A Blessed Holiday

Since the word "holiday" is a corruption of "holy day", I have no trouble wishing people a Happy Holiday. To me, it means I hope for you that whatever day you consider holy, it will be happy and blessed for you.

So, Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, a blessed season, to all of you!


Today is:

A'phabet Day (a/k/a No "L" Day!)

Blessed are the Peacemaker's Day

Carol Day

Children's Day, Congo

Christmas Day

Family Day, Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, and Sao Tome & Principe

National Pumpkin Pie Day

St. Eugenia's Day


Birthdays Today

Dido, 1971
Rickey Henderson, 1958
Shane MacGowan, 1957
Annie Lennox, 1954
Ron Foos, 1949
Sissy Spacek, 1949
Barbara Mandrell, 1948
Jimmy Buffett, 1946
Gary Sandy, 1945
Carlos Castaneda, 1925
Rod Serling, 1924
Anwar Sadat, 1918
Cab Calloway, 1907
Humphrey Bogart, 1899
Robert Ripley, 1893
Conrad Hilton, 1887
Clara Barton, 1821
Isaac Newton, 1642
Traditional Birthday of Jesus
Traditional Birthday of Mithras
Traditional Birthday of Sol


Today in History:

The first Christmas, according to calendar maker Dionysus Exiguus, 1
The earliest possible date that Christmas was celebrated on the 25th, 337
The first definite date that Christmas was celebrated on the 25th, 352
William I, Conqueror, crowned king of England, 1066
Boudouin I of Boulogne crowned king of Jerusalem, 1100
St Francis of Assisi assembles the first Nativity scene, in Greccio, Italy, 1223
The city of Natal, Brazil is founded., 1599
Gov William Bradford of Plymouth forbids game playing on Christmas, 1621
The Massachusetts General Court ordered a fine of five shillings for "observing any such day as Christmas", 1651
Handel's Messiah has its US premieres in Boston, 1818
Louisiana & Arkansas are the first US states to observe Christmas as holiday, 1831
Despite bitter opposition, Pres Andrew Johnson grants unconditional pardon to all persons involved in Southern rebellion (a/k/a the Civil War, or, tongue planted firmly in cheek, that recent unpleasantness between the States), 1868
The legendary/unofficial "Christmas Truce" takes place between the British & Germans, 1914
Montgomery Ward introduces Rudolph the 9th reindeer, 1939