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December 18, 2025
Food/DrinkHolidays/Events/Parades

“For Christmas, I was given a jar of cherries in brandy. I was grateful not just for the cherries, but for the spirit in which it was given!”

"Brandied cherries" are cherries preserved in a sweetened brandy syrup. There's a joke about brandied cherries and "Christmas spirit." "I was given a jar of cherries…

July 28, 2018
Holidays/Events/Parades

“For Christmas, I’ve got my wife a telepathic abacus. It’s the thought that counts”

"For christmas I've got my wife a telepathic abacus. It's the thought that counts" is a joke that was posted on Twitter by Robin Flavell on December 20, 2012. "I've…

March 2, 2020
Holidays/Events/Parades

“For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way…” (Irish saying)

A St. Patrick's Day poem is: "For each petal on the shamrock.,This brings a wish your way --Good health, good luck, and happinessFor today and every day." Authorship is unknown. The…

October 8, 2024
Holidays/Events/Parades

“For Halloween, I’m going to be mentally stable. No one will know it’s me”

"For Halloween, I'm going to be mentally stable. No one will know it's me" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is unknown. "This Halloween…

November 22, 2017
Holidays/Events/Parades

“For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped” (Thanksgiving poem)

A Thanksgiving poem beginning "For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped..." has been cited in print since at least 1884, when it was credited to Harper's Weekly. 21…

November 12, 2024
Food/DrinkHolidays/Events/Parades

“Fruitcake is the candy corn of Christmas”

Various foods have been called "the candy corn of Christmas." That is to say, like candy corn, it's a food mainly eaten on the holiday (as with candy corn and Halloween) and at no…

October 29, 2018
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore. Scary witches at your door”

"Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore. Scary witches at your door. Jack-o-lanterns smiling bright, wishing you a haunting night" is a popular Halloween saying that has been printed on many…

November 12, 2024
Food/DrinkHolidays/Events/Parades

“Gingerbread is the candy corn of Christmas”

Various foods have been called "the candy corn of Christmas." That is to say, like candy corn, it's a food mainly eaten on the holiday (as with candy corn and Halloween) and at no…

December 25, 2020
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Gonna go lay under the Christmas tree to remind my family that I am a gift”

"Gonna go lay under the Christmas tree to remind my family that I am a gift" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is unknown. "On Christmas eve…

September 27, 2014
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth” (Maker Faire slogan)

Maker Faire began in 2006 by Make magazine to "celebrate arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset." There are annual events on the east coast (New…

July 14, 2004
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Greatest Show on Earth”

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus bills itself as "The Greatest Show on Earth." Trademark records show a first use on July 21, 1891. New York City-born entertainer Dan…

November 10, 2024
Food/DrinkHolidays/Events/Parades

“Green bean casserole is the candy corn of Thanksgiving”

Various foods have been called "the candy corn of Thanksgiving." That is to say, like candy corn, it's a food mainly eaten on the holiday (as with candy corn and Halloween) and at no…

November 27, 2024
Food/DrinkHolidays/Events/Parades

“Green bean casserole is the fruitcake of Thanksgiving”

Various foods have been called “the fruitcake of Thanksgiving.” That is to say, like fruitcake, it’s a food mainly eaten on the holiday (as with fruitcake and Christmas) and at no other time,…

November 12, 2024
Food/DrinkHolidays/Events/Parades

“Gumdrops are the candy corn of Christmas”

Various foods have been called "the candy corn of Christmas." That is to say, like candy corn, it's a food mainly eaten on the holiday (as with candy corn and Halloween) and at no…

October 7, 2024
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Halloween is coming up, so if you’re trying to scare me I’m afraid of boobs”

"Halloween is coming. If you want to scare me, I'm afraid of boobies" was posted on Facebook by Larry Peters on October 5, 2023, and this received over 44,000 shares. The jocular…

October 7, 2024
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Halloween is coming. If you want to scare me, I’m afraid of boobies”

"Halloween is coming. If you want to scare me, I'm afraid of boobies" was posted on Facebook by Larry Peters on October 5, 2023, and this received over 44,000 shares. The jocular…

October 7, 2024
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Halloween is coming. If you want to scare me, I’m afraid of titties”

"Halloween is coming. If you want to scare me, I'm afraid of boobies" was posted on Facebook by Larry Peters on October 5, 2023, and this received over 44,000 shares. The jocular…

June 4, 2020
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Halloween is only good for one thing. Which is…”

"Witches" sounds like "which is." "RT @timbuckteeth: Halloween is only good for one thing. Which is...." was posted on Twitter by Darcy Moore on October 31, 2009.…

September 22, 2024
Holidays/Events/ParadesWork/Businesses

“Halloween is right around the corner. You can tell because all the stores are decked out for Christmas”

Stores often display December's Christmas items even before Halloween -- in October. American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host Stephen Colbert…

May 4, 2018
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Happy Mexican St. Patrick’s Day” (Cinco de Mayo)

Many people celebrate St. Patrick's Day by drinking Guinness stout, and then celebrate Cinco de Mayo by drinking Corona beer. "Cinco de Mayo is all about drinking.... just like St.…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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