Tag Archives: Santa

Way back when, Wednesdays

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Santa loves his hock

We all know that Santa drinks more than a few glasses of port, beer and other beverages that have been left for him, when making his special deliveries around the world.  But did you know that Santa also enjoys drinking hock?  The Australasian newspaper printed this advertisement for Seppelts Great Western Sparkling Hock, featuring a not-so-jolly looking Santa (his expression is rather disquieting) dressed in a hooded robe, on 14 December, 1929.  So what exactly is hock?

Santa and his hock

Hock wine is derived from the name of the town located in the German wine region of the Rheinegau (Rhine district).  During the 15th century, Hochheim am Main became a major producer and exporter of white wine.  The trade grew when Britain brought over members of the German Protestant aristocracy to join their royal family.  George I, George II, and George III of the House of Hanover, Prince Albert and Queen Victoria of the House of Saxe-Coburg  and Gotha, were German born or of German heritage.  When Queen Victoria visited Hochheim and its vineyards during the grape harvest of 1850, wines from this region would probably have become more popular.

In Britain the English called Hochheimer wine ‘hockamer’ or ‘hockamore’, which in the common speech then became hogmar, then eventually hock!  At first hock referred only to white wine from the Rhine region, usually Riesling.  By the 19th century, any white wine imported from Germany became known as hock.  Initially German wines were expensive and considered even more prestigious than those from the French wine regions of Burgandy and Bordeaux.  What was once a quality import eventually gave way to transports of cheap inferior wine, which of course, sold widely.

If you have ever eaten wine gums manufactured by the Waterbridge company in England, you might have noticed that one of the sweets is even stamped with the flavour Hock!  White wine was also an ingredient used in the old fashioned Australian drink ‘hock, lime and lemon’.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hock_(wine)

http://www.drinkingwinewithfriends.com/?p=563

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Way back when, Wednesday

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Entrepreneurial Elf

Have you ever wondered what the elves do with themselves in the off-season, when they are not employed in Santa’s workshop? In the 2005 picture book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol Aebersold, Chanda Bell and Coë Steinwart, the elves visit peoples’ houses. Once adopted, they watch vigilantly to see if children have been naughty or nice, then make a report to Santa.

 

111214-elf1

The Elf on the Shelf.  Reserve this book through the Library’s online catalogue

 

Perhaps a more commercially minded member of the fairy folk may have swapped the elven tunic, leggings and shoes with curled up toes for a suit and tie, then set up his own small business in Adelaide. The North East Leader, a Messenger Newspaper printed this advertisement for real estate agent Ernie D. Elf on page 25 of the edition dated 4 July 1973.

 

ernie elf real estate

If Ernie Elf sold your house or you bought a property through him, please let us know about your experience. Ernie Elf certainly looks like his name. Notice how his chin-length, Seventies style hair could hide a pair of pointed ears!

Elf real estate no longer operates at 598 North East Road, Holden Hill, this is now the site of a Caltex service station. What happened to Ernie? Although Elf Realty is listed in Queensland, Ernie is not listed as an agent. Maybe Ernie joined another firm or eventually retired.

Thank you for reading ‘Way back when, Wednesday’ this year, best wishes for a Merry Christmas!

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