BS: christmas ideas?

Subject: christmas ideas?
From: Catrin
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 05:15 PM

Hi folks!

For the past however many years, my family, consisting of three adults and a ten year old child, have spent our christmases at home, kind of under siege in our own house. We want to do something different this year beacuse we are all aware of how much we have fallen into the materialistic trap of being surrounded by nice food and videos but, embassassing as it is to admit, actually quite bored. Also the amount of money spent has just increased and increased and Dave and I (as the 'responsible' ones) have both begun to feel sickened by the whole thing.

We have been talking about doing something 'different' this year, for a few days from the 23rd to 28th Dec - or roundabouts.

What we don't want is to go visiting anybody but what we do want is some ideas of something really different - perhaps a short break somehwhere unusual.

The cost has to be fairly reasonable (low if poss).

So, after spending sometime surfing (away from Mudcat - how painful it was!) I suddenly thought that this is the kind of topic that mudcatters might have some interesting ideas on.

Help?

Catrin

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: bbelle
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 05:59 PM

Catrin

How about a daily tour to view Christmas lights?

Or, perhaps, to an historic home that is bejeweled for the holidays?

What would be the possibility of celebrating "Old Christmas," instead?

Personally, I enjoy just sitting around with the family.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 06:15 PM

last Xmas we hired a cottage -no TV no telephone log fire-in Robin Hoods Bay just outside Whitby where the pubs were open all Christmas day,we took the dog for long walks along the beach and it was pretty idyllic except that we all had the flu and came home after 2 days-but health and weather permitting getting away from it all is definitely a very sound idea!

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Morticia
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 06:30 PM

How about doing something for other people.....helping in homeless shelters, soup kitchens, playing music in hospitals, homes for the elderly or the disabled......that sort of thing?

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 06:48 PM

Catrin, I was kind of thinking on the sames lines as Morticia. In grade eight each class was given a foster family to take care of for Christmas. We gathered everything that family needed so that they could have one day full of abundance. I was in charge of the project for our class. To meet the foster family after working so hard to gather all the goods is one memory I will always cherish.

Bonnie

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 07:25 PM

The adopt a family run bt the Salvation Army is a very worthwhile way to spend Christmas. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Catrin
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 04:57 AM

Wow - brilliant ideas so far everyone.

MoonJen - I'm interested in what you meant by 'old christmas'.

Ickle Dorrit! - Robin Hood's Bay is indeed a beautiful place - I have been there. A good place to get away from everything. I'm interested, did you have children with you?

Everybody else - good thoughts, I will need to 'put it to the committee'.

Thank you folks.

Catrin

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 05:06 AM

If you are in the UK, contact CRISIS - they used to be called Crisis at Christmas and specialise in helping out those less fortunate - you spend some time in the shelters, doling out food, going round making sure the street sleepers have at least one hot meal/drink/blanket, and occasionally giving out gifts that people have donated to foster homes, that sort of thing.

Many hospitals also run Christmas visiting volunteer lists, but that can be really harrowing as only the worst cases are kept in over the holidays, and accidents are more frequent.

We used to try and have one day without the TV on, usually Boxing Day, but the advent of the bratling put paid to this. Still, try and get out to your local park, if only for a post prandial perambulatory perusal of the wildlife.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 08:31 AM

We usually kinda straddle two worlds. We have the full-blown decorations and dinner and gift orgy at home on Christmas day, but we run out the door around noon with our instruments and do a couple of hours of carols at the local Soup Cellar during their holiday meal.

If I had to give one of them up, it would be (and has been, occasionally) the at-home celebration. Maybe it's the chance to make music, maybe it's the good food at the soup kitchen, maybe it's the faces smiling and feet tapping and sometimes singing along to those old, trite carols, maybe it's being in a big, warm room full of people glad to be there. And when we get back home, we're so much more grateful for all we have.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Tinker
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 07:52 PM

For the past two years we've adopted a family at Christmas wtih at least as many children as ours. So everyone has a peer to shop for. Whe Winter coats top a 13 year old's wish list it makes us all stop a minute. Our rule regardless of the list, is that once the wish is filled each child has to try and answer an unwritten dream with a gift they know they would desire. For me that means each mom (they rarely ask for any but utilitarian things) has a special something. Maybe pretty but warm pajamas that go beyond same old same old with matching slippers. We spend more time on the specialness of these than we often do with each other.

A special tree for the critters is also fun. Peanut butter pine cones, icecream cones filled with lard,top with seed and topped with a cranberry, chains of peanuts, popcorn and cranberry chains. The Living decorations that flock to the tree far outdo the indoor glitter.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: bflat
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 08:10 PM

Catrin, I'm so glad that you started this thread. I haven't begun to think that far ahead and this year is going to be very different for me due to some major personal changes. It would be just wonderful to look forward to the holiday season anticipating sharing oneself with less fortunate folks in whatever way that materializes. There are some wonderful opportunities as indicated by the earlier posts. Thanks everybody. This is a warm fuzzy thread.

bflat

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Hotspur
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 08:39 PM

How about caroling? My family does neighborhood caroling every year--becoming an endangered species in a lot of places, I think! Even those folks who don't celebrate Christmas have been gracious and enjoyed hearing winter songs (Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland, etc.) It's a great way to meet people who live near you!

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 10:56 PM

The gifts I've remembered the longest and with the most fondness were the ones that we gave each other the year that my mom told us that the only way there would be presents under the tree would be that we made them ourselves for each other. Some of them were a little dorky, I grant you, but there was no more money to go buy craft supplies than there were for presents. A lot of playdough ornaments painted with waterpaints were in that lot.

Santa Claus came through (my mom's co-workers gifted her with fifty dollars and a fruit basket and kicked her out to go shopping on Christmas Eve day) but the home made presents were the ones we treasured. And we spent most of Christmas day making more ornaments, playing board games, and singing carols.

There were a lot more home made presents every year after that one, and I truly love being able to look at a comforter or a creche and say, "That was made just for me."

It may be hard on the ten year old, but I'd say you might want to concentrate on _making_ Christmas this year, for yourselves and others too. It may not look as pretty, but you'll be able to look at it a lot longer.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Catrin
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 04:47 AM

What wonderful responses! Giving me lots of food for thought. I had been toying with the idea of taking a short break somewhere but I do know that you never escape from yourself. I suppose one idea might to stay in the home but do something really different. Some brilliant ideas here folks - homemade presents, giving some time to others less fortunate, more carols....

I wonder what reception I will get when I suggest to the ten year old that we don't have the telly on - I'll have to choose my words very carefully!

Thank you, thank you everybody - keep 'em coming.

Catrin

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 06:02 AM

Make your own crackers, everyone makes a cracker for one other person(decided beforehand so that no one is disappointed)including a silly hat and a joke and a pressy, we did this in Whitby this summer, we looked for the tackiest present we could find.
Instead of having a christmas dinner, have a christmas breakfast - with as many courses as you want.
Hide the Christmas presents and do a treasurehunt
Celebrate Christmas three days after the actual day, do volunteer work on the day
Patrish

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Tinker
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 08:38 AM

Catrin,
My kids look forward to Christmas breakfast because it's the one morning a year that ice cream is served for breakfast. We have waffles with strawberries and vanilla ice cream and whipped cream are put out on the table. I did it once and it's become rituallized forever. Perhaps its a spoonful of sugar that would help other changes go down ?
Our day is so hectic, we travel from New Jersey to Massachusetts to be with relatives,but as I read and concider I keep wondering how we could change things...

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 08:55 AM

Don't tell him that there won't be any television, just keep other things going -- most ten year olds will be so happy to have you paying atttention and including them in the process that you won't need the tv.

Something like five years ago we had a major storm that blacked out most of Boston and the kids are still writing about how the best time they ever had was huddling under blankets with their whole families, playing board games during the day and talking together, telling stories, and singing when it got dark.

Also, if you don't make "no TV" a commitment, then you can decide that one "family all together video" to end the day is okay if you find your energy flagging without losing any face.

I might say "no video games" though. ;D

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 12:04 PM

I'm afraid I won't be much help here. Our family tradition is to spend Christmas with the family back on the farm in Northen Maine. I could no more change that than I could bring about world peace singlehandedly.

However, there is something that the Chocolate Church Arts Center does for the local area that you might consider. Every year they host a Christmas carol sing for the towns around. They bring in the Bath Municipal Band and set them up on stage. They print up a few hundred programs with the words on them. They have a Santa Claus to sing with the children. And it's all free.

If you have a possible local venue you might take the initiative to set up something like this to instill Christmas Spirit in the people in your town. You wouldn't need to have an organization as big as the Bath Municipal Band but any musical accompaniment would be good enough. If you did it in a church they are bound to have a piano or organ. Spread around a few pine boughs and pretty ornaments, set up a tree in the corner and go to town!

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Bert
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 12:12 PM

I've always wanted to spend Christmas at the'The Inn of the Mountain Gods' in Mescalero New Mexico. But it seems that we are always too busy cooking and making cookies & candy and our own decorations, to actually leave home. It's never boring, always too much to do.

Bert.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Kim C
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 12:23 PM

Maybe MoonJen means January 6, otherwise known as Twelfth Night or Epiphany. (Yes, once upon a time, there really WERE 12 days of Christmas.) Jean Ritchie said that some of her older family members still recognised Old Christmas well into the 20th century. Personally I would like to be able to take 12 days off work to celebrate!

Don't feel bad, though... in the ten years I have been married, Mister and I have spent every single Christmas running around Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana so that every family member (except ourselves) will be appeased. Originally we were going to take a trip on our own this year, but Somebody (not me) Changed His Mind, and plus we bought a new car so there goes the money anyhow. I would really like to have a Christmas all to ourselves, but there again, singlehandedly bringing about world peace would probably be easier.

(Naemanson, maybe if you and I worked together on this world peace thing...)

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: annamill
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 12:51 PM

I've always wanted to go to Cancun and lay on a beach and let someone wait on ME for a change ;-) Tra-la-la-la-la!

** BG **

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Mbo
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 12:56 PM

I wanna live somewhere where it SNOWS during Christmastime. 21 years and counting of NO snow.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 03:40 PM

Trust me Matt, it ain't all it's cracked up to be. But you have to experience that first hand. We have a woman in our office from Northern Florida. Neither she or her husband, or their dogs for that matter, had ever seen snow. Our first storm of the year gave us only about 6" and they had a great time. They played in it making snow angels, snowballs, and snow men. By the third day and the second foot of the stuff they were heartilly sick of the damned white stuff and just wanted to go back to Florida. She complains about having to wear gloves and mittens. She want her "finger freedom" again. they are headed south again next summer. One more winter.

As we say of the tourists "If you can't stand the winters you don't deserve the summers!"

Come on up some winter and I'll take you into Northern Maine to see what winter is all about. Just don't figure on having nimble fingers for playing the guitar. Hard to move them at 30 below zero!

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: JenEllen
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 04:11 PM

Our traditions are pretty simple. No store-bought ornaments, no lights on the house, just things we've picked up in our travels that have been gerry-rigged into ornamentation and hung on a little tree. Loads of Christmas music, family and good food.

One thing we do, is gather everyone we know for an evening, for the ritual listening of "Jeremy Brown and Jeannie Teale" (fantastic christmas story IMHO) Then we lounge in the living-room and get to know each other all over again.

Too often in the rush of life we forget we aren't alone in all this. It's a chance to find out again what each others hopes and dreams for the future are. It's also a chance for your loved ones to know how special you are to them (you asked them what THEY think)

This all usually ends up with a bunch of people whispering well into the wee hours, while others are snoozing on the floor. Then we follow with home-made cinnamon rolls and tea to get everyone started again the next morning.

All I can say, is that the peace and love that fill the house the day after has lasting effects on the relationships we all share throughout the year. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I hope you all can find the same in your own little ways as well.

~Elle

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Kim C
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 05:24 PM

Last year I decided to do something I had never done before and see if it was worth turning into a tradition. I made a plum pudding from scratch, complete with hard sauce, and BOY, was it good. You bet I'll be doing that again.

Speaking of stories, I almost always read A Christmas Carol, and watch It's a Wonderful Life. (my family is SO sick of that movie but that's TOUGH) A couple of years ago, I heard a story on NPR that just floored me - I'm sure those of you who listen to public radio have heard it. It was recorded by the late Texas storyteller John Henry Faulk, and it's about two poor Texas dirt-farming families - one white, one black - spending Christmas together, and what a splendid time it was, even if all they had was a dirt floor. I believe you can download the sound file from their website.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Biskit
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 06:13 PM

I always thought "Inn if the moutain Gods" was in Ruidoso after all Mescalero is 16 miles away on the other side of Apache Pass,Wherever it actually is ,I agree with you Bert it would be a beautiful place for Christmas especially if it'll snow!This year I'm making Christmas Presents,I've already sent off for the plans and hardware for several beautiful wooden projects,I guess it'll be up to me,wheter or not they're still beautiful when they're finished...that's the scary part, as well as the fun. peace,on Earth Goodwill towards All,-Biskit-

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 06:23 PM

Another nice thing to DO, if your family (especially the 10 year old) is inclined that way, is to make cookies (we make large varieties of small batches). Some are to hang on the tree, some to keep, and most are for the AIDS society to pass on.
Ten years old is a good time. My kids tended to become quite the philosopher(s) at that age regarding the commercialism. As long as (s)he doesn't feel this change as being imposed from above, there is a real potential for the blossoming of some wonderful Christmasses in the future.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:01 PM

Yeah Kim, I love that story. I always listen for it at Christmas time.

In the early years of my marriage we held a Christmas party for our friends. The admission price was one ornament that they had to make themselves. We got some of the greatest things that decorated our tree for years to come. One person made gingerbread men by gluing two pieces of paper bag together with cinamon and ginger in between the pieces. Another rolled pine cones in glitter. Two friends built a dragon from construction paper with paper cups strung together to make the tail. The tail was six feet long. One person made up a couple of fake joints and glued them to a silver paper ashtray.

Thanks for the thread. It brings back lovely memories.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Ely
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 09:00 PM

When I was a little kid, our Meeting had a Christmas dinner (either Christmas Eve or the Sunday before, I forget which), and the Saturday before the dinner, all the kids in the lower elementary grades would come decorate gingerbread houses, which were used as centerpieces on the tables. It's a bit messy but it's a lot of fun and you don't really have to be artistic (my friend and I still do it, 15 years later).

Older kids decorated cookies for dessert.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Catrin
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 06:00 PM

Yummy yummy - keep 'em coming folks.

Every time I look at this thread, I get a warm fuzzy. I will print it out nearer the time and we can decide together what we want. In the meantime, it's probably a good resource for lots of catters to share ideas on 'different' ways of celebrating christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Kim C
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 06:22 PM

Naemanson! I love that idea!!!!!!!!! Of course, having pets in the house means I have a 2-foot tabletop tree, so the ornaments would have to be little....... :)

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 06:53 PM

One rather money conscious Christmas, I decorated my tree with cherries. As the tree was pot grown and only 2' tall, they were small enough to fit, but changed colour as they ripened. Popcorn strings finished it off, and I got dessert on Christmas day.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 09:02 PM

My mother's great grandmother and great grandfather came from Norway, so my own grandmother brought some of the Norwegian traditions into our lives.

We had Advent Calendars and Advent Wreaths to hold us in place until the end of December, but a lot of our celebrating had to wait.

We never put up the tree until Christmas Eve Day, and in fact, we kids (once we were old enough) always helped to decorate it. This was a long process of taking out ornaments and listening to Grandma or Mom tell us stories about where they came from, chosing just the right places on the tree, and then hurling tinsel all over the place to top it off. My poor oldest sister was very artistic, and she used to sneakily reposition most of the tinsel that we little kids had just flung.

Once the creche and the tree were set up, we'd all go to church for services. Lutheran churches usually have candlelight Christmas eve services very late, and by the time we were teenagers we were all in one choir or another, so some years we were at three or four services. By the time we finished at church, it was midnight or later, and we'd all go homeand then came the best part... The opening of the presents!

Yes, we figured that Santa Claus knew who the Norwegians were and just came while we were at church. Mom would put some carols on the stereo and we'd all sit around the living room while the youngest child who could read would act as delivery person and everyone would ooh and ahh over each of the presents.

Then to bed. Christmas Day we'd wake up (very late indeed!) to the smell of the Turkey cooking that Grandma had gotten up to put into the oven about 4 a.m. The big kids would help make all of the Christmas dinner fixings and the little kids would clean house for the arrival of the cousins and Aunts and Uncles. By one in the afternoon we were always wild with anticipation, and we were never disappointed by the meal, either.

Some years we went to the cousins' houses of course, but we'd take the turkey with us.

Christmas Day was always full of people talking and telling stories, sometimes singing, and showing off our new toys when we had them. But that was just the start of Christmas.

Our tree stayed up until January 6th for old Christmas, and all that time the house was full of carols and decorations and cookies and candles and warmth. My lucky little brother was born on January 5th, so he always got a little bit of Christmas with his presents.

Makes me feel all warm just thinking about it, actually. I hope you don't mind me reminiscing.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Ely
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 11:52 PM

We always sit around in our pajamas all morning, playing with our new stuff (kids, adults, and pets alike). Then we make pancakes for breakfast [well . . . lunch].

We used to celebrate on the solstice because my dad only got two days off of work after Christmas and, if we opened presents earlier, he had more time to help us build models, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Catrin
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 08:10 AM

Rabbitrunning - do I mind you rminiscing - of course not! Your story brought tears to my eyes - as have others on this thread. What better than to share christmas ideas with people from different parts of the globe. So exciting.

Cheers,

Catrin

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 08:43 AM

Kim, a larger tree, well anchored, would be great for the pets. Cats would enjoy dangly bits hanging from branches as well as the climb to the top. Dogs could find biscuits attached to branches or under the tree. A cushy mat around under the tree provides a shelter in which a domesticated animal can sleep and dream of wilderness adventure.

Just keep all ornaments natural and unbreakable and you'll be fine. There will be a bit of a mess to clean up but it shouldn't be too difficult if you use a wide blanket or tarp to protect the floor.

Christmas is for animals too.

Catrin, our local animal shelter asks people to come in and play with their animals as much as possible. They provide leashes so people can walk the dogs and a play area for people to pet and play with the cats. Maybe something like visiting the local animal shelter on or near Christmas would be a possible addition to your holiday celebrations.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 09:36 AM

It'd depend on the pet. We had full size trees with cats in the house a lot. Just make sure that real fragile/keepsake ornaments are anchored very well and don't hang food on the tree. My friend has a lhasa apso, and he doesn't bother the tree either. Circles it suspiciously actually...

No tinsel with young pets in the house, although older cats and dogs don't seem to think that shiny hairballs are fun. Zebra finches like a lit tree. (They sit in their cages with their beady eyes fixed on all the blinking lights and mutter happily.) I don't know what a ferret or a parrot would make of a tree, though. Hay, maybe?

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Tinker
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 09:57 AM

I love reading this thread. One more "tradition" my husband and I started a couple of years ago when money was really tight. The present we find for each other must be a "toy". No tools or toasters, not even big things like dishwashers no matter how much easier it would make things. We've had to spend a little more time and thought. Kalidescopes, unusual instrumnets, wizards ( He's a numbers wizard) lots of fun stuff has appeared over the years. And it keeps a piece of the joy alive for us as well. The kids also can't wait to see what the grown ups have gotten.
Tinker

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 10:03 AM

"How do you tell a 10-year-old the telly is being turned off?" Let me tell you what my parents told us when our first television needed expensive repairs.

1. They were sick of the violence on TV. (This was 1958.) 2. My little sister's health was being harmed by the violent programming, etc. 3. My parents were tired of us fighting over what to watch. 4. Grades were going down.

While we didn't enjoy hearing this, we knew that it was true and that it was our parents' role to raise us as best they could in a home that was as nice as possible. So we accepted it. I haven't had a TV since, and I love not having it.

As for Christmas, I think one of the best things to do is to make music. How about it?

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Alice
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 10:55 AM

Some needy families or lonely elderly need not only a Christmas meal, but a Christmas tree, too. If you provide one to an elderly person, be sure to arrange a time to come and take the tree down for them.

Getting together with friends and going caroling on Christmas eve is great. We did it one year with an accordion player who brought a donkey, a goat, and a herd dog from her farm. Leading the animals around the neighborhood and singing was fun.

Making cookies and candy with kids is a great togetherness time, more creative activity, and you can give your creations as gifts. Gingerbread houses or sculptures, are a nice tradition. Making a creche out of gingerbread is fun. You can make all the animals, the palm trees, etc.

Games that challenge your kids' quick thinking and interaction with you are another fun tradition, like charades and 'the Bishop's cat'.

In the liturgical calendar, Christmas time begins on Christmas day. The four weeks before Christmas are the time of Advent, a time of anticipation and preparation. If you want your kids to understand the history behind Christmas, whether or not you are Christian, it's a good idea to use an Advent wreath and an Advent calnedar. The ritual of lighting progressively more candles each week and singing Come O Come Emmanuel is something that kids really get into. If you make the wreath together and start each week with the candle lighting and singing, it gives them something special to celebrate as they wait for Christmas. It also takes the pressure off of the commercial drive to fill up weeks of Christmas activity before Christmas time even arrives. Stores in the US start pushing Christmas shopping and decorating so early, many people are burned out by the time Christmas day begins. If you can hold off until the 25th, and celebrate Advent, instead, it makes Christmas a peak event instead of a burnout aftermath.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: richlmo
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 10:35 PM

Old Christmas is still celebrated in one of the small towns on the Outer Banks of NC, Rodanthe I beleive. I think Old Buck brings the presents . I may have that part of the legend wrong, but it's an interesting tale. Haven't thought of it in years.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Ely
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 12:09 AM

My aunt made us a beautiful advent calendar when we were little! I haven't been home for most of the past four Decembers and I'd forgotten. COme to think of it, she was Norwegian . . .

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: BigDaddy
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 01:48 AM

"Sometimes we teach best what we most need to learn." That's from Richard Bach, and certainly applies to myself. I used to tell people who were stressed out about holidays (Christmas in particular) that a good way to deal with it would be this: Decide what exactly it is that you're celebrating, and then figure out what the most fitting way to celebrate this event would be. In other words, if it's Jesus' birthday that you celebrate, why on earth would you get caught up in conspicuous consumption and commercialization of the day? If you are one of those who celebrates the solstice, Chanukah, Ramadan or whatever, the same might apply. Unfortunately, sometimes this is easier said than done. I am surrounded by family members who are slaves to the commercial madness. Each year I suggest that we all get together and discuss some new ways to celebrate, but this falls on deaf ears. And so, each Christmas season I am surrounded by miserable adults and greedy kids who seem to be oblivious to the timeless beauty of the season. When I was quite young, a dear old great-aunt told me about "Old Christmas," and what a special time it was for the family (in Southern Illinois). Simple gifts were the rule, and time spent together by the fire, telling stories made it memorable. I recently came across a line in a Lee Smith novel that said, "Daddy allus said that Old Christmas was a time to stay home and think on what will last." J.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 05:39 AM

Here is one old Christmas tradition I remember hearing about but never witnessed for obvious reasons. Some friends celebrate the raising of the tree by making love under its branches.

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Catrin
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 10:42 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Tomsk
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 10:48 AM

You can't beat camping at Christmas.. Great Langdale in the Lake district is fabulous. You are almost guaranteed a good snow on the ground. The whole area is so fanastic, and you are sure to get a good folk session going in the Old Dungeon Gyll.....

Subject: RE: BS: christmas ideas?
From: Melani
Date: 20 Nov 00 - 01:42 PM

My husband is a religious Jew, and his grouchiness at Christmastime rivals Scrooge. Unfortunately, he doesn't really want to celebrate Hannukah much either, as he says that it's really a minor holiday everywhere except Israel (for nationalistic reasons) and the US (how come Johnny is having a big party and getting presents and we don't?). Christams is my mother's favorite holiday and she wants to pull out all the stops and go for raving commercialism, so most of my energy is devoted to keeping peace and trying to arrange some kind of compromise. In the past few years we have begun to follow Joel's family custom of going to a movie on Christmas afternoon--as he pointed out, it's nice and quiet, and you can always get in. Movies attended as a family are a rare treat for us, so it solves the problem nicely.