Happy Christmas, dear Reader. I wish for you all to have a holiday of many carefree days with friends and family. And to boost the festivities, here is Lynda, a longtime friend and a multi-talented artist. Lynda Graham-Barber is a renowned children’s book author. However, she has written many other books and articles during her long career.
Some of my favorite Lynda’s books are the ones that explain the history behind the words we use at certain holidays. Ho Ho Ho! – The Complete Book of Christmas Words, came off my shelf this month. Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? What is the deal behind St. Nick’s story vs. Santa Claus’. In Ho Ho Ho! – the etymologies of forty-eight words are explained with joy, humor, and whimsical illustrations.
For example…
“Ho Ho Ho”! is attributed to Santa’s jolly greeting. The term’s roots are somewhat unclear. In the 15th century, “Ho” was used to point out something. Sailors would shout “Land ho!” Shepherds would cry “Ho.” Charles Kingsley’s 19th century English romance, Westward Ho! directs the reader’s attention west towards South America.
One “Ho!” tells the listener to look or come on. On horseback, “Ho!” signals the horse to stop, while a “Heigh-ho!” or “Tallyho!” spurs the horse on. Multiple “Ho’s” are used for comic effect, to poke fun at someone, as in Shakespeare in Midsummer Night’s Dream “Ho, ho, ho, coward, why com’st thou not?” (act 3, scene 2, line 421)
To summarize, I’d say Santa’s greeting is an attention-getting fun salutation to get ready for his arrival, and then his departure.
Another word: Jolly derives from the French word joli, meaning “gay and festive.”…In Fredric William Farrar’s Julian Home, we find the celebratory song-“For he’s a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny.” Here “jolly” means admirable and excellent, not lively and gay.
Jolly takes on special meaning when it it used to describe Saint Nick as “chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf” in “The Night before Christmas.”
I could go on and on. Anyone who has ever been curious about why holidays own certain words would love Lynda’s books. Her Valentine offering is called Mushy! The Complete Book of Valentine Words. Then, there’s Doodle Dandy! The Complete Book of Independence Day Words. Weird! The Complete Book of Halloween Words comes next. Lastly, the year is complete with Gobble! The Complete Book of Thanksgiving Words.
These books add special meaning to all our traditional holidays. They are fun to read aloud to the whole family. Treat yourself.
Reference-
Graham-Barber, Lynda. Ho Ho Ho! The Complete Book of Christmas Words. New York: Bradbury Press, 1993.
Please check out Lynda’s children’s books as well. They are all precious. I’ve included links to both Amazon and Thriftbooks.