Merry Christmas, and of course enjoy your Boxing Day, which I imagine you all don't get off. Pity!
FYI, Canada Post has 11,000 volunteers to answer letters written to Santa, (a million kids around the world each year for the last 6 years):
Santa Claus
North Pole
H0H 0H0
Canada
Canadian postal codes are Letter/number format like in the UK. (For example, mine is V3M 3N5; whereas Santa's is Hotel-Zero-Hotel-Zero-Hotel-Zero. Michelle's postal code growing up in that neighborhood (the North) was X1A 0H0, so she never got the "ho ho ho" allusion.) Because of the 15 million letters to Santa answered over the past 26 years, Canada Post also holds the Guiness World Record for most letters to Santa received and answered in the world (all by hand).
http://www.canadapost.ca/About...hive-e.asp?prid=1260
As well, there is the "Huron Christmas Carol" or "In the Moon of Wintertime", the first Christmas carol written in Canada. It was written in the Huron language by
"The very first Canadian Christmas Carol was written in 1643, by Father Saint Jean de Brebeuf, 1593-1649 It was meant as a gift and teaching aid for the Huron People. Father Brebeuf was a Jesuit Missionary and Linguist stationed at Ste. Marie Among the Hurons."
"Father Saint Jean de Brebeuf lost his life March 16 1649, during the Iroquois uprising of 1648/1650, when he was captured and slain by the Iroquois. On June 29 1930 Father Brebeuf was canonized by Pope Pius XI."
Story and song clip in English:
http://www.rivernen.ca/legend_6.htm
Full song performed in the Huron language and sung by the Eskasoni Trio:
http://firstnationhelp.com/06_huron_carol.mp3
Huron Carol/'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime"
Na kesikewiku'sitek jipji'jk* majita'titek
It was in the moon of the wintertime when all the birds had fled
Kji-Niskam petkimasnika ansale'wilitka
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angels
Kloqoejuitpa'q, Netuklijik nutua'tiji.
On a starlit night hunters heard
Se'sus eleke'wit, Se'sus pekisink, ewlite'lmin
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In-ex-cel-sis-gloria
Ula nqanikuomk etli we'ju'ss mijua'ji'j
Within the lodge of bark the tender Babe was found
Tel-klu'sit euli tetpoqa'tasit apli'kmujuey
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped His beauty round
L'nu'k netuklijik nutua'tiji ansale'wiliji.
But as the hunter braves drew near the angel's song rang loud and high
Se'sus eleke'wit, Se'sus pekisink, eulite'lmin
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In-ex-cel-sis-gloria
O' mijua'ji'jk nipuktukewe'k, O' Niskam wunijink
O children of the forrest free, O God's children
Maqmikek aq Wa'so'q tley ula mijua'ji'j
The Holy Child of Heaven and Earth
Pekisink kiskuk wjit kilow, pekisitoq wantaqo'ti.
Has come today for you has brought peace
Se'sus eleke'wit, Se'sus pekisink, eulite'lmin
Jesus the King is born, Jesus has come, In-ex-cel-sis-gloria
*The Mi'kmaw word "sisipk" is preferred by many to "jipji'jk" for "birds".
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:40, Thu 25 Dec 2008.
