Taking It "Light"

The strain of life in the last few months has had some effect on the preparations for the Christmas season for this blogger as well as for more than a few of his relatives and friends. The imminent approach last week of the evening before the anniversary of "our dear Saviour's birth" did however, spur activity that surprised and delighted with the expenditure of some energy and the accomplishment of some simple but gladdening tasks and activities: holiday decorations placed in and about the house and ancient family traditions observed.  The decision to join new acquaintances for Christmas caroling in the neighborhood was fun and very heartening: singing for the sake of the season and His glory, while seeking to impress no one (couldn't have if we tried).   Sharing good fellowship and creating new memories were joyous bonuses.

The jolliness includes a silliness to the season, a way of being that children love and that one can happily share with anyone: the young at heart as well as sprouts of varying stages of development and precocity.  A seven year old, for example, is old enough to delight to an ancient send-up of an even more ancient carol.  It's "We Three Kings of Orient Are" written at about the time of the Civil War.  The waggish version is as follows:


"We three kings of Orient are
  Tried to light a rubber cigar.
  It was loaded and exploded. (pause)

"We two kings of Orient are
  Tried to light a rubber cigar.
  It was loaded and exploded. (longer pause)

"I, a king of Orient am
  One more time lit that stogie and 'blam'!
  'course, 'twas loaded and exploded! (no pause)

"God rest ye merry gentlemen!"


A slight brain teaser for one and all: why are there only twenty five letters in the Christmas alphabet?  Because there's NOEL.

And don't forget the yuletide riddle: where does Santa Claus stay when he travels for his well earned post-Christmas vacation? Why, in a HO-HO-hotel, of course!

For rather bigger "tiny tots with their eyes all aglow" there's the tale of the passionate, and not necessarily winter melons.  Seems a young female melon, her fear getting the better of her ardor for her beloved and his impulsive scheme exclaimed: "Cantaloupe!"  Crestfallen and then more determined than ever, her handsome beau/gourd cried: "Oh, honeydew!!" They were reportedly last seen in a sylvan setting hands enclasped and with a certain Rev. Crenshaw extending his arm over them in a prayerful blessing.  Rumor has it that they will be honeymooning (or honeydewing) before long in beautiful, exotic Casaba.

Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th in the Roman rite of the Catholic Church.  "Little Christmas" is another name for this special day marking the visit of the Magi bearing their gifts for baby Jesus. In the Eastern or Byzantine rite (Orthodox), January 7th marks the baptism of Jesus and is generally the more significant day for the peoples of this branch of Christianity (the occasion is commonly referred to in the U.S. as Russian or Greek Christmas). With this slender segue, there is the whimsical tale of the tailor in ancient Greece and his customer who converse at the former's shop on a routine business matter. Inspecting rather badly torn trousers presented to him, Nicholas, the tailor, exclaims: "Euripides?"  Rather sheepishly Gus, the patron, confesses that "yes, I was playing ball, hit a Homer and fell while rounding the bases. I sure hope Eumenides."  "Don't you worry young fellow.  I'll fix 'em right now with my sewing machine and I'll then have those wrinkles smoothed out in a jiffy with this Electra iron.  That'll be XII drachmas." "Hey, you've got some Minerva!" cried Gus. Resigned but still annoyed he urged "Okay, but hurry up or I'll need a dime for Demeter. Old Nick reassuringly replied "Priam on, pal. You see, Medusa good job! Now you're a fashion Plato." Gus started to leave and Nick protested "Euclid at least give me a tip."

With groans aplenty ringing in this blogger's ears, he must confess "Odysseus ridiculous." But Santa, ever kind, said "Nutty's not naughty SO JUST TAKE IT LIGHT and 'A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!'"

(Greek mischief courtesy of Miss Quotidian 7, my own "Mrs. Calabash")