December 24, 2007

Horse 843 - Room at an Inn



http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/dec/11/travelnews.christmasnewyear

No room at the inn? Not this year. I don't know if you saw this, but Travelodge in the UK are offering a free stay to anyone genuinely called Mary and Joseph. To evoke the "true spirit of Christmas", Travelodge is opening its doors and offering couples called Mary and Joseph a free night’s stay at any one of its 322 UK hotels.The ‘gift’ of a free night’s stay is to make up for the hotel industry not having any rooms left on Christmas Eve over 2000 years ago when the original Mary and Joseph had to settle for the night in a stable.

It hardly conjures up images of a traditional Christmas Carol does it?

Good King Wencelas last looked out
On the Feast of Stephen.
He could see a roundabout...

er...

Actually it does make some sense when you think about it. The real reason why Joseph and Mary had to return to Bethlehem was for a census. Given what we know about the UK Government of late the parallel is because that their records had actually been lost... and this is where the bit about the donkey comes in right?

Three "Wise Men" from the east? That's it? No records of their names or anything? Not even an accurate idea of how many they were? For all we know they were probably asylum seekers or something.

And now:

One Word Weather With Nelson Mandela
"Snow"

It's a bit strange that Mr Mandela is dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones he used to know.

No comments: