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December 25, 2010

Texts, 2010
Posted by Teresa at 01:01 AM *

Luke 2:1-14, Anglo-Saxon (via):

Soþlice on þam dagum wæs geworden gebod fram þam casere Augusto, þæt eall ymbehwyrft wære tomearcod. Þeos tomearcodnes wæs æryst geworden fram þam deman Syrige Cirino. And ealle hig eodon, and syndrige ferdon on hyra ceastre. Ða ferde Iosep fram Galilea of þære ceastre Nazareth on Iudeisce ceastre Dauides, seo is genemned Beþleem, for þam þe he wæs of Dauides huse and hirede; þæt he ferde mid Marian þe him beweddod wæs, and wæs geeacnod. Soþlice wæs geworden þa hi þar wæron, hire dagas wæron gefyllede þæt heo cende. And heo cende hyre frumcennedan sunu, and hine mid cildclaþum bewand, and hine on binne alede, for þam þe hig næfdon rum on cumena huse. And hyrdas wæron on þam ylcan rice waciende, and nihtwæccan healdende ofer heora heorda. Þa stod Drihtnes engel wiþ hig, and Godes beorhtnes him ymbe scean; and hi him mycelum ege adredon. And se engel him to cwæð, Nelle ge eow adrædan; soþlice nu ic eow bodie mycelne gefean, se bið eallum folce; for þam to dæg eow ys Hælend acenned, se is Drihten Crist, on Dauides ceastre. And þis tacen eow byð: Ge gemetað an cild hræglum bewunden, and on binne aled. And þa wæs færinga geworden mid þam engle mycelnes heofenlices werydes, God heriendra and þus cweþendra, Gode sy wuldor on heahnesse, and on eorðan sybb mannum godes willan.

Luke 2:1-20, tr. John Wycliffe, 1382 (via)

And it was don in tho daies, a maundement wente out fro the emperour August, that al the world schulde be discryued. :: This firste discryuyng was maad of Cyryn, iustice of Sirie. :: And alle men wenten to make professioun, ech in to his owne citee. :: And Joseph wente vp fro Galilee, fro the citee Nazareth, in to Judee, in to a citee of Dauid, that is clepid Bethleem, for that he was of the hous and of the meyne of Dauid, :: that he schulde knouleche with Marie, his wijf, that was weddid to hym, and was greet with child. :: And it was don, while thei weren there, the daies weren fulfillid, that sche schulde bere child. :: And sche bare hir first borun sone, and wlappide hym in clothis, and leide hym in a cratche, for ther was no place to hym in no chaumbir. :: And scheepherdis weren in the same cuntre, wakynge and kepynge the watchis of the nyyt on her flok. :: And lo! the aungel of the Lord stood bisidis hem, and the cleernesse of God schinede aboute hem; and thei dredden with greet drede. :: And the aungel seide to hem, Nyle ye drede; for lo! Y preche to you a greet ioye, that schal be to al puple. :: For a sauyoure is borun to dai to you, that is Crist the Lord, in the citee of Dauid. :: And this is a tokene to you; ye schulen fynde a yong child wlappid in clothis, and leid in a cratche. :: And sudenli ther was maad with the aungel a multitude of heuenli knyythod, heriynge God, :: and seiynge, Glorie be in the hiyeste thingis to God, and in erthe pees be to men of good wille. :: And it was don, as the aungelis passiden awei fro hem in to heuene, the scheephirdis spaken togider, and seiden, Go we ouer to Bethleem, and se we this word that is maad, which the Lord hath maad, and schewide to vs. :: And thei hiyynge camen, and founden Marie and Joseph, and the yong child leid in a cratche. :: And thei seynge, knewen of the word that was seid to hem of this child. :: And alle men that herden wondriden, and of these thingis that weren seid to hem of the scheephirdis. :: But Marie kepte alle these wordis, berynge togider in hir herte. :: And the scheepherdis turneden ayen, glorifyinge and heriynge God in alle thingis that thei hadden herd and seyn, as it was seid to hem.

Luke 2:1-20, tr. William Tyndale, 1530

And it chaunced in thoose dayes: yt ther went oute a comaundment from Auguste the Emperour that all the woorlde shuld be taxed. :: And this taxynge was ye fyrst and executed when Syrenius was leftenaut in Syria. :: And every man went vnto his awne citie to be taxed. :: And Ioseph also ascended from Galile oute of a cite called Nazareth into Iurie: vnto ye cite of David which is called Bethleem because he was of the housse and linage of David :: to be taxed with Mary his spoused wyfe which was with chylde. :: And it fortuned whyll they were there her tyme was come that she shuld be delyvered. :: And she brought forth her fyrst begotten sonne and wrapped him in swadlynge cloothes and layed him in a manger because ther was no roume for them within in the ynne. :: And ther were in the same region shepherdes abydinge in the felde and watching their flocke by nyght. :: And loo: the angell of ye lorde stode harde by them and the brightnes of ye lorde shone rounde aboute them and they were soare afrayed. :: But the angell sayd vnto them: Be not afrayed. For beholde I bringe you tydinges of greate ioye yt shal come to all ye people: :: for vnto you is borne this daye in the cite of David a saveoure which is Christ ye lorde. :: And take this for a signe: ye hall fynde ye chylde swadled and layed in a mager. :: And streight waye ther was with the angell a multitude of hevenly sowdiers laudynge God and sayinge: :: Glory to God an hye and peace on the erth: and vnto men reioysynge. :: And it fortuned assone as the angels were gone awaye fro them in to heven the shepherdes sayd one to another: let vs goo eve vnto Bethleem and se this thynge that is hapened which the Lorde hath shewed vnto vs. :: And they cam with haste and founde Mary and Ioseph and the babe layde in a mager. :: And when they had sene it they publisshed a brode the sayinge which was tolde them of that chylde. :: And all that hearde it wondred at those thinges which were tolde the of the shepherdes. :: But Mary kept all thoose sayinges and pondered them in hyr hert. :: And the shepherdes retourned praysinge and laudinge God for all that they had herde and sene evyn as it was told vnto them.

Luke 2:1-20, tr. Miles Coverdale, 1535

It fortuned at the same tyme, that there wete out a comaundement fro Augustus the Emperoure, that the whole worlde shulde be taxed. And this taxynge was the first that was executed, whan Syrenius was leftenaunt in Siria. And they wente all, euery one to his owne cite to be taxed. Then Ioseph gat him vp also fro Galile, out of the cite of Nazareth, in to Iewry, to ye cite of Dauid, which is called Bethleem, (because he was of ye house and lynage of Dauid) that he might be taxed wt Mary his spoused wife, which was wt childe. And it fortuned whyle they were there, ye tyme was come, that she shulde be delyuered. And she brought forth hir first begotte sonne, & wrapped him in swadlinge clothes, and layed him in a maunger: for they had els no rowme in the ynne.

And there were in ye same region shepherdes in the felde by the foldes, and watchinge their flocke by night. And beholde, ye angell of the Lorde stode by the, and ye brightnes of the Lorde shone rounde aboute them, and they were sore afrayed. And the angell sayde vnto them: Be not afrayed. Beholde, I brynge you tydiges of greate ioye, which shall happen vnto all people: for vnto you this daye is borne ye Sauioure, eue Christ ye Lorde, in the cite of Dauid. And take this for a token: Ye shal fynde the babe swadled, and layed in a maunger. And straight waye there was by the angell a multitude of heauenly hoostes, which praysed God, and sayde: Glory be vnto God an hye, & peace vpon earth, and vnto men a good wyll.

And it fortuned wha the angels were gone from the in to heaue, the shepherdes sayde one to another: let vs go now euen vnto Bethleem, and se this thinge that is happened, which ye Lorde hath shewed vnto vs. And they came wt haist, & founde both Mary and Ioseph, & the babe layed in ye maunger. And whan they had sene it, they published abrode the sayenge, yt was tolde the of this childe. And all they that herde it, wondred at the wordes, which the shepherdes had tolde them. But Mary kepte all these sayenges, and pondred them in hir hert. And the shepherdes returned, praysinge and laudinge God, for all that they had herde and sene, euen as it was tolde them.

Luke 2:1-14, King James Version, 1611

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, she being great with child.

And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered; and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes; and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: That ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And also:

Luke 2:1-14 - Δοξα εν υψιστοις θεω, και επι γης ειρηνη εν ανθρωποις ευδοκιας
εγενετο δε εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις εξηλθεν δογμα παρα καισαρος αυγουστου απογραφεσθαι πασαν την οικουμενην
    αυτη απογραφη πρωτη εγενετο ηγεμονευοντος της συριας κυρηνιου
    και επορευοντο παντες απογραφεσθαι εκαστος εις την εαυτου πολιν
    ανεβη δε και ιωσηφ απο της γαλιλαιας εκ πολεως ναζαρεθ εις την ιουδαιαν εις πολιν δαυιδ ητις καλειται βηθλεεμ δια το ειναι αυτον εξ οικου και πατριας δαυιδ
    απογραψασθαι συν μαριαμ τη εμνηστευμενη αυτω ουση εγκυω
    εγενετο δε εν τω ειναι αυτους εκει επλησθησαν αι ημεραι του τεκειν αυτην
    και ετεκεν τον υιον αυτης τον πρωτοτοκον και εσπαργανωσεν αυτον και ανεκλινεν αυτον εν φατνη διοτι ουκ ην αυτοις τοπος εν τω καταλυματι
    και ποιμενες ησαν εν τη χωρα τη αυτη αγραυλουντες και φυλασσοντες φυλακας της νυκτος επι την ποιμνην αυτων
    και αγγελος κυριου επεστη αυτοις και δοξα κυριου περιελαμψεν αυτους και εφοβηθησαν φοβον μεγαν
    και ειπεν αυτοις ο αγγελος μη φοβεισθε ιδου γαρ ευαγγελιζομαι υμιν χαραν μεγαλην ητις εσται παντι τω λαω
    οτι ετεχθη υμιν σημερον σωτηρ ος εστιν χριστος κυριος εν πολει δαυιδ
    και τουτο υμιν το σημειον ευρησετε βρεφος εσπαργανωμενον και κειμενον εν φατνη
    και εξαιφνης εγενετο συν τω αγγελω πληθος στρατιας ουρανιου αινουντων τον θεον και λεγοντων
    δοξα εν υψιστοις θεω και επι γης ειρηνη εν ανθρωποις ευδοκιας

(Thank you, Nick Whyte.)

Luke 2:1-20 in Old Church Slavonic:

мѣсѧца дєкѧбр҄ја иг въ навєчєриѥ рождьства хрьстова єванћєлиѥ отъ лѹкъі глава в въ оно врѣмѧ изідє заповѣдь отъ кєсарѣ авгоста напісаті в҄сѫ вьсєлєнѫѭ | сє напісаніє пръвоє бъістъ владѫщѹ сѹрієѭ и кѵрінієѭ | и идѣахѫ вьсі напісатъ сѧ кьждо въ свои градъ | вьзідє жє иосіфь отъ галілєѧ и града назарєтьска вь июдєѭ вь градъ давъідовъ іжє наріцаєтъ сѧ віѳлєємь занє бѣашє отъ домѹ и отьчьствіѣ давъідова | напісатъ сѧ съ марієѭ обрѫчєнѫѭ ємѹ жєноѭ сѫштєѭ нєпраздъноѭ | бъістъ жє єгда бъістє тѹ исплънишѧ сѧ дєниє да родітъ | и роді съінъ свои пръвѣнєць и обитъі и и положі и въ ѣслєхъ занє нє бѣ има мѣста въ обитѣли | и пастъирі бѣахѫ въ тоиждє ст҄ранѣ бъдѧщє и стрѣгѫщє стражѫ нощьнѫѭ о стадѣ своємъ | и сє анћєлъ господьнь ста вь нихъ и слава господьнѣ осіѣ ѧ и ѹбоѣшѧ сѧ ст҄рахомъ вєлиємъ | и рєчє имъ анћєлъ нє боитє сѧ сє бо благовѣщаѭ вамъ радость вєліѭ ѣжє бѫдєт бьсѣмь людємъ | ѣко роді сѧ вамъ съпасъ іжє єстъ христъ господь въ градѣ давъідовѣ | и сє вамъ з҄намєниє обрѧстєтє младьнєць повітъ и лєжѧшть вь ѣслєхъ | и вънєзаапѫ бъістъ съ ангѣломъ м҄ножьство вои нєбєснъіих хвалѧштиихъ бога и глаголѭшть | сла въ въішніих богѹ и на зєми миръ въ чловѣцѣхъ благоволєниє | и бъістъ ѣко отідѫ оть ніхъ анћєлі на нєбо и чловѣци пастъирі рѣшѧ дрѹгь кь дрѹгѹ прѣидѣмъ ѹбо до віѳлєома и відімъ глаголь сь бъівьшіи єгожє господь съказа нам | и прѣидѫ под҄вігьшє сѧ и обрѣтѫ маріѭ и иосифа и младьнєць лєжѧшть вь ѣслєхъ | видѣвъшє жє ськазашѧ о глаголѣ глаголанѣмь о отрочѧті сємъ | и въсі слъішавъшє дівішѧ сѧ о глаголанъіихъ отъ пастъирь кь німъ | маріѣ жє вьсѧ съблюдаашє глаголъі сіи въ срьдьци своємъ | и възвратішѧ сѧ пастъірі славѧштє и хвалѧштє бога о в҄сѣхъ ѣжє слъішашѧ и відѣшѧ ѣкожє глаголано бъисть кь нимъ |

(Thank you, Xopher)

Vulgate: Luke 2:1-14

Factum est autem in diebus illis, exiit edictum a Cæsare Augusto ut describeretur universus orbis. Hæc descriptio prima facta est a præside Syriæ Cyrino: et ibant omnes ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem. Ascendit autem et Joseph a Galilæa de civitate Nazareth in Judæam, in civitatem David, quæ vocatur Bethlehem: eo quod esset de domo et familia David, ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore prægnante. Factum est autem, cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret. Et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit, et reclinavit eum in præsepio: quia non erat eis locus in diversorio. Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum. Et ecce angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. Et dixit illis angelus: Nolite timere: ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo: quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David. Et hoc vobis signum: invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in præsepio. Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militiæ cælestis laudantium Deum, et dicentium: [Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis.]

(Thank you, Sisuile.)

Luke 2:14 in Gothic

Warth than in dagans jainans. urrann gagrefts fram kaisara Agustau gameljan allana midjungard. soh than gilstrameleins frumista warth at wisandin kindina Swriais raginondin Saurim Kwreinaiau. jah iddjedun allai ei melidai weseina. hwarjizuh in seinai baurg. urrann than jah Iosef us Galeilaia. us baurg Nazaraith in Iudaian. in baurg Daweidis sei haitada Bethlaihaim duthe ei was us garda fadreinais Daweidis. anameljan mith Mariin. sei in fragiftim was imma qeins. wisandein inkilthon. warth than miththanei. tho wesun jainar. usfullnodedun dagos du bairan izai jah gabar sunu seinana thana frumabaur. jah biwand ina jah galagida ina in uzetin. unte ni was im rumis in stada thamma.

jah hairdjos wesun in thamma samin landa, thairhwakandans jah witandans wahtwom nahts ufaro hairdai seinai. ith aggilus fraujins anaqam ins jah wulthus fraujins biskain ins, jah ohtedun agisa mikilamma. jah qath du im sa aggilus: ni ogeith, unte sai, spillo izwis faheid mikila, sei wairthith allai managein, thatei gabaurans ist izwis himma daga nasjands, saei ist Xristus frauja, in baurg Daweidis. jah thata izwis taikns: bigitid barn biwundan jah galagid in uzetin. jah anaks warth mith thamma aggilau managei harjis himinakundis hazjandane guth jah qithandane:

wulthus in hauhistjam guda
jah ana airthai gawairthi in mannam godis wiljins.

(Thank you, Lisa Spangenberg, a.k.a. the Digital Medievalist; who in turn gives credit to “Jim Marchand, medievalist extraordinaire.”) (see also)

Lowlands Scots

About this time the Emperor Augustus pat furth an edick ordeinin at aa the fowk i the haill warld suid be registrate. This wis whan Quirinius wis Governor o Syria, an it wis the first time at siccan a thing hed been dune. Sae aabodie gaed tae be registrate, ilkane til his ain toun, Joseph amang the lave.

He belanged til the stock an faimlie o Dauvit, an sae it was wis tae Dauvit’s Toun, Bethlehem in Judaea, at he gaed doun frae Nazareth in Galilee for tae gie in his name, takkin Mary, at wis haundfastit til him, wi him. She wis boukin gin this; an whan they war in Bethlehem, she cam til her time an brocht hame her first-born son. She swealed the bairn in a barrie an beddit him in a heck, sin there wis nae room for them intil the inn.

Nou, i that same pairt the war a wheen herds bidin thereout on the hill an keepin gaird owre their hrisel at nicht. Suddent an angel o the Lord cam an stuid afore them, an the glorie o the Lord shined about them, an they war uncolie frichtit. But the angel said tae them: Binna nane afeard, I bring ye guid news o gryte blytheness for the haill fowk—this day in Dauvit’s Town a saviour hes born til ye, Christ the Lord! This gate ye s’ken it is een as I say: ye will finnd a new-born bairn swealed in a barrie an liggin intil a heck.

Syne in a gliff an unco thrang o the airmies o hieven kythed aside the angel, glein laud tae God an liltin:

Glore tae God i the heicht o heiven, an peace on the yird tae men he delytes in!

(Thank you, Lee Sandlin.)

Swedish

(Translation anno 2000)

Vid den tiden utfärdade kejsar Augustus en förordning om att hela världen skulle skattskrivas. Det var den första skattskrivningen, och den hölls när Quirinius var ståthållare i Syrien. Alla gick då för att skattskriva sig, var och en till sin stad. Och Josef, som genom sin härkomst hörde till Davids hus, begav sig från Nasaret i Galileen upp till Judeen, till Davids stad Betlehem, för att skattskriva sig tillsammans med Maria, sin trolovade, som väntade sitt barn. Medan de befann sig där var tiden inne för henne att föda, och hon födde sin son, den förstfödde. Hon lindade honom och lade honom i en krubba, eftersom det inte fanns plats för dem inne i härbärget. I samma trakt låg några herdar ute och vaktade sin hjord om natten. Då stod Herrens ängel framför dem och Herrens härlighet lyste omkring dem, och de greps av stor förfäran. Men ängeln sade till dem: “Var inte rädda. Jag bär bud till er om en stor glädje, en glädje för hela folket. I dag har en frälsare fötts åt er i Davids stad, han är Messias, Herren. Och detta är tecknet för er: ni skall finna ett nyfött barn som är lindat och ligger i en krubba.” Och plötsligt var där tillsammans med ängeln en stor himmelsk här som prisade Gud:

“Ära i höjden åt Gud
och på jorden fred åt dem han har utvalt.”

(Translation anno 1917)

Och det hände sig vid den tiden att från kejsar Augustus utgick ett påbud att hela världen skulle skattskrivas. Detta var den första skattskrivningen, och den hölls, när Kvirinius var landshövding över Syrien. Då färdades alla var och en till sin stad, för att låta skattskriva sig. Så gjorde ock Josef; och eftersom han var av Davids hus och släkt, for han från staden Nasaret i Galileen upp till Davids stad, som heter Betlehem, i Judeen, för att låta skattskriva sig jämte Maria, sin trolovade, som var havande. Medan de voro där, hände sig att tiden var inne, då hon skulle föda. Och hon födde sin förstfödde son och lindade honom och lade honom i en krubba, ty det fanns icke rum för dem i härbärget. I samma nejd voro då några herdar ute på marken och höllo vakt om natten över sin hjord. Då stod en Herrens ängel framför dem, och Herrens härlighet kringstrålade dem; och de blevo mycket förskräckta. Men ängeln sade till dem: »Varen icke förskräckta. Se, jag bådar eder en stor glädje, som skall vederfaras allt folket. Ty i dag har en Frälsare blivit född åt eder i Davids stad, och han är Messias, Herren. Och detta skall för eder vara tecknet: I skolen finna ett nyfött barn, som ligger lindat i en krubba.» I detsamma sågs där jämte ängeln en stor hop av den himmelska härskaran, och de lovade Gud och sade:

»Ära vare Gud i höjden, och frid på jorden,
bland människor till vilka han har behag!»

(Translation anno 1541 - Gustavus Vasa’s bible, translated from Martin Luther’s bible)

Thet begaff sigh j then tijdhen, at aff Keysar Augusto vthgick itt bodh, at all werlden skulle beskattas. Och thenna beskatning war then första, och skeedde vnder then Höffdingen offuer Syrien, Kyrenio. Och the gingo alle hwar vthi sin stadh, til at läta beskatta sigh. Så foor ock Joseph vp aff Galilea, aff then stadhen Nazareth in vthi Judeska landet, til Dauidz stadh, som heter Bethlehem, Ty han war aff Dauidz hws och slecht, på thet han skulle låta beskatta sigh medh Maria sijn troloffuadha hustru, hwilken haffuandes war. Så begaff sigh medhan the woro ther, wordo daghanar fulbordadhe, at hon skulle födha. Och hon födde sin förstfödda Son, och swepte honom j lindaklädher, och ladhe honom nedher j een krubbo, Ty them war icke rwm j herberghena. Och j then samma egnden woro någhre Heerdar, the ther wakadhe och höllo wård om nattena offuer sin hiord. Och sij, Herrans Ängel stoodh när them, och Herrans klarheet kringskeen them, och the wordo stoorligha förfäradhe. Och sadhe Ängelen til them, Warer icke förfäradhe, Sij, iagh bodhar idher stoor glädhi, hwilken allo folckena widerfaras skal, Ty jdagh är idher födder Frelsaren, som är Christus Herren, j Dauidz stadh. Och thetta skal wara idher för tekn. J skole finna Barnet swept j lindaklädher, nedherlagdt j een krubbo. Och strax wardt medh Ängelen itt stoort taal aff then himmelska häärskaran, the ther loffuadhe Gudh, och sadhe, Ära ware Gudh j högden, Och på jordenne fridh, Och menniskiomen en godh wilie.

(Thank you, Mikael Johansson.)

Nederlandse Statenvertaling (1637), Lukas 2:1 - 20

1 En het geschiedde in diezelfde dagen, dat er een gebod uitging van den Keizer Augustus, dat de gehele wereld beschreven zou worden.
2 Deze eerste beschrijving geschiedde, als Cyrenius over Syrie stadhouder was.
3 En zij gingen allen om beschreven te worden, een iegelijk naar zijn eigen stad.
4 En Jozef ging ook op van Galilea, uit de stad Nazareth, naar Judea, tot de stad Davids, die Bethlehem genaamd wordt, (omdat hij uit het huis en geslacht van David was);
5 Om beschreven te worden met Maria, zijn ondertrouwde vrouw, welke bevrucht was.
6 En het geschiedde, als zij daar waren, dat de dagen vervuld werden, dat zij baren zoude.
7 En zij baarde haar eerstgeboren Zoon, en wond Hem in doeken, en legde Hem neder in de kribbe, omdat voor henlieden geen plaats was in de herberg.
8 En er waren herders in diezelfde landstreek, zich houdende in het veld, en hielden de nachtwacht over hun kudde.
9 En ziet, een engel des Heeren stond bij hen, en de heerlijkheid des Heeren omscheen hen, en zij vreesden met grote vreze.
10 En de engel zeide tot hen: Vreest niet, want, ziet, ik verkondig u grote blijdschap, die al den volke wezen zal;
11 Namelijk dat u heden geboren is de Zaligmaker, welke is Christus, de Heere, in de stad Davids.
12 En dit zal u het teken zijn: gij zult het Kindeken vinden in doeken gewonden, en liggende in de kribbe.
13 En van stonde aan was er met den engel een menigte des hemelsen heirlegers, prijzende God en zeggende:
14 Ere zij God in de hoogste hemelen, en vrede op aarde, in de mensen een welbehagen.
15 En het geschiedde, als de engelen van hen weggevaren waren naar de hemel, dat de herders tot elkander zeiden: Laat ons dan heengaan naar Bethlehem, en laat ons zien het woord, dat er geschied is, hetwelk de Heere ons heeft verkondigd.
16 En zij kwamen met haast, en vonden Maria en Jozef, en het Kindeken liggende in de kribbe.
17 En als zij Het gezien hadden, maakten zij alom bekend het woord, dat hun van dit Kindeken gezegd was.
18 En allen, die het hoorden, verwonderden zich over hetgeen hun gezegd werd van de herders.
19 Doch Maria bewaarde deze woorden alle te zamen, overleggende die in haar hart.
20 En de herders keerde wederom, verheerlijkende en prijzende God over alles, wat zij gehoord en gezien hadden, gelijk tot hen gesproken was.

In Portuguese:

1. Naqueles tempos apareceu um decreto de César Augusto, ordenando o recenseamento de toda a terra.
2. Este recenseamento foi feito antes do governo de Quirino, na Síria.
3. Todos iam alistar-se, cada um na sua cidade.
4. Também José subiu da Galiléia, da cidade de Nazaré, à Judéia, à Cidade de Davi, chamada Belém, porque era da casa e família de Davi,
5. para se alistar com a sua esposa Maria, que estava grávida.
6. Estando eles ali, completaram-se os dias dela.
7. E deu à luz seu filho primogênito, e, envolvendo-o em faixas, reclinou-o num presépio; porque não havia lugar para eles na hospedaria.
8. Havia nos arredores uns pastores, que vigiavam e guardavam seu rebanho nos campos durante as vigílias da noite.
9. Um anjo do Senhor apareceu-lhes e a glória do Senhor refulgiu ao redor deles, e tiveram grande temor.
10. O anjo disse-lhes: Não temais, eis que vos anuncio uma boa nova que será alegria para todo o povo:
11. hoje vos nasceu na Cidade de Davi um Salvador, que é o Cristo Senhor.
12. Isto vos servirá de sinal: achareis um recém-nascido envolto em faixas e posto numa manjedoura.
13. E subitamente ao anjo se juntou uma multidão do exército celeste, que louvava a Deus e dizia:
14. Glória a Deus no mais alto dos céus e na terra paz aos homens, objetos da benevolência (divina).

(Thank you, Fragano)

In Icelandic:

Lúkasar guðspjall 2:1-20

En það bar til um þessar mundir, að boð kom frá Ágústus keisara, að skrásetja skyldi alla heimsbyggðina. Þetta var fyrsta skrásetningin og var gjörð þá er Kýreníus var landstjóri á Sýrlandi. Fóru þá allir til að láta skrásetja sig, hver til sinnar borgar. Þá fór og Jósef úr Galíleu frá borginni Nasaret upp til Júdeu, til borgar Davíðs, að láta skrásetja sig ásamt Maríu heitkonu sinni, sem var þunguð. En meðan þau voru þar, kom sá tími, er hún skyldi verða léttari. Fæddi jún þá son sinn frumgetinn, vafði hann reifum og lagði hann í jötu, af því að eigi var rúm handa þeim í gistihúsi.

En í sömu byggð voru hirðar úti í haga og gættu um nóttina hjarðar sinnar. Og engill Drottins stóð hjá þeim, og dýrð Drottins ljómaði kringum þá. Þeir urðu mjög hræddir, en engillinn sagði við þá: “Verið óhræddir, því sjá, ég boða yður mikinn fögnuð, sem veitast mun öllum lýðnum: Yður er í dag frelsari fæddur, sem er Kristur Drottinn, í borg Davíðs. Og hafði þetta til marks: Þið munuð finna ungbarn reifað og lagt í jötu.”

Og í sömu svipan var með englinum fjöldi himneskra hersveita, sem lofuðu Guð og sögðu: Dýrð sé Guði í upphæðum og friður á jörðu með mönnum, sem hann hefur velþóknun á. Þegar englarnir voru farnir frá þeim til himins, sögðu hirðarnir sín á milli: “Förum beint til Betlahem að sjá það, sem gjörst hefur og Drottinn hefur kunngjört oss” Og þeir fóru með skyndi og fundu Maríu og Jósef og ungbarnið, sem lá í jötu. Þegar þeir sáu það, skýrðu þeir frá því, er þeim hafði verið sagt um barn þetta. Og allir, sem heyrðu, undruðust það, er hirðarnir sögðu þeim. En María geymdi allt þetta í hjarta sér og hugleiddi það. Og hirðarnir sneru aftur og vegsömuðu Guð og lofuðu hann fyrir það, sem þeir höfðu heyrt og séð, en allt var það eins og þeim hafði verið sagt.

(Thank you, Sica)

Martin Luther, 1545:

1. Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit, daß ein Gebot vom Kaiser Augustusausging, daß alle Welt geschätzt würde. :: 2. Und diese Schätzung war die allererste und geschah zu der Zeit, daCyrenius Landpfleger in Syrien war :: 3. Und jedermann ging, daß er sich schätzen ließe, ein. jeglicher inseine Stadt. :: 4. Da machte sich auch auf Joseph aus Galiläa, aus der Stadt Nazareth,in das jüdische Land zur Stadt Davids die da heißt Bethlehem, darum daßer von dem Hause und Geschlechte Davids war :: 5. auf daß er sich schätzen ließe mit Maria, seinem vertrauten Weibe,die war schwanger. :: 6. Und als sie daselbst waren, kam die Zeit, daß sie gebären sollte. :: 7. Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn und wickelte ihn in Windeln undlegte ihn in eine Krippe; denn sie hatten sonst keinen Raum in derHerberge. :: 8. Und es waren Hirten in derselbigen Gegend auf dem Felde bei denHürden, die hüteten des Nachts ihre Herde. :: 9. und siehe des Herrn Engel trat zu ihnen, und die Klarheit des Herrnleuchtete um sie, und sie fürchteten sich sehr. :: 10. Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen: Fürchtet euch nicht! Siehe, ichverkündige euch große Freude, die allem Volk widerfahren wird; :: 11. denn euch ist heute der Heiland geboren, welcher ist Christus, derHerr, in der Stadt Davids. :: 12. Und das habt zum Zeichen: Ihr werdet finden das Kind in Windelngewickelt und in einer Krippe liegen. :: 13. Und alsbald war da bei dem Engel die Menge der himmlischenHeerscharen, die lobten Gott und sprachen: :: 14. Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe und Friede auf Erden und den Menschenein Wohlgefallen! :: 15. Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren, sprachen die Hirtenuntereinander: Laßt uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem und die Geschichtesehen, die da geschehen ist, die uns der Herr kundgetan hat. :: 16. Und sie kamen eilend und fanden beide, Maria und Joseph, dazu dasKind in der Krippe liegen. :: 17. Da sie es aber gesehen hatten breiteten sie das Wort aus, welcheszu ihnen von diesem Kind gesagt war. :: 18. Und alle, vor die es kam, wunderten sich der Rede, die ihnen dieHirten gesagt hatten. :: 19. Maria aber behielt alle diese Worte und bewegete sie in ihremHerzen. :: 20. Und die Hirten kehreten wieder um, preiseten und lobten Gott umalles, was sie gehöret und gesehen hatten, wie denn zu ihnen gesagt war.

(Thank you, Fidelio)

In Quenya:

1. Ar túlë entë auressen i etelendë canwa Auhustus i Táraranello, i mo notumnë quanda ambar. :: 2. Minya notië sina martanë írë Quirinius nánë cáno Sírio. :: 3. Ilyë queni lender náven nótinë, ilquen véra ostoryanna. :: 4. Yando Yósef lendë amba Alilëallo, et i ostollo Nasaret, mir Yúrëa, Laviro ostonna, ya ná estaina Vet-Lehem, pan anes maro ar nossëo Laviro, :: 5. náven nótina as María ye nánë antaina sen vestalessë, ar ye sí nánë lapsarwa. :: 6. Írë engettë tassë, i lúmë túlë yassë columnes lapserya. :: 7. Ar colles yondorya, i minnóna, ar se-vaitanes ar panyane se salquecolcassë, pan lá engë tún nómë mí marmen. :: 8. Enger mavalli i imya nóressë i marner i restassë, tírala lámáreltar i lómissë. :: 9. Ar i Héruo vala tarnë ara te, ar i Héruo alcar caltanë os te, ar túra caurë nampë te. :: 10. Mal i vala quentë téna: “Áva rucë, pan inyë cára sinwa len túra alassë ya nauva i quanda lien, :: 11. an anaië cólina len síra Rehtando, ye ná Hristo, i Heru, Laviro ostossë. :: 12. Ar si nauva tanna len: Hiruvaldë vinimo, vaitana ar caitala salquecolcassë.” :: 13. Ar rincanen engë as i vala rimbë i meneldëa hossëo, laitala Eru ar quétala: :: 14. “Alcar i tarmenissen na Erun, ar cemendë rainë atanin pa i sanas mai.”

(Thank you, Helge Kåre Fauskanger at Ardalambion.)

- o0o -

From Sisuile, Isaiah 9:6:

Parvulus enim natus est nobis filius datus est nobis et factus est principatus super umerum eius et vocabitur nomen eius Admirabilis consiliarius Deus fortis Pater futuri saeculi Princeps pacis.

From Paul Duncanson, the LOLcat version.

From Linkmeister, Linus explains Christmas.

Jo Walton’s 2009 story about Joseph, and a new Christmas story for this year.

John Scalzi’s Interview with the Nativity Innkeeper..

From Pericat, the IRC version.

Debcha is big on Wayne Coyne’s Twelve reasons why Christmas matters.

From me, two Christmas carols found last year for which I still don’t have music: (1.) Ipse Mocat Me. (2.) An Aungell fro Hevn Gan Lyth, which as far as I know is the only Christmas carol that depicts God as a knitter. *

And all the riches of the comment thread.

Merry Christmas to all, and thank you for being here.

Comments on Texts, 2010:
#1 ::: MacAllister ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:06 AM:

Happy Christmas, Teresa and Patrick, Abi, Jim, and the Fluorosphere. My life is richer for knowing you.

#2 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:20 AM:

Blessings of the season to all the wondrous folk I've met through this site, both in e-space and in real life.

Hope everyone has a healthy,fulfilling and prosperous new year with lots of blessings!

#3 ::: Xopher ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:27 AM:

Hey, I found the Old Church Slavic:

мѣсѧца дєкѧбр҄ја иг въ навєчєриѥ рождьства хрьстова єванћєлиѥ отъ лѹкъі глава в въ оно врѣмѧ изідє заповѣдь отъ кєсарѣ авгоста напісаті в҄сѫ вьсєлєнѫѭ | сє напісаніє пръвоє бъістъ владѫщѹ сѹрієѭ и кѵрінієѭ | и идѣахѫ вьсі напісатъ сѧ кьждо въ свои градъ | вьзідє жє иосіфь отъ галілєѧ и града назарєтьска вь июдєѭ вь градъ давъідовъ іжє наріцаєтъ сѧ віѳлєємь занє бѣашє отъ домѹ и отьчьствіѣ давъідова | напісатъ сѧ съ марієѭ обрѫчєнѫѭ ємѹ жєноѭ сѫштєѭ нєпраздъноѭ | бъістъ жє єгда бъістє тѹ исплънишѧ сѧ дєниє да родітъ | и роді съінъ свои пръвѣнєць и обитъі и и положі и въ ѣслєхъ занє нє бѣ има мѣста въ обитѣли | и пастъирі бѣахѫ въ тоиждє ст҄ранѣ бъдѧщє и стрѣгѫщє стражѫ нощьнѫѭ о стадѣ своємъ | и сє анћєлъ господьнь ста вь нихъ и слава господьнѣ осіѣ ѧ и ѹбоѣшѧ сѧ ст҄рахомъ вєлиємъ | и рєчє имъ анћєлъ нє боитє сѧ сє бо благовѣщаѭ вамъ радость вєліѭ ѣжє бѫдєт бьсѣмь людємъ | ѣко роді сѧ вамъ съпасъ іжє єстъ христъ господь въ градѣ давъідовѣ | и сє вамъ з҄намєниє обрѧстєтє младьнєць повітъ и лєжѧшть вь ѣслєхъ | и вънєзаапѫ бъістъ съ ангѣломъ м҄ножьство вои нєбєснъіих хвалѧштиихъ бога и глаголѭшть | сла въ въішніих богѹ и на зєми миръ въ чловѣцѣхъ благоволєниє | и бъістъ ѣко отідѫ оть ніхъ анћєлі на нєбо и чловѣци пастъирі рѣшѧ дрѹгь кь дрѹгѹ прѣидѣмъ ѹбо до віѳлєома и відімъ глаголь сь бъівьшіи єгожє господь съказа нам | и прѣидѫ под҄вігьшє сѧ и обрѣтѫ маріѭ и иосифа и младьнєць лєжѧшть вь ѣслєхъ | видѣвъшє жє ськазашѧ о глаголѣ глаголанѣмь о отрочѧті сємъ | и въсі слъішавъшє дівішѧ сѧ о глаголанъіихъ отъ пастъирь кь німъ | маріѣ жє вьсѧ съблюдаашє глаголъі сіи въ срьдьци своємъ | и възвратішѧ сѧ пастъірі славѧштє и хвалѧштє бога о в҄сѣхъ ѣжє слъішашѧ и відѣшѧ ѣкожє глаголано бъисть кь нимъ |

I found it here. My favorite line of that was always и рєчє имъ анћєлъ нє боитє сѧ (i rehcheh imə angehlih neh boiteh sã - and the angel said, fear not), mostly because I like the way it sounds. We that was always the last translation exercise in Old Church Slavic class before winter break (the professor always made sure OCS was offered fall term). It was kinda cool.

#4 ::: Xopher ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:35 AM:

Actually ѧ is more like the a in 'cat', but nasalized. So sã wasn't a very good transliteration. I can't figure out how to get a tilde over an æ, though, so I'm not sure what to do.

#5 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:39 AM:

Gaudete and so forth.

*grins*

#6 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:40 AM:

(... and I wonder how many people I just earwormed with that comment!)

#7 ::: Teresa Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:41 AM:

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Next year, I'll know I need to have the Christmas post ready and waiting in the queue if I'm going to midnight Mass. I'm still picking up the fine points of being a Catholic. I suspect it's a lifelong process.

Xopher, I have a jar of ecumenical Etrog/Buddha's Hand citron marmalade with your name on it.

#8 ::: Wirelizard ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:45 AM:

No LOLCat this year? I've enjoyed that translation since I first learned of it, it bring the proper respect and gravitas to the NT.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas - my contribution to general holiday cheer, a single-sheet typesetting of the famous poem. With PDF version for reading by the fire with care, if you've a mind to.

Merry Christmas, Happy (Belated) Solstice &c to our hosts and all assembled!

#9 ::: Lee ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:47 AM:

Gaudete

I love the way this sounds like you're hearing it as a procession passes by. It's also the first version I ever heard, so ones with more "proper" pronunciation sound wrong to me now. :-)

#10 ::: Teresa Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:51 AM:

Wirelizard, I'm still catching up. Some of those links may not appear until tomorrow morning. I can feel gravity about to pounce on me.

#11 ::: Xopher ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:04 AM:

TNH, mmmMMMMmmmm!!!!!! I cannot wait! Yummity yum yum!

#12 ::: Teresa Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:11 AM:

Links up but gravity down. See you in the morning for our canonical Christmas breakfast: coffee, panettone, and clementines.

#13 ::: pericat ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:14 AM:

Gaudete, indeed. And a Merry Christmas to all!

#14 ::: Tom Whitmore ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:20 AM:

Best of Christmases, happiest of New Years to those who frequent here. There's a video of the Twitter/Facebook version that I saw recently, that might actually fit nicely; should I try to find it, or is that enough info for this group?

#15 ::: Madeleine Robins ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:22 AM:

Peace, joy, warmth and love to all who dwell here...

#16 ::: abi ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:39 AM:

A merry Christmas, or at least a restful and joyful weekend, to everyone in my beloved Fluorosphere. I am forever grateful for the gifts you all give me, and for those you allow me to give back.

The priest at vigil Mass sang such a blessing down upon us that I had to unbow my head and look. I have never seen such an expression on his face; he was afire with joy. May we all find, or pursue, such a calling this coming year.

#17 ::: Paul Duncanson ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 03:28 AM:

Merry Christmas to all.

I can't help noticing the prevalence of wintry themes in a lot of the postings about Christmas here and elsewhere. There's nothing wrong with that but here in this corner of the Southern Hemisphere, it has been a warm sunny day, and the only snow we're thinking of is the kind in cones. So lest any of us from warmer climes feel the need for a break from sleigh bells and snowmen, here's an Australian Christmas song (and it's atheist-friendly too so we'll have no bah-ing or humbuggery).

White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin

#18 ::: Brooks Moses ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 03:31 AM:

Merry Christmas!

It is, indeed, a blessing to come home from the candlelight service and find this here. Thank you.

#19 ::: Antonia T. Tiger ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 04:01 AM:

And, to keep us all safe in our beds, NORAD is tracking Santa.


Two Aviators
A Tale of the Spontoon Islands

"Argus Control to Thunderbird One, over."

Lady Helen pressed the switch under her pinky finger. "Argus Control, go ahead."

"Target, range ninety, altitude angels two four, bearing zero zero four.
Intercept and identify."

Lady Helen scanned the gauges, fuel in particular, and eased her plane into a
gentle climb, turning onto the vector. "Roger that, Thunderbird one turning onto
bearing and climbing."

There wasn't silence, just noise from the big radial engine overlaid with the
crackling in her headphones and the faint whine from the turbocharger.

"Thunderbird One, come port to three fiver seven. Target speed is three one
zero. Range eighty two, holding altitude."

She blinked twice, making that slight turn. 310 knots was fast at this altitude.
Sure, there was less drag in the thin air, and less for the airscrew to bit
into, less for the engine to breathe. Here eyes glanced of the flow meter for
her oxygen, engine oil pressure, cylinder head temperature, fuel flow, all the
myriad technicalities which kept her flying and alive, so high in the winter
twilight. This high she was still in the last of the sunlight, the red glow to
the southwest.

She would make this intercept, she figured, almost three hundred miles from
home. She'd have to be careful of her fuel. And with that thought she adjusted
the mixture a fraction, a little leaner, compensating for the increase in
altitude, burning less of her precious petrol at the expense of a slightly
higher engine temperature, a little closer to that red line,

"Argus Control, Thunderbird One, any idea where this came from? I don't recall
anything on the charts this side of the Aleutians."

"Thunderbird One, we're as puzzled as you are. Might be Russian. Your guess is
as good as mine."

"Roger that." Lady Helen grinned for a moment. It was hardly likely to be an
innocent traveller, now was it. But she didn't want to flick toe lock off the
firing button, not on this night. It was coming straight for the Spontoons, as
near as she could judge. Maybe it was a reconnaisance plane. "Please don't let
it be hostile." She didn't key the microphone.

And if it was hostile? Her kids were on the Spontoons. She wasn't going to do
anything crazy, but she could keep them safe, whichever night it was. She'd seen
London in the blitz, and seen the mansion she'd been raised in crumbling in
flames, and she'd seen that you couldn't kill a city.

You still could kill a lot of people.

She was going to come at the target from the east, out of the night sky, almost
invisible. If it was hostile, if she did attack, maybe the first they'd know of
her presence was the impact of the 20mm shells. She hoped that they would die
quickly. Better that than to drop into the sea on a parachute on a dark winter
night, lost and alone. She knew that, even in a Songmark Suit such as she wore,
the chances of being rescued were zero. Better to let the cold northern ocean
suck the heat from your body, and kill you before you knew it.

Maybe even better not to bother opening your parachute, but she knew that they'd
come looking for her if she was in the water. She had to give them a chance.

The Thunderbird Squadron didn't give up.

She switched on the radio direction indicator. It needed time to warm up. The
weight of the pod meant that one of the guns in the starboard wing had been
removed. Better that than reducing the fuel carried. It meant a slightly
different aileron trim, even then.

The Luftwaffe had started flying at night because they couldn't live over London
by daylight. It had mostly been the Hurricanes of the RAF even as the Spitfires
got the publicity. Thunderbird Squadron, and three Naval Syndicate squadrons,
contracted to the Dominion of Canada, had arrived at the end of August. Ugly
planes, some had said, but they had been built with the range to fly a long way,
fight a battle, and return to base. They carried heavier guns. And they had
trained to fight the highly maneuverable fighter planes of Cipangu: no twisting
and turning, but speed and energy were the roots of the way she fought.

She hadn't looked at her ASI as she'd come of of the sun at the Heinkels over
the Thames, but it had happened with incredible speed. Pick your target, shoot,
hope you didn't collide, and pull up into a zoom climb. She hadn't seen the
debris frying off her targets until the camera-gun films had been developed. She
didn't realise she had been shot at until Antoinette had complained about having
to patch the holes.

Her plane had her name painted on the fuselage, just below the port side
windscreen frame, and below it were three little rising sun flags and as many
swastikas.

"Argus Control, Thunderbird One, I have contact. Closing to visual range. Over."

What could it be that wouldn't be hostile? She flicked off the safety lock.

Five miles. The scope was showing the target, a little higher than she was. It
would be a dot against the flow of the sunset, while she would be lost in the
shadow of the night. Four miles. Was that a light?

Lady Helen eased back on the throttle and turned to fly close formation. She
could see the pilot--of course he was the pilot, he was controlling a a
transport aircraft. He might be wearing red, and she couldn't see any sign of an
oxygen mask, but for sure he was an aviator, doing his job.

He looked at her and waved. She waved back, and then took a moment to scan her
instruments, making a point of checking her oxygen flowmeter.

"Argus Control, Thunderbird One, I have visual contact. Over."

"Thunderbird One, is the target friendly? Over?"

She looked at the sleight just beyond her wingtip, and the six reindeer, and the
red glow of the nose of the lead. "Argus Control, target is friendly." She waved
again. "Returning to base. Over."

"You're sure?" After all, what flew at those speeds and altitudes.

She was on the right heading for the Spontoons. "Repeat, Target friendly." She
grinned beneath her mask. "Classify it as a scheduled overnight cargo flight,
inbound to the Spontoons from the North Pole."

She waggled her wings, gained a little separation, and did a slow barrel roll
around the sleigh, letting it pull away as she set her engine for range instead
of speed. "Argus Control, Merry Christmas. Thunderbird One returning to base."

#20 ::: Debbie ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 04:19 AM:

Merry, merry Christmas, Teresa and Patrick and all Fluorospherians. Thank you for the sanity and the warmth and the humor and the wit and the depth and the recipes and...

#21 ::: Meg Thornton ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 06:13 AM:

Seasonal (or unseasonal, recipient's choice) greetings to everyone here, and best wishes for the coming year. A hearty "thank you" to the folks responsible for keeping the site running, and to the folks who supply the content and the moderation. An even more hearty "thank you" to both Teresa and Patrick, for letting us chatter away in their online living room.

Best wishes for 2011.

#22 ::: Julia Jones ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 06:37 AM:

Merry Christmas to you all. Thank you for the gifts I've had from the Fluorosphere this year -- not least the offering from Antonia T Tiger @19. :-)

#23 ::: Raphael ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 07:21 AM:

Happy (or at least kind of sufferable) Holidays, everyone! Greetings and Blessings!

#24 ::: Teresa Nielsen Hayden ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 08:07 AM:

Our tree this year (Dwarf Alberta Spruce, live, in a pot) is too small for some of our usual decorations, so I've hung them from the blinds on the window behind it. Our treetop angel is up there, aligned with the topmost point of the Christmas tree. Below her are the booby-trapped Christmas rocketship, and the ornamental Christmas-tree ball that has a circular window broken out of one side and a small purple alien peeking out. Also, Saint Nicholas.

The smallest string of white Christmas lights was enough for the tree itself. The strings of colored lights have been plied together (green twist ties are just the right color) and coiled into a loose collar around the pot. On the table in front of that, the plastic dinosaurs are arranged en diorama.

I've tried to get some photos. I'll try again later when the lights are on in the room. Right now, Elise is asleep on the sofa.

I have some baking to do now, and after that I have to get the roast into the oven. It's about 120 degrees of a standing rib roast of pork, which was all my grocery had left at the end of the day after advertising standing rib roast for $3.99 a pound. I also have a couple of nice little whole pork tenderloins to keep it from feeling lonely.

With it we'll have stuffing (though not in the heroic quantities we had at Thanksgiving), an assortment of roasted root vegetables, some little red beets I've had pickling in a spiced marinade for two weeks, a big green salad, and sliced fresh baguettes with very good butter and/or pureed roast red peppers and/or harissa.

And after that, there'll be no dessert at all unless I go get it into the oven now.

#25 ::: TexAnne ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 08:10 AM:

Jo has given us another text.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and happy weekend to those who don't. You all make my life much better.

#26 ::: Serge ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 09:07 AM:

Joyeux Noël, toutes et tous!

#27 ::: Lila ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 09:29 AM:

Merry Christmas, everybody. Our part of Georgia is expecting measurable snow later today--if it happens, it will be the first measurable Christmas snow here since 1882. If you're on the road, stay safe--if you're staying put, stay warm!

#28 ::: Cadbury Moose ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 09:35 AM:

Teresa @ #24

This moose learned at a fairly early age to not buy live, potted, Christmas trees. (Or, if you do, give them to someone else afterwards, rather than planting them in your garden.) The trio I can see from the kitchen window are now approximately 40 feet high, much to the annoyance of one neighbour. (It's also a bad idea to plant things like Ash and Maple....)

Merry Christmas/Seasons Greeting to one and all.

#29 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 11:05 AM:

Compliments of the Season to all. To all a joyous morning.

#30 ::: P J Evans ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 11:26 AM:

24
Ah, the joys of trees that need teeny ornaments.
We used 12mm ornaments on the dwarf Alberta spruce we had when I was young. The big ornaments were the 25mm ones, which are the smallest I've seen available in the last several years. It made decorating the tree interesting the year my grandmother made us use a 6-foot cut tree, instead of the baby pine that had replaced the spruce.

#31 ::: P J Evans ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 11:29 AM:

also, in Welsh, from William Morgan's bible, pennod 2.

#32 ::: David Harmon ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 11:35 AM:

Cadbury Moose: The trio I can see from the kitchen window are now approximately 40 feet high

As far as I'm concerned, planting trees is a good thing! (And why are Ash and Maple particular problems?)

Down in VA we've got a Winter Storm Watch, but the snow, if any, isn't supposed to hit until late tonight. I was going to go out for Chinese food tonight, but it just occurred to me that on the other side of me is a really good Indian place....

#33 ::: abi ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 11:43 AM:

Our tree is a cut fir tree, the most evenly bushy I have ever managed to obtain. We got it last weekend, in the aftermath of our local snowpocalypse. Driving to the tree lot was...not a good choice*.

So my father, my daughter and I set out with the toboggan. We weren't the only ones choosing to get our tree that way; there was another family there with theirs when we were picking our tree. And the guy at the tree lot was certainly adept at tying them onto sleds.

We were the only ones singing English carols on the walk home, however.

-----
* We'd had to drive into the nearest town to replace some of my mother's clothing, since her luggage was another victim of the snowpocalypse. It was not an easy thing to do; we nearly lost traction on the upslope to one bridge. And the road to the tree lot was less-salted than the road to town.

#34 ::: David Harmon ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 12:43 PM:

OK, never mind "tonight", the snow's just started....

#35 ::: Kathryn from Sunnyvale in Toronto ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:06 PM:

Happy suite of holidays and Joyful Seasons to all!

#36 ::: Stefan Jones ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:13 PM:

Merry Christmas!

I'm up in Westchester county with my sister's family.

My nieces are getting The Twelve Days of Christmas . . . an envelope each day with a small gift card or a lottery scratcher or small gift, like a rave blinky. One niece already won $5.00.

I have a serious load of chocolate to work through.

And it sounds like we'll be having a Boxing Day Blizzard . . .

#37 ::: Linkmeister ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:14 PM:

Mele Kalikimaka to the Flurosphere from a bright and sunny O'ahu.

We may be seeing the arrival of a border collie pup we'll be charged with amusing until his/her new owner gets off work at 3:30pm. My sister makes large assumptions about our tolerance.

#38 ::: sisuile ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:23 PM:

Merry Christmas, all.

I am tempted to go dig up even more appropriate Latin, but there may be a sufficient quantity at this point.

Thank you all, and may the blessings of the season be with you all the year round.

#39 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:42 PM:

Antonia T. Tiger (19): Wonderful! Thank you so much for that.

The two "children" in this house (both of us in our 40s) were heard to bemoan the lack of chocolates for Christmas stockings. I dug out a few peppermint candies to go in, but that's not enough, darn it! This elf-subcontractor may have to buy some Ghirardelli chocolates tomorrow and sneak them in my sister's stocking. (And some for me, too, of course!)

Or maybe not, because Atlanta is expecting its first measurable Christmas snowfall since the 1880s. Hasn't started yet, but the National Weather Service is saying 100% chance of snow here today.

#40 ::: Anne Sheller ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:46 PM:

Merry Christmas to all!

I've had cinnamon rolls and coffee; pretty soon I'll get dressed. I have some new catnip mouses to give the cats. Then I'll disassemble the turkey and start making turkey broth.

#41 ::: fidelio ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 01:53 PM:

Merry Christmas, and every other happy solstice-timed holiday to one and all!

Eta guerta cedin egun hetan ethor baitzedin ordenança-bat Cesar Augustoren partez, scribuz iar ledin mundua oro.
(Lehen descriptione haur eguin cedin Cyrenius Syriaco gobernadore cenean)
Eta ioaiten ciraden guciac scributan iartera, batbedera cein bere hirirát.
Igan cedin bada Ioseph-ere Galileatic, Nazaretheco hiritic, Iudeara, Dauid-en ciuitate Bethlehem deitzen denera (ceren baitzén Dauid-en etchetic eta arraçatic)
Scributan iar ledinçát Maria emaztetan eman içan çayonarequin, cein baitzén içorra.
Eta guertha cedin hec han ciradela, compli baitzitecen haren ertzeco egunac.
Eta erdi cedin bere seme lehen iayoaz, eta bandatoz trocha ceçan hura, eta eçar ceçan mangederán, ceren ezpaitzén hayendaco lekuric ostalerián.
Eta ciraden comarca berean artzain campoetan ceunçanac, eta gauazco veillác bere arthaldearen gainean beguiratzen cituztenac.
Eta huná, Iaunaren Aingueruä vstegaberic ethor cequién, eta Iaunaren gloriác argui ceçan hayén inguruän, eta icidura handiz ici citecen.
Orduan erran ciecén Aingueruäc, Etzaretela beldur: ecen huná, euangelizatzen drauçuet bozcario handi populu guciaren içanen dena:
Ecen Dauid-en ciuitatean iayo çaiçuela Saluadorea, cein baita Christ Iauna.
Eta haur vkanen duçue seignale, eridenen baituçue haourra bandatoz trochatua, mangederán eçarria.
Eta bertan Aingueruärequin eguin cedin armada celestial multzobat, laudatzen çutela Iaincoa, eta cioitela,
Gloria ceru guciz goretan Iaincoari, eta lurrean baque, guiçonac baithara vorondate ona.
Eta guertha cedin, hetaric Aingueruäc cerurat ioan ciradenean, erran baitzeçaten artzainec elkarren artean, Goacen bada Bethlehemerano, eta dacussagun eguin içan den gauça haur, cein Iaunac iaquin eraci baitraucu.
Eta ethor citecen lehiatuqui, eta eriden citzaten Maria eta Ioseph, eta haourtchoa mangederán eçarria.
Eta ikussi vkan çutenean, publica ceçaten haourtchoaz erran içan çayena.
Eta ençun vkan cituzten guciéc mirets ceçaten hæy artzainéz erran içan çaizten gaucén gainean.
Eta Mariac beguiratzen cituen gauça hauc guciac, bere bihotzean ehaiten cituela.
Eta itzul citecen artzainac, glorificatzen eta laudatzen çutela Iaincoa, ençun eta ikussi vkan cituzten gauça guciéz, erran içan cayen beçala.

Luke 2:1-20--in Basque

#42 ::: Lizzy L ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:31 PM:

W00t to Ceiling Cat! Joy to the World!

I didn't make it to Midnight Mass, so I went to dawn Mass instead, and am now singing along with "For Unto Us a Child is Born" from you-know-what. "And His name shall be calleth -- Wonderful!!!"

My tree is this tabletop 21" tall metal thingummy from Ikea, strung with teeny tiny lights (also from Ikea) and miniature gold and red ornaments from a craft store.

I have not yet found a Nativity scene that I can live with, but I continue to look. Maybe next year.

Thank you all for your friendship. May we all have a blessed day.

#43 ::: Mark D. ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:40 PM:

Whenever I get a little sad I come here and read the Spelling reference. It and the company never fails to cheer me up. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2011 and beyond!

#44 ::: Wirelizard ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 02:58 PM:

I suppose the quasi-request for the LOLCat translation of Luke 2 should have been phrased as, "Can haz gozpel, plz?"? Regardless, it hath appeared; also glad to see someone beat me to the wonderful "White Wine in the Sun"[0] by Mr. Minchin.

Hyperlocal Christmas Day News: Christmas Day is being spent in a Hobbittean state of nature. Barefoot, well-fed and vaguely contemplative, in other words. Much preferable to that nasty, brutish and short stuff. Second Brunch is being seriously considered. Genteel intoxication quite likely to commence after Second Brunch.

[0] I keep wanting to type that title as "White WHINE in the Sun", which would be quite a different song. Possibly about Teabaggers, or other beings best not considered at present.

#45 ::: joann ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 04:08 PM:

Up before eight to listen to the streamed BBC re-broadcast of the King's College Chapel Cambridge Lessons and Carols. I entirely forget to dig out the panforte.

Our tree this year is the tallest we've ever had, at just over nine feet. (Last year's was the bushiest, and therefore by far the heaviest.)

Standing rib roast in oven, time to go make batter for Yorkshire pudding, precook carrots and creamed spinach, and await the descent of friends for dinner.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good day!

#47 ::: Janet Brennan Croft ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 04:52 PM:

Joyful midwinter holidays to all here on Making Light,a haven of mirth and sanity in a sometimes difficult world. Getting ready to feed my daughter, her girlfriend, and their roommate tonight -- turkey, pecan and apple stuffing, and a breadless bread pudding topped with poached pears. My tree is plastic -- white with white lights, and red, bright green, and black ornaments. It makes me very happy. My venerable 25-plus-year-old jade plant is draped with green mini-lights and looks quite magical as well. The weather here in central Oklahoma is dull, cold, grey, and windy -- not at all festive, but a good excuse to light candles and my new space heater that looks like a little wood stove. A happy Christmas night to all!

#48 ::: thomas ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 04:58 PM:

Remember, O thou man arranged by Abbie Betinis, a brilliant young choral composer.

#49 ::: Emma ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 05:35 PM:

Festive greetings to you all, and thanks for the companionship, cleverness, poetry and brainfood all year. It's a cool rainy Boxing Day here in Sydney, after a warm and sunny Christmas Day, just perfect for quiet contemplation of the new books and toys that arrived yesterday. Stay warm over there in the snow, okay?

#50 ::: beth meacham ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 06:43 PM:

Merry Christmas to all of you from the sunny, lovely desert.

#51 ::: praisegod barebones ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 06:55 PM:

Happy Christmas from Galatia. And thank you, Teresa, Patrick, Abi, Jim, Avram and commentators.

#52 ::: Ken MacLeod ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 07:13 PM:

Merry Christmas, everyone!

#53 ::: Tom Recht ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 07:29 PM:

Lovely collection of texts. Here is a Hebrew version (I doubt it would display correctly if I cut and paste).

And since we have Quenya, here's a translation into a lesser-known otherworldly language, Old Querrian.

Tasarru dunau víka senthéka dauptru i Augustúkau Kaisarkau, mêgniru halka nóhu. Heutni gi megnerru mepmeterruka Kuréni i Siríthi. Lorrusu vi tlérumuku halka λaushu emégnuku.

Rosu hi Ióséfi Nasarathkau tlérumkau pmón i Galírithi Davídiku tlérumku i Iúdáthi, i Béthlehem hevitnu, emégniku Mariamtni i rouha, mamaiha shi. Pé vi ránau Davídikau hi neukau, gadrukau hi. Várthi shi létka usta semnéshi i sîsra, heu shi ïási sis, tumnbdeu shi oron tákkarda gómanku, hanshasthi ránau aldu ahar.

Lé dunau búthi i vahar íómusis gagamsha notnór, i tleubashthi havanshara λerémi mamásaku. Usta di Bár durusis, itíshaipta vi ptar Bár ptórru, súsra vi bdísh.

Otlu vi “Tí aüsúsurru. Dai ránau üasi rúmnnu i ludrunu, i halka nohu tupu tâsaku. Sisirra ránau ió hamnalu Davídithi tlérumthi alshasis i Kiristú Bár pé. Dímn di kailu, shonsi thoilu i ututumnbdeuk oron gómanthi kakarda.” Iór di ilis durustni ian orku torkiam i semnéshi, totógmnu vi Gamhasi, fásharru vi “Ptórru i ilisthi mopmósuthi Gamhaku, búthai hi kairru gegeulerruthi tnórthi.”

#54 ::: JennR ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 08:01 PM:

Gaudete!

Our usual tree (of the artifical variety, now on its 8th year or so) is looking more like a cypress than a fir this year -- we have a kitten, and she and the older (by a couple of years) cat have decided that the tree makes a wonderful playplace. Fortunately, they discovered this before we'd put any ornaments on the tree. So all of the branches have been bent down, and the candy canes which we did put on the tree have been hunted to near extinction.

#55 ::: Marilee ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 08:36 PM:

David Harmon, #34, not here yet, but it's supposed to swing east. Yesterday, everybody said there wouldn't be snow here at all. Ha!

#56 ::: edward oleander ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 09:52 PM:

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night...

#57 ::: P J Evans ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 10:17 PM:

Oh, joy!
The next storm has arrived. It's raining again.

Well, at least it waited until dark.

#58 ::: James D. Macdonald ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 10:57 PM:

Esperanto

La evangelio laŭ Luko 2:1-14

1. Kaj en tiuj tagoj eliris dekreto de Cezaro Auxgusto, ke la tuta mondo estu registrita.

2. CXi tiu estis la unua registrado, farita, kiam Kirenio estis reganto de Sirio.

3. Kaj cxiuj iris, por esti registritaj, cxiu al sia urbo.

4. Kaj Jozef ankaux supreniris el Galileo, el la urbo Nazaret, en Judujon, al la urbo de David, kiu estas nomata Bet-Lehxem, cxar li estis el la domo kaj familio de David,

5. por esti registrita kun sia fiancxino Maria, kiu estis graveda.

6. Kaj dum ili estis tie, venis la tagoj por sxia akusxo.

7. Kaj sxi naskis sian unuan filon, kaj sxi cxirkauxvindis lin kaj kusxigis lin en staltrogon, cxar ne estis loko por ili en la gastejo.

8. Kaj en tiu sama regiono estis pasxtistoj, kiuj kamplogxis kaj nokte gardis sian gregon.

9. Kaj angxelo de la Eternulo alstaris apud ili, kaj la gloro de la Eternulo brilis cxirkaux ili, kaj ili timis per granda timo.

10. Kaj la angxelo diris al ili:Ne timu; cxar jen mi venigas al vi bonan sciigon de granda gxojo, kiu estos al la tuta popolo;

11. cxar hodiaux estas naskita por vi, en la urbo de David, Savanto, kiu estas Kristo, la Sinjoro.

12. Kaj jen la signo por vi:vi trovos infaneton, cxirkauxvinditan kaj kusxantan en staltrogo.

13. Kaj subite estis kun la angxelo amaso de la cxiela armeo, lauxdante Dion, kaj dirante:

14. Gloro al Dio en la supera alto, Kaj sur la tero paco, inter homoj Difavoro.

---------------

From The Sword Project Bible Texts and Translations via The Unbound Bible.

#60 ::: albatross ::: (view all by) ::: December 25, 2010, 11:52 PM:

Merry Christmas, Fluorspherians!

#61 ::: Caroline ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 12:33 AM:

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it; happy day to all!

We spent Christmas with parents, siblings, kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs. (My parents, with two bouncy kittens, went the small artificial tabletop tree route. In-laws, with 6 bouncy boxers of varying ages, went the no-tree route.) Delicious homemade coffeecakes and lasagnas were eaten and lots of love and laughter shared. It's snowing a bit; I have hope it will be pretty but not make travel dangerous tomorrow.

And now, after homemade hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps in, I think it is bedtime. To all a good night!

#62 ::: Linkmeister ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 01:24 AM:

We did indeed host a pup for a couple of hours, which made for an exciting Christmas afternoon. She tried to savage every stuffed animal in the house (we have an array of them under the Christmas tree), but she eventually calmed down. Her new owner loved her.

In other news, the glass platter on which rested the roast beast was placed on a hot tray and promptly broke in about seventeen pieces. A little judicious carving solved the secondary problem of glass bits in the meat. The first problem was solved by shifting it to a ceramic platter.

Never a dull moment.

#63 ::: David Harmon ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 07:56 AM:

Charlottesville report: Eyeball indicates we got a slightly-melted couple of inches. Weather.com predicts lots more to come, though not as bad as the "Northeast Meagalopolis" [sic].

#64 ::: Melissa Mead ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 08:42 AM:

Merry Christmas and seasonal joy to all!

#65 ::: Sarah E ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 10:40 AM:

Adding to the festive videos: Twas the Dark Knight Before Christmas, which my husband discovered last night.

#66 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 11:25 AM:

Jim's source also gives us this version in Breton:

1. En amzer-se e voe embannet ul lezenn a-berzh Kezar-Aogust, evit ma vije graet ar gont eus tud ar bed holl.
2. Ar gont kentañ-se a voe graet e-pad ma oa Kiriniuz gouarner Siria.
3. Dre-se an holl a yae evit lakaat o anv, pep hini en e gêr.
4. Jozef ivez a bignas eus Galilea da Judea, eus kêr Nazared da gêr David anvet Betlehem, dre ma oa eus tiegezh hag eus familh David,
5. evit reiñ e anv gant Mari e wreg, hag a oa dougerez.
6. E-pad ma oant eno, an amzer ma tlee gwilioudiñ a erruas,
7. hag e c'hanas he mab kentañ-ganet, hag e mailhuras anezhañ, hag e lakaas anezhañ en ur c'hraou, abalamour ne oa ket plas evito en ostaleri.
8. Bez' e oa er memes korn-bro mêsaerien a gouske er parkeier, hag a ziwalle o loened e-pad beilhadennoù an noz.
9. Setu un ael eus an Aotrou en em ziskouezas dezho ha gloar an Aotrou a lugernas en-dro dezho, hag o devoe ur spont bras.
10. Neuze an ael a lavaras dezho: N'ho pet ket aon, rak setu e tegasan deoc'h ur c'heloù mat, a vo un abeg a levenez vras evit an holl bobl,
11. rak ganet eo hiziv deoc'h, e kêr David, ur Salver, hag a zo ar C'hrist, an Aotrou.
12. Setu amañ ur sin deoc'h: c'hwi a gavo ur bugel bihan mailhuret ha gourvezet en ur c'hraou.
13. Ha kerkent e voe gant an ael ul lod bras eus arme an neñv, o veuliñ hag o lavarout:
14. Gloar da Zoue el lec'hioù uhel-meurbet, ha peoc'h war an douar e-touez an dud karet gantañ!

#67 ::: joann ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 12:10 PM:

praisegod barebones #51:

And thank *you* for your recommendation of Spice, which I asked for and got; I now foresee some interesting cooking this year!

#68 ::: Stefan Jones ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 12:13 PM:

Snow has started in Westchester. Nothing left in groceries but corn nog and wadded beef. Gawd 'elp us.

#69 ::: Caroline ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 12:17 PM:

Snow is very pretty -- 6 inches in the Triangle area of NC. Roads improving, but husband took off work today, which I think is smart.

The cat is chattering at the birds on the bird feeder, we are making brewed-coffee mochas, and everyone is enjoying a snowy Sunday.

Stay safe, everyone.

#70 ::: Thena ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 12:38 PM:

HyperLocalNews: Not Snowing Yet in Central Maine. Local woman who foolheartedly agreed to lead UU worship service the day after Christmas tells congregation of half-dozen to put fuel in their snowblowers and delivers weather forecast, to great acclaim. Or something like that.

#71 ::: Tim Walters ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 02:27 PM:

A day late, but not, I think, a dollar short: a beautiful rendition of In The Bleak Midwinter, my favorite Christmas carol.

#72 ::: praisegod barebones ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 03:25 PM:

joann @ 67

I'm very happy to take credit where none is due, but I don't think that can have been me. It looks like a wonderful book, though, so afiyet olsun (or bon appetit, as they say in England.

I've been learning a few new Turkish recipes from this blog recently. (It's in my RSS feed , but doesn't update as often as I'd really like. But the archive is good.)

#73 ::: Stefan Jones ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 04:02 PM:

Snowing in earnest in Croton on Hudson. Snow leopards in yard. Candles almost gone. Cannibalism looks likely.

#74 ::: P J Evans ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 04:03 PM:

72
Your linkie fails - you got the generic 'www.url.com'. Did you mean this blog?
(Right now I'm thawing meat for etli rezene. Thanks!)

#75 ::: P J Evans ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 04:05 PM:

Well, last night's rain didn't last long (small storm, over fast). There's even some snow on top of the mountains. I think the next one is in line for tomorrow, though, as it's clouding up again.

#76 ::: praisegod barebones ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 05:35 PM:

PJ Evans @ 74: D'Oh. That's the one. (Since you - presumably - didn't know it before that strikes me as an exercise of black belt google-fu.) Afiyet olsun!

#77 ::: Erik Nelson ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 06:05 PM:

A happy day-after-Christmas as I return to the global village after a weekend offline.

#78 ::: Marilee ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 06:18 PM:

In NoVA, we're up to about a half-inch of snow. We may get up to an inch before it stops tonight. I have friends from bookgroup on call to come shovel the snow off and around the rental car because I have to take it back tomorrow. The husband is off next week and insists on chauffeuring me between taking the rental car back and getting my van from the body shop.

#79 ::: Anderson ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 07:30 PM:

I am skeptical that any Klingon would think Luke 2 worth his time to translate ... at least, not without some significant changes to the story.

and laid him in a manger, because the innkeeper had said there was no room for them in the inn, so that Joseph slew him, yea him and all his family, and mingled the ashes of the inn with the ashes of their bones.

#80 ::: Singing Wren ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 08:06 PM:

Re: Tim Walters @ #71

That was a lovely rendition you linked to - much nicer than the arrangement we sang during the carols before Midnight Mass this year.

Thanks also to everyone who posted texts (I, too, am particularly fond of the LOLcat version).

Tonight is my time to decompress from the holiday. Christmas Eve was spent with my in-laws visiting us for dinner, followed by singing at Midnight Mass. Christmas morning was spent at my sister-in-law's for breakfast, followed by presents with my husband's side of the family. Next, back home to make the ice cream we had been enjoined to make to accompany the evening's desert. Then over to my grandmother's house for presents with my family, and Christmas dinner cooked by my mom and brother.

I am also pleased to note that most of the over-abundance from the previous week's candy making spree has found its way into the homes of friends and family, and remained in those homes.

#81 ::: P J Evans ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 08:37 PM:

76
You linked it a few months back, as I recall.

#82 ::: Erik Nelson ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 10:31 PM:

I am amazed that a language can have words like xal and iij and still be a version of English.

#83 ::: Erik Nelson ::: (view all by) ::: December 26, 2010, 10:45 PM:

There is a story of an ogre who rises up from the sea and terrorizes all of the lifeguards at the beach, It's called...

Beowatch.

#84 ::: Terry Karney ::: (view all by) ::: December 27, 2010, 01:37 AM:

Gaudete, indeed.

I've been a bit distracted lately for the usual sorts of reasons (houseguest, finals, the Christmas Season in Retail).

There has also been some other drama in my life, none of it unusual, save that for each of us it comes in its own time. Knowing I am well thought of here has been a comfort in all sorts of weather.

In the good times, and the bad times. Making Light has helped me to be more like Scrooge; keeping the spirit of Christmas in my heart the whole year round, aware that Marley's Ghost has the right of it, "Mankind is my business. The common welfare [is] my business: charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were, all, my businesses."

God Bless Us, Every One.

#85 ::: Ginger ::: (view all by) ::: December 27, 2010, 11:43 AM:

Gaudete! (My earworm is the Anuna version)

I've been busy, what with playing in the handbell choir for the evening services on Christmas Eve, brunch with my son and Ex on Christmas morning, and the rest of the weekend with my fabulous girlfriend..I have much to be thankful for, and joyful about. Oh, and sonnets to write!

#86 ::: joann ::: (view all by) ::: December 27, 2010, 12:11 PM:

praisegod barebones #72:

Apologies. It looks like I should be crediting David Wald instead, who posted directly below you in the thread where this came up. A six-month-old memory's a terrible thing to use.

#87 ::: Clifton Royston ::: (view all by) ::: December 27, 2010, 03:58 PM:

Erik @ 73: Have you read Neal Gaiman's "Baywolf"? It's the story which popped into his head when he told someone he was writing a script for Beowulf and they thought he said Baywatch. It's pretty great.

#88 ::: Dave Luckett ::: (view all by) ::: December 28, 2010, 07:58 AM:

In Strine:

"Back then, Caesar Augustus drops it on the mob that they got to pay tax, and fill in the census while they're at it. This was the first time he done that. Some bloke name of Quirinius was governing Syria at the time.

So anyway, every bastard goes off to where he comes from to be taxed. Joseph choofs off to Judea from his home town, Nazareth in Galilee, to get done in the city of David, called Bethlehem, 'cause, see, he was from David's mob. With him goes Mary his regular girlfriend, who was preggers.

While they were down there, blow me down, she goes and pops it out. She has her first, a son, and wraps him up in towels and plonks him in a crib, because the rubbidy was as full as a State school and no bugger would shift.

Meantime, out in the bush nearby, some drovers were out camping, keeping the dingoes off the woollies. Stuff me, an angel comes out of nowhere, and there's a bloody great light all around, and they damn near shat themselves.

But the angel says, S'orright you blokes, don't get off yer bikes. I got good news that'll cheer yers up, and it's for everyone - 'cause in the city of David, you got a Saviour, Christ, the Lord. You'll know him when you find him wrapped in towels, lying in a crib. And all of a sudden with the angel there was big mobs of the army of Heaven, giving big wraps to God, and saying "Up there for God, you beaut, and down here, no strife and fair go for everyone who does the right thing."

When the angels had shot through and gone back to Heaven, the drovers put their heads together, and reckoned, "Hey, a man oughta head off down to Bethlehem and take a shufti at what the Lord let us know." So they put the foot down, and found Mary and Joseph, and the kid lying in the manger."

#89 ::: fidelio sees spam ::: (view all by) ::: May 06, 2011, 09:01 AM:

I have no idea what these people are up to. It can't be news to most of us that we have earthquakes, since every time there's a big one anywhere on the planet, our televisions promptly tell us how much danger we're at risk of fro that sort of thing.

#90 ::: Xopher sees inept spam probe ::: (view all by) ::: May 12, 2011, 02:49 PM:

Again.

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