Greeks don't have Christmas trees; instead they keep a small bowl with water and hang a cross wrapped in basil from a wire from the rim of the bowl. Once a day the cross is dipped in the bowl of water and used to sprinkle the water in rooms of the house to protect the home from bad luck.

In capitol city of Caracas, Venezuela, children tie a long string to their big toe before going to bed and hang it out the window. The next morning people roller-skate to mass and tug on the stings tied to the children's feet.

In Yugoslavia, the second Sunday before Christmas is considered "Mother's Day", when children tie their mother to a chair and demand presents for ransom, taunting, "It's Mother's Day, its Mother's Day, what will you pay to get away?" The following week they do the same thing to their father. However, Yugoslavians celebrate Christmas itself January 7th, according to the old Julian calendar, developed during the reign of Julius Caesar.

Merry Christmas! Here's some ancient Buddhist wisdom:

"This is the work of those who are skilled and peaceful, who seek the good:

May they be able and upright, straightforward, of gentle speech and not proud.
May they be content and easily supported, unburdened, with their senses calmed.
May they be wise, not arrogant and without desire for the possessions of others.
May they do nothing mean or that the wise would reprove.
May all things be happy.
May they live in safety and joy."

-Metta Suta

I spent most of the day marking university exams. My brain is numb. Enough said.

Novelist Anthony Powell said, "As far as I can see, writing is a combination of intangible creative fantasy and appallingly hard work."

While my friend Judy is in Ontario for Christmas, her wonderful dog Henry is staying with me. Judy refers to David and me [Yes, that's grammatically correct!] as Henry's uncles.