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IO SATURNALIA: Did the Romans Invent Christmas?

12/20/2019

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DID THE ROMANS INVENT CHRISTMAS?
Of course they didn't invent Christmas, but similar to many facets of life in today’s western civilization, the Romans had a profound influence on the way Christians celebrate Christmas. We just can’t get away from those Roman guys, can we?

IN THE BEGINNING

The festival of Saturnalia began as a one-day farming ritual related to the end of harvest and the winter solstice. On that day, the agrarian population under Rome’s rule honored Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture, and offered gifts and sacrifices to the him. The time of its origin is unknown, but Saturnalia predates the birth of Christ, and the tradition followed the Romans throughout the Roman Empire.

The celebration may have taken on the name Saturnalia when the Temple of Saturn was dedicated in Rome in around 498 BC. The anniversary of the dedication was commemorated on December 17, and is believed to be the source of many of the current Christmas traditions.


The Temple of Saturn, Rome. - Photo Credit: stefano.pellicciari/Fotolia
 
▼Photo Source: www.britannica.com/Saturnalia-Roman

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THE MOST POPULAR ROMAN HOLIDAY
Whenever the festival began, by 131 BC this public holiday -- a time for feasting, goodwill, and generosity to the poor and also for drinking, dancing, nudity, and general bacchanal -- had become the most popular holiday on the Roman (Julian) calendar. The gala had been expanded into a week-long event beginning December 17 and ending on December 23. The date of winter solstice on the Julian calendar was December 25.

Augustus Caesar, who ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD, reduced the festivities to three days because it interfered with working days. Later, Emperor Caligula (37 to 41 AD) extended it to five days. By the 5th century the gala lasted two weeks, although different sources identify different numbers of days.
                                                                                                      
Photo source:  historyextra.com/romans-celebrate-christmas/ ▼

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​According to Macrobius, a well-known Roman author (370-430 AD), Saturnalia represented the merging of three winter festivals over several centuries.
     The Day of Saturn (Saturnalia) originally December 17;
    The Festival of Opalia, goddess of abundance and fruits of the earth (who was also Saturn’s wife and sister); and
     A feast day celebrating the shortest day, called Brumalia by the Romans, which coincided with the solstice.

Because Saturnalia was truly a festival of the people, not just the upper crust, there were plenty of reasons why the holiday was so popular. Some unique things occurred.

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● Nobody worked for the entire week of Saturnalia. Courts, shops, schools, public offices were all closed and no one did business during the holiday.

● Most of the Roman’s strict rules went out the window and it was a time of role reversal in terms of the aristocracy and the common Romans, servants, and slaves. A week of "equality". The festival reflects the contradictory nature of the deity Saturn himself; joyful and carefree, but also threatening and dangerous. During this week, slaves and servants could insult the boss without repercussions. They sat at the tables for a huge banquet while their masters served them and gave them gifts.
Pilleum cap of the freed slaves.
 
▼ Photo source: somathread.ning.com/saturnalian-pileus

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● People would wear a cap of freedom – the pilleum – which was usually worn by slaves who had been awarded their freedom, to symbolize that they were free during the Saturnalia.
​

● It was the Romans’ mid-winter holiday of feasting, drinking, singing in the street naked, dancing, clapping hands, making noise, and debauchery. An orgy, so to speak. Who doesn't love an orgy?
[Actually, there were those, particularly aristocracy and scholars, who didn't love it.]
                                                                                                Photo source: jeremyvarner.com/saturnalia/ 
▼

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● Activities forbidden to the plebeians were permitted such as gambling in public, bobbing for corks in ice water, trivia games, chariot racing, wearing weird or colorful clothing or nothing at all, and so on.

● Even the conservatively clothed aristocracy dressed in brightly colored fabrics such as red, purple and gold. This outfit was called the synthesis, meaning they put together whatever clothes they wanted. And no togas. This was a time for relaxation. ▼

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● People would feast in their homes. According to the historian Livy, by 217 BC there was also a huge public feast at the oldest temple in Rome, the Temple of Saturn. Macrobius confirms that the rowdy participants would spill out onto the street, shouting, “Io Saturnalia!” or “Io, Io, Io!” [“Io” is pronounced like yō.]
 Photo source: historyextra.com/romans-celebrate-Christmas/

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Photo Source: reason.com/happy-saturnalia-2019/
THE LORD OF MISRULE
A part of the festivities particularly popular in many households was the selection of a mock king. The mock king, or Saturnalicius princeps, got to run around the house for a week, giving everyone commands and a hard time. The mock king was also called The Lord of Misrule and his job was to make mischief during the week.
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The person who received this honor was selected by chance. A small coin was baked into a cake and whomever was served the piece of cake with the coin inside was deemed the Lord of Misrule. Once chosen, this person would:
    ●Insult guests!
    ●Wear crazy clothing!
    ●Chase people around the house!
    ●Plan scandalous party entertainment!


I found no indication that the household Lord of Misrule took his antics outside of the household. However, because of the general atmosphere, I imagine it happened often.
Photo Source: solascendans.com/lord-of-misrule/

GIFT GIVING
The Christmas tradition of giving gifts arises, in part, from Saturnalia. December 19 was the Sigillaria, the Roman day of giving gifts. Saturnalia was more about a change in attitudes rather than giving gifts. 

​
Because the whole spirit of the celebration was generosity and equality in the eyes of God, the value of the gifts was also reversed in terms of social status. Pottery and wax figurines called sigillaria were made for this day. In truth, the gifts given were both very expensive or in the nature of gag-gifts, but the original spirit of the day was that token gifts of low intrinsic value inversely meant the giver considered the friendship as being very dear and high quality. Children received toys as gifts.

Pottery & bronze figurines 3rd century BC to 1st century AD / Photo source: alison-morton.com/saturnalia

Gifts might include white candles, named cerei, which signified the increase of light after the solstice. This practice of gift giving can also be looked at like sending greeting cards.

However, December 19 was not the only time people gave gifts during Saturnalia, and in some households, guests and family members received gifts after the feast in which slaves had shared.

DECORATIONS
The colors of Saturnalia were green and gold, and the Romans decorated their homes with evergreen wreaths, garlands made of pine branches, mistletoe, and holly. Gold decorations in the traditional shapes of the sun and stars, pinecones, nuts, acorns, or animals, were added.  Evergreen branches signified the continuation of life through the winter and the prospect of the coming of spring.
Photo source: legionarybooks.blogspot.com/saturnalia                                            Photo Source: eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/io-saturnalia

CANDLES
The Romans had a long tradition of lighting candles (wax tapers) and torches as part of their ceremonies. Whether or not this practice derived from an old prophecy, which bade the earliest inhabitants of Latium to “send heads to Hades and to Saturn”, no one knows for sure. However, the ancient Latins interpreted this to mean human sacrifices. According to legend, Hercules suggested that the phrase meant using lights (phos means “light” or “man” according to accent) and not human heads. Apparently they accepted that mythical advice and instead lit candles to honor Saturn.
  
From the beginning of Christianity, fire and light serve as symbols of the divine nature and the divine presence. Christ is the true Light. Light represents the purifying presence of god. It would not be a stretch for the new Christians to adopt the idea of candles in their services, but according to Wikipedia, “There is no evidence of any ceremonial use of lights in Christian worship during its first two centuries.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_use_of_lights
 

HOW DID SATURNALIA BECOME CHRISTMAS?
One didn't become the other, but the process of religious syncretism blended the old pagan rituals from the celebration of Saturn with the religious beliefs of the new Christianity, resulting in a new religious tradition.

December 25 is celebrated by the Christian religions as the day Jesus Christ was born. In English, the word Christmas is derived from old English Christ Mass. The actual date of the Christ child’s birth is unknown, and many historians and theologians believe his birth more likely occurred in the spring. Some people use that fact to make strange arguments about the holiday, but that is all rhetoric.

Whether or not Christ was born on December 25, this is the date the Christian religion has chosen to celebrate the birthday. It’s similar to having your birthday party on Saturday, when your real birthday is Thursday.

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Photo source: www.christianity.com/1st-recorded-celebration-of-christmas​
During the first 300 or so years of Christianity, the Baptism of Christ, not his birth, was considered more important and was celebrated on January 6, the Epiphany. The first known celebration of Christmas on December 25 was in 336 AD during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor. At that time the day had no official status. About fifteen years later (350 AD), Pope Julius I declared December 25 as the official date of Christmas. It wasn’t until 529 AD that Emperor Justinian made Christmas a civic holiday.
December 25 obviously coincides with the pagan festival of Saturnalia. One popular interpretation is that by selecting this date, religious leaders hoped to convert the pagan masses to Christianity by promising them that they could continue to celebrate the Saturnalia more or less the way it had always been, as Christians. Thus, early Christmas holidays were celebrated by drinking, sexual indulgence, singing naked in the streets, a precursor of modern caroling. 

Another major consideration was the “concept in Judaism that link the time of the deaths of prophets being linked to their conception or birth. From this, early ecclesiastical number-crunchers extrapolated that the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy following the Annunciation on March 25th would produce a December 25th date for the birth of Christ.” https://www.historytoday.com
Over time the celebrations took on a Christian theme and theology but maintained the same spirit as a time of year for peace on earth, equality for all, good will towards man, and generosity for all. Thus, Saturnalia eventually evolved into Christmas.

If you are Christian - MERRY CHRISTMAS!
If you are not - HAPPY HOLIDAYS and GOOD WILL and HONOR to your own religious days


​Sources
https://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-Saturnalia
https://www.naturalnavigator.com/news/2008/11/saturnalia-christmas-and-common-sense/
https://museumhack.com/saturnalia-christmas/
https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/how-did-the-romans-celebrate-christmas/
https://www.creativejeffrey.com/creative/innovative_christmas.phphttps:/www.britannica.com/topic/feast-religion/Types-and-kinds-of-feasts-and-festivals
http://jeremyvarner.com/blog/2016/12/history-of-the-holidays-saturnalia/

https://www.historytoday.com/archive/did-romans-invent-christmas
https://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5uG6zaDaIM
https://theluminessence.wordpress.com/2017/12/19/a-saturnalia-ritual/
/mahttps://www.lnstar.com/mallin-areas/xmas-not-first-choice.htm
https://travelingboy.com/travel/saturnalia-history-christmas/
https://alison-morton.com/2018/12/16/saturnalia-serious-roman-festival-or-free-for-all/
https://somathread.ning.com/groups/the-shrine-of-eris/forum/the-saturnalian-pileus
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Pileus_(hat)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_use_of_lights
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saturnalia-Roman-festivalhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Saturnalia-Roman-festival 
{This site has wonderful drawings of structures in the Roman forum]
 








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The Tradition of the Christmas colors

12/13/2019

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LOST IN THE MISTS OF TIME
Like so many other traditions, the exact origins of red and green as the colors of Christmas are lost in time. Despite a variety of theories, it is clear the tradition didn’t evolve as part of the Christian religion, but can be traced to the ancient Celtic peoples who commemorated different holidays, usually related to the change of seasons, with different colors.

They venerated the green holly with red berries for being evergreen during the cold winter and believed the plant was meant to keep the world beautiful even in the winter. Decorating their homes with holly for the winter solstice celebrations was believed to protect them and bring good luck in the coming year. Celtic peoples as well as many other pagan religions celebrated winter with evergreens.
​
Even the Romans used Fir Trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia celebrated at What is now Christmas time.

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WHEN WAS CHRIST BORN?
Most Christians understand that Christ was not born on what we now call December 25th. The scriptures don’t identify the season although there are indicators that he may have been born in the spring time because Luke references sheep grazing in the fields, which only happened in warmer months.

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The birth of Jesus was not celebrated until the fourth century AD. In that era, the Roman scholar Hippolytus projected the birth of Christ at a time of year near the winter solstice. The first recorded commemoration of Christmas was 336 AD in the time of Roman Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor, and was used as a way to discourage Christians from participating in pagan winter solstice rites.

THE MIDDLE AGES
During the Middle Ages, after the fall of Rome, not many people celebrated Christmas. However, during this period many Celtic and other pagan traditions and celebrations were subsumed by Christian beliefs and practices.
​
After a month of fasting (Advent) and preparation, the Christmas festivities lasted for 12 days, from Christmas to January 6 (Epiphany). Replicating the pagan traditions, “inversions of order occurred across medieval society around Christmas. One of the most colorful was the election of a boy bishop, who presided over processions and church ritual on the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 December).

In a surviving example of a boy bishop’s sermon, the boy bishop wishes that all his schoolteachers would end up on the gallows at Tyburn. One chronicle records how, at the Abbey of St Gall in the 10th century, King Conrad tried to distract the procession of the boys by strewing apples down the processional route; the boys were, however, so disciplined that not an apple was touched.”
https://www.historyextra.com/medieval-christmas
 
ROOD SCREENS

Dr. Spike Bucklow of the University of Cambridge, who studied medieval church art, hypothesizes that the uses of green and red started with the 14th century Rood Screen.

That was a new one. I didn’t know that Rood Screens are wooden structures that stand in a church between the nave and the chancel, partitions installed in churches to separate the congregation from the priest and the altar.

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These screens were carved in the Middle Ages, richly decorated with images of saints or local donors, and followed a very consistent color scheme: alternating zones of red and green. The use of those colors related to the pigments available for decorating the screens, and that the tradition of pairing the two colors at Christmas came from that tradition.
​
◄15th century rood screen, Holy Trinity Church, in Torbryan, ​Devon, southwestern England
Photo source: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/26607


SIGNIFICANCE OF GREEN AND RED
Regardless of the origins, each of the colors has accumulated traditional beliefs which still predominates today.


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GREEN
​● Green signifies life
- Plants are green because they depend on chlorophyll for life. Thus, to many societies the color green symbolizes life, fertility, and the rebirth of life after winter. About two hundred years before the birth of Christ mistletoe was used by the Druids to celebrate the coming of winter. Green is an ancient reminder that winter doesn’t last forever.


● Christian belief - The color green is a natural representation of eternal life, specifically the evergreen tree and how it survives through the winter season. That’s why, in Christian belief, green represents the eternal life that Jesus Christ offers.

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● Green in the Middle Ages – During this period, green represented love and fertility, and brides often wore green on their wedding day.
◄Pagan Wedding Dress: Photo source: https://wiccanspells.info/wiccan-pagan-articles/4-beautiful-pagan-wedding-dress-styles/

​
                                                                                 McMillian Education Poster – Painting by unknown 20th century artist of a Miracle Play
                                                                                               Photo source: https://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_20thMiraclePlLL.html  
▼

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● Paradise or Miracle Plays of the 14th century – On Christmas eve these plays were performed to teach Bible stories to people who couldn’t read -- the vast majority.

​​The tradition was to present the Paradise Play, the story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. The Paradise Tree within the garden was normally a pine tree with red apples tied to it. That inspired people to decorate their homes with evergreen bows and decorating with red apples.

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RED
● Red Berries signify fertility and new life – Holly is one of the plants that remains green during the winter and it happens to have red barriers. Berries, because they carry the seeds for new plants, could be symbolic of fertility and new life. Mistletoe has green berries. Go figure. 

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● Christian belief - The color red symbolizes the blood of Jesus that he shed to save mankind.

​● Paradise or Miracle Plays of the 14th century – The association of red with these play comes from the story of the apple tree and the apples tied to the evergreen.

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● Red is the color a Bishop's robes - St. Nicholas, as a bishop, would have worn red. It is a possible connection to the Santa Claus uniform.

Coca-Cola started using a Santa image in its advertising in 1931. Later, when they hired artist Haddon Sundblom to draw their Santa Claus ads, his image of the jolly elf bestowed on Santa Claus by western culture became that created by Coca-Cola.
                                                           The first Coca-Cola Santa advertisement – 1931
                                        http://www.adbranch.com/coca-cola-santa-claus-1931-1949/

Sources:
https://www.history.com/news/who-was-st-nicholas
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coke-lore-santa-claus
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/colors-of-christmas.shtml
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml
http://www.christmaslore.com/the_true_meaning_behind_the_christmas_colors.htm
https://suite.io/nicole-skutelnik/12f72k3
http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/how-red-and-green-became-the-colors-of-christmas/
https://www.mysciencework.com/omniscience/medieval-roots-for-our-christmas-colors-the-meaning-of-red-green
http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/who-colour-coded-christmas
http://christianity.about.com/od/christmas/
https://www.rd.com/culture/christmas-colors-green-red/
https://random-times.com/2018/12/09/9-the-ancient-origins-of-christmas-tree/



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PUT OUT THE LIGHTS AND CRY: Diner Speak

12/6/2019

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In days gone by my family used to race motorcycles in the High Mojave Desert. Almost every weekend we would make the trip to various locations where the races were held. Ah, the memories of District 37 and the View Finders, the riding club we belonged to. 

Along the way we stopped at various diners and cafes to grab a bite to eat either going or returning home. You know…the hole-in-the-wall family operations that most likely don’t exist in the 21st century. Maybe in a very small town somewhere. They were fun because the waitress would call out the order to the cook using “Diner language.” My kids thought that was a hoot would always try to guess what was being ordered.

Our favorite was Charlie’s Place located between Red Mountain and Trona, CA. The establishment was more of a bar than a diner, located out in the boonies where desert races were held. Nothing but rocks and desert for miles in any direction.
                                           Charlie's Place                                        Desert around Trona, CA              

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Years after we stopped going there, it was renamed the Wagon Wheel and moved to another other location. The site, which is now a BLM camping area, is still called Charlie’s Place.

BURN ONE WITH FROG STICKS
As I sifted through more than a couple hundred of these diner-speak phrases, I wondered how many of them my grandchildren would understand. I’ve listed fifty+ here. Find the favorites for your family and call them out when served. Or make up a “Jeopardy” type game to guess the food from the name.

Here is a sample. Some of the terms are the dishes themselves, others are directions regarding preparation. See how many you can match.

01. A spot with a twist = Cup of tea with lemon
02. ▼ Adam and Eve on a raft = Two poached eggs on toast
03. Adam and Eve blindfolded with sneeze ▲ = Two poached eggs on toast surrounded by bacon & peppered.
04. Add Hail to the MD = Put ice in the Dr. Pepper
05. ▼All hot = A baked potato
06. All Hot, Tip Toe thru Wisconsin ▲ = Baked Potato with cheese sprinkled on top
https://www.easycheesyvegetarian.com/how-to-make-perfect-baked-potato/

07. Axle grease/skid grease/cow paste = Butter
08. ▼Angels on Horseback = Oysters rolled in bacon and served on toast
09. Blowout Patches with Axle Grease and Vermont ▲= Pancakes with butter and syrup
10. Baby juice/moo juice/cow juice/Sweet Alice = Milk
11. Belch water/balloon water = Seltzer or soda water
12. Baled Hay = Shreaded Wheat
13. Battle Creek in a bowl = Corn Flakes in a bowl
14. Biddy Board = French toast
15. Bloodhound in the Hay = A hot dog with sauerkraut
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16. Bossy in a bowl = Beef stew
17. Burn one = Put a hamburger on the grill
18. Burn one with frog sticks = Hamburger and fries
19. Burn one, take it through the garden and pin a rose on it = A hamburger with lettuce, tomato and onion
20.
▼Burn the British = A toasted English muffin
21. Cowboy with Spurs = Western Omelet with potatoes ▲
22. Drag one through Georgia = Coca-Cola with chocolate syrup
23. Drag Wimpy through Wisconsin = Hamburger with cheese
24. Draw one in the dark = A cup of black coffee
25. Drown the Kids = Boiled Eggs

26. ▼Eve with a moldy lid = Apple pie with cheese
​28. First lady = Spareribs ▲
29. In the alley = A side dish
30. First Lady with Idaho Cakes in the alley = Ribs with Hash brown Patties on the side
31. Frog sticks = French fries
32. Fry two and let the sun shine = Two eggs sunny side up or eggs which have not been
      flipped over.

33. ▼Heart Attack on Rack = Biscuits and gravy
34. Hounds on an Island ▲= Franks and beans
https://parade.com/891446/pambeth/this-franks-and-beans-recipe-tastes-like-childhood-in-casserole-form

​
35. Houseboat = A banana split
36
. Looseners = Prunes
37
. Maiden's delight = Cherries
38
. Mouse Trap = Grilled Cheese Sandwich
39
. Noah's boy on dough = A ham sandwich
40
. Noah's boy with Murphy carrying a wreath = ham and potatoes with cabbage
41
. Pair of drawers = Two cups of coffee
42
. Put out the lights and cry = Liver and onions
43. Hockey puck = A hamburger, well done
44. Hold the grass / keep off the grass = A sandwich without lettuce|
45. Hot Blonde in the Sand = Coffee with cream and sugar
46. Two Cows, make them cry = Two hamburgers with onions
47. Whiskey Down with Skid Grease = Rye toast with butter
48. Wreck 'em = Scrambled eggs

PUT LEGS ON IT
Some of the diner slang is more about actions than the kind of food. These terms add significantly to the fun of the "language".

Burn one = Put a hamburger on the grill
Nuke it = Microwave
Cremate it or Kill it = cook well-done
Drop = Start cooking the accompanied item; e.g. “The mussels are almost done, better drop the calamari.”
Give It Wings = Serve quickly
On a Rail or On the Fly = Something needed quickly, like yesterday
Turn & Burn = Turn a table quickly (usually becaus
e there is a long waiting list for tables).
Pump it out = Getting food out quickly
Put legs on it = A take out item
In the alley = A side dish


HAVE FUN WITH IT!
Sources:
https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/diner-lingo/
http://www.meandmycaptain.com/2014/01/adam-eve/
http://blog.etundra.com/food-service/glossary-restaurant-terms/
https://www.dametown.com/words-for-women-get-the-hang-of-30s-slang/
http://mentalfloss.com/article/31493/understanding-diner-lingo-55-phrases-get-you-started
http://www.jitterbuzz.com/diners.html
https://www.metv.com/quiz/do-you-know-your-breakfast-diner-lingo
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/diner-slang-what-does-diner-lingo-mean
https://www.rd.com/food/phrases-only-hear-50s-diner/
​https://www.facebook.com/AMADistrict37/



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    Author R. Ann Siracusa

    Novelist, retired architect and urban planner, world traveler, quilter, owl collector, devoted wife-mother-grandmother, great-grandmother, and, according to some, wild-assed liberal.

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