So stick up ivy and the bays, and then restore the heathen ways, green will remind you of the Spring, though this great day denies the thing, and mortifies the earth, and all, but your wild revels, and loose hall.
—Henry Vaughan (1621–95) Anglo-Welsh Metaphysical Poet
Lucy: Beethoven’s birthday is December 16th Shermy! Have you decided what you’re going to get me?
Shermy: Yes! I’m not going to get you anything!
Lucy: What kind of a holiday is it where you don’t give girls presents?
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
There’s one post-Christmas chore I love-writing thank-you letters…. Lots of companies for many reasonable reasons, I guess, have a policy against sending even Christmas cards, never mind things, at Christmastime. But our clan gets a big kick out of opening the Warner-Lambert box containing an assortment of their wares; we argue over which of the boys is to get the Union Oil Co. necktie (and) all the holiday long we play the marvelous Christmas music sent by Goodyear…. None of these things means that Forbes or Forbeses have been had. But all of us like being thought of.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart, the secret anniversaries of the heart, when the full tide of feeling overflows.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Under the leaves, amid the grass, lazily the day shall pass, yet not be wasted.—From my drowsy ease I borrow health and strength to bear my boat through the great life ocean.
—Charles Mackay (1814–89) Scottish Poet, Journalist, Songwriter
Every man who possibly can should force himself to a holiday of a full month in a year, whether he feels like taking it or not.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
The gist of New Year’s Day is: Try again.
—Frank Hall Crane (1873–1948) American Stage and Film Actor, Director
Midnight, and the clock strikes. It is Christmas Day, the werewolves birthday, the door of the solstice still wide enough open to let them all slink through.
—Angela Carter (1940–92) English Novelist
‘Twas Christmas broach’d the mightiest ale; ’twas Christmas told the merriest tale; a Christmas gambol oft could cheer the poor man’s heart through half the year.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work: but when they seldom come, they wished for come, and nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Let your holidays be associated with great public events, and they may be the life of patriotism as well as a source of relaxation and personal employment.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
This is the month, and this the happy morn, wherein the Son of heaven’s eternal King, of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born, our great redemption from above did bring.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Please to put a nickel, please to put a dime. How petitions trickle in at Christmas time!
—Phyllis McGinley (1905–78) American Children’s Writer, Poet, Children’s Books Author
As you get older, you get tired of doing the same things over and over again, so you think Christmas has changed. It hasn’t. It’s you who has changed.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
The only thing bad about a holiday is it is followed by a non-holiday.
—Anonymous
Call a truce, then, to our labors—let us feast with friends and neighbors, and be merry as the custom of our caste; for if “faint and forced the laughter,” and if sadness follow after, we are richer by one mocking Christmas past.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Writer, Poet, Novelist, Short Story Author
I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up—they have no holidays.
—Henny Youngman (1906–98) Anglo-American Comedian, Violinist
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Who first invented work, and bound the free and holiday-rejoicing spirit down?
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it.
—Katharine Whitehorn (1928–2021) English Journalist, Writer, Columnist
A woman spent all Christmas Day in a telephone box without ringing anyone. If someone comes to phone, she leaves the box, then resumes her place afterwards. No one calls her either, but from a window in the street, someone watched her all day, no doubt since they had nothing better to do. The Christmas syndrome.
—Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) French Sociologist, Philosopher
People are happier at Yuletime because they take the milk of human kindness out of the deep freeze.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.
—Garrison Keillor (b.1942) American Author, Humorist, Radio Personality
Except for excess decoration, excess commercialism, excess editorializing, excess caroling, excess bibbling, and excess cheer, I heartily approve of the Christmas spirit.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Leave a Reply