The word “Nativity” comes to us from the Latin, nativitus, meaning birth. It shares the root word with native, meaning the place of one’s birth, and natal, which refers to birth. Nature, and natural share this idea, in that something that is natural comes from nature, which was birthed directly from the earth. Nachos are a baked corn chip often eaten with a spicy goopy cheese sauce and sometimes, pepper relish. A gnat is a very small flying insect usually found in a cloud in summertime at dusk. To natter is what I’m doing right now. In Spanish, Christmas is referred to as Navidad. A Navidad is a father who spends Christmas Eve putting together children’s toys. Navigate does not refer to a scandal surrounding Christmas, but to the ability to find your way around a place that is presumably navigable. This is not to be confused with negligible, which is of no consequence. A negligee on the other hand, would make a nice gift for Navidad to give his wife. It would prove that he is not negligent, but simply a gent. Gent is short for gentleman, a courteous fellow, though one who is not necessarily gentle. Gentle is not a word for non-Jews; Gentile is. Gentility is not a genetic trait, but a learned behavior. Genetics determine who we are by mixing chromosomes from each parent when we are born. From one’s DNA we can determine maternity and paternity. The chocolate baby in this chocolate manger scene is part human woman (Mary), and part Theobroma (cocoa). The word theobroma means “food of the gods.” Which brings us back to where we started.
Merry Christmas!
Chocolate Fantasies, Verne Ricketts, 1985
Also from this book: Chocolate Hot Tub, Chocolate Hanukah, MoonPie, A Chocolate Tragedy, Animal Crackers
