By Randy A. Salas
Star Tribune

You've heard of the 12 days of Christmas. Now check out the 12 clips of YouTube.

You know Rudolph and Frosty and Santa and Snoopy. But do you recall Frodo the Burping Christmas Dog? Or Paramus' potty-mouth tree salesman? Or HanuRamaKwanzMas? They're all part of the many off-kilter seasonal video clips available online. Sure, you can watch "The Little Drummer Boy,"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" or some other holiday special for the umpteenth time on TV starting this week. Or you can check out these 12 clips of YouTube (www.youtube.com), some of them even from Minnesota.

"Frodo the Burping Christmas Dog"

Duration: 0:47

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care for this family's Christmas video message. The family dog, Frodo, had just taken his place as a faux Rudolph for the recording session when _ braaap! _ the Cockapoo's impromptu belch added much merriment to the proceedings. Someone obviously spiked the punch in Frodo's dog bowl.

"Dog Opens Christmas Gifts"

Duration: 3:28

Sadie the Lab is much more helpful than Frodo. The canine resident of Moorhead, Minn., has a knack for tearing off the wrapping paper from Christmas gifts, a talent her family discovered last year. It helps if the presents are for the dog. "I think when she learned that there were dog toys inside, she continued to tear off the paper to see what was coming next," owner Tom Frost said.

"The Christmas Tree"

Duration: 1:40

One YouTube user said you have to live in the NewYork-New Jersey area to get this clip, in which a guy in drag impersonates a "mom and her Christmas tree." I disagree. It gets funnier every time I watch it, as the mom's every spoken line concerns the annual tree _ getting it, lighting it, admiring it, flaunting it, maintaining it, photographing it and, ultimately, getting rid of it. "I loved that tree," she laments as the garbage truck leaves. "It was a good tree." Indeed. (Note: mild profanity.)

"Let Me Out!"

Duration: 6:49

Christmas Day 2000 became a little more memorable for 3-year-old Danny McGraw, who got his head caught between the bars of a gate inside his White Bear Lake home. It's a good old time for everyone, as family members are urged to come see the sight and camera flashes go off. "Put some Vaseline around his head!" "We need some butter!" "How 'bout we squeeze his head?" Even though his whimpers eventually turn to screams, everything comes out fine in the end _ and an unforgettable YouTube clip was born for proud papa William McGraw.

"Lazy Tuesday, I Love a Piano Style"

Duration: 4:23

The cast from last year's production of "White Christmas" at St. Paul's Ordway Center lampoons the "Saturday Night Live" rap "Lazy Sunday" in this fun, professionally produced clip. It's a blast seeing all the sights from St. Paul, with a side trip to get a coat at the Mall of America, where the "selection is delightful." (Note: mild profanity.)

"Christmas Story Recut"

Duration: 1:13

Is it possible to make the timeless holiday classic "A Christmas Story," in which little Ralphie pines for a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun, seem like a horror movie? You betcha. "What's inside the box?" Mwoo-ha-hah!

"Hey Ya! Charlie Brown Style"

Duration: 4:06

In another case of remix shenanigans, Venis Productions deftly edits scenes from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to match the Outkast song "Hey Ya!" Brilliant!

"Winter Wonderland"

Duration: 1:36

The weather outside isn't as frightful as the language of this foul-mouthed Christmas tree salesman from Paramus, N.J. He wants to sell you an evergreen gem from his lot in the corner of an Ikea parking lot, and he'll cut down a bleeping rain forest to do it. Is it wrong to laugh at an ornament showing Santa discreetly breast-feeding a baby at Starbucks? Or a manger scene that includes Mr. Potato Trooper? See for yourself. (Note: major profanity.)

"Funny Chanukah-Hanukkah Video"

Duration: 2:14

Gentle humor abounds in this worthy clip from www. chanukah.org in which puppets explain why they love Hanukkah. There's even a talking gefilte fish: "I guess many people don't realize that gefilte fishes aren't just ground-up processed fish: We're ground-up processed fish with feelings! OK?"

"Funny Christmas Carols"

Duration: 9:11

Young Nicole and John will now entertain you with some Christmas songs. Well, except John's too young to read the words. "Come on _ sing!" the off-camera father urges. "Don't tell me _ I don't know it!" John replies. The clip is way too long, but little John has clearly loaded up on caffeine to get himself through it.

"Ask a Ninja, Question 2, 'Ninja Santa'"

Duration: 1:35

Do ninjas celebrate Christmas? Of course they do, says the star of this offbeat Web series. In fact, Santa Claus is a great ninja who has been celebrating Christmas _ get this _ for 4,000 years. "Who else could travel the world in one night and sneak into that many houses? Only a ninja." You don't want to know why Santa's suit is red, though.

"Happy HanuRamaKwanzMas!"

Duration: 2:19

Comedian Dan Wolfe comes up with the answer for the overly sensitive political correctness of this "confusing time of year" with a song (sung to the tune of "Holly Jolly Christmas") that celebrates Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa and Christmas all at once. But note, as the song points out, that even singing "Happy HanuRamaKwanzMas" still won't keep you safe ... from the ACLU." Happy, er, holidays?