++> To all those "many few" that have tolorated me
 ++> this past year!                    .
 ++> ...and Inspired by Santa       .   o   .
                                   .  _/ \_   .
                                   . _/00 \/~  .
 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;\\;;  .
 ;  MERRY CHRISTMAS |    .    |   .    ; ||_
 ;  & Happy*      --*--     \ | /    * ; '
 ;  New Year.    * /|\  .- - -*- - -   ;            *
 ; *  .   :   .   /"o"\  :  / | \  .   ;            i
 ;  .      .    /o/"|"\o\  *  |        ;     \ iiii I iiii /
 ; .    *       /"/"o"\"\    .  : * .  ;       ~~~~\I/~~~~
 ;  .  .  *   /o/"/o|"\o\"\o     .     ;            I Happy
 ; __________"""""""H"""""""_____ 1997 ;            I Honukah
 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;Dave;;;;;;;;;;;;           /~\
 
 Though not religious, I do very much favor the Christmas "message"
 and "happening" but thought it of balance to make mention of some
 lesser heard, that also consider December for celebration or good
 reasons-
 
  Dec.  4 [SIKHISM] Martyrdom- Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur
  Dec.  6 [a tradition] St. Nicholas Day (4th century bishop from
          Myra [Turkey])
  Dec.  8 [BUDDGISM] Bodhi Day - celebrated by many Buddhists as
          anniversary of the enlightenment.
  Dec. 10 [JAINISM] Maunajiyaras day of fasting,silence and meditation
  Dec. 12 [BAHA'I] Beginning of Masa'il - "beginning month of questions"
  Dec. 13 [ISLAM] Nisf Sha'ban - Night of repentence - preparation
          for Ramadan
  Dec. 20 [ZOROASTRIANISM] Yalda Night - Zoroastrians banish the
          spirits of the dark (good over evil)
  Dec. 21 [old Nature Religions] - Solstice celebration (Wiccan)
  Dec. 22 [SHINTO] - grand ceremony of the winter solstice (yin to yang)
  Dec. 24 [JUDAISM] - 1st day of Hanukah - Feast of lights - (Victory
          of Macccabees)
  Dec. 25 [CHRISTIANITY] - Birth of Christ
  Dec. 26 [ZOROASTRIANISM] - Death of Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster)
  Dec. 31 [ISLAM] - Ramadan begins
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