[Vision2020] Merry Yule

[Ralph Nielsen]

Here is a letter I have sent to the Lewiston Tribune that may apply  
to Donovan's sentiments.


I have just read John Webb's complaint (Dec. 19) about people who  
object to the word Christmas. He seems to be unaware that many of his  
fellow citizens are not necessarily Christians. There are even some  
Christians who object to the celebration of Christmas, like the  
Pilgrim Fathers and Jehovah's Witnesses. Why? Because Christmas is  
really an old pagan festival that was adopted by the early Christian  
church. Nobody knows when Jesus was born. And he's not telling.

Mr. Webb should try living in Scandinavia, where they don't even have  
a word for Christmas. December 25th and the season associated with it  
is known as "Jul" (pronounced Yule, the same as in English). They buy  
Yule gifts and Yule cards. They celebrate Yule Eve and Yule Day. They  
erect Yule trees, sing Yule songs and dance Yule dances around the  
tree. And since Scandinavians live in northern Europe, the Yule Man  
visits them first. In Denmark, Norway and Sweden he puts the Yule  
presents under the Yule tree on Yule Eve instead of in stockings on  
Yule Morning.

So here's wishing everybody, Christian or not, including John Webb, a  
Glaedelig Jul, Glade Jul, God Jul, wherever you may be.

Ralph


Donovan Arnold donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com
Sun Dec 24 22:21:40 PST 2006

Andreas,

   Merry CHRISTmas,

   Donovan J Arnold