Foto: Christmas Present--Chiesa sconosciuta vicino a Atene
Urbi et Orbi:
° “Christmas Present!” We used to strive to be the first to shout it to anybody we encountered on Christmas Day. What did it mean?
° It meant our parents and grandparents had used to engage in the same contest, whatever it meant.
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° Dasn’t say “Happy Holidays!” nowadays. Might say it to a Christian Pharisee, who’ll boycott your business and sue you to boot.
° Dasn’t say “Good Yule!” nowadays. Might say it to someone of coastal European descent, for whom greatgreatgreatgreatGranddaddy Olaf is a reminder of opportunistic rape.
° Dasn’t say “Happy Christmas!” nowadays. For that is a slight against our British forebears.
° Dasn’t say “Io Saturnalia!” nowadays. For that involves too many calories and far too much liberty.
° Dasn’t say “Quasi Kwanzaa!” nowadays. Though otherwise one scarcely knows a catchy way of saying it.
° Dasn’t not say “Merry Christmas!” nowadays to one and all. For otherwise it looks as if you think your listener is some swarthy terrorist.
° So I just say “Merry Christmas!” right and left. And if the response is, “I don’t celebrate Christmas,” then I put a pitying tone into my voice (for folks hate to be pitied) and reply, “O I am so very sorry. Katrina.” And exit before they figure out I don’t really think they’re cajun.
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° But the best thing is just to shut up, which I am now doing, click on this link, listen, lie back and think of Lord Peter, the cherubim roof, the fens, the flood . . . .
° Buon Natale! Feliz Navidad! Giac.
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