{"id":11219,"date":"2022-10-24T09:04:42","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T16:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/?p=11219"},"modified":"2022-10-24T09:07:45","modified_gmt":"2022-10-24T16:07:45","slug":"walking-gingerly-in-a-woke-filled-wonderland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/?p=11219","title":{"rendered":"A Holiday Primmer"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Bob Sparrow<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Don’t forget Fiestas de las . . . whatever<\/p><\/div>\n

Yes, it\u2019s getting to be that time of year again, and we here at From a Bird\u2019s Eye View,<\/em> want to give you a primer on holiday ‘dos and don’ts’ during this new age of \u2018the holiday season\u2019. \u00a0First, let\u2019s define \u2018the holiday season\u2019.\u00a0 While Costco would suggest that \u2018the season\u2019 starts right after summer, it is usually considered underway sometime around Thanksgiving and ends sometime in January.\u00a0 I know, you\u2019re thinking it ends after New Year\u2019s Eve, and yes, it typically does here in the U.S., but if you\u2019re traveling to a territory of the U.S., Puerto Rico for \u2018the holidays\u2019, they don\u2019t end there until mid-January with the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian<\/strong>, which literally translates to \u2018party on San Sebastian Street\u2019.\u00a0 I digress.<\/p>\n

First, lets examine basic holiday greetings. \u00a0\u2018Merry Christmas\u2019 was discouraged several years ago, as not being inclusive; but if you know the person you\u2019re extending this salutation to be a Christian, then it\u2019s OK.\u00a0 Nowadays it’s mostly been replaced with \u2018Happy Holidays\u2019.\u00a0 So, no matter if you\u2019re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus<\/strong>, you’re good..\u00a0 Festivus you ask?\u00a0 For those who didn\u2019t watch Seinfeld,<\/strong> it was created on one of his episodes as a secular holiday, as really a way to eliminate trying to guess what religion a person is so you can address them with the proper holiday greeting.\u00a0 It has been described as ‘the perfect secular theme for an all-inclusive December gathering’.\u00a0 Or, as they referred to it on Seinfeld, \u201ca Festivus for the rest of us\u201d.\u00a0 OK, does that include my pagan friends you ask?<\/p>\n

Maybe, but they are covered with a simple ‘Happy Winter Solstice’<\/strong>, or ‘Happy Yule<\/strong>‘.\u00a0 Yes, Yule, as in Yuletide.\u00a0 It has come\"\"<\/a> to have a different meaning today than originally, where it referred to the pagan celebration of the winter solstice.\u00a0 I\u2019ll never sing, \u201cYuletide carols being sung by a choir\u201d again without wondering what I am really singing about.<\/p>\n

OK, I think we\u2019ve beat that dead horse enough.\u00a0 Let\u2019s move on to helping you understand the terms that you\u2019ll be hearing over the next couple of months, and with whom you should use them.<\/p>\n

Epiphany<\/strong> – A Christian feast day celebrated on January 6th, commemorating the Magi\u2019s visit to the baby Jesus.\u00a0 For: Christians, who don’t want the holidays to end on January 2nd.<\/p>\n

Feliz Navidad<\/strong> – A Spanish phrase meaning \u201cHappy Christmas.\u201d\u00a0 For: Hispanic speaking Christians<\/p>\n

Frankincense<\/strong> \u2013 \u00a0a hardened gum-like material that comes from the trunk of the Boswellia that symbolizing holiness. For: Anyone who wants to feel holiness in a Boswellian sort of way.<\/p>\n

Kinara<\/strong> – A candle holder for the seven candles lit during Kwanzaa. For: Anyone who celebrates Kwanzaa, it is most popular among Blacks worldwide.<\/p>\n

Krampus<\/strong> \u2013 this is a half-goat, half-demon character of European folklore who punishes misbehaving children during Christmas.\u00a0 For: Anyone who still uses Santa Claus to get their kids to behave.<\/p>\n

Magi<\/strong> – The Zoroastrian priests of ancient Persia. According to tradition, three of these \u201cwise men\u201d visited the infant Jesus.\u00a0 For:\u00a0 Christians, Iranian Zoroastrians and anyone who can find three wise men.<\/p>\n

Mele Kalikimaka<\/strong> –\u00a0 A phonetic translation of \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d into the Hawaiian language.\u00a0 For: Those who don’t find it distasteful, since it’s a colonizing party’s song using the native tongue for novelty.<\/p>\n

Myrrh<\/strong> \u2013 A fragrant oil that is used for problems in the stomach and intestines, congestion and parasite infections. For: Anyone of any religion with GERD, acid reflux or other digestive issues<\/p>\n

Wassail<\/strong> – A hot, spiced cider drink, traditionally served to poor carolers by their wealthy neighbors.\u00a0 Any lower economic caroler regardless of religion or anyone looking for a little holiday spirit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>One last reminder for whatever or however you celebrate the holidays\u00a0 \u2013 an apostrophe is no way to pluralize a surname. Let\u2019s say your last name is Watts, or it ends in an s, ch, sh, x, or z, how would you sign a card from your whole family?<\/p>\n