St. George and the dragon, along the East River by the United Nations

"The ceremonies of Epiphany Eve are especially characteristic of Syrian holiday ideals.

Lilat-al-kadr or the Night of Destiny is considered by the Latin Church as the time

when the Magi presented their gifts to Christ, and by the Greek as the anniversary of

His baptism. Regarding the Eve of January 6, many beliefs are held, differing according

to locality. Only one tradition is universally accepted, the bowing of the trees; for it is

thought that just at midnight on the eventful Eve, every tree bends its trunk and inclines

its branches in homage to the Christ Child. Each tree offers its own peculiar gifts: fruit,

nuts, or blossoms. This superstition was doubtless adapted from the Mohammedan

which claims that Al Koran came from heaven on that night, and hence all trees (and

according to some versions, all animals, too) bow in recognition of the divine revelation.

Some say the trees, bending in reverence before the Magi who had worshiped the

Infant Lord, revealed to them the "other way" by which they returned to their own

country. The same story is told of how the trees directed the Holy Family as it fled

into Egypt. To this day, the inhabitants of Cairo claim that a tree of rare healing

powers marks the spot where Joseph, Mary, and the Child rested after their flight.."

-- from 1001 Christmas Facts and Fancies by Alfred Carl Hottes

Christmas cheer is general all around the glowing tube tonight.

A new Simpsons Christmas special bows on Fox, followed by

a Futurama Christmas with John Goodman. A&E's Biography

unfolds The Hidden Life of Jesus, and Turner Classic Movies

presents Christmas Past, a collection of silent short features.

'Earthly friends will change and falter,

Earthly hearts will vary:

He is born that cannot alter,

Of the Virgin Mary.

Born to-day,

Raise the lay!

Born to-day,

Twine the bay!

Jesus Christ is born to suffer,

Born for you,

Born for you,

Holly strew!

Jesus Christ was born to conquer,

Born to save,

Born to save,

Laurel wave!

Jesus Christ was born to govern,

Born a King,

Born a King,

Bay-wreaths bring!

Jesus Christ was born of Mary,

Born for all,

Well befall

Hearth and Hall!

Jesus Christ was born at Christmas,

Born for all.'

Earthly Friends, by J.M. Neale, 1818-66. "Daniel and Koch

attribute the words to the fourteenth century," the editors note,

"and they occur in a Breslau MS. of the fifteenth century."

The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928

Days 'til Christmas