Christmas
Christmas is a popular real-world holiday that has appeared several times in theSuper Mario franchise, often as the subject of an episode's plot.
Description[edit]
The celebration of Christmas often happens weeks in advance of the actual holiday, with the day before Christmas,Christmas Eve, being a potent moment of anticipation for many children. The climax of the holiday happens every year on December 25th, whereSanta Claus is said to leavehis workshop and fly across the world to bring presents to good children, and coal to bad children. While this is a fictional performance in real life, with parents often pretending to be Santa bringing presents while their children sleep, Santa's existence is confirmed in many pieces ofMario media, with him often showing up in person to deliver presents or needing help from the protagonists to foil plots to ruin Christmas.
The "spirit of Christmas" is often said to consist of embracing generosity and a love for family and friends. Selfish and greedy behavior is often considered against the spirit of Christmas. For example,Mario,Luigi, andPrincess Toadstool criticizeToad's selfish behavior such as preferring to save the presents instead of Santa's life in in "Koopa Klaus", and theGhosts of Christmas appear to Wario in "Warios Weihnachtsmärchen" when he . Villainous characters often take pleasure in spoiling the holiday for others, such asKing Koopa wanting to useIce Bombs to freezeSanta's workshop so that he and theelves cannot deliver presents to the children of the world in "Koopa Klaus", or stealing theCave People's presents to give tohis own children in "The Night Before Cave Christmas".
Appearances[edit]
Saturday Supercade[edit]
In theSaturday Supercade episode "A Christmas Story",Buzz and Waldo steal a toy-making machine fromMr. Anderson'stoy shop after hearing a rumor that Mr. Anderson is one ofSanta Claus' assistants in toy-making.Donkey Kong Jr. andBones Bailey rescue the machine and save the crooks' lives after an escape attempt gone awry, redeeming them. Buzz and Waldo then help Donkey Kong Jr., Bones, and Mr. Anderson wrap presents for Santa to pick up.
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show![edit]
Koopa Klaus[edit]
TheThe Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode "Koopa Klaus" takes place on Christmas Eve, withToad diverting a planned trip to Hawaii Land so that he can visitSanta's workshop.King Koopa tries to ruin the holiday by freezing Santa's workshop so thatSanta and hiselves cannot deliver the presents. Toad gets criticized byMario,Luigi, andPrincess Toadstool for his selfish behavior that displays a lack of the spirit of Christmas, including the inciting diversion, not telling Princess Toadstool thank you for his early Christmas present of a snowboard, worrying about his snowboard getting damaged by the Ice Bombs instead of his friends, and considering it more important to rescue the presents than Santa himself. However, Toad comes around at the end of the episode when it seems that the occasion for giving is lost because Santa's workshop is still frozen and he cannot deliver the presents. Toad gives Santa his snowboard so that at least one person can have recieved a Christmas present; this warm display of the spirit of Christmas melts the ice around the workshop and saves the holiday.
Santa Claus is Coming to Flatbush[edit]
In the live-action segment "Santa Claus is Coming to Flatbush",a stranger identifying himself as "Nick" requests the hospitality of the Mario brothers on Christmas Eve due to his "transportation" being stolen.Mario andLuigi, not having the heart to turn down someone in need on the occasion, invite him intoMario Brothers Plumbing and give him their meals and presents, with Nick remarking that he's glad to be the one receiving presents on Christmas for once. Once the brothers go to sleep and wake up on Christmas morning, they discover that Santa has given them replacement presents.
Super Mario World television series[edit]
The Night Before Cave Christmas[edit]
In theSuper Mario World episode "The Night Before Cave Christmas",Mario is inspired to bring Christmas toDinosaur World by theCave People andYoshi displaying a lack of brotherhood and generosity. Despite it being August, Mario is undeterred, because the Cave People's lack of knowledge means that they won't know better. He decoratesDome City with Christmas trees and candy canes.Oogtar tries to steal the presents from Mario's toy workshop, but is inadvertently stolen himself byKing Koopa, who wants to give the presents tohis own children. Oogtar tries to stop the theft, but is tied up above a pit with a hungry dinosaur in it, requiring Mario andYoshi to rescue both. After the rescue, Mario dresses up asSanta Claus to go deliver the presents to the Cave People. Oogtar, touched by Mario's heroism, puts his own present under Mario's tree while he delivers presents, mistakenly believing that "Santa" had forgotten to give Mario a present.
Club Nintendo[edit]
Super Mario: Die Bescherung[edit]
In the GermanClub Nintendo comic "Super Mario: Die Bescherung",Mario and his friends throw a Christmas party.Santa Claus makes a surprise appearance in person while Mario is gone, withLuigi andLink thinking that it is a trick by Mario until he returns, revealing the real presence of Santa.
Warios Weihnachtsmärchen[edit]
In "Warios Weihnachtsmärchen",Wario displays a lack of care for the sentimental aspects of Christmas, treating his customers poorly and firing his clerkBomberman fromhis bomb shop when the latter asks for some days off to celebrate the holiday at home. In retribution for Wario's selfishness, theGhosts of Christmas come to give him visions of how his selfish deeds have made people suffer throughout his life, with the Ghost of Present showing Wario that he has ruined the holiday for Bomberman by leaving him with no money to buy presents for his friends. After the fearsome experience, Wario decides to change his ways and goes toMario's Christmas party to apologize for mistreating him in school; Mario displays the spirit of Christmas and invites Wario in.
Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24[edit]
"Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24" starts with theKongs preparing to celebrate Christmas. After the Kongs save the planet Earth from aliens,Santa Claus thanks them by giving them presents.
Super Mario (Kodansha manga)[edit]
Super Mario: Wario no Mori[edit]
Super Mario: Wario no Mori is one of the few pieces ofMario-related media to refute the existence ofSanta Claus. AfterPrincess Peach tellsMario how she is looking forward to Santa delivering presents on Christmas, theMushroom King tasks him with usingMario Paint to dress himself up as Santa Claus,Yoshi up as a reindeer, and delivering presents so as to not disappoint her.
DKTV[edit]
C'est Kong[edit]
TheDKTV skit "C'est Kong" is a comedic song about Christmas, describing watchingDKTV as the equivalent to "having Christmas every day".
Kong et Court[edit]
In the first skit of "Kong et Court",Donkey Kong andDiddy Kong try to stay up all night on Christmas Eve so that they can seeSanta Claus deliver their presents on Christmas morning; they sing a song to try and stay awake, but fall asleep. Santa dropping presents on their heads on Christmas morning confirms that they missed him.
In thesecond skit,Donkey Kong andDiddy Kong are going to meetMélanie Angélie to celebrate Christmas with her.
Le gros rouge qui tache[edit]
In the skit "Le gros rouge qui tache",Donkey Kong plays the role ofSanta Claus to an ungrateful family, who chastises him for interrupting their argument when he attempts to deliver presents.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
Threetours inMario Kart Tour have introduced content that makes reference to Christmas, with several other tours rerunning the Christmas-themed content. The2019 Holiday Tour features Yoshi in a reindeer costume. The2019 Winter Tour features aSanta Claus-themed outfit forMario. The2020 Winter Tour features a Santa-themed costume forBowser, a Mrs. Claus-themed outfit forDaisy, and a Christmas-themed race track inMerry Mountain. Christmas paraphernalia is featured on Merry Mountain, such as a Christmas village, candy canes, and presents.
Similar holidays[edit]
Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights[edit]
- Main article:Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights
In theDonkey Kong Country episode "The Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights", a holiday similar to Christmas, theKongo Bongo Festival of Lights, is introduced. Like Christmas, it takes place in winter, with celebrants putting up festive, colorful lights and giving each other presents. The holiday also has a similar spirit of brotherhood, because theKongs andKremlings declare a truce for the holiday.Kaptain Skurvy andhis pirates do not respect the holiday, and steal both theCrystal Coconut and the presents. Even though Kaptain Skurvy accidentally destroys the presents,Cranky Kong still considers the holiday to be a success because everyone - including Kaptain Skurvy andKlump, who have discovered that they are long-lost brothers - still gets to spend time with their families.
Unlike most traditional celebrations of Christmas,fireworks are used to celebrate the Kongo Bongo Festival of Lights.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albanian | Krishtlindja[1] | Christmas | |
| Bulgarian | Коледа[2] Koleda | Christmas | |
| Chinese(Simplified) | 圣诞[3] Shèngdàn(Mandarin) Singdaan(Cantonese) | Christmas | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 聖誕[4] Shèngdàn(Mandarin) Singdaan(Cantonese) | Christmas | |
| Croatian | Božić[5] | Christmas | |
| French | Noël[6] | Christmas | |
| Galician | Nadal[7] | Christmas | |
| German | Weihnachten[8] | Christmas | |
| Weihnacht[8] | |||
| Greek | Χριστούγεννα[9] Christoúgenna | Christmas | |
| Italian | Natale[10] | Christmas | |
| Korean | 크리스마스[11] Keuriseumaseu | Christmas | |
| Polish | Boże Narodzenie[12] | Christmas | |
| Portuguese | Natal[13] | Christmas | |
| Romanian | Crăciun[14] | Christmas | |
| Spanish | Navidad[15] | Christmas | |
| Swedish | Jul[16] | Christmas |
References[edit]
 | Wikipedia has an article onChristmas. |
- ^Bota e Super Marios - Episoda 6 | Nata përmes Krishtlindjeve të shpellës! (Dublimi Shqip, Çufo)
- ^Super Mario Bros Super Show - 029 - Koopa Klaus (VHS G Audio)
- ^库帕克劳斯 | 兒童電子遊戲 | 兒童卡通
- ^Cover ofChāojí Mario
- ^Super Mario Bros ( 4 Kompilacija ) - Crtani Film
- ^SUPER MARIO, LA SÉRIE ANIMÉE / Le père Koopa
- ^Saturday Supercade - The Super Collection
- ^abThe Super Mario Bros Super Show! Folge 36 Der kleine Mario / Koopa Klaus
- ^Super Mario World - Episode 5 - King Scoopa Koopa Greek Audio
- ^Super Mario - Attila Natale
- ^Super Mario World Cartoon (The Night Before Cave Christmas) - Korean version
- ^Kapitan N i nowe przygody braci Mario. Odc. 9 - Dino-święta/Pieski małe dwa
- ^Ep 29 O Natal do Mario Lembranças da Infância TRECHO
- ^May 20, 2015."The Night Before Cave Christmas" dubbed in Romanian by KidsCo.Odnoklassniki (OK.ru). Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^Koopa Klaus | Dibujos Para Niños
- ^Super Mario Bros Super Show - Episode 29 - Swedish
