<html>
  <head>

    <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
  </head>
  <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
    <style id="echo-css-rules-1" type="text/css">
.echo-secondaryBackgroundColor { background-color: #F4F4F4; }.echo-trinaryBackgroundColor { background-color: #ECEFF5; }.echo-primaryColor { color: #3A3A3A; }.echo-secondaryColor { color: #C6C6C6; }.echo-primaryFont { font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; }.echo-secondaryFont { font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; }.echo-linkColor, .echo-linkColor a { color: #476CB8; }.echo-clickable { cursor: pointer; }.echo-relative { position: relative; }.echo-clear { clear: both; }.echo-image-container.echo-image-position-fill { text-align: center; overflow: hidden; }.echo-image-container.echo-image-position-fill img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; width: auto; height: auto; vertical-align: top; }.echo-image-container.echo-image-position-fill img.echo-image-stretched-horizontally { width: 100%; height: auto; }.echo-image-container.echo-image-position-fill img.echo-
 image-s
tretched-vertically { width: auto; height: 100%; }.echo-control-message { font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 15px 0px; text-align: center; }.echo-control-message-icon { height: 16px; padding-left: 16px; background: no-repeat left center; }.echo-control-message .echo-control-message-icon { padding-left: 21px; height: auto; }.echo-control-message-info { background-image: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/information.png); }.echo-control-message-loading { background-image: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/loading.gif); }.echo-control-message-error { background-image: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/warning.gif); }
.echo-canvas-appHeader { white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }@media (min-width: 400px) {.echo-canvas-row { display: table; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%; }.echo-canvas-column { display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; }.echo-canvas-column-1-1 { width: 100%; } .echo-canvas-column-1-2 { width: 50%; } .echo-canvas-column-2-2 { width: 100%; } .echo-canvas-column-1-3 { width: 33.33333333333333%; } .echo-canvas-column-2-3 { width: 66.66666666666666%; } .echo-canvas-column-3-3 { width: 100%; } .echo-canvas-column-1-4 { width: 25%; } .echo-canvas-column-2-4 { width: 50%; } .echo-canvas-column-3-4 { width: 75%; } .echo-canvas-column-4-4 { width: 100%; } .echo-canvas-column-1-5 { width: 20%; } .echo-canvas-column-2-5 { width: 40%; } .echo-canvas-column-3-5 { width: 60%; } .echo-canvas-column-4-5 { width: 80%; } .echo-canvas-column-5-5 { width: 100%; } .echo-canvas-column-1-6 { width: 16.666666666666664%; } .echo-canvas-column-2-6 { width: 33.33333333333
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.echo-apps-conversations-streamHeader { padding: 5px 0px; position: relative; z-index: 20; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamTitle { font-size: 14px; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamCounter { font-size: 14px; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamingStateContainer { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", arial, sans-serif; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamingState { padding-left: 15px; float: right; font-size: 13px; color: #c6c6c6; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamingState-live { background: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/control_play.png) no-repeat left 3px; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamingState-paused { background: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/control_pause.png) no-repeat left 3px; }.echo-apps-conversations-itemsWaiting { font-size: 13px; color: #c6c6c6; margin-left: 5px; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter { font-size: 13px; }.echo-sdk-ui .echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter:focu
 s { out
line: none; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter > ul > li > a { background: url("//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/echo2/v2/images/conversations/v1.3.8/images/marker.png") no-repeat right center; padding-right: 20px; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter ul.nav { margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 13px; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter ul.nav > li > a { text-decoration: none; color: #C6C6C6; line-height: 18px; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter .dropdown-menu { float: right; left: auto; right: 0; }.echo-sdk-ui .echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter .nav .dropdown .dropdown-toggle { background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; color: #C6C6C6; }.echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter ul.nav > li > a:hover,.echo-apps-conversations-streamSorter ul.nav > li > a:focus { background-color: transparent}.echo-sdk-ui .tab-content.echo-apps-conversations-tabsContent { overflow: visible; }.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs { margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; }.
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-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li { height: 18px; line-height: 18px; }.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li > a, .echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li > a:hover { color: #C6C6C6; }.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs { border: 0px; }.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li > a { font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin-right: 15px; border: 0px; }.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li.active > a,.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li.active > a:hover,.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li.active > a:focus,.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li.active > a:active { border-bottom: 0px solid #d8d8d8; outline: none; color: black; }.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > .active > a,.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > .active > a:focus,.echo-sdk-ui .nav.echo-apps-conversations-tabs > .active > a:hover { border: 0px; }.echo-sdk-ui .echo-apps-conversations-tabs > li.pull-r
 ight > a
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cho-apps-conversations-postComposer { margin-bottom: 10px; }.echo-apps-conversations-topPosts > div { margin-bottom: 25px; }.echo-apps-conversations-container * { box-sizing: content-box !important; -moz-box-sizing: content-box; }.echo-apps-conversations-container ul, .echo-apps-conversations-container li { list-style: inherit; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-header { margin-bottom: 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-avatar { float: left; margin-right: -48px; width: 48px; height: 48px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fields { width: 100%; float: left; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fields input { width: 100%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper { margin-left: 53px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-nameContainer { margin: 1px 0px 4px 0px; padding: 0px 2px 1px 3px; background-color: #fff; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-nameContainer input.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-name { font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: none; width: 100%;}.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper input.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-name[type="text"] { width: 100%; margin-bottom: 0px; border: none; padding: 0px; outline: 0; box-shadow: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper input.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-name[type="text"]:focus { outline: 0;
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adow: none;  }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-urlContainer { padding: 0px 2px 1px 3px; background-color: #fff; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-urlContainer input.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-url { height: 19px; border: none; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 0px;}.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper input.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-url[type="text"] { width: 100%; margin-bottom: 0px; border: none; padding: 0px; outline: 0; box-shadow: none;  }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper input.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-url[type="text"]:focus { outline: 0; box-shadow: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper input.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-url[type="text"].echo-secondaryColor,.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper input.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-name[type="text"].echo-secondaryColor,.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-content textarea.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-textArea.echo-secondaryColor,.echo-
 streamse
rver-controls-submit-container .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-metadataSubwrapper input.echo-secondaryColor[type="text"] { color: #C6C6C6 }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-author { font-weight: bold; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-content { padding: 5px 5px 5px 6px; background-color: #fff; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-content textarea.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-textArea { width: 100%; height: 102px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: none; resize:none; box-shadow: none; outline: 0; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-content textarea.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-textArea:focus { outline: 0; box-shadow: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-text input { width: 100%; border: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-metadataContainer { margin-top: 6px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-metadataLabel { float: left; width: 50px; margin-right: -50px; text-align: right; line-height: 22px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-metadataWrapper { float
 : left; 
width: 100%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-metadataSubwrapper { margin-left: 55px; padding: 2px 2px 2px 3px; background-color: #fff; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-container .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-metadataSubwrapper input[type="text"] { width: 100%; border: 0; padding: 0px; outline: 0; box-shadow: none; margin-bottom: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-container .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-metadataSubwrapper input[type="text"]:focus { outline: 0; box-shadow: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-controls { margin-top: 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-postContainer { float: right; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-border { border: 1px solid #d2d2d2; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-mandatory { border: 1px solid red; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-queriesViewOption { padding-right: 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-error { color: #444444; font: 14px Arial; line-height: 150%; padding-left: 85px; background: no-repe
 at url(/
/js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/info70.png); }
.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim-confirmation { margin-bottom: 10px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-urlContainer { display: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-avatar { display: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper { margin-left: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-JanrainAuth-forcedLogin .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-header { display: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-fieldsWrapper input { font-weight: normal; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-nameContainer { padding: 3px 2px 3px 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-ta
 gsConta
iner { display: none !important; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-markersContainer { display: none !important; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-content textarea.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-textArea { height: 75px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-controls { margin: 0px; padding: 5px; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; border-top: 0px; background: #ffffff;}.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-container { padding: 20px 20px 20px; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-radius: 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-header { margin-top: 10px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-postContainer .dropdown-menu { min-width: 100px; }.echo-streams
 erver-co
ntrols-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-postButton { font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .{control.class:buttons} .dropdown { min-width: 77px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim .btn.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-CardUIShim-button { padding: 3px 12px 5px 12px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-container { float: left; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-or { font-size: 14px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-via { margin-left: 15px; color: #D3D3D3; line-height: 18px; font-size: 14px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-name .echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-dropdown { background: url("//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/echo2/v2/images/conversations/v1.3.8/images/marker.png") no-repeat right center; padding-right: 20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-name ul.nav .dropdown .dropdown-toggle { font-size: 20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-name ul.nav { margin-bottom: 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-name ul.nav .dropdown-menu li > a { font-size: 14px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-avatar div { border-radius: 50%; background-size:cover; display:inline-block; background-position:center; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-login, .{plugin.class} .echo-streamserver-control
 s-cardu
iauth-signup { color: #006DCC; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-userAnonymous { margin: 0px 0px 7px 2px; text-align: left; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-userLogged { margin: 0px 0px 5px 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-name { float: none; margin: 3px 0px 0px 15px; font-weight: normal; }.class:container} { float: left; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-avatar { float: left; width: 48px; height: 48px; border-radius: 50%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-carduiauth-avatar > div { width: 48px; height: 48px; background-size:cover; display:inline-block; background-position:center; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-message-wrapper { padding: 15px 0px; text-align: center; -moz-border-radius: 0.5em; -webkit-border-radius: 0.5em; border: 1px solid #E4E4E4; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-message-empty, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-message-loading, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-message-error { display: inline-block; height: 16px; padding-left: 21px; background: no-repeat left center; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-message-empty { background-image: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/information.png); }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-message-loading { background-image: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/loading.gif); }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-message-error { background-image: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/warning.gif); }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-header { margin: 10px 0px 10px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-compactSta
 teLayou
t { float: right; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-fullStateLayout { text-align: center; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-state-picture { display: inline-block; height: 9px; width: 8px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-state-picture-paused { background: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/control_pause.png) no-repeat center center; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-state-picture-live { background: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/control_play.png) no-repeat center center; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-state-message { margin-left: 5px; text-decoration: none; }.echo-clickable a.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-state-message:hover { text-decoration: underline; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-more:hover, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-fullStateLayout:hover { background-color: #E4E4E4; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-more, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-fullStateLayout { text-align: center
 ; border
: solid 1px #E4E4E4; margin-top: 10px; padding: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 0.5em; -webkit-border-radius: 0.5em; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-more .echo-app-message { padding: 0; border: none; border-radius: 0; }
.{plugin.cass} .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-more { border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-radius: 3px; }.{plugin.cass} .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-messageText { border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-radius: 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-plugin-CardUIShim-caption { line-height: 18px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-header { padding: 5px 0px 5px 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-body .echo-control-message { margin: 0px 0px 10px; border: 1px solid #d2d2d2; box-shadow: 0px 1px 1px #d2d2d2; border-radius: 3px; color: #c6c6c6; padding: 30px 0px 30px 0px; text-align: left;}.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-body .echo-control-message .echo-control-message-info { height: 35px; display: block; font-size: 14px; line-height:
  16px; 
font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; background-image: url(//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/echo2/v2/images/conversations/v1.3.8/images/info.png); padding-left: 40px; width: 180px; margin: 0px auto; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-control-message-info { background: url(//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/echo2/v2/images/conversations/v1.3.8/images/info.png) no-repeat; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item { margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-radius: 3px; background: #ffffff; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item { margin: 0px; padding: 0px; box-shadow: 0 0 0; border: 0px; background: #f8f8f8; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-content { word-wrap: break-word; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container-root { padding: 10px 0px 10px 10px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container-root-thread { padding: 10px 0px 0px 10px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container-child { padding: 10px; margin: 0px 20px 2px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container-child-thread { padding: 10px; margin: 0px 20px 2px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar-wrapper { margin-right: -58px; float: left; position: relative; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar-wrapper, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-childrenByCurrentActorLive .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar-wrapper { margin-right: -34px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-subwrapper, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-childrenByCurrentActorLiv
 e .echo
-streamserver-controls-stream-item-subwrapper { margin-left: 34px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-wrapper { float: left; width: 100%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-subwrapper { margin-left: 58px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-subcontainer { float: left; width: 100%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-markers { line-height: 16px; background: url("//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/curation/metadata/marker.png") no-repeat; padding: 0px 0px 4px 21px; margin-top: 7px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-tags { line-height: 16px; background: url("//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/tag_blue.png") no-repeat; padding: 0px 0px 4px 21px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-metadata-title { font-weight: bold; line-height: 25px; height: 25px; margin-right: 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-metadata-icon { display: inline-block; padding-left: 26px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-str
 eam-item
-metadata-userID { border-bottom: 1px solid #e1e1e1; border-top: 1px solid #e1e1e1;}.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-metadata-userID .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-metadata-icon { background: url("//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/curation/metadata/user.png") no-repeat left center; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-metadata-userIP { border-bottom: 1px solid #e1e1e1; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-metadata-userIP .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-metadata-icon { background: url("//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/curation/metadata/computer.png") no-repeat left center; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-modeSwitch { float: right; width: 16px; height: 16px; background:url("//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/curation/metadata/flip.png") no-repeat 0px 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-childrenMarker { border-color: transparent transparent #ECEFF5; bo
 rder-wid
th: 0px 11px 11px; border-style: solid; margin: 3px 0px 0px 77px; height: 1px; width: 0px; display: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container-root-thread .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-childrenMarker { display: block; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar { width: 48px; height: 48px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-childrenByCurrentActorLive .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar { width: 24px; height: 24px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-authorName { float: left; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-re { font-weight: bold; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-re a:link, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-re a:visited, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-re a:active { text-decoration: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-re a:hover { text-decoration: underlin
 e; }.ech
o-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body { padding-top: 4px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons { float: left; margin-left: 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons a.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button { color: #C6C6C6; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons a.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button.echo-linkColor, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons a.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button:hover { color: #476CB8; text-decoration: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-sourceIcon { float: left; height: 16px; width: 16px; margin-right: 5px; border: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-date, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-from, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-via { float: left; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-from a, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-via a { text-decoration: none; color: #C6C6C6; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-from a:hover, .echo-s
 treamser
ver-controls-stream-item-via a:hover { color: #476CB8; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-tag { display: inline-block; height: 16px; background: url("//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/tag_blue.png") no-repeat; padding-left: 18px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-smiley-icon { border: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-textToggleTruncated { margin-left: 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-blocker-backdrop { position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; background: #FFFFFF; opacity: 0.7; z-index: 100; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-blocker-message { position: absolute; z-index: 200; width: 200px; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center; background-color: #FFFF99; border: 1px solid #C6C677; opacity: 0.7; -moz-border-radius: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren { display:none; text-align: center; padding:4px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChil
 dren .ec
ho-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildrenLabel { display: inline-block; padding-left: 22px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren .echo-message-icon { background: url("//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/whirlpool.png") no-repeat 5px 4px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-message-loading { background: no-repeat left top url("//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/loading.gif"); }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren .echo-app-message { padding: 0; border:none; border-radius: 0; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 { margin-left: 0px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-1 { margin-left: 68px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-2 { margin-left: 112px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-3 { margin-left: 156px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-4 { margin-left: 200px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-5 { margin-left: 244px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-6 { margin-left: 288px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-7 { margin-left: 332px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-8 { margin-left: 376px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-9 { margin-left: 420px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-10 { margin-left: 464px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-11 { margin-left: 508px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-12 { margin-left: 552px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-13 { margin-left: 596px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-14 { margin-left: 640px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-15 { margin-left: 684px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-16 { margin-left: 728px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-17 { margin-left: 772px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-18 { margin-left: 816px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-19 { margin-left: 860px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-20 { margin-left: 904px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-seeMore:before { content: ""; display: block; height: 3px; box-shadow: 0 -3px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08); position: relative; top: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-seeMore { margin-top: -8px; display: none; padding: 0 0 15px 0; border-top: 1px solid #D8D8D8; text-align: center; font-size: 12px; cursor: pointer; color: #C6C6C6; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-seeMore:hover { color: #262626; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-sourceIcon { float: left; margin-right: 10px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-sourceIcon > img { margin-top: 2px; height: 16px; width: 16px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container { position: relative; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugi
 n-CardU
IShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-indicator { position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; width: 4px; background-color: transparent; z-index: 10; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body .echo-item-video { position: relative; padding-bottom: 75%; height: 0; float: none; margin: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body .echo-item-video > iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body .echo-item-video > video { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body .echo-item-video > object { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-strea
 m-item-p
lugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body .echo-item-title { font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-dropdownButton { display: inline; margin-left: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-dropdownButton > .dropdown { display: inline; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-dropdownButton > .dropdown a { color: inherit; text-decoration: inherit; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-topPostMarker { float: right; position: absolute; top: -4px; right: 15px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-wrapper { background: #ffffff; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5; bo
 rder-rad
ius: 3px 3px 0px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 { border-radius: 2px 3px 0px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-liveUpdate .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-indicator { background-color: #f5ba47; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-trinaryBackgroundColor { background-color: #f8f8f8; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-date { float: left; color: #d3d3d3; line-height: 18px; white-space: nowrap; text-overflow: ellipsis; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: normal; max-width: 100%; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar { height: 28px; width: 28px; margin-left: 3px
 ; }.echo
-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar div { height: 28px; width: 28px; background-size:cover; display:inline-block; background-position:center; border-radius: 50%;}.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-content { background: #f8f8f8; border-radius: 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons { margin-left: 0px; white-space: nowrap; line-height: 20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-metadata { margin-bottom: 8px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body { padding-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; overflow: hidden; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-text { color
 : #42474
A; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-authorName { float: left; color: #595959; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; max-width: 100%; white-space: nowrap; text-overflow: ellipsis; overflow: hidden; word-wrap: normal; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-authorName span { padding-right: 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container-child { padding-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 2px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-content .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container-child-thread { padding-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 0px; margin: 0px 15px 2px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShi
 m .echo-
streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar-wrapper { margin-top: 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-frame { margin-left: 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-data { margin-top: 2px; padding-top: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-wrapper { padding-top: 0px; background: none; border: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren { padding: 15px 0px 8px 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-strea
 mserver-
controls-stream-item-expandChildren { padding: 8px 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; }.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons a:focus { outline: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button { margin-right: 10px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons .dropdown .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button { margin-right: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button-delim { display: none; }.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-buttonIcon[class*=" icon-"] { margin-right: 4px; margin-top: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-buttonIcon { opacity: 0.3; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plug
 in-CardU
IShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons a.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button.echo-linkColor,.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button:active,.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button:focus { text-decoration: none; color: #c6c6c6; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container:hover a.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button { color: #262626; text-decoration: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttonCaption { vertical-align: middle; font-size: 12px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons a.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button.echo-linkColor .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUI
 Shim-but
tonIcon,.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container:hover .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-buttonIcon,.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-buttons a.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-button:hover .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-buttonIcon { opacity: 0.8; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-compactButton ul.dropdown-menu { left: -20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-date { line-height: 20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-chevron { margin-top: 0px !important; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildrenLabel { margin-right: 5px;
  }.echo-
streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildrenLabel { color: #D3D3D3; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren:hover .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildrenLabel { color: #262626; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-chevron { opacity: 0.3; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren:hover .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-chevron { opacity: 0.8; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren .echo-message-icon { padding-left: 0px; background: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-i
 tem-plug
in-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-expandChildren .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-message-loading { background: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-footer { padding: 8px 0px 10px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-body { padding-top: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar { height: 36px; width: 36px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar div { height: 36px; width: 36px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserve
 r-contro
ls-stream-item-authorName { font-weight: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: 18px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-subwrapper { margin-left: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-childrenMarker { display: none; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-header-box { height: 36px; margin-right: 18px; margin-left: 45px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-header-box:before { content: ""; display: inline-block; height: 100%; vertical-align: middle; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim
  .echo-s
treamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-header-centered { display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 100%; max-width: 90%\9; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-data { padding: 7px 0px 0px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-content .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 { padding: 15px 16px 0px 16px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-Edit .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-metadataContainer { display: none !important; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-Edit .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-Edit-header { line-height: 38px; margin-left: 45px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-Edit .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-body { padding: 7px 0px
  0px 0px
; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-plugin-Edit .echo-streamserver-controls-submit-controls { margin-bottom: 5px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 16px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-1 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 12px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-2 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 51px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-3 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 90px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-4 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 129px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-5 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 168px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-6 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 207px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-7 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 246px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-8 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 285px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-9 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 324px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-10 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 363px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-11 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 402px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-12 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 441px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-13 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 480px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-14 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 519px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-15 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 558px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-16 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 597px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-17 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 636px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-18 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 675px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-19 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 714px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-20 { margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 753px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-multiple { margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent { margin-bottom: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-multiple > div { border-top: 1px solid #D2D2D2; border-bottom: 1px solid #D2D2D2; background-color: #F1F1F1; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-video .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent .echo-conversations-nestedcard-border { border: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-video .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent .echo-conversations-nestedcard-video { padding: 
 0px; }.
echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-container.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 { padding-top: 0; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent { margin: 0 -16px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent .echo-conversations-nestedcard-border { border: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo .echo-conversations-nestedcard-photoContainer { border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-data { padding-top: 0; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-authorName { color: #FFFFFF; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rg
 ba(0, 0,
 0, 0.7); }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-date { text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); padding-right: 1px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar-wrapper { z-index: 10; position: absolute; top: 15px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-photo .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CardUIShim-header-box { z-index: 10; position: relative; top: 50px; margin-top: -36px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-link .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent .echo-conversations-nestedcard-border { border: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-link .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLResolver-mediaContent .echo-conversations-nestedcard-article { padding: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-URLRe
 solver-m
ediaContent { margin-bottom: 8px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-LikeCardUI-likesArea { float: right; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-LikeCardUI-likedBy { float: left; height: 20px; margin-right: 3px; line-height: 10px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-LikeCardUI-likedBy .echo-streamserver-controls-facepile-container { line-height: 12px; vertical-align: top; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-LikeCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-facepile-item-container { position: relative; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-LikeCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-facepile-item-avatar { border-radius: 50%; width: 22px; height: 22px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-LikeCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-facepile-item-avatar img { border-radius: 50%; height: 22px; width: 22px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-LikeCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-facepile-and { display: none; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CommunityFlagCardUI-flaggedBy { background: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/curation/status/communityflagged.png) no-repeat 0px 4px; padding: 0px 0px 4px 21px; }
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-childrenSpacing { margin-top: 8px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-children .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-childrenSpacing { margin-top: 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-replyForm { margin-right: 15px; border-left: 4px solid transparent; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-submitForm { padding: 8px 0px 15px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactForm { padding: 8px 0px 15px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-content .echo-streamserver-c
 ontrols
-stream-item-expandChildren { padding: 8px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-content .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-expandChildren { padding: 15px 0px 8px 0px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-additionalSpacing { padding-top: 15px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactContent { padding: 0px 5px 0px 6px; background-color: #fff; height: 28px; line-height: 28px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-avatar { width: 28px; height: 28px; border-radius: 50%; margin: 1px 0px 0px 3px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-avatar > div { width: 28px; height: 28px; background-size:cover; display:inline-block; background-position:center; border-radius: 50%; }.echo-streamserve
 r-contro
ls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactBorder { margin-left: 39px; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactContent input.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactField[type="text"].echo-secondaryColor { color: #C6C6C6 }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactContent input.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactField[type="text"].echo-primaryFont { font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactContent input.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactField[type="text"] { width: 100%; height: 24px; border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; box-shadow: none; vertical-align: middle; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactContent input.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ReplyCardUI-compactField[type="text"]:focus { outline: 0; box-shadow
 : none; 
}
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-modeSwitch { width: 0px; height: 0px; }.echo-sdk-ui ul.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-moderateButton { display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; }.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-moderateButton .dropdown-toggle { color: inherit; }.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-moderateButton.nav > li > a,.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-moderateButton.nav > li > a:hover,.echo-sdk-ui .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-moderateButton.nav > li > a:focus  { background-color: transparent; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-status-Untouched .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-indicator { background-color: #3
 498db; 
}.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-status-ModeratorApproved .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-indicator { background-color: #15c177; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-status-ModeratorDeleted .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-indicator { background-color: #bf383a; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-status-SystemFlagged .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-indicator, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-status-CommunityFlagged .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-indicator, .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-status-ModeratorFlagged .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-indicator { background-color: #ff9e00; }.echo-streamserve
 r-contro
ls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-actorStatus-Untouched > div { border: 2px solid #3498db; width: 20px; height: 20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-actorStatus-Untouched div { height: 32px; width: 32px; border-radius: 50%;}.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-actorStatus-ModeratorApproved > div { border: 2px solid #15c177; width: 20px; height: 20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar.echo-streamserver-controls-stream
 -item-pl
ugin-ModerationCardUI-actorStatus-ModeratorApproved div { height: 32px; width: 32px; border-radius: 50%;}.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-actorStatus-ModeratorBanned > div { border: 2px solid #bf383a; width: 20px; height: 20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-actorStatus-ModeratorBanned div { height: 32px; width: 32px; border-radius: 50%;}.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-actorStatus-ModeratorDeleted > div { border: 2px solid #bf383a; width: 20px; height: 20px; }.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-Mode
 rationCa
rdUI .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-depth-0 .echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-avatar.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-ModerationCardUI-actorStatus-ModeratorDeleted div { height: 32px; width: 32px; border-radius: 50%;}
.echo-streamserver-controls-stream-item-plugin-CommunityFlag-flaggedBy { background: url(//js.washingtonpost.com/pb/resources/js/echo2/sdk/v3/images/curation/status/communityflagged.png) no-repeat 0px 4px; padding: 0px 0px 4px 21px; }
.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container { line-height: 1px; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 8px 8px; }.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container > div { display: inline-block; max-width: 90%; vertical-align: top; }.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container > div > div { margin-right: 8px; }.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-single-card { padding: 0px; border: 0px; }.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-single-card > div { max-width: 100%; display: block; }.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-single-card > div > div { margin-right: 0; }.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container::-webkit-scrollbar { height: 10px; }.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container::-webkit-scrollbar-track { box-shadow: inset 0 0 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.3); }.echo-conversations-mediacontainer-container::-webkit
 -scroll
bar-thumb { background: #D2D2D2; box-shadow: inset 0 0 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.5); }
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            <h1 itemprop="headline"
              data-pb-field="customFields.web_headline">Why is Christmas
              on Dec. 25? A brief history lesson that may surprise you.</h1>
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                <span class="pb-timestamp" itemprop="datePublished"
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                <p><em>I published this last year, but, given that it’s
                    Christmas, it seems like a good day to do it again:</em></p>
                <p> </p>
                <div class="inline-content inline-photo
                  inline-photo-normal modal-0 horizontal-photo"> <a
                    name="42a5254ecc"></a> <img
                    class="courtesy-of-the-resizer zoom-in"
                    src="cid:part194.03070901.06040802@moscow.com"
data-low-res-src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_908w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2015/12/24/Foreign/Images/Nic6522938.jpg&w=480"
data-hi-res-src="https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_908w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2015/12/24/Foreign/Images/Nic6522938.jpg&w=1484"><br>
                  <span class="pb-caption">The scene at Manger Square
                    near the Church of the Nativity, revered as the site
                    of Jesus’s birth, in the biblical West Bank town of
                    Bethlehem on Wednesday. (Musa al-Shaer/AFP via Getty
                    Images)</span> </div>
                <p>Christmas is on Dec. 25, but it wasn’t always.</p>
                <p>Dec. 25 is not the date mentioned in the Bible as the
                  day of Jesus’s birth; the Bible is actually silent on
                  the day or the time of year when Mary was said to have
                  given birth to him in Bethlehem. The earliest
                  Christians did not celebrate his birth.</p>
                <p>As a result, there are <a
                    href="http://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas">a
                    number of</a> different <a
                    href="http://www.christmas-time.com/cp-hist.html">accounts</a>
                  as to how and when Dec. 25 became known as Jesus’s
                  birthday.</p>
                <p>By most accounts, the birth was first thought — in
                  around 200 A.D. — to have taken place on Jan. 6. Why?
                  Nobody knows, but it may have been the result of “a
                  calculation based on an assumed date of crucifixion of
                  April 6 coupled with the ancient belief that prophets
                  died on the same day as their conception,” <a
href="http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/holidays/christmas.htm#sthash.HISkqYBr.dpuf">according
                    to religionfacts.com</a>. By the mid-fourth century,
                  the birthday celebration had been moved to Dec. 25.
                  Who made the decision? Some accounts say it was the
                  pope; others say it wasn’t.</p>
                <p>One of the prevalent theories on why Christmas is
                  celebrated on Dec. 25 was spelled out in “<a
                    href="http://www.bartleby.com/196/84.html">The
                    Golden Bough</a>,” a highly influential 19th-century
                  comparative study of religion and mythology written by
                  the anthropologist James George Frazer and originally
                  published in 1890. (The first edition was titled “The
                  Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion”; the
                  second edition was called “The Golden Bough: A Study
                  in Magic and Religion.” By the third printing, in the
                  early 20th century, it was published in 12 volumes,
                  though there are abridged one-volume versions.)</p>
                <p>Frazer approached the topic of religion from a
                  cultural — not theological — perspective, and he
                  linked the dating of Christmas to earlier pagan
                  rituals. <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/196/">Here’s
                    what the 1922 edition</a> of the “The Golden Bough”
                  says about the origins of Christmas, <a
                    href="http://www.bartleby.com/196/84.html">as
                    published on Bartleby.com</a>:</p>
                <blockquote class="citation">
                  <p>An instructive relic of the long struggle is
                    preserved in our festival of Christmas, which the
                    Church seems to have borrowed directly from its
                    heathen rival. In the Julian calendar the
                    twenty-fifth of December was reckoned the winter
                    solstice, and it was regarded as the Nativity of the
                    Sun, because the day begins to lengthen and the
                    power of the sun to increase from that turning-point
                    of the year. The ritual of the nativity, as it
                    appears to have been celebrated in Syria and Egypt,
                    was remarkable. The celebrants retired into certain
                    inner shrines, from which at midnight they issued
                    with a loud cry, “The Virgin has brought forth! The
                    light is waxing!” The Egyptians even represented the
                    new-born sun by the image of an infant which on his
                    birthday, the winter solstice, they brought forth
                    and exhibited to his worshippers. No doubt the
                    Virgin who thus conceived and bore a son on the
                    twenty-fifth of December was the great Oriental
                    goddess whom the Semites called the Heavenly Virgin
                    or simply the Heavenly Goddess; in Semitic lands she
                    was a form of Astarte. Now Mithra was regularly
                    identified by his worshippers with the Sun, the
                    Unconquered Sun, as they called him; hence his
                    nativity also fell on the twenty-fifth of December.
                    The Gospels say nothing as to the day of Christ’s
                    birth, and accordingly the early Church did not
                    celebrate it. In time, however, the Christians of
                    Egypt came to regard the sixth of January as the
                    date of the Nativity, and the custom of
                    commemorating the birth of the Saviour on that day
                    gradually spread until by the fourth century it was
                    universally established in the East. But at the end
                    of the third or the beginning of the fourth century
                    the Western Church, which had never recognised the
                    sixth of January as the day of the Nativity, adopted
                    the twenty-fifth of December as the true date, and
                    in time its decision was accepted also by the
                    Eastern Church. At Antioch the change was not
                    introduced till about the year 375 A.D.</p>
                  <p>What considerations led the ecclesiastical
                    authorities to institute the festival of Christmas?
                    The motives for the innovation are stated with great
                    frankness by a Syrian writer, himself a Christian.
                    “The reason,” he tells us, “why the fathers
                    transferred the celebration of the sixth of January
                    to the twenty-fifth of December was this. It was a
                    custom of the heathen to celebrate on the same
                    twenty-fifth of December the birthday of the Sun, at
                    which they kindled lights in token of festivity. In
                    these solemnities and festivities the Christians
                    also took part. Accordingly when the doctors of the
                    Church perceived that the Christians had a leaning
                    to this festival, they took counsel and resolved
                    that the true Nativity should be solemnised on that
                    day and the festival of the Epiphany on the sixth of
                    January. Accordingly, along with this custom, the
                    practice has prevailed of kindling fires till the
                    sixth.” The heathen origin of Christmas is plainly
                    hinted at, if not tacitly admitted, by Augustine
                    when he exhorts his Christian brethren not to
                    celebrate that solemn day like the heathen on
                    account of the sun, but on account of him who made
                    the sun. In like manner Leo the Great rebuked the
                    pestilent belief that Christmas was solemnised
                    because of the birth of the new sun, as it was
                    called, and not because of the nativity of Christ.</p>
                  <p>Thus it appears that the Christian Church chose to
                    celebrate the birthday of its Founder on the
                    twenty-fifth of December in order to transfer the
                    devotion of the heathen from the Sun to him who was
                    called the Sun of Righteousness….</p>
                </blockquote>
                <p>Yet an account <a
href="http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/how-december-25-became-christmas/">titled
                    “How December 25 Became Christmas”</a> on the
                  Biblical Archaeology Society’s Web site takes some
                  issue with this theory:</p>
                <blockquote class="citation">
                  <p>Despite its popularity today, this theory of
                    Christmas’s origins has its problems. It is not
                    found in any ancient Christian writings, for one
                    thing. Christian authors of the time do note a
                    connection between the solstice and Jesus’ birth:
                    The church father Ambrose (c. 339–397), for example,
                    described Christ as the true sun, who outshone the
                    fallen gods of the old order. But early Christian
                    writers never hint at any recent calendrical
                    engineering; they clearly don’t think the date was
                    chosen by the church. Rather they see the
                    coincidence as a providential sign, as natural proof
                    that God had selected Jesus over the false pagan
                    gods.</p>
                </blockquote>
                <p>Furthermore, it says, the first mentions of a date
                  for Christmas, around 200 A.D., were made at a time
                  when “Christians were not borrowing heavily from pagan
                  traditions of such an obvious character.” It was in
                  the 12th century, it says, that the first link between
                  the date of Jesus’s birth and pagan feasts was made.</p>
                <p>It says in part:</p>
                <blockquote class="citation">
                  <p>Clearly there was great uncertainty, but also a
                    considerable amount of interest, in dating Jesus’
                    birth in the late second century. By the fourth
                    century, however, we find references to two dates
                    that were widely recognized — and now also
                    celebrated — as Jesus’ birthday: December 25 in the
                    western Roman Empire and January 6 in the East
                    (especially in Egypt and Asia Minor). The modern
                    Armenian church continues to celebrate Christmas on
                    January 6; for most Christians, however, December 25
                    would prevail, while January 6 eventually came to be
                    known as the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating
                    the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem. The period
                    between became the holiday season later known as the
                    12 days of Christmas.</p>
                  <p>The earliest mention of December 25 as Jesus’
                    birthday comes from a mid-fourth-century Roman
                    almanac that lists the death dates of various
                    Christian bishops and martyrs. The first date
                    listed, December 25, is marked: <em>natus Christus
                      in Betleem Judeae</em>: “Christ was born in
                    Bethlehem of Judea … ” So, almost 300 years after
                    Jesus was born, we finally find people observing his
                    birth in mid-winter.”</p>
                </blockquote>
                <p>Bottom line: Nobody knows for sure why Dec. 25 is
                  celebrated as Christmas.</p>
                <p>—-</p>
                <p>Here’s a little more history, this on the
                  non-religious figure of Santa Claus. According to the
                  St. Nicholas Center (whose Web site has a subtitle:
                  “Discovering the Truth About Santa Claus”), the
                  character known today as Santa originated with a man
                  named Nicholas said to have been born in the third
                  century A.D. in the village of Patara, then Greek and
                  now Turkish. It is said his parents died when he was
                  young and that the religious Nicholas, who was raised
                  by his uncle, was left a fortune. Ordained as a
                  priest, he used his money to help others and become a
                  protector of children, performing miracles to help
                  them. He was, the center says, persecuted by Roman
                  Emperor Diocletian and buried in 343 A.D. in a church,
                  where a substance with healing powers, called manna,
                  formed in his grave. The day of his death, Dec. 6,
                  became a day of celebration.</p>
                <p>How did this man seen as a saint become Santa Claus,
                  the one with the red suit and white beard? The St.
                  Nicholas Center says Europeans honored him as a saint
                  over the centuries, while St. Nicholas was brought to
                  the New World by Columbus, who named a Haitian port
                  for him in 1492. According to the center:</p>
                <blockquote class="citation">
                  <p>After the American Revolution, New Yorkers
                    remembered with pride their colony’s
                    nearly-forgotten Dutch roots. John Pintard, the
                    influential patriot and antiquarian who founded the
                    New York Historical Society in 1804, promoted St.
                    Nicholas as <a class="brown-text"
                      href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/glossary/#term49">patron
                      saint</a> of both society and city. In January
                    1809, <a class="brown-text"
                      href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/glossary/#term29">Washington
                      Irving</a> joined the society and on <a
                      class="brown-text"
                      href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/glossary/#term72">St.
                      Nicholas Day</a> that same year, he published the
                    satirical fiction, <em>Knickerbocker’s History of
                      New York</em>, with numerous references to a jolly
                    St. Nicholas character. This was not the saintly <a
                      class="brown-text"
                      href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/glossary/#term9">bishop</a>,
                    rather an elfin Dutch burgher with a clay pipe.
                    These delightful flights of imagination are the
                    source of the New Amsterdam St. Nicholas legends:
                    that the first Dutch emigrant ship had a figurehead
                    of St. Nicholas; that St. Nicholas Day was observed
                    in the colony; that the first church was dedicated
                    to him; and that St. Nicholas comes down chimneys to
                    bring gifts. Irving’s work was regarded as the
                    “first notable work of <em>imagination</em> in the
                    New World.”</p>
                  <p>The New York Historical Society held its first St.
                    Nicholas anniversary dinner on December 6, 1810.
                    John Pintard commissioned artist Alexander Anderson
                    to create the first American image of Nicholas for
                    the occasion. Nicholas was shown in a gift-giving
                    role with children’s treats in stockings hanging at
                    a fireplace. The accompanying poem ends, “Saint
                    Nicholas, my dear good friend! To serve you ever was
                    my end, If you will, now, me something give, I’ll
                    serve you ever while I live.”</p>
                  <p>….1821 brought some new elements with publication
                    of the first lithographed book in America, the <em>Children’s
                      Friend</em>. This “Sante Claus” arrived from the
                    North in a sleigh with a flying reindeer. The
                    anonymous poem and illustrations proved pivotal in
                    shifting imagery away from a saintly bishop. <em>Sante
                      Claus</em> fit a didactic mode, rewarding good
                    behavior and punishing bad, leaving a “long, black
                    birchen rod . . . directs a Parent’s hand to use
                    when virtue’s path his sons refuse.” Gifts were safe
                    toys, “pretty doll . . . peg-top, or a ball; no
                    crackers, cannons, squibs, or rockets to blow their
                    eyes up, or their pockets. No drums to stun their
                    Mother’s ear, nor swords to make their sisters fear;
                    but pretty books to store their mind with knowledge
                    of each various kind.” The sleigh itself even
                    sported a bookshelf for the “pretty books.” The book
                    also notably marked S. Claus’ first appearance on
                    Christmas Eve, rather than December 6th.</p>
                </blockquote>
                <p>Then, in 1823, the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,”
                  later known as “The Night Before Christmas,” became
                  popular, and the modern version of the plump Santa
                  started to become established, what his sleigh led by
                  reindeer and the chimney as his delivery system. By
                  the 1920s, a jolly red-suited Santa was depicted in
                  drawings of Norman Rockwell and other illustrators,
                  and by the 1950s, he was portrayed as a gentle
                  gift-giving character. That Santa became the one kids
                  in the United States and other parts of the world know
                  today, though in many other countries, St. Nicholas —
                  not Santa — is still celebrated, as well.</p>
                <p>Was Nicholas real? The bottom line from the Web site
                  on Santa:</p>
                <blockquote class="citation">
                  <p>Some say St. Nicholas existed only in legend,
                    without any reliable historical record. Legends
                    usually do grow out of real, actual events, though
                    they may be embellished to make more interesting
                    stories. Many of the St. Nicholas stories seem to be
                    truth interwoven with imagination. However,
                    [certain] facts of the life of St. Nicholas could
                    contain some part of historical truth. They provide
                    a clear sense of his personal characteristics which
                    are further elaborated in other narratives.</p>
                </blockquote>
                <p>(You can read about <a
                    href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/real-person/">those
                    “facts” here</a> in a piece titled “Was St. Nicholas
                  a Real Person?”)</p>
                <p>So there you have it. Some history of Christmas you
                  may not have known before. If you made it this far,
                  now you do.</p>
              </article>
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