Holiday-Themed Song of the Day: : "Christmas/Kwanzaa/Solstice/Chanukah/Ramadan/Boxing Day Song" By Christine Lavin and the Mistletones, from The Runaway Christmas Tree. This 2003 release was just chock full of all kinds of fun holiday tunes, and this all-out spoof on the holiday season is witty and memorable.
Strange Solstice Factoid: The Egyptian god/man Osiris died and was placed in his tomb on the Winter Solstice.
Holiday Tradition of the Day: Santa's Reindeer: Many people know that St. Nikolaus (commonly referred to as St. Nick) was actually a man who took gifts around to people's homes during the winter. But today's popular version of St. Nick got his magical reindeer from the Pagans. The German god Wotan, known for roaming the skies with a band of attendants, integrated with other European legends of deer, calves, and goats, to come up with the legend of Santa's Reindeer.
Gift of the Day: Christmas Bayou, by Michael Doucet (Swallow Records). This cajun holiday records includes some of the best players in the genre, including Sonny Landreth, Pat Breaux, and Tommy Alesi. The CD features some classic holiday carols, as well as a couple of cajun originals.
