Christmas in July & the World Santa Claus Conference in Denmark

German Santa with Pope
like hat and German Flag

Since 1957 in the middle of July, Santa Claus helpers from around the world have met up in Denmark. Thus it is official the start of the the 2011 Christmas Season. The international Congress of Santa helpers meet in Dyrehavsbakken Park, which traces its roots back to 1583. This special park is also the worlds oldest amusement park still in operation.

The flag of Denmark reflects strongest the spirit of Christmas. The colours of that of Santa's suit and the cross is strongly reflective of the Nativity. It makes no wonder, that the spirit of father Christmas is entangled with Denmark.


X-mas mail box flag from
National Lampoons X-mas

Christmas in July has several origins but one of the best reasons is that half the world is in the middle of winter. Jack Frost is hard at work down under from June to August.

Pooh Bear and Paddington posing for the California State Flag

Pooh Bear as the California Flag

Here are two more childhood bears posing for the California State Flag. Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear. Both of these magical bears were born in the United Kingdom. Winnie's first book was published in 1926 out the imagination of Alan Alexander Milne.

Coincidentally the creator of Paddington Bear - Michael Bond - was born the same year that the first Winnie the Pooh book was published, in 1926.

But it was shortly after the Korean War, that Paddington Bear left fantasia unto the real world on Christmas Eve 1956. Mr. Bond, or rather a special secret agent oh seven Bond from the UK,  bought a lonely bear on a shelf at Paddington Station in London, for his wife. So inspired by the bear, that two years later Paddington was in print. He later went on to become a cultural emissary for Great Britain.

Paddington Bear as the California Flag

Paddington Bear is of course much more popular in Great Britain, but nonetheless Paddington also has a following in the United States.

Paddington and Pooh are enchanted bears that represent more than just teddy bears. Their origins out of England during WWI and WWII are extraordinary. Their association with early childhood innocence is the hallmark of their being. These long established care bears remind us of the truly important things in life.

Care Bear & Hippie Bear Republics, styled after the California State Flag

Cheer Bear as the
California State Flag

Thirty years ago the fuzzy and cuddly Care Bears were unleashed upon America. The little fuzz puff bears have an amazing ability to send caring energy to kids and adults in need care from anyplace in the universe. No matter how bad it seems the population from Care-a-lot will send you love when you need it.


Before the Care Bears there were the Grateful Dead hippie bears. Although none of these clown like bears have names, they are coded icons associated with the band. The dancing bears apparently appear as fractal works of art into the musical void of creation...or something like that?

A Dead Head Bear on all fours
in tribute to the California State Flag

Coincidentally many of the members of the the Grateful Dead were native of the "California Republic."

An interesting difference between Care Bears and the Dancing Dead Head Bears are the shapes of their noses. Care Bear's have red noses like a heart, while Dead Head Dancing Bears have black noses like a spade. Both kinds of bears give off good vibes. The Care Bears do it openly and soberly, while the Dancing Dead Head Bears do it covertly and from altered states of consciousness.

The Yin and Yang of a Care Bear Nose vs. a Dancing Dead Head Bear Nose. Notice it's like the Suit of Hearts vs. the Suit of Spades

Care Bears Website http://www.agkidzone.com/care-bears
Grateful Dead Website http://www.dead.net/

California Republic Flag with Cartoon Bears - Smokey the Bear & Berenstain Bears

Smokey the Bear as the
California Republic Bear


Remember, only you can prevent forest fires! Don't make Somkey homeless with careless forest fires. If you do he will poop on your front yard.

Father Berestain Bear as the
California Republic Bear

Papa Barenstain Bear walking on all fours for some exercise. "Kids I'm a bear after all, we bears prefer to walk on all fours. And don't worry, I would never poop on your yard, that's just rude."

One of the Great Flag Jokes from Canada

Just so funny!

The Wilderness Explorers Flag and Signs that you're a Vexillologist

Wilderness Explorer's Flag from UP - 2009

The flag of the computer animated film Up 2009 by Disney-Pixar Studios makes an appearance near the end. It consists of white background with the Wilderness Explorers emblem - and orange disc bordered with a black circle. In the center is a green tree with three levels of branches. Centered is a yellow 'W' on the tree and a brown 'E' as the base stem.

If you act like this dog when you see a flag, then you are a vexillologist.

Send me and email or join us at our NAVA site
http://www.nava.org/

Doug the 'talking' dog explaining vexillology

The California Republic - Yogi Bear & Fozzie Bear Style

Here are two of America's most famous bears posing for the flag of California - Yogi Bear and Fozzie Bear.

Yogi Bear as the California Republic Bear

Yogi is older, and made his debut in 1958. Yogi was formed out of the imagination of Hannah & Barberra. Yogi's personality stems from the entertainment of that era. A dash of the Honeymooner's, spiked with a famous baseball legend - Yogi Berra. But Yogi's primary occupation is to steal food from unsuspecting people who visit Jellystone Park. Yogi's favorite catch phrase is that he is, "Smarter than your average Bear."

Fozzie Bear as the California Republic Bear

Fozzie Bear was born out the imagination of Frank Oz and Jim Henson in the early 1970s. Fozzie made his debut in 1974 on the Muppet Show. Fozzie coincidentally dresses like his older cousin Yogi Bear - both bears wear a hat and collar/tie. Fozzy has more blue collar edge, while Yogi matches to white collar and coincidentally wears a white collar.

Fozzie Bear is essentially Kermit's sidekick and 'brother' by some strange twist of Muppet gene splicing. Fozzie like Yogi often suffer from verbal diarrhea and tell lame brain overplayed jokes.

Other the other hand the situation is reversed with Yogi Bear. Yogi is the main star and his tag along side kick is a rather dim witted yet charmingly cute Boo Boo Bear. Yogi and Fozzie are two iconic bears from the American Imagination. They can charm children as well as adults and their off beat never give up humor is sometimes funny, if not nostalgic. "Waka, Waka, Waka"

link to Hanna-Barberra's Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna-Barbera
link to Jim Henson Studios http://henson.com/