Hearts grew three sizes too large at the Bull’s Head Bookshop Tuesday.
Donning a Grinch tie, English Professor Emeritus Tom Stumpf spiritedly read pages of the English version of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” while a Student Stores employee, George Morgan, clad in a Santa hat and laurel, followed with the Latin translation.
The bilingual reading of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is an annual event held by the Bull’s Head Bookshop since 2001 as a way to kick off the holiday season.
Dozens attended the reading Tuesday, which has become a tradition with hot chocolate, various types of homemade cookies and “Deck the Halls” translated into Latin.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a classic short children’s book that was published in 1957, and has been the subject of films, plays and other adaptations.
Morgan, who is part of a group that holds weekly dinners to speak Latin, is an advocate for the use of the dead language. He was inspired to start the reading after the Latin translation of the book was released in 1998.
He said the English and Latin versions of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” differ as a result of the translation.
“They don’t use rhyme scheme or the rhythm of English,” Morgan said.
“It’s basically the same, but with expanded expression.”