White Christmas

[Mark A. Mandel]

A. Murie ("sagehen") wrote anent the origin of the phrase
"White Christmas":

>>>
  Its origins are probably Old World, given the old saying that a green
Christmas means a full churchyard.  It must have arisen in contrast to
the notion that a healthier season would need enough winter weather by
Christmastime to arrest some diseases.
  <<<

Isn't that "must" rather strong for the evidence? Growing up in NYC, far
from churchyards but not from winter snow, I never thought the expression
needed any explanation at all. Christmas -- snow -- the ground is white --
white Christmas. Absolutely transparently compositional.

m a m