Charissa’s Comments (group member since Nov 17, 2008)

Charissa’s comments from the Axis Mundi X group.

aha... very cool Bunny. I get the reference now. How fascinating.

The origin of this practice is a little obscure. However, it's believed that an English admiral first used the term Merry Christmas in an informal letter, way back in 1699. In 1843, Charles Dickens used the same phrase in "A Christmas Carol."

WHY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND NOT HAPPY? -- All I can figure is that at one point, people in England went around calling everything "merrie." They weren't necessarily happy, but by golly, they were merrie. I based that theory on the following:

"Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, second edition, 1977) "Merrie England. England of the Anglo-Saxon period and the Middle Ages was not a very happy place to be, let alone 'merrie.' So why this phrase indicating revelry and joyous spirits, as if England were one perpetual Christmastime? The answer is that the word 'merrie' originally meant merely 'pleasing and delightful,' not bubbling over with festive spirits, as it does today. The same earlier meaning is found in the famous expression, 'the merry month of May.'"

My only other Merry Christmas fact, recycled from an earlier inquiry: "The tradition of sending Christmas cards originated in the mid-1800's when a few people began to design handmade cards to send to family and friends. A man named John Calcott Horsely is credited as being the first to actually print Christmas cards. The card depicted a family enjoying the holiday, with scenes of people performing acts of charity. The card was inscribed:"Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to You" This comes from a very nice site http://www.picklejar.com/traditions.htm that has origins of other Christmas traditions.

Not a very strong case, but all I could come up with. Maybe some of the other Phrase Finders will have a different view.

I thought cockolded means for a wife to cheat on her husband.

cuckolded creation? what do you suppose that means?

Yes Koe, aren't Jacquie Lawson's creations just so wonderful?? I usually can't stand super cute things.... but hers are just irresistable! Just the perfect blend of fine art and sweetness. Just another sign that I'm a big softy once you get past the snarly teeth. ; )

Mary marmot fruit bats KD! She plays the bass.

xoxoxo

To all my Christian friends, and all of us who aren't, but who celebrate anyway in our funny secular way... A gorgeous day to you and yours. May the spirit of giving and peace radiate out into the coming year.

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard...

Peace on earth. Goodwill toward men. And women. And whales. And marmots. And trees. And fruit bats. And...

Rusty had grunge hair??? Pictures please???

Sorry Isaiah!! The American Airlines terminal is no place to spend Xmas eve! I hope the booze is yummy, and that the AA employees find coal in their stockings.

XOXOXOXO

aha.... that's why they are twinned in my head.

I'm a huge Crumb fan... although I always feel slightly dirty after reading his comics. It's disturbing and erotic at the same time.

AHA!!! That's what the name is from!!!! Now it makes sense. Total hippie music store. Very funny. Hey, isn't that one of the R. Crumb comics?

HA!! awesome KD. Hey, we have a music store here in my town called "Tall Toad". What an odd coincidence.

well, there was that one time, at band camp.

:::;sends warming thoughts all the way to the PNW for all her friends who aren't used to being snowed in!!::::

ah, the glamorous life of beauty hos.

I took a train from London to Swansea once, and then the ferry across the Irish Sea to Cork. Very pretty journey. But nothing runs on time out there. And Swansea is a pit. Unless you happen to like disco.

it's 45 degrees here. and raining.

The last time they came to my door I offered them cookies. They were very nice boys.

::::::spins like a dreidel::::::

::::::runs with scissors through the GR hallways::::::