My niece brought up the what do you say for the holidays meme, and I found this. I can't believe we're already discussing this and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet.
Whenever I see people talking about putting the christ back in christmas, I just remind them that "Yule" is derived from the Scandinavian word for "beer". :)
Well, the real story is a bit more complicated; both "yule" and the word "öl" (beer) are most likely derived from "jól", meaning basically "party". Whether it originally referred to the drink they drank at parties or the party at which drinks were drunk is a bit fuzzy. As things involving beer should be. :)
(Incidentally, "jól" may also be the root of the English word "jolly". So now you know why Santa's nose is so red.)
That's true. I hadn't thought of it from that perspective, although it's not Chanukkah songs I'm hearing on the radio.
I was aware that Chanukkah was starting next week. I'm planning to post Barenaked Ladies' "Hanukkah Blessings" to LJ on Wednesday. I love that song. Actually I love the album it's on, Barenaked for the Holidays. ;-)
Ok so I'm Jewish but freaking love the holidays. I get really excited when my local radio station starts playing Christmas music 24/7 on Thanksgiving through December. I just love it. Absolutely love it. IT'S ALMOST TIME *cackles evilly*
I'm Pagan/agnostic but my family is Christian on both sides, and yeah, me too. I adore the holidays, although I wish the radio stations would wait until after Thanksgiving to start playing Christmas music. I feel a bit Scroogish for saying that - although I do love that movie especially the Alistair Sim version - but the weekend before Thanksgiving is just a bit too early for Christmas to start.
Having said that, I am totally excited that Whole Foods has tiny table top Christmas trees! And it's driving me nuts that I can't figure out where my advent calendars have vanished to. ;-)
Oh, you're not Scroogish. Most human beings would probably agree, I'm just the idiot who starts singing Christmas music in July, I love it so much. (To be fair, it's 99% the golden oldies with 1% Mariah Carey and half the Christmas music is just jazz songs written by Jewish songwriters, so I like to squeeze some pride in there regardless)
That's so cute of Whole Foods! Four for you Whole Foods.
There used to be a local radio show called The Blues Plate Special. Years ago I taped (onto a tape, not a CD. That's how old it is) a whole bunch of silly Santa songs that I listen to each year. Stuff like "I Want to See Santa Do the Mambo". I really should get that transfered to a CD. I'd love to be able to listen to it in the car again.
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Date: 2013-11-20 05:03 am (UTC)Gabrielle
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Date: 2013-11-20 05:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-20 06:01 am (UTC)Too bad they aren't because I'd love to have a box of these.
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Date: 2013-11-20 06:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-20 07:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-20 09:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-20 10:40 am (UTC)Well, the real story is a bit more complicated; both "yule" and the word "öl" (beer) are most likely derived from "jól", meaning basically "party". Whether it originally referred to the drink they drank at parties or the party at which drinks were drunk is a bit fuzzy. As things involving beer should be. :)
(Incidentally, "jól" may also be the root of the English word "jolly". So now you know why Santa's nose is so red.)
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Date: 2013-11-20 03:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-24 03:37 am (UTC)On that note, Happy Thanksgivukkah!
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Date: 2013-11-24 05:26 am (UTC)I was aware that Chanukkah was starting next week. I'm planning to post Barenaked Ladies' "Hanukkah Blessings" to LJ on Wednesday. I love that song. Actually I love the album it's on, Barenaked for the Holidays. ;-)
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Date: 2013-11-24 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-24 06:22 pm (UTC)Having said that, I am totally excited that Whole Foods has tiny table top Christmas trees! And it's driving me nuts that I can't figure out where my advent calendars have vanished to. ;-)
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Date: 2013-11-26 05:03 am (UTC)That's so cute of Whole Foods! Four for you Whole Foods.
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Date: 2013-11-26 02:43 pm (UTC)