Jesus Christmas...

...APOLOGIES FOR THE LAYOUT BELOW (ALL THAT UNUSED SPACE AND HUGE GAPS) ..FORMATTING PROBLEMS WITH BLOGSPOT HAVE ARISEN AGAIN AND THIS LUDDITE IS CLUELESS AND HELPLESS.  HOPE TO SOLVE BY NEXT YEAR

Before I take to the skies and shuffle off to warmer climes where family festivities will fill the days and nights remaining before the Gregorian Calendar celebrates its 431st (assuming Pope Gregory XII gets first dibs on the credits) --I thought I might offer a shout out in honor of some other events and individuals that/who made their mark/entrance on one of the December 25ths according to our relatively new-fangled time logging ledger. 

                                                                                    1492  

Columbus' ship Santa Maria docks at Dominican Republic

1642 

 Isaac Newton, Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, England, (d.1727)

1651
Massachusetts General Court ordered a fine (five shillings) for "observing any such day as Christmas"

1851 painting by Emanuel Leutze

1776 

  

George Washington and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River at night to attack Hessian forces serving Great Britain at Trenton, New Jersey, the next day.

Updated version by Mort Kuntsler.

Last year, New York Historical Society in Manhattan unveiled updated interpretation more in keeping with historical record showing  GW  aboard a flat-bottomed ferry big enough to carry cannons and horses. The new painting shows Washington holding onto a cannon, bracing himself against the fierce snowstorm that had swept in that night .

1818 1st known Christmas carol ("Silent Night, Holy Night") sung (Austria)   1821  Clara Barton, Oxford Mass, nurse/founder (American Red Cross), (d. 1912) "Economy, prudence, and a simple life are the sure masters of need, and will often accomplish that which, their opposites, with a fortune at hand, will fail to do."

"The very essence of instinct is
that it's followed independently of reason."

1832 - Charles Darwin celebrates Christmas in St Martin at Cape Receiver

1833 - Charles Darwin celebrates Christmas in Port Desire, Patagonia

1834 - Charles Darwin celebrates Christmas on Beagle at Tres Montes, Chile

1835 - Charles Darwins company celebrates Christmas in Pahia, New Zealand

1868 

Despite bitter opposition, President Andrew Johnson grants unconditional pardon to all persons involved in Southern rebellion (Civil War)

1886 

Kid Ory, American musician (d. 1973)                                                                                               

Soyer.  Not just depression era scenes. 

1899

Raphael Soyer, artist. (d. 1987)

1907

 Cab Calloway, Rochester, bandleader (d. 1994)

1908 Jack Johnson KO Tommy Burns and becomes 1st black heavyweight champ 1922 Lenin dictates his "Political Testament" 1939 -  Montgomery Ward introduces Rudolph the 9th reindeer 1984 New York Knick Bernard King scores 60 points

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.  HAPPY NEW YEAR.  SEE YOU IN '13