Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2018, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
In the Christmas In Other Cultures category, here’s a Klingon Christmas Carol. Also, how to have a British Christmas, Sweden’s bizarre tradition of watching Donald Duck (Kalle Anka) cartoons on Christmas Eve, Strange Christmas Traditions Around the World, and Japan’s obsession with Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas.
(Really) awkward Christmas photos and weird nativity sets.
Holiday Hairstyles Sure To Shock Santa.
At Christmas, this town builds a giant Yule goat and then torches it.
Great Literary Christmas Tales That Aren’t A Christmas Carol.
Virginia O’Hanlon, of Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus fame, was asked about that letter for the rest of her life.
The real history of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ – it all started with a Montgomery Ward marketing campaign in 1939.
In 1863, Santa Claus entered the fray on the side of the Union.
The Real Story Behind A Charlie Brown Christmas (and why it almost wasn’t shown).
Little Drummer Boy, sung by David Bowie and Bing Crosby.
The NORAD Santa tracker, plus the story of why NORAD started doing that.
The story of the real life George Bailey of It’s a Wonderful Life.
Infographic: The logistics of Santa Claus.
Santa Claus Plays Jingle Bells with a Colt 1911.
Using Fox Urine to prevent Christmas Tree Theft.
That Christmas when Parisians Ate the Zoo.
Supercut of movie Santas.
The World’s Strangest Christmas Trees.
Here’s a Christmas light version of Santa Claus urinating on ISIS sign.
Gingerbread Houses Inspired By Movies And TV Shows.
10 Important Facts About A Christmas Story’s Leg Lamp. Related: Ralphie teamed up with Flash Gordon in a deleted scene from A Christmas Story.
ICYMI, Thursday’s links are here, and include printable Star Wars snowflake templates, 19th century Christmas gift ideas, all about the winter solstice (and Saturnalia and the Halcyon days), and the classic drunken fruitcake recipe.