Yule Minus One Or Yalda Plus Zero (Unmeaning Flattery)

Thursday 12/21/2006 12:38 AM

One day 'til Yule, but today is Yalda.

Now don't go gettin' all up in arms with me 'cause I'm talking about an Iranian holiday. Think Persia. Pre-Islam. Yalda, also known as Shab-e Cheleh, is possibly the longest continuously celebrated holiday as it celebrates the birth of the sun god Mithra on the eve of the winter solstice. Some historians believe that Yalda is the socio-/anthropological predecessor of Christmas.

So light the fire, enjoy a feast, honor your god(s) and forgive your trespassers.

Pretty much a lazy holiday season this time around and that's OK with me. No tree. No family visiting. Candy is working all next week (except for the obvious).

I'm wrapping up a big project and doing lots of stuff around the house.

Dogs are happy.

Peace out.

Loreena McKennitt "A Winter Garden"

If you were to take all the Christmas albums ever made and rank them on two different scales, one giving the most points for the shortest album and the other giving the most points for the most beautiful music, none of the others would come close to this painfully abbreviated epic of the five most ethereal and melodic holiday songs ever.

This music has appeared in 5 blog entries.

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