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bear of lb

There was a very interesting discussion about Easter on another thread (non-Pedant). It was humorous and people seemed to enjoy it. I think my comment on this thread led to your posting.

Your analysis is interesting and I have not heard some of the terms since school days. However most people have no passion for Passiontide or qualms about palms. I think pedants can choose what they are interested in, but I am glad they use the correct terminology.

EASTER-
I should have said that my intention was as much to be helpful as pedantic.

I would have responded before but went away for a few days very soon after my earlier post & am only just returned.

I suppose I should add that my earlier post only applies to the western Church: the autocephalous churches of Orthodoxy have their own & very different rules, some of them being different from one another - for example some still follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian.

I trust that Malone especially will appreciate that I had no wish to be censorious, rather enlightening. More liturgical minutiae can be made available on request!

Bear, thanks.

There was some interesting stuff in your earlier post, much of it was totally new to me. I'm afraid, though, that I will stick up for anyone (individual, company, organisation) who refers to 'Easter Saturday' when they're talking about the day before Easter. I feel your terminology is true only for the (relatively) small number of people who accept all the Holy Week rules, titles, whatever.

Jigjag, another Bank Holiday - secular this time (I think, hope!). As mentioned on another thread, your little vignettes are missed and another one would be greatly appreciated!

Malone, Grunger

You were kind enough to send your best wishes on my venture, so I thought I would let you know how I am getting on.

Well, my long and interminable Easter holiday has entered its 6th week. Malone was right, it is Easter all year round here and every Sunday is Easter Sunday, every Monday is Easter Monday, etc. The exception is Pancake Tuesday – there is only one of those unfortunately.

There are no crosswords here, but there are crossROADS, and at each there is a post to which the locals attach clues. I noticed these earlier but I have not been able to solve them yet.

Relax, about time, right? Is country remote? (6, 6)

One of five (not five-a-day) has appeal (not SA or It) – a freaky plant? (6)

The trip was expensive, £3,499 via Santiago. I thought that was for a return, but it turns out to be just one-way. I am annoyed with the travel agent, Willy Kumbak who misled me. To pay for the airfare home, I have been writing short stories which the local newspaper has published. They are about supermarkets, mergers and people with unlikely names. There are no supermarkets here of course, and the locals are astonished that M&S at Cheshire Oaks is bigger than their island.

I have not been able to look at any threads, but I was told that Grunger posted about looking at Sainsbury’s again. Grunger - if you meant investing, please don’t until I get back. If you meant shopping, please ask Malone, but do not buy any of that “grilled gryllidae” that she loves. It is full of protein but has a rather unpleasant taste.

I hope to be back soon. Perhaps you would be able to let me know of any interesting Easter stuff I have missed.

Wonderful, Jigjag! I am delighted that your move has worked out so well and has provided you with a veritable treasure trove of stories and information for us. My favourite part was the name of your travel agent, but that has given me cause for concern... as someone asked before, am I swapping my Pedants United hat for a Punner United one?

In a bid to distract me from punnery, I tackled your clues. I was relieved to find that I was able to solve both of them.

Jigjag, I expect my postcard will take a long time to reach you, so here's a brief report on my trip to Christmas Island...

It was a delight from start to finish. The islanders were truly delighted to see me - being so far, far away from any landmass, they seldom get visitors.
One thing puzzled the islanders. 'Why', they asked, 'has our island's name been appropriated for two festivals? ' They added that one of these seemed to involve a spiritual quest, the other involved turkeys, pudding and Secret Santa gifts. As the islanders pointed out, their island existed and was inhabited long, long before these 'observances'. I learned a new fact too - the island's name is actually a mistake!

The first explorer to set foot there was Chris Mast. His Chief Navigator could barely read and write. When he entered details in the Captain's Log, he put ' Wev'e landed on uninhabited teratory. From today, this place will be knone as Christ Mas Island'. That should have been 'Chris Mast Island' but no-one noticed the error, and the island's name has been wrong ever since. A pity there were no pedants around then!

jigjag and malone

What brilliant stories - original, creative and hilarious! I cant stop laughing. I love the characters.

Yes, pedants and punners would have been welcome. I will settle for being a pundit.

By the way, jigjag, there was a post about Easter from "bear of lb". Very informative then he/she went on holiday. Perhaps one of you met him/her on Easter/Chris Mast Island?

Bear, I'm sorry - I forgot to say earlier that I appreciated your intention to be enlightening rather than censorious! As you'd no doubt expect, I'm quite happy to pass up on the offer of more liturgical minutiae, but thanks anyway.

Grunger, glad to hear our 'What I Did On My Holidays' essays are entertaining you. I can't be certain, but I think Bear might have been heading for the Whitsunday Islands. (I haven't the heart to tell him/her that there's no religious connection there either - just a very weary, Scottish explorer who landed there and said ''Whit Sunday's this?' He'd been travelling for months and lost all track of time, dates etc. )