Gaudeamus Igitur

I like the Latin phrase above. It has the sense, “Therefore, let us rejoice!” though I first heard it in a holy day Latin Mass. Such a cheerful phrase makes a nice addition to a solemn proceeding.

I was surprised to find that the word “gaudy” has many meanings, though a lot of them are archaic. As a noun it can signify tapers (slender candles), ornamental rosary beads, festivities, baubles, toys, and rejoicing, among others.

It’s a happy word, despite the more modern sense of being excessively showy. When “Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish,” was nominated for a RITA, and then won the Reviewer’s Choice Best Historical award from Romantic Times, I did think to myself, “Gaudeamus, igitur!” I’m thinking it still.