GA Injury Advocates - December 2021

GA Injury Advocates - December 2021

Auto Injury T R I B U N E

December 2021

The History of Old St. Nick SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

Yes, Santa Claus is real. Or at least he was, once upon a time, over 1,600 years ago.

Moore, didn’t even want the poem published under his own name, it became a hit. And while he may not have imagined all of Santa’s attributes on his own, he did popularize them — think the white beard, round stomach, rosy cheeks, and his ability to scale chimneys effortlessly. Moore even created and named the reindeer! By the late 1800s, the popular image of Santa began to standardize, and he appeared regularly in magazines; Santa was even used to boost troop morale during the Civil War. But there was no going back after the early 1920s when Coca-Cola adopted Santa as their own and began including him in their annual Christmas advertising. They strove to make Santa more approachable and appealing to children, and when you close your eyes and think of Santa, you probably have Coca-Cola to thank for the image. Despite the occasional variation, Santa Claus hasn’t changed much in the last 100 years. He still wears a red suit, uses a flying sleigh pulled by reindeer, and delivers presents to children on Christmas Eve. During the holiday season, he appears on every street corner, at every mall, and in every display window. But people with young children know that Santa is, above all else, an idea that brings joy and wonder every year. Anyone can be Santa; his spirit of giving lives through all of us.

St. Nicholas was born around 280 A.D. and was known for his kindness, generosity, and gift-giving. He was so revered that after his death around 343 A.D., he was celebrated annually with a holiday on Dec. 6. Many miracles were attributed to him, and he became the patron saint of many groups ranging from sailors to prisoners — but most importantly, children. From 1200 to 1500, St. Nicholas transformed into a figure who brought gifts to children on his holiday. Children were expected to say their prayers and be well-behaved to receive the gifts. But during the Protestant Reformation, the deification of St. Nicholas was discouraged, and his holiday became much less widely celebrated. Parents still wanted to give their children gifts, so Christmas became the day of presents, with baby Jesus being the magical gift-giver. Meanwhile, Christians in the Netherlands refused to give up their St. Nicholas celebrations. And when they migrated to North America, they brought St. Nick, or “Sinterklaas,” with them. (Once Americanized, of course, Sinterklaas became Santa Claus.) At the time, Christmas in America was an altogether different type of celebration. There were no magical presents, and the holiday mainly consisted of heavy drinking and outdoor parties. But several writers strove to remake the holiday into a family affair and bring back the spirit of St. Nicholas’ giving. In the first couple decades of the 1800s, the images of Santa we recognize today began to materialize.

Merry Christmas!

Most famous of all was “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” better known today as “The Night Before Christmas.” Though its author, Clement Clarke

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HOW TO DECORATE YOUR GINGERBREAD HOUSE LIKE A PRO One of the most popular holiday traditions has become making and decorating gingerbread houses. The tradition began in Germany in the early 1800s and originated from Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel.” Some shy away from the idea of making their own gingerbread house, but have no fear — if the Germans did it in the early 1800s, so can you! To simplify things, many gingerbread houses come with baked pieces and a full decorating kit. This helps you have more time for the best part: the actual decorating! Each kit usually comes with fun candy and icing, so you can make something really kick-butt for the holidays! Icing will be your best friend. Think of it as the yummy glue that holds everything together while also acting as a colorful trim for your gingerbread house. However, because it’ll keep the house from falling, be sure to use a lot! Spice drops also make for a great trim and “roofing,” just use icing to hold them in place. Alternate between colors or use a variety to make your house really pop. M&Ms are certainly a must-have for anyone decorating their gingerbread house. Not only are they delicious, but they also make cute, little accents all over the house and yard. Mini cookies of your choice may also make a deliciously good-looking roof. Try layering them up for a dimensional look! And, for extra pizazz, strategically place mini candy canes throughout the yard and on either side of the front doors and windows. If you want to get really detailed, try using actual candy bars as fire logs in the fireplace. Just be sure to store your gingerbread house in a cool area so nothing will melt! Whether you prefer a simple gingerbread house or a flashy one, any and ALL candy can be used! Get decorating and be sure to have a bite of candy along the way! CREATING A HOLIDAY MASTERPIECE

The drinks of choice for winter are usually warm and cozy — apple cider, hot chocolate, and wassail all have their place on the table. But no rule says you have to drink something hot when it’s snowy outside. In fact, a cold beverage might keep you warmer! A study from the Thermal Ergonomics Lab at the University of Ottawa found that when you drink something hot, it can cause you to sweat more and, as a result, will actually cool you off more than a cold drink! Crazy, right? Of course, you could probably reverse the heat loss by bundling up in a sweater so your sweat doesn’t evaporate. But if you’re in your warm, cozy home, why not go for a cold drink like a smoothie? You can even add some holiday cheer to your healthy(ish) treat with one of these five seasonal ingredients. 1. Peppermint — For a protein-rich smoothie that tastes like a candy cane, blitz together almond milk, yogurt, almond butter, mint leaves, ground cinnamon, and a few drops of peppermint extract. 2. Cinnamon — If you love chocolate chip cinnamon rolls, you need to try the smoothie version! Frozen bananas, coconut milk, vanilla yogurt, cacao powder (which is packed with antioxidants), vanilla extract, and cinnamon are the secrets to a healthy version of your favorite Christmas breakfast. 3. Cranberries — Cranberries are both festive and packed with vitamins and antioxidants that may help fight heart disease and cancer. To cash in on those benefits, whip up a smoothie with frozen cranberries, pear slices, goji berries, orange juice, coconut milk, and flax seeds. 4. Ginger — What screams Christmas more than gingerbread? You can make a delicious smoothie version of the cookie with rolled oats, chia seeds, yogurt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, vanilla extract, and molasses to reap the anti- inflammatory and nausea-fighting benefits of ginger. 5. Eggnog — Eggnog is far from a healthy drink, but it’s a holiday favorite! To enjoy it in a new way, blend it up with a scoop of vanilla protein powder and ice after your workout. Smoothies Aren’t Just for Summer Anymore! 5 Holiday Ingredients to Toss Into Your Blender

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NOT SO MERRY:

Drunk Driving Spikes Around Christmas

People often think of Christmas as the happiest day of the year, but it ended in tragedy for too many in 2020. Beginning at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Georgia State Patrol reported more than 250 collisions in only 72 hours. Those crashes resulted in more than 90 injuries and 20 preventable deaths. All of this loss had mostly one cause: driving while intoxicated. During the same 72-hour period, the Georgia State Patrol arrested 173 people for driving under the influence, issued 7,200 citations, and handed out 9,800 warnings. Clearly, drunk driving is an enormous problem to contend with over the holiday season — one we can’t afford to ignore.

That’s why it’s so important to have a safety plan in place for any holiday gathering that will involve alcohol. This year, decide not to drink, have a trusted designated driver, or be ready to call a ride share service when you’ve had too much. If you’re ever unsure whether you’re fit to drive, that’s your sign that you’re not — hand over the keys and step away from the car. It just might save a life. Unfortunately, even when most people drive sober, it only takes one impaired motorist to cause an accident. Last year in Brookhaven, a single drunk driver caused a five-car pileup and 12 injuries. You can’t control other people, so avoid driving at night during the holidays whenever you can. If you must venture out,

leave plenty of distance between yourself and other cars, use extra caution at intersections, and don’t hesitate to report anyone driving erratically to the police. We hope that you’ll never experience an injury or loss as the result of a drunk driver’s negligence, but if you do, the team at GA Injury Advocates can help. We know that a drunk driving accident is one of the worst things that can happen to a person, and our experienced attorneys provide skilled and compassionate representation. It’s always best to avoid a collision. But when one happens, we help get our clients the compensation they need to move forward.

CRISPY FISH WITH BROWN BUTTER SAUCE

SUDOKU

RECIPE:

Want to enjoy the decadence of the holiday season without adding too much to your waistline? Swap red meat for fish and serve this delicious, easy dish. Directions 1. In an unheated skillet, add oil. Season fish with salt and pepper, then add to skillet (skin-down).

Ingredients • 1 tbsp olive oil •

2. Heat the skillet to medium and cook for 4 minutes. With a spatula, press each fillet down, rotating between fillets every few seconds. When the skin begins to crisp, stop pressing and cook 8–10 minutes, then flip and cook for another minute. Remove the fish. 3. Wipe the skillet clean and return to medium heat. Add the butter and hazelnuts. Heat, swirling continuously, until butter foams and browns. Remove from heat. 4. Stir in lemon juice and season to taste. Pour over fish, garnish, and serve with salad.

4 5-oz Chilean sea bass or salmon fillets, skin-on Salt and pepper, to taste 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces 1/2 cup blanched hazelnuts, chopped

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2 tsp lemon juice

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Lemon wedges, for garnish

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Inside

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The Long and Jolly History of Santa

5 Key Ingredients for Delicious Holiday Smoothies

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Decorate Your Gingerbread House Like a Pro

How to Avoid a Drunk Driving Accident This Holiday Season

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Crispy Fish With Brown Butter Sauce

Holiday Attractions for the Whole Family

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JINGLE ALL THE WAY! FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY ATTRACTION S

Marietta Pilgrimage

This holiday season is here, the kids are out of school, and you’re looking to make some Christmas memories. Marietta has plenty of holiday-themed events sure to please visitors of all ages. Here are some of our favorites.

Nov. 11 to Jan. 2, and you can buy tickets at WorldOfIllumination.com/park/rockin- christmas/location-marietta-ga.

If big light displays aren’t your thing, there are still plenty of opportunities to have some festive fun. The Marietta Pilgrimage is a self-guided tour of historic homes and public buildings around Marietta Square. Each of the properties has been lovingly restored and decorated for the holiday season. Open to ages 8 and up, it’s the perfect opportunity to get some exercise and learn more about local history. The Marietta Pilgrimage runs Dec. 4 and 5, and you can get more information at MariettaPilgrimage.com. Get your family into the holiday spirit with one of these fun seasonal events. Christmas only comes once a year — it’s time to make the most of it.

Lights of Life

World of Illumination

Do you love lights but need a little extra enticement to venture out into the cold weather? Lights of Life features more than one million lights over 1.5 miles but adds additional attractions. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in pony rides and train rides, and the event boasts a petting zoo and concession stand on site. Held at Life University, Lights of Life runs from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, and you can learn more at Life.edu/lights-of-life.

World of Illumination boasts the world’s largest animated drive-thru light show, and their Rockin’ Christmas display is sure to be spectacular. Spanning a 1-mile journey, visitors will get the opportunity to view more than 250 musically themed installations with over one million lights. The light displays are dazzling and synchronized with the music, which crosses genres from modern hits to old classics. The show runs from

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