OT: Happy Christmas
Hi,
Not been playing D2 too much lately and, although I have been checking the SPF daily, I haven't posted much either.
I am off on my Christmas break tomorrow, returning to work on Jan 2nd. Before I go I just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas. For any non-Christians, Happy Holidays :wave:
I hope Santa brings you all the you deserve :wink2: and that all your drops are gold.
My gift to you all is a few festive "facts" you might find interesting
Christmas crackers were invented by Thomas Smith in 1847. He had imported some French novelties to sell as Christmas gifts, but these were unpopular until he wrapped them up and added a snapper.
Although now vegetarian and filled with fruit, mince pies got their name because in times past they were filled with beef, nuts, fruits and spices.
Christmas pudding used to be made as a kind of soup with raisins and wine.
Christmas carols were introduced to formal church services in the early 13th Century as an act of worship by St. Francis of Assisi.
In 1939, Montgomery Ward, founder of the American department store Wards, hired one Robert May to write a poem that their department store santas could give away over Christmas. May came up with a poem called Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Company executives liked it, but weren't hapy with the name Rollo, so may changed it to Reginald. Still the name was rejected and May's daughter came up with the new name Rudolph. The poem was later put to music and sung by country singer Gene Autry. It became the second-biggest selling single in history.
The X abbreviation of "Xmas" for CHristmas is by no means a modern invention. The first letter in the Greek word for Christ is "chi", it is represented by a symbol similar to the letter "X".
According to folklore, those born on Christmas Day with never encounter a ghost, not will they have anything to fear from spirits. They're also protected from death by drowning or hanging. I don't advise you to test this last theory! DM
The populare Christmas song Jingle Bells started out as a song for Thanksgiving in America. It was written by James Pierpont in 1857 and was called One Horse Open Sleigh. It was first sung at a Thanksgiving service in Savannah, Georgia.
Austrian priest Joseph Mohr wrote Silent Night in 1818. The day before Christmas he was told that the church organ was broken and could ne be fixed in time for Christmas Eve. Mohr set about writing a carol that could be sung by the choir to guitar music.
The worlds largest snowman was built in 1999 by residents of Maine in America, to a height of 13ft (4.3m approx).
Christmas day didn't become a public holiday in Scotland until 1958.
Perhaps the worst seasonal faux pas occurred in Japan just after World War II, when a deparment store in Tokyo rolled out its elaborate Christmas promotion: A smiling Santa nailed to a crucifix.
Th-th-th-that's all folks.
Hope you all have a great time and I'll see you in 2007.
:flowers:
DM
Hi,
Not been playing D2 too much lately and, although I have been checking the SPF daily, I haven't posted much either.
I am off on my Christmas break tomorrow, returning to work on Jan 2nd. Before I go I just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas. For any non-Christians, Happy Holidays :wave:
I hope Santa brings you all the you deserve :wink2: and that all your drops are gold.
My gift to you all is a few festive "facts" you might find interesting
Christmas crackers were invented by Thomas Smith in 1847. He had imported some French novelties to sell as Christmas gifts, but these were unpopular until he wrapped them up and added a snapper.
Although now vegetarian and filled with fruit, mince pies got their name because in times past they were filled with beef, nuts, fruits and spices.
Christmas pudding used to be made as a kind of soup with raisins and wine.
Christmas carols were introduced to formal church services in the early 13th Century as an act of worship by St. Francis of Assisi.
In 1939, Montgomery Ward, founder of the American department store Wards, hired one Robert May to write a poem that their department store santas could give away over Christmas. May came up with a poem called Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Company executives liked it, but weren't hapy with the name Rollo, so may changed it to Reginald. Still the name was rejected and May's daughter came up with the new name Rudolph. The poem was later put to music and sung by country singer Gene Autry. It became the second-biggest selling single in history.
The X abbreviation of "Xmas" for CHristmas is by no means a modern invention. The first letter in the Greek word for Christ is "chi", it is represented by a symbol similar to the letter "X".
According to folklore, those born on Christmas Day with never encounter a ghost, not will they have anything to fear from spirits. They're also protected from death by drowning or hanging. I don't advise you to test this last theory! DM
The populare Christmas song Jingle Bells started out as a song for Thanksgiving in America. It was written by James Pierpont in 1857 and was called One Horse Open Sleigh. It was first sung at a Thanksgiving service in Savannah, Georgia.
Austrian priest Joseph Mohr wrote Silent Night in 1818. The day before Christmas he was told that the church organ was broken and could ne be fixed in time for Christmas Eve. Mohr set about writing a carol that could be sung by the choir to guitar music.
The worlds largest snowman was built in 1999 by residents of Maine in America, to a height of 13ft (4.3m approx).
Christmas day didn't become a public holiday in Scotland until 1958.
Perhaps the worst seasonal faux pas occurred in Japan just after World War II, when a deparment store in Tokyo rolled out its elaborate Christmas promotion: A smiling Santa nailed to a crucifix.
Th-th-th-that's all folks.
Hope you all have a great time and I'll see you in 2007.
:flowers:
DM
