Yes absolutely. My friend developed them young and rapidly growing (in late 40s) and reminded the clinic regularly that she could take a cancellation and she got one within a month (public health service in Rep of Ireland) vs. predicted 12 month wait for op.

7) Curious about festive words and customs worldwide? Check out "Words Christmas Gave Us" - hardback, paperback, Kindle - amzn.to/3XPdS4h

6) Canned, or homemade, cranberry jelly is associated with Thanksgiving in the US, while it’s a Christmas dish across the Atlantic. In the U.K. and Ireland they are more likely to be dried, fresh, or in a glass jar of sauce.

5) The berries were used in remedies, drinks, and foods.Commercial growing of the berries began in the early 1800s in Cape Cod and they were canned in 1912 by a lawyer whose company eventually became Ocean Spray.

4) When German and Dutch settlers reached the New World they recognised the local variety of berry shrub as a cousin to the European variety (called marshwort or fenberries in England at the time) and the name transferred. The native Algonquin name for the plant was popokwa.

3) which is a compound of kraan (crane) and bere (berry).
The reason for the plant’s association with the crane bird is uncertain although some say its stamen resembles the bird’s beak.

2) Like chestnuts and Brussel sprouts, the cranberries gain their place through seasonality as they are harvested from October to early November.
The word cranberry for this fruiting shrub which grows in swamps arrived in the 1600s as an American English adaptation of the Low German kraanbere ...

Thanks! I love the covers and the way they work together as a set.

Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing it, and I'm now primed with Christmas word trivia for every festive event 🤣

Absolutely!

Words Christmas Gave Us by @wordfoolery.bsky.social

nonfiction / history / etymology / fun facts

Stories, and histories, behind festive words from Advent to Yule with help from Tudors, Dickens, Vikings, Romans, and unique worldwide traditions and folklore. (note: Santa safe)

📚💙
#BookSky

I feel a Hard Stare coming on. Terrible omission!

So sorry for what's happening, but equally happy about your cat finding comfort being close to you at this time - despite the inconvenience. I hope you've somebody at hand to bring supplies?