War on Christmas (2007)

[Jonathan Lighter]

Many Roman Pagans were OFFENDED by the word "Saturnalia," since Jupiter and His Olympians long ago overturned the rule of Saturn and The Titans.  Jupiter, not Saturn, is chief ruler of the uni.

  The correct name for the holiday is "Pagan Period When Everyone Goes [or "Went"] Really Nuts."

  JL

Sarah Lang <slang at UCHICAGO.EDU> wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Sarah Lang
Subject: Re: War on Christmas (2007)
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So you didn't see my "Keep the Christ out of Saturnalia" billboards?

S.

On Dec 17, 2007, at 8:57 AM, Arnold M. Zwicky wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: "Arnold M. Zwicky"
> Subject: War on Christmas (2007)
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>
> on Language Log, with extended quotation from Jon Lighter:
>
> AZ, 12/17/07: Victims and etymology:
> http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/005228.html
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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