern Brazil?

Merry Christmas!

Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA
*
*
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