This calendar was created together with the children. But as always — the future was once again in the hands of the young!
The flood of advertisements pouring through the mailbox served as inspiration.
And this was still fifteen years before today’s frenzy of over-the-top consumer madness…
Once again, an educational angle slipped into the calendar—perhaps a side effect of my teacher identity at the time.
"Clonk", makes the maibox noise, |
There’s just one book and that just might When crying starts, in comes the mother: “When one is reading, waits the other!” “Mommy, look, it has pink fur, when you pet, it starts to pur!” |
No interest raises Donald Duck “Look at this doll, he can even swim, oh mama, could I not have him? Will Santa bring these”, children mourn, “our other toys are old and worn.” |
Where are
the kids, why don’t they play, It is this dress, it’s way too long, or is there something else that’s wrong? There is something strange about, we need to go and find it out. |
Quietly they closer sneak, “What is it that they’re so keen it looks like a magazine. Or maybe it’s a Christmas book we need to take a closer look.” |
Horrified
they scroll through pages, These cool dolls have fine new things, magic wands and diamond rings. All that’s here is new and better, let’s get all the toys together! |
In the nursery cabinet the toys all meet, “It’s the Santa that brings new toys, to all the girls and all the boys. If we stop Santa and the elves, we can keep our places on the shelves.” |
There is no
choice, we need to travel, The bravest creatures pack their bags, on the shoulder throw the sacks. Off to see the Lapland moon, “We are stopping Santa soon!” |
Which
transportation is the better, “My motorbike is quick and fast, let’s go with that, we’ll have a blast!” Our train does not slide off the roads, yet car is best of transport modes.” |
| Who is best
to drive around, get us
there, safe and sound? in traffic does not hesitate. I know, let us choose the toad, he will best stay on the road. |
But on the
road, it’s rather scaring, Thousand miles we’ve driven forth, by the time we reach the North. How to travel with no pain? Let us take the express train! |
”Rovaniemi”,
speakers voice, Did anybody bring the map, there it is on Barbie’s lap. Polar Cicle, it is here, we may even see reindeer! |
All around there’s snow and frost, It’s hard to see in heavy blizzard, to save us here we need a wizard! On icy road car slides and slips in the ditch it over tips. |
Oh my, oh my, we are in trouble, All is quiet on arctic hills, the toys are getting shivers, chills. But what’s the sound there far away, it’s as there are some kids at play… |
The little elves dig car from snow, “Some kids lost these on a holiday, By now they must be far away. Mrs Santa, please, don’t think twice: can we fix it neat and nice? |
New friends and new life awaits, Different owners, different game, away from home is not the same. Even if they us adore, let’s finish what we came here for. |
The Santa must be stopped at all cost, Someone gets it in his head, Can we stop Santa’s sled? If we snow pile up high, Reindeer can not pass it by. |
All night
long they work and slave, At dawn they notice, it’s no use, when Santa lets his reindeer loose, Rudolf’s crew has special features, little snow don’t hold these creatures. |
But what if
Santa lost direction, The build a fire rather big, that creates smoke, dark and thick. Soon the wind blows, clears the air, leaves the toys in more despair. |
In the
meantime, far down South, Our doll and turtle we have lost, the bestest toys we love the most. These modern toys are not adoring, they lack spirit, they are boring. |
I doubt
that we can be helped by an elf, Santa looks at them quite amazed, how did these toys get so displaced? Santa’s surprise is even more explicit, when they tell the reason for their visit. |
Santa
listens in dismay: All you need is a little healing, to make you look more appealing. We’ll fix you up, good as new, on Christmas you join Santa’s crew!” |
The doll
gets hairdo and fine dress, Turtle’s new wheels smoothly roll, operate on remote control. The mellow mood to joyful shifts, when elves wrap toys as Christmas gifts. |
On
Christmas Santa brings toys back, There are many cries of joy, as each finds again their favourite toy. “This is by far the best Christmas eve, we will never let you leave!” |