So, I’m reading a book by A.J. Jacobs called The Know-It-All, in which the author describes his journey through reading the entire set of Encyclopedia Britannica, and I learned that today (January 6th) is the day they celebrate Christmas in Armenia.
Jacobs said it as a passing comment, but I’m curious as to why it’s celebrated today. January 6th is exactly thirteen days after Christmas, so it doesn’t even fall within the “Twelve Days of Christmas” our calendar supports. I could Google search this information, but I’d rather leave it a mystery, and/or hope an Armenian reads this and answers my question.
Back to this book, though, because I’d like to tell you how awesome the writer is and also why I’m intrigued by his quest.
First of all, I’ve read one of his books before. He wrote The Year of Living Biblically, in which he followed all of the laws of the Old Testament and wrote about it. Fascinating stuff, because aside from THE TEN COMMANDMENTS there are hundreds of laws in there that get brushed over, like not being able to wear wool and cotton at the same time.
More than that, though, he’s SUPER funny (which is my first and foremost qualifying criteria, obviously). I’d recommend reading any of his books, and in fact, this is what this blog is: a plug for another author.*
*You’re welcome, A.J. I’m sure you’re struggling as a National Bestselling author.
He gets my kudos because anyone who can write about reading the encyclopedia and make it interesting, funny, and somewhat educational is my hero. He inspires me to find my own journey or something that I can write about and take my readers through, also like Julie and Julia, but I’m not sure what quest that would be. I must think on it.
I’m only up to D’s right now, but this morning he made me laugh out loud with this fact:
Dance
“In a tribe on the island of Santa Maria, old men used to stand by with bows and arrows and shoot every dancer who made a mistake. The perfect way to raise the stakes on American Idol.”
I also learned that Darwin’s granddaughter was listed in the encyclopedia (Frances Cornford) as well as the entirety of her poem entitled, “To a Fat Lady Seen from the Train.” (It begins with “O fat white woman whom nobody loves,/ Why do you walk through the fields in gloves?”)
And Descartes, the famous philosopher, had a fetish for cross-eyed women.
So much useful and interesting knowledge, including the Christmas thing.
I’d much rather today be a holiday instead of just another Monday.
There was more that I wanted to post today, but I’m supposed to be at work in 25 minutes. I’ll probably hit every traffic light and get splashed with snow-water on my rainy walk to work from my “illegal” parking spot (I don’t understand how I can get a violation notice if there’s no sign that indicates permit parking only. Go ahead, Foundry Office. Make my day.)
Happy Monday, and/or Merry Christmas!
They Call Me Fushilou 
January sixth is also Three Kings Day, the day when many people in many countries (including Mexico) give gifts, the celebration of the coming of the Magi. The twelve days of Christmas are BEFORE Christmas, I believe, thus the celebration of Twelfth Night in England. (I could be wrong about all of this.) Here’s one I heard this morning before heading to work myself–this is THE Blue Monday. Cheers to you, Jenny Currier, and to Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (“So it goes.”)
The twelve days of Christmas (or “Christmastide”) do begin on Christmas day, but celebrating that the magi arrived today makes sense… I know today begins Epiphany in my church, but I’ve never stopped to think about what that means. I just consider it as a season AFTER Christmas, not ON Christmas. Lauren suggested a different calendar system, and I like that idea.
THE Blue Monday? Do explain!
P.S. Enjoy Elvis’s birthday soon 🙂
oh man that’s so funny! and we can do “how to eat your way through Europe”!
also… isn’t January 6th Epiphany? Like Eva said, the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus, aka his physical manifestation. Also, this is actually Christmas Day under the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian. We learned this in German class in HS when FB was teaching us about the custom of taking the tree down January 6th. that’s all I remember though.
It is Epiphany, yes. And okayyyyy I suppose that would make sense, but Epiphany (in my church) is its own celebration. I’m just not smart enough to put two and two together.
HOWEVER! I like the calendar idea more! And really? How do you remember that from high school?? It’s not surprising that I zoned out during something FB said. That’s obviously why I’m not her favorite.
yes to the calendar thing! cool huh! atleast if I’m remembering what FB said. you don’t need to be her favorite, because you’re my favorite.