Santa Claus's Fortean family tree

Fortean artist/prankster Jeffrey Vallance created a Santa Claus Family Tree tracing the genealogy of "wild people." Climb the curious branches over at Cryptomundo. Santa's Family Tree

[#1 posted by mcarrick , December 22, 2008 9:48 AM]

Al Jolson?

[#2 posted by zuzu , December 22, 2008 9:49 AM]

LOL @ inclusion of Mummers and Jägermeister

[#3 posted by Demian64 , December 22, 2008 9:57 AM]

I am not entirely sure how accurate this depiction of the evolution of Santa is despite how wonderfully entertaining the graphic is.

[#4 posted by Takuan , December 22, 2008 10:01 AM]

Hogfather belongs on the left

[#5 posted by milovoo , December 22, 2008 10:08 AM]

Also, it looks like he wrote an accompanying article for LA weekly, no?

[#6 posted by olmsteader , December 22, 2008 10:11 AM]

Am very disappointed to see that Gator Claus has been left out of this genealogy.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41023262545

I hope to see a correction in the near future.

[#7 posted by freshacconci , December 22, 2008 10:19 AM]

@#1

There's no conclusive proof that Al Jolson ever existed.

[#8 posted by Shrdlu , December 22, 2008 10:37 AM]

@#2

This is true. No one born in the imaginary land of Lithuania, as is claimed of Jolson, ever existed. You ever meet a Lithuan? It sounds so made up.

[#9 posted by Shrdlu , December 22, 2008 10:42 AM]

Erratum @ #8: That should be "@#7." My apologies.

[#10 posted by The Unusual Suspect , December 22, 2008 11:14 AM]

Nixon?

[#11 posted by freshacconci , December 22, 2008 11:27 AM]

@#8

When I was a small boy, I was told that Lithuans would sneak into my room at night and bite off my toes if they were uncovered.

[#12 posted by Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator , December 22, 2008 12:19 PM]

He left out the Woodwoses!

Shrdlu, I've met a Lithuanian. I've even been on several SF convention panels with a Lithuanian. On one of them, he said he could define science fiction, and how it differed from fantasy.

Think what you will.

[#13 posted by Shrdlu , December 22, 2008 12:23 PM]

@#11:

I do not follow. Could you be confusing "Lithuan" with the French word lutin, meaning "imp" or "hobgoblin?"

Or perhaps you are thinking of the mythological Lutheran, the phlegmatic race of pallid, gawkish humanoid creatures who roam the plains of Middle America, subsisting on molded Jello, hamburger hot dish, and children's toes as popularized in the science fiction writings and radio shows of Garrison Keillor.

[#14 posted by Shrdlu , December 22, 2008 12:44 PM]

@#12:

Next you are going to tell me you have been on a panel with a Luxembourgian. That's okay. I can't define fantasy from non-fiction either. However, since I have run across your name before somewhere--can't remember, but it wasn't here on BoingBoing--I do believe you exist. Now this is going to bug me.

[#15 posted by Beanolini , December 23, 2008 1:27 AM]

#2, Zuzu:

I don't know how familiar you are with the Mumming tradition, but folk mummers can be pretty wild...

The Byker Mummers (who are based near me) try to uphold the tradition by drinking heavily, barging into local pubs, performing their play, and demanding money from the drinkers.

Some video of one of their performances:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PaEOsMBMcxk
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wbh3BXLW-WE

Agree with Teresa re the Woodwose; surely there should be a Jack-in-the-Green and a Green Man in there too?

[#16 posted by kdb955 , December 29, 2008 12:43 PM]

My wife is a Lithuanian.

A Lithuanian virgin who is allergic to dish soap.