While we watch the calendar counting down the days to what many refer to as the biggest day of the year, consider Christmas was once illegal.

     And, the institution that instituted the day outlawed it. Well, one faction at least.

     In 1647, backed by a Puritan-backed Parliament, Christmas was outlawed. The Church of England did so citing the high holy day was pagan propaganda propagated by the Catholic Church.

     Parliament would finally reinstate Christmas by 1660.

    The decree would migrate to America in 1659 and last till 1681, mostly in Massachusetts.

    Christmas would continue unfettered until 1969 when Cuba declared it illegal until 1998.

     So, join Wolverine with a “Bah Humbub” in remembrance of a time when religious beliefs came before commercialism.

We’ve already explored the legend of St. Nicholas’ generosity while relating the history of hanging stockings. That same penchant for giving relates to Santa Claus’ sack.

The fourth-century bishop is said to have carried a bag with filled with apples and other snacks he would give to the needy.

The 1823 Night Before Christmas poem built on the legend. But, now it was filled with presents.

Santa’s sack is said to use elfin magic enabling it to hold an infinite number of presents allowing the big guy to take care of his yearly trip without returning home for refills.

Even Tony Stark’s tech can’t equal the magic of Santa, but it doesn’t mean he can’t try.

A fir tree symbolizes the season and holiday in a way no other totem can. We’ve looked in wonder, put out presents under it and sang songs in honor of the Christmas tree.

Origins began with just branches to give hope and remind spring would return during the long, cold nights of winter solstice.

In the eighth century, German missionary St. Boniface began to cite it as a symbol of Christ’s eternal life. In doing so, it became a Christian artifact for the season.

The legend was further embedded in religious tradition through a story in which a family helps the Christ child. In turn, Jesus grows a tree from a fir branch bearing golden apples and silver nuts. The lesson demonstrates helping others honors Christ.

A starry night is credited with inspiring Martin Luther to add candles to the tree. This symbolized the divine light.

The tree and lights immigrated to the New World with the Germans. So did adorning the tree with fruit and other foods.

Of course the humble beginnings morphed into what we celebrate today.

The uglier the better. The more spirit it shows, the more fun it symbolizes.

Ugly Christmas sweaters began as an accompaniment to entertainers like Pat Boone, Andy Williams and Bing Crosby as we invited them into our homes during early televised holiday specials.

They would be adorned with festive bells to compliment reindeer and Yule tide trees that decorated the woolen eyesores.

As the 1950s became the turbulent 60s and Me decade that followed and fashion mirrored the technicolor now invading living rooms via the cathode ray tube, so did the sweaters.

By the 1980s, these same festive fashions were revealed for what they truly were: gaudy accessories. Maybe 1989’s Christmas Vacation outed the long held secret.

With the new millennium came a honesty. Wearers admitted these abominations were just that and reveled in the truth. Ugly Christmas Sweater parties were hosted and prizes awarded to the crowd favorite.

Join Thanos in the fad cum tradition.

Yesterday the Hulk helped explain the tradition of hanging stockings on the fireplace, Today his cousin, She-Hulk, will explain how elves came to work for Santa.

These diminutive helpers began as a hearty and beefy lot of Germanic and Norwegian heritage. Later they were wed with European sprites or gnomes who offered help to farmers.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas introduced elves into Victorian folklore by describing Santa as one. Later, Harper’s Ferry featured a poem, The Wonders of Santa, that mentioned elves helping the fat one that continued to build on the myth.

Not Spock ears

In 1873 Santa was portrayed surrounded by elves on the Christmas cover of Godey’s Lady’s Book which offered an early visualization.

By the 20th century, the concept was cemented enough main stream artists like Norman Rockwell and others put brush and oil to canvas to further the legend. Today the belief is almost fact

Hanging stockings by the fireplace is a story that has evolved over centuries until, now, a jolly fat man puts presents in them each Christmas Eve.

Based on the generosity of real life St. Nicholas, the tradition allegedly began in the fourth century. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, was a Turk of some wealth. Legend has it he would gift the needy, not just one night a year, but when needed.

How, then, did this transfer into stockings by the hearth?

The story has St. Nicholas helping a man of little means with three daughters who he had no dowry for. The tradition of the times dictated to be married, women must enter the marriage with something of value.

So the daughters could marry, Nicholas was to have dropped gold coins down the chimney. The coins supposedly landed in stockings and so began the tradition.

Join Hulk as he perpetuates the legend.

Deadpool makes with a beefcake pose as he sports his green cap and usual red togs making with the Christmas colors.

Of all the hues in the color spectrum, only a few symbolize the holiday and only two are unmistakably Christmas.

Red and green date back to pre-Christmas and solstice. Celtics believed holly wreaths brought prosperity and good fortune. The colors continued even after the plants became nostalgia.

For the believer, the wreath became symbolic of the “crown” of thorns forced on Christ’s head prior to his crucifixion. The red symbolized the blood spilt.

In the 1930’s, the Coca-Cola company commissioned Michigan-born artist Haddon Sundblom to create a (then) modern Santa Claus. His red suit mirrored the Coke can while green lettering spelled out ad copy.

In addition to red and green are gold, blue and white. Gold represents the gift to the Christ child, blue Mother Mary’s robes and white the purity of Christ.

Let’s have a little Funko fun for the holidays this year. Presented for your gratification are an advent calendar of holiday themed heroes designed to inspire some Christmas cheer.

Kicking off the season is Captain America bundled up to ward off the deep freeze that has settled across much of the United States east of the Mississippi.

Brrrr.

Though the day dawns bright, it will quickly surrender to the darkness that blankets us earlier and earlier with the passing of each day. Soon, it will be Winter and time for other holidays, but there’s time enough for that.

Today is October 31. Today is Halloween. Tonight the Witching Hour will chime before midnight as young and old disguise themselves in horror and spectacle. Some for candy, some for their own amusement.

Just enjoy what comes and allow our host, the King of Vampires, to begin they day.

Tomb of Dracula 41

Still recovering from a bigger dread than any of the serialized monsters of old that would populate Marvel’s own magazines, the company moved from under the shadow of the Comic Code. First, in black and white magazines outside the authority of the Authority. Then, as the CCA’s hold weakened, into the pages of the four-color books it once neutered.

Werewolf by Night first howled in defiance under the banner of Marvel Spotlight issue two. Jack Russell would wolf out for three tryout issues before moving to his own title, but it was Tomb of Dracula that would outlast the full moon curse.

He would extend his stay on the spin rack for 70 issues; the longest tenure of any villain from any comic book company. Longer Than Dr. Frankenstein’s namesake – he only saw print for 15 issues.

Longer than The Living Mummy who remained a staple of Tales of Suspense, never earning his own title.

Dracula’s original story at the House of Ideas has been told many times. In a quick recap, the Lord of Vampires stumbled for several issues until Marv Wolfman began to shepherd his way with issue seven.

Gene Colan drew every issue of the main title. The journeyman penciler did break rank for a few issues midway through the book’s run, but quickly returned. Colan’s penchant for working several issues ahead allowed him to retire and unretire from the title without anyone outside the comic book field knowing.

For most of the decade the book remained within its gothic universe with the exception of guest star the Silver Surfer intruding for issue 50. Dracula ventured into the main stream Marvel Universe a few times; guesting in Giant-Size Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and the Uncanny X-Men.

Maybe his oddest cameo was in the Howard the Duck Magazine issue five.

While dated, the books still read well. To pay homage to the title here is the cover of issue 41, a true Halloween tale to celebrate the final day of October.

Enjoy and be safe.

Marvel was branding in the 1960s.

Daredevil, Red Skull, Cap, Mr. Fantastic. And that’s just Halloween costumes.

So far we’ve looked at Daredevil and Red Skull. Today, let’s explore the supernatural with Master of the Mystic Arts.

Ben Cooper Doctor Strange

Created by Steve Ditko, Doctor Strange made his comic book debut in Strange Tales 110. Sharing the book with the Human Torch, Strange and the flaming teenager would alternate top billing each month. His origin wasn’t revealed until issue 115. Acting as the script writer using plots by Ditko, Stan Lee based Strange on the 1930’s Chanda the Magician radio show.

With a new distribution deal, Marvel was allowed to publish more books. That allowed Strange to take over the whole book with issue 169. His solo exploits ran to issue 183. He would go on hiatus until 1971 in Marvel Feature with a three-issue story arc.

He would next be featured in Marvel Premiere in issues three through 14.

Strange’s popularity grew to allow him his own title, Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts, that ran 81 issues. Cancellation of that book led to a second volume of Strange Tales shared with newcomers Cloak and Dagger.

The good Doctor would earn his own self-titled book in 1988 with Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme. It would be lumped in with Marvel’s Midnight Sons family of supernatural books. Following that, Strange would again guest-star in one-shots and limited series and served in supporting roles for the beginning of the new millennium. By 2010, he would be part of The New Avengers.

As with most heroes, Strange would have to suffer his own death only to be brought back in dramatic fashion.

Of course, he would later be launched into the MCU with his own feature film.

So, don’t be too harsh judging this early cosplay, what do you expect for a couple bucks?