Daily Dirt: ‘Frohe Weinachten’ to everyone!

Daily Dirt for Monday, Dec. 25, 2023

‘Joyeux Noel,’ too!… Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 819 of The Daily Dirt.

1. In any language, the phrase “Merry Christmas” is a special greeting.

Here’s how “Merry Christmas” sounds around the world today:

• Spanish: “Feliz Navidad”: If you’re wondering when Jose Feliciano’s song of the same name came out, it was 1970.
• French: “Joyeux Noel”: The term :Meilleurs Voeux” is also used a lot and means “best wishes.”
• German: “Frohe Weinachten”: I wonder if this was ever said on “Hogan’s Heroes?”
• Italian: “Buon Natale”: Also popular is “Grazie, Buon Natale a te!” That means, “Thank you, Merry Christmas to you, too.”
• Portuguese: “Feliz Natal”: This can be said in Brazil, too. They speak Portuguese there for some strange reason.
• Japanese: “Merii Kurisumasu”: If you ever run into Shohei Ohtani in December, this could come in handy.
• Swedish: “God Jul”: Also popular is “Varma lyckönskningar,” which translates to “warm wishes.”
• Filipino: “Maligayang Pasko”: The holiday season is so important in the Phillipines that the people start celebrating in September.

2. A loyal Daily Dirt reader dropped us a line with more names for snow plows. The city of South Lake Tahoe in northern California chose the following names for its plows. The names were chosen via a vote of city residents:

• The Big LePlowski
• Scoop Dog
• Snowbi Wan Kenobi
• Darth Blader
• Sled Zeppelin
• Clearopathra
• Sleetwood Mac
• Austin Plowers
• Hans Sno-lo

3. What are the top pop Christmas songs of all time? Well, according to timeout.com, numerous ones have stood the test of time and listeners’ appreciation.

“The reality is that a lot of Christmas songs are bangers,” according to Andy Kryza and Ella Doyle, who compiled the ensuing list.

• 1. “All I Want For Christmas is You,” by Mariah Carey: “From the twinkly intro to Mariah’s tour-de-force delivery, everything here is as timeless as it is flawless,” say Kryza and Doyle. (And for those who are a fan of the film “Love Actually,” I’m sure you will agree with this choice.)
• 2. “Fairytale of New York,” by the Pogues and Kristy MacColl: “‘Fairytale’ is a perfect four-minute narrative of hope, despair and heartbreak – and, despite the profanity, it ends with love,” writes James Manning.
• 3. “Last Christmas,” by Wham!: George Michael at his finest.
• 4. “White Christmas,” by Bing Crosby: One of those songs that transcends generations.
• 5. “Christmas (Baby Be Please Come Home),” by Darlene Love: Next to Mariah Carey’s classic, this is my favorite “modern” holiday tune. Darlene Love was, is and will always be an incredible singer. What a voice.
• 6. “Feliz Navidad,” by Jose Feliciano: I just love to sing along in Spanish with Feliciano. And yes, I have no idea what I’m saying.
• 7. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Not a fan of this one.
• 8. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” by the Jackson 5: The best version of this song ever.
• 9. “Stay Another Day,” by East 17: I’ll be honest. I have no clue about this one.
• 10. “Child’s Christmas in Wales,” by John Calle: Or this one.

Songs I would have included in the top 10:

• “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” by Brenda Lee.
• “Sleigh Ride,” by the Ronettes and legendary Ronnie Spector.
• “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” by Band-Aid.
• “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy,” by David Bowie and Bing Crosby.

Steve Thought O’ The Day
Only one thought today: “Feliz Navidad!”

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Steve singing “Feliz Navidad” in Spanish? Somehow this needs to be recorded for all to hear.