The repeating of parts of words to make new forms is called reduplication. There are various categories of reduplication words: rhyming, for example okey-dokey exact, for example wee-wee ablaut (vowel substitution), for example zig-zag The impetus for the coining of these seems to be nothing more than the enjoyment of wordplay....
There is a common joke that Auld Lang Syne is one of the most popular songs of which no one knows the full lyrics! Other than the chorus, this is largely the truth. Back in my long ago days of celebrating New Year’s Eve at a party, I can’t recall...
Prior to electric and gas heating, if one traveled in cold weather a foot warmer of some kind in your unheated carriage, sleigh, or train compartment was a common, desirable solution. Known as foot warmers, or foot stoves by the Dutch, the simplest were punched tin in a wooden frame...
Finding fashion plates that are clearly for Christmas is essentially impossible as it does not seem that designs were specifically made for the season. Greenery, as in mistletoe and other evergreens, were popular as home decor, but as for the theme of “red and green” which we are familiar with...
An entire period is titled for him, so who was he exactly? The Prince of Wales ruled as Regent in his father’s stead for a mere nine years, and was King for only ten years. Why has so much history revolved around his short reign? GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK was born at...
I am sure we all know a few of the famous Christmas trees erected around the world. Surprisingly, there are far more unique and/or special Christmas trees than I ever imagined. Who knew there were so many ways to create the relatively simple Christmas tree? Today I am sharing a...
I almost didn’t write this blog. Truth is, I am unfamiliar with the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas. Or rather, I have heard the song a few times but could not quote a single line. That isn’t to say I do not appreciate that it is a favored hymn to...
Due to my never ending fascination with Christmas history, including vintage Christmas cards, I found a bunch more I have to share. These are merely a handful of cards dating to around the turn into the 20th century. There are a surprising number of very old Christmas cards, most of...
In North America, the species of deer we primarily associate with driving Santa Claus’s sleigh are called caribou. The genus name is Rangifer tarandus, within which are several subspecies. As with many species in the vast animal kingdom, the names attributed to subspecies vary depending upon dozens of factors, only...
For this Saturday of the Christmas month, I am again focusing on songs of the season as available on YouTube. The previous two Saturdays I shared entertaining, catchy songs with unique twists. Christmas hymns with lyrics conveying the serious religious message of Christ’s birth will always be my favorites, hence...
As a followup to last Friday’s blog Fun and Fascinating Christmas Trivia,here are more interesting factoids about the holiday.These tidbits center around the United States and pop culture. Enjoy! Christmas Trivia from the United States The first Christmas celebrated on land that is now part of the United States took...
The classic and beloved hymn titled Oh Come, All Ye Faithful in English has a mysterious origination and very deep roots in Catholic tradition. What is known for sure is the song was written in Latin and the title is taken from the first line of the text. Adeste, fideles,laeti...
The gorgeous, vivid red and green plant known as the POINSETTIA has become a major adjunct to the other Christmas season decorations. In 2020, poinsettia sales topped an estimated $250 million. WOW! This proves the poinsettias importance in Christmas history and traditions, but how did it come to be? POINSETTIAS...
