Re: Country Related: Christmas

Carlos Thompson:

>In the Etimology question again I would like to know how these
>hollidays are called in different languages, but more important:
>what the names means.
In the Philippines, Christmas is called: Pasko [pas'koh]. The word
is borrowed from Spanish "Pascua". Even though "Pascua" in Spanish
refers to "Easter", colonial Filipinos interpreted the word as any
Christian holiday and therefore applied it to Christmas as well.
Somehow, Christmas seemed more of a "pasko" than Easter to the
Filipinos that "pasko" today solely means "Christmas". Easter is now
refered to either as "holy week" or "pasko ng pagkabuhay" ("pasko"
of resurection).
>
>I know Spanish "Navidad" is a short form of "natividad": birth.  In
>the word "Christmas" I've hear the etimology means Christ birth,
>but I can't be sure.  I've never known where Swedish "Jul" comes
>from...
>
I've always been told that Scandinavian "Jul" is the same word as
"hjul" meaning wheel. This was suppose to be a viking age winter
celebration which vikings celebrated even before they converted to
Christianity. The reason for the name was that it was celebrated
during the winter solstice, the time of year when the days are
shortest and one can only look forward to longer days come. The
"annual wheel" starting its rotation again - hence "Jul" or "wheel".
This is supposedly the same word as old english "Yule".

I have often noted that Scandinavian Christmas songs have very
little to do with the Christian religion and the birth of Christ.
Themes are more about those little house spirits known as "nisses".
This must be a remnant of Scandinavia's heathen past. Most people
here (at least in Denmark) don't celebrate Christmas to comemorate
the birth of Christ, but to bring joy and coziness to the dark
winters, to mark that longer days are coming, and to remind children
to be good to the "nisses". I'm sure this is exactly what "Jul" was
to the Vikings a thousand years ago.

>How these hollidays are derived in our conlangs (those who apply).
>
Boreanesians are Animistic, not Christians. But those that have been
converted would probably borrow the Spanish term "Navidad" and
corrupt it into "nepeta'". Easter might be called "pesekuh".

Regards,
-Kristian- 8-)