Some of our neighbors exhibit the same variety of laziness as Geoff Pullum's:
Some of the more antisocial neighbours near where we live did not bother to bestir themselves with a snow shovel the way we did after the big early snowfall that hit the Boston area on December 9. Their laziness, plus some partial meltings and re-freezings, has turned parts of the sidewalks between our Inman Square apartment and the Harvard/Radcliffe area into a treacherous glacier.He goes on to provide a lesson in the various forms of the verbs lie and lay, in the process quoting one of my favorite carols (understandably, since my given name is Stephen):
Good King Wenceslas looked outThe feast of Stephen, otherwise known as Boxing Day in some quarters, is tomorrow; for today, let me wish all my readers a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah (which begins today), or whichever other greetings may be applicable or welcome.
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay all about
Deep and crisp and even
(For the origins of Christmas words, see here, and here's the parallel page for Hanukkah.)
Posted by languagehat at December 25, 2005 11:15 AMHappy Christmas (I like the British way better than "Merry") and Happy Chanukah! Happy holidays! What's the "feast of Stephen"? Who's Stephen?
Posted by: mj at December 25, 2005 05:14 PMSaint Stephen Protomartyr (the first martyr).
Posted by: languagehat at December 25, 2005 06:44 PMOh yeah, I know about Stephen. But where does the "feast" come from, and why does he have a special day?
Actually, Stephen was a martyr in a long line of martyrs (if you count the Old Testament prophets who were stoned, etc. to death).
Posted by: mj at December 26, 2005 12:36 AMThe feast is in the old sense of the word, 'a religious day appointed to be held with rejoicing'. Festival is from the same Latin root, 'festus'.
Posted by: aldiboronti at December 26, 2005 04:03 AMBTW I think Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
Posted by: aldiboronti at December 26, 2005 04:05 AMAnd I have a perfect excuse for the above befuddlement (parroting what Steve had already said about his namesake) as it's Christmas!
Posted by: aldiboronti at December 26, 2005 10:45 AMThanks--I didn't know "feast" meant that.
Posted by: mj at December 26, 2005 01:41 PMThis is an interesting thing to know. Anyways, Merry Christmas to all here.
Posted by: paul at December 27, 2005 09:17 AMAn excuse to retail a terrible *joke* told by the conductor at a Christmas musical evening at the Barbican Hall in London on Dec. 23
What was King Wenceslas' favourite food?
Pizza - because it's deep pan crisp and even ....