A tale of the forgotten Santa. Santa Clown delivered his gifts with a joke and a laugh until one Christmas Eve he disappeared into the night and was replaced by his brother Santa Claus. Santa Clown was forgotten, lost in the mists of old Christmas's. Now there is trouble in Santa's Workshop! Saboteurs are wrecking the production lines and demanding the return of the Forgotten One; "Shoot Santa Claus down, Bring back the Santa Clown". Mr Drole, the long suffering Head Troll, is trying desperately to meet the Christmas Eve deadline whilst hunting the trouble-makers and sorting out his messed up love life; can the gifts be delivered as usual or is this the Christmas when it all falls part? Whatever happens, Christmas will never be the same again. A searing Christian-Marxist fantasy analyzing rampant Christmas commercialism, a critique of unsustainable models of growth and delivery and a warning against intra-species relations or just a very silly story about Elves?

Much of the modern-day vision of Santa Claus is owed to the Clement Moore poem "The Night Before Christmas." His description of Saint Nicholas personified the "jolly old elf" known to millions of children throughout the world. However, far from being the offshoot of Saint Nicholas of Turkey, Santa Claus is the last of a long line of what scholars call "Wild Men" who were worshipped in ancient European fertility rites and came to America through Pennsylvania's Germans. This pagan creature is described from prehistoric times through his various forms--Robin Hood, The Fool, Harlequin, Satan and Robin Goodfellow--into today's carnival and Christmas scenes. In this thoroughly researched work, the origins of Santa Claus are found to stretch back over 50,000 years, jolting the foundation of Christian myths about the jolly old elf.

This is a comprehensive history of the world's midwinter gift-givers, showcasing the extreme diversity in their depictions as well as the many traits and functions these characters share. It tracks the evolution of these figures from the tribal priests who presided over winter solstice celebrations thousands of years before the birth of Christ, to Christian notables like St. Martin and St. Nicholas, to a variety of secular figures who emerged throughout Europe following the Protestant Reformation. Finally, it explains how the popularity of a poem about a "miniature sleigh" and "eight tiny reindeer" helped consolidate the diverse European gift-givers into an enduring tradition in which American children awake early on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought. Although the names, appearance, attire and gift-giving practices of the world's winter solstice gift-givers differ greatly, they are all recognizable as Santa, the personification of the Christmas and Midwinter festivals. Despite efforts to eliminate him by groups as diverse as the Puritans of seventeenth century New England, the Communist Party of the twentieth century Soviet Union and the government of Nazi Germany, Santa has survived and prospered, becoming one of the best known and most beloved figures in the world.

Best: Santa Claus Frolics: a one-of-a-kind retelling of hilarious performances by a very entertaining Santa. Schmalz has been a humorous professional Santa for eighteen holiday seasons. Best: Santa Claus Frolics recounts the many hysterical encounters he had with young and old alike. The result is an warm compilation of Santa encounters with children as well as adults. Great holiday reading with humor that will last through out the year. An easily read and gratifying book. As heartwarming as it is witty. Schmalzs' literary style will bring you emotionally into each holiday encounter. The retelling of poignant visits with children will help you reconnect with your own warm childhood memories. Destined to become a holiday classic, Best: Santa Claus Frolics is a wonderful stocking stuffer. But funny enough to enjoy all year long. Connect with Schmalz at [email protected].

Todd Canton has made it his mission to bring laughter to others as a comedian and a clown—but his life hasn’t always been full of joy. After losing his father at the tender age of eleven, his mother’s strength and his own humour were what got him through. He learned that when you face life’s hardships with a smile, you often win. In From a Clown’s Heart, Canton shares his insights and reflections through a creative narrative spanning many years, and many personal stories. In a world that is often full of challenges and unforeseen problems, Canton’s stories urge people to never give up—there are always better days ahead. So pick up this book and travel back through the years to his childhood, through happy and sad times, and hopefully you will find yourself somewhere between the pages.