I was browsing a chapter in a reference book about how various cultures get high. Most of the methods, regardless of location, involved hours of chewing leaves or various other plant parts,nothing really new or unusual about that. Then I found mention of a Siberian mushroom called fly agaric,it was described as a red and white mushroom and reminded me of what I know as an Amanita,as it turned out they are one in the same. Most amateur mushroom pickers know Amanitas as a poisonous variety and leave them alone,but in other cultures it has been used for ceremonies and getting high. Okay,here comes the Santa part...picture if you will a group of Siberians' roaring drunk (they also make a drink from the mushrooms) and in their drunken/high state they notice the reindeer/caribou hunting and eating the same mushrooms. With that mental picture firmly in place all you need is one of the men to be fat ,bearded and have a sleigh to hitch the "flying" reindeer too! It seems like a more likely scenario than most of the Santa stories,and it is based on facts.
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