Today’s hints for our Christmas Contest relate to Rob’s column last week.

Rob writes:

“The holiday message exists in the texts of our columns, but there is a clue about the message in the title of my column for last Wednesday, December 16. I didn’t put it there intentionally, but it is there.”

Remember that the title is not part of the puzzle. In this case, however, it contains a clue about the puzzle. And while we’re on the subject, Rob offers this question to help you along:

“Why is Santa’s letter signed in that peculiar way?”

Any help? If you think you know the answer, enter the contest here.

More hints tomorrow.

—JLW

FROM THE DARKNESS

by Rob Lopresti

Yesterday was the winter solstice, which means that last night was the longest night of the year. That is an important event where I live (Bellingham is so far north that one in every four Canadians lives south of us.)

What does the long darkness have to do with the subject of our blog? Simple. You sit around the fire on a long winter night, without enough light to work. It’s too early for bed. Perhaps too many people around for certain other activities. So how do you pass the time?

You tell stories.

You tell stories about the Maccabees fighting the Greeks and bringing back light to the Temple.

Stories about the god Mithras, born on a cave on December 25th, and representing the Unconquered Sun.

Or you tell the story of three wise men traveling in search of a new-born king.

And stories about Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, who used to secretly give gifts to the poor.

In England, they tell ghost stories, especially the story of a miserly businessman who met the ghost of his partner, Marley.

In the United States they tell about a green creature with a heart three sizes too small, or a reindeer with a nasal handicap, or a little boy who wanted a BB gun.

We tell stories to remind each other that the summer returns, that there is always hope, that the shadows can’t win.

Wishing you all the joys of the season.

Another thread from the web

If the holiday season has your stress level up too high, as a highly qualified government information librarian I would like to recommend a federal website that will help you relax. Every time I watch it I can feel my blood pressure drop a point or two. Unfortunately it only works during daylight hours, east coast time, so try to schedule your panic attacks then. Enjoy.