Fun Facts

[little2add]

The word “holiday” comes from “Holy Day,” a single day set aside to celebrate some religious event.
Holiday is a compound stemming from the words holy and day.

So, all you people who say “happy holidays “instead of “merry Christmas”, in fear of being offensive are technically missing the mark. 

BE NOT AFRAID 

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by little2add

[dUSt]

 

[Nunsuch]

1 hour ago, little2add said:

The word “holiday” comes from “Holy Day,” a single day set aside to celebrate some religious event.
Holiday is a compound stemming from the words holy and day.

So, all you people who say “happy holidays “instead of “merry Christmas”, in fear of being offensive are technically missing the mark. 

BE NOT AFRAID 

 

Of course, not only Christians celebrate Holy Days--so do Jews and others. That is why the term is inclusive.

[little2add]

Rudolph the Reindeer is female. 

This can be observed through their antlers. Female deer shed their antlers in the spring and grow them back into full size by winter. The male reindeer stops its growth during the winter.

[dUSt]

3 hours ago, little2add said:

Rudolph the Reindeer is female. 

This can be observed through their antlers. Female deer shed their antlers in the spring and grow them back into full size by winter. The male reindeer stops its growth during the winter.

Wait. Reindeer are real?

[Didacus]

[little2add]

8 hours ago, dUSt said:

Wait. Reindeer are real?

they are

Caribou, also called reindeer, are found in northern regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and Greenland. 
 

 

[Hna.Caridad]

3 hours ago, Didacus said:

From what little2add wrote, it sounds like Rolanda might have changed their name to Rudolph.  Better get Moms For Liberty on the case--this show definitely needs to be canceled and every book referencing Rudolph pulled from the libraries. 

[dUSt]

3 hours ago, little2add said:

they are

Caribou, also called reindeer, are found in northern regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and Greenland. 
 

 

Like this could actually ever been proven.

[Ash Wednesday]

Here in the secular UK, most people wish each other a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Christmas" and even people of other religions will say it to people they work with that celebrate Christmas. It's generally accepted as an expression of good will. I've never met anyone genuinely offended by it, but in an odd way if someone is actually stamping their foot about it, they are acknowledging that it's not just a secular holiday and keeping the spiritual meaning in the conversation. So to that I say... Merry Christmas. 

Edited December 18, 2023 by Ash Wednesday

[little2add]

For real 

https://blog.nature.org/2019/12/16/real-reindeer-are-more-amazing-than-you-ever-imagined/

[little2add]

 Most reindeer in Eurasia are domestic, where they have been herded for at least 2,000 years.  When Jesus Christ walked the Earth.

[little2add]

Why Do We Eat Ham at Christmas?

it’s said to have its roots in ancient pagan ritual. Supposedly, the tradition started with the Germans, who wanted to appease the god, Freyr.  

He was the god of fertility, harvest, and boars.

 Paganism also offered many traditions for Christianity, including Christmas trees.  And so, the tradition of the Christmas ham was born.  When pagans were converted to Christianity, the porcine meal became linked to St. Stephen, whose feast day is December 26th.

in Charles Dickens, " A Christmas Carol" the Christmas meal was 

A roasted goose stuffed to bursting, mashed potatoes, gravy, applesauce, and of course plum pudding

“God bless us every one”

Tiny Tim

[little2add]

BTW; were having our Christmas Ham, tonight because my son and his family had other commitments on Christmas.  planning a big spread: mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, italian stuffed peppers and a few other specialty dishes.  Tapped off with homemade apple cranberry pie for dessert.

yum!

[little2add]

January 6 is Epiphany. 
According to the New Testament’s Gospels, on this date, the Magi—the three wise men or kings—venerated and brought gifts to the infant Jesus. 

Epiphany, which is also known as Three Kings Day, is celebrated on this date. 

[Didacus]

Indeed - Jan 6th always marked for us the unnoficial 'end' of the holiday season.

[little2add]

St. Patrick was not born in Ireland, but rather he was born in Roman Britain in 387 AD.

St. Patrick was captured by Irish pirates around the age of 16 and enslaved by Irish pagans to Ireland.  He  lived there for six years as an animal herder before escaping and returning to his family.

 

Edited March 16, 2024 by little2add

[little2add]

 

17 Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah[d] of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothersare and bring back some assurance[e] from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

 

 

[little2add]

 

[Norseman82]