Comments on: USA & Ireland Little Differences #14: Merry Christmas

By: Daniel Edlen

Daniel Edlen — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:44:02 +0000

Dang you’re a good writer! Great post.

My dad’s always said Happy Christmas for some reason, I’m not sure. We’re from California. But it is and odd thing to say something ritually and repeatedly so that the word doesn’t mean anything anymore. I type “Peace.” at the end of every post of mine, uniquely, thinking about it every time. Making it new in each moment and retaining its meaning is a challenge, but the words deserve it.

Peace,
@vinylart

By: Lozzie

Lozzie — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:21:45 +0000

I had always assumed that the American tendency to enshrine ancient and patently outdated phrases - oh, and not to mention ideas - was something to do with their sensitivity over not having the same long cultural history as, say, Europeans. I thought this made them cling on to all kinds of anachronisms (e.g. The right to bear arms) with such fierce tenacity.

By: eolai

eolai — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:42:34 +0000

Ah but I’m not upset, Heather, I’m laughing and I don’t laugh when I’m upset.

But not being upset doesn’t stop me not being a fan of people telling me I shouldn’t use the word “happy” or telling me that there’s only one specific way to express good wishes to people for Christmas, or telling me there’s only specific colors I should use to celebrate the holiday.

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:15:19 +0000

This Really upsets you that much?

By: eolai

eolai — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:04:24 +0000

You\’re walking on thin ice Sweary. The variety is in the very, and variety is the spice girl of westlife.

By: The Swearing Lady

The Swearing Lady — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:11:18 +0000

A velly melly Christmaaaaaas
And a happy new yeeeeeear

Y’know, that Yoko wan ruined that reference for you.

By: kelly d

kelly d — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:51:43 +0000

Nollaig shona dhuit, a Eolaí.
Agus tóg go bog é.

By: eolai

eolai — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:42:17 +0000

X is the Greek letter Chi for Christ. The most famous page in the Book of Kells is arguably the Chi-Rho page, with a whopping big Celtic X dominating the whole page. That\’s the way Christ\’s name was written a long time ago.

So Xmas is genuinely legitimate and means \’Christmas\’ rather than a \’Blankmas\’ the way Malcolm X is.

By: DMC

DMC — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:29:24 +0000

In full agreement,
but what the hell was xmas.

By: Brettski

Brettski — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:23:52 +0000

Bloody brilliant.