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L O W L A N D S - L - 23 December 2011 - Volume 03<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font> </font></p><font>From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com">sassisch@yahoo.com</a>><a href="mailto:hannehinz@t-online.de" target="_blank"></a><br>
Subject: Traditions<br><br>
Hi, Lowlanders!<br><br>Let's figure out the extent and diversity of the pre-Christmas tradition of what in American English is known as "Secret Santa."<br><br>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.<br>
<br>This tradition clearly began in Europe. In Germany, it is known as <i>Wichteln</i>, in Bavaria and Austria as <i>Engerln</i> or <i>Bengerln</i>. In Northern Germany, a region in which Low Saxon is traditionally used, this custom is known as <i>Julklapp</i>. This is a Swedish loanword. Swedish <i>julklapp</i>, however, simply means "Chrismas present". <i>Jul</i> (originally 'wheel') refers to Christmas (hence English "Yule"). <i>Klapp</i> means something like "knock" and refers to <i>Jultompten </i>(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.)<br>
<br>As a child I once asked a teacher why the Secret Santa custom is called <i>Julklapp</i>, and she, although having lived in Sweden, said it's because it's a type of "club" [klap] ...<br><br><b>Question</b>: 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 (</font>1618-1648) and in some areas even later? <br>
<br>(<i>Julklapp</i> has no cognates in the other Scandinavian languages: Danish <i>julgave</i>, Dano-Norwegian <i>julgave</i>, Neo-Norwegian <i>julegåve</i>.)<br><br>In the Dutch-speaking world, the custom is known as <i>lootjes trekken</i>,<b> </b>thus referring to taking of lots.<br>
<br><b>Question</b>: Does the North American Secret Santa tradition go back to Dutch influence?<br><font>
<br>
<i></i><b>Question</b>: 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?<br><br>The custom is known in Spanish-speaking America as </font><i>amigo invisible</i> ("invisible friend") or <i>amigo secret</i> ("secret friend"). Apparently, it began in Venezuela.<br>
<br>In Brazil (and now perhaps other Portuguese-speaking areas) it is known as <i>amigo secreto</i> ("secret friend"), <i>amigo oculto </i> ("obscure friend"), <i>amigo X</i> ("friend X") or <i>amigo invisível</i> ("secret friend").<br>
<br><b>Question</b>: Is this a North American importation to Latin America, or does it go back to Dutch influence in Northern Brazil?<br><br>Merry Christmas!<br><br>Reinhard/Ron<br>Seattle, USA<br><i><font><br></font></i></div>
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