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BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas?
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Subject: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Boxette Date: 21 Nov 00 - 06:03 AM Woke up this morning and the air in York smelled of bonfires and pine. Made going to lectures eminently lovely, and I realised that the magic of Christmas is upon us once again. What's your favourite bit of Christmas? Think mine is waking up and finding the whole world white. Of course, the chance of this actually occuring on Christmas day is marginal to put it mildly, but hey, I like it anyway Kit |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: alison Date: 21 Nov 00 - 06:17 AM collapsing in a bloated heap after a big dinner in front of a blazing log fire...... mind you that's not going to happen in Australia........ in the middle of summer slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: campfire Date: 21 Nov 00 - 08:18 AM MY siblings and I are all in our late 30's to late 40's, and have the discretionary income to buy our own wants and needs, so we gave up the gift-giving years ago, except for the little ones. That eliminated most of the stress (of coming up with neat gift ideas for those that don't "need" anything). Now we just get together and share time and conversation, play games, and just enjoy each other. Mom can't enjoy the holiday without preparing a feast and decorating the house, so we let her, and help out in whatever ways work. I actually enjoy my late-night trips to the stores that stay open late (or 24 hrs) to pick up the gifts for the children. The lines aren't too long at 2 am, even at "Toys R Us". This year, since my family gathering will be held Christmas Eve, I'm volunteering to work on Christmas Day so that one of my co-workers who was scheduled to work can spend Christmas Day with his family. That will be my greatest "adult" gift. campfire |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Irish sergeant Date: 21 Nov 00 - 08:47 AM I have to say getting together with the family and friends. Truth be known here in the good old U.S.A., the stores have been hawking decorations and such since Sept. and I am heartily sick of that. But I do like seeing family and Baking. (Don't drive after having two of my rum balls!)God bless us each and everyone to quote Dickens. Kindest reguards, Neil |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: LR Mole Date: 21 Nov 00 - 09:03 AM At least once each Yule I lie on the couch, take off my glasses, unfocus (even more) and look at the lights on the tree. Connects with how it was when I was litle. I've never heard of anyone else doing this; just a quiet instant. Probably tree-magic, really. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Amergin Date: 21 Nov 00 - 09:09 AM Going home to North Idaho, my grammas pecan pie, home made caramel, fudge, clam chowder, oyster stew....the snow lying on the North Idaho streets... |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: kendall Date: 21 Nov 00 - 09:35 AM The cartoons.. Charlie Browns Christmas, Rudolph, and, my very favorite, Emmet Otter's Jug band Christmas. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 21 Nov 00 - 09:46 AM Small aunts roasting on an open fire, old chestnuts on the haunted fishtank... RtS |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: GUEST,Matt_R Date: 21 Nov 00 - 09:52 AM Good gravy kendall, I LOVE Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas! |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Kim C Date: 21 Nov 00 - 09:59 AM It's a Wonderful Life. "To my brother George Bailey - the richest man in town." The last couple of years, though, A Christmas Story is running a very close second. "I can't put my arms down!" And of course, eating. Although this year I plan to drink my way through the holidays. :) |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: mousethief Date: 21 Nov 00 - 10:23 AM The music. I am a Christmas carol sucker, bigtime. They're all wonderful. Among my favorites are Silent Night, O Holy Night, Joy to the World. But my absolute favorite, for reasons I'm sure I can't even put into words, is this one:
The snow lay on the ground, Refrain:
Venite adoremus Dominum;
'Twas Mary, daughter pure (Repeat Refrain)
Saint Joseph, too, was by (Repeat Refrain)
And thus that manger poor (Repeat Refrain) Dunno why, but this one has captured my fancy ever since I first heard it.
Alex |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: GUEST,Matt_R Date: 21 Nov 00 - 10:28 AM How about--EVERYTHING? |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Dave the Gnome Date: 21 Nov 00 - 11:38 AM I used to love being woken up by the kids at some ungodly hour to be told that Santa had been - and then watching the happy looks on their faces as they opened the presents. Whatever they got made them grin and they then spent ages figuring out which toy to take to morning mass with them. It is quite sad when they figure out it is mum and dad who put the prezzies under the tree after and decide that the best thing to take to church with them is a walkman! Still enjoy groaning under the weight of a huge Christmas dinner, complaining that I cannot eat another thing and then having another chocolate ginger or two washed down with a glass of single malt....:-) Dave the greedy little Gnome |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: JulieF Date: 21 Nov 00 - 12:11 PM I love getting together with the family as we only seem to manage it at Christmas now. I am especially looking forward to seeing my niece who is 18 months old - just old enough to get really excited. All the best Julie |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 21 Nov 00 - 12:27 PM I'm with the mouse on this - carols and singing. This year one of my favourites will be a bit more poignant (word of the week there.....) as it really will be 2000 years of wrong.... (It came upon a midnight clear): and singing the Basque carol, most highly flavoured gravy..... opps, lapsed into chorister there for a bit!! Then there's the chocolate.... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: GUEST,Russ Date: 21 Nov 00 - 12:49 PM I'm with Matt R. INCLUDING the tacky commercialism. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: kendall Date: 21 Nov 00 - 12:50 PM It's a wonderful story no matter what you believe, or dont believe. Matt, maybe there is hope for you yet!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: catspaw49 Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:06 PM My kids. We're in that wonderful period now when Christmas is still magic. And I too love all the silly and sappy TV shows, movies, and cartoons......almost every one of them. I love the traditions we've established with Connie and Wayne. Yeah, they aren't real old traditions, but we do the same things at the same times every year and it wouldn't be Christmas anymore without them. One of those is going out and looking at the lights one evening, all piled in the van, on our way to the zoo for "Zoolights"........I love lights, but I hate the all white ones. And every year Karen and I take a "Shopping Day" where we go downtown Columbus and roam the stores and streets. If its cold and snowy, all the better. We have a little hidden downtown restaurant we eat at.........Hell, we never do much real shopping that day, but its somehow a very romantic time that we each look forward to. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:11 PM Mole, you are not the only one. I too love "sitting with the tree". I love to wait until everyone else is in bed- more difficult these days with teenagers. The music, the food, the lights- and my 11-year old daughter spent much of the ride to Derry on Saturday explaining why she was sure there had to be a Santa! I just can't bring myself to come right out and tell her. This year we'll manage to beSanta for someone, to ease the let-down when it comes. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Kim C Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:14 PM Spaw! You really ARE a harmless little fuzzball! :) |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: catspaw49 Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:16 PM Yeah, I know Kim.......Try to keep it quiet huh? Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Jim Krause Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:30 PM I catch glimpses of her just that way When the world cannot hear, she calls out "Daddy!" from behind. Once again it's ANNA ON MY MIND 2. When the sun has gone to bed, and the stars come out to play Gone in the twinkling of an eye Birth announcements never written, never sent Another dream gone awry 3. Summer comes and goes, Fall brings Winter snows, That's part of Christmas to me. Needless to say, I don't go to too many children's Christmas pageants. I keep thinking of all the folks who would've loved her. She'd be a very pretty young woman, now no doubt. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Kim C Date: 21 Nov 00 - 01:30 PM Y'know, I love my itty bitty tree. Our tree is about 3 feet tall and sits on a table so our Thundering Herd won't knock it over. I made a lot of the little ornaments to go on it, and that's been our tree for 10 Christmases. One year I thought, maybe we can get a little bigger tree. Mister agreed and I went to look for one. I found one and just as I was about to pick up the box and put it in the cart, I was overcome with guilt. I didn't want that tree. I wanted my itty bitty tree. That was MY tree, goshdarnit! So ever since then, I have not wanted any other tree. The one year it got knocked over, though, it wasn't one of the dogs. It was Mister. And he broke my glass pickle. Boy, was I steamed! I did find another pickle, although it's bigger than the one that was broken, and it looks sort of funny on the little tree. But it's my pickle, and my darling little tree. Long may it wave. :) |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Linda Kelly Date: 21 Nov 00 - 04:15 PM cheesy footballs |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Rick Fielding Date: 21 Nov 00 - 05:26 PM Heather and I have been havin' a Dec. 25th "get-together" for 13 straight years now (from the year we met). Usually about 12-14 friends, and it's something we both look forward to so much. Always a jolly time. It's an eclectic mix all right, between eccentric and "straight" folks, Christian, Jewish, Pagans and atheists. Attrition and divorce have changed the picture several times, but it seems every year we ask someone new to join us and that always adds a new dynamic. Everyone brings something interesting food-wise, but I ALWAYS make the turkey....so I can assure that there are NO pieces of onion (shudder) in the dressing! Yup, that's my favourite Christmas thing. Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Wesley S Date: 21 Nov 00 - 05:48 PM Presents and Presence Presents under the tree - I admit it - I'm materialistic And the Presence of the loved ones in my life. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: kendall Date: 21 Nov 00 - 06:03 PM NO ONIONS?? thats downright un-American!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Morticia Date: 21 Nov 00 - 06:12 PM Animaterra, what are you trying to explain to your daughter about Santa?Come right out and tell her what? (BTW, does anyone know if they have computers at the North Pole yet and then I could e-mail Santa my list, which I 'spect he'd prefer as they get a bit crispy in the chimney....) |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: catspaw49 Date: 21 Nov 00 - 06:56 PM Yeah Morty, I didn't get that either and I thought I knew everything about Santa. I mean, I know he uses some helpers dressed to look like him and all, and I've seen "Miracle on 34th Street" so I was wondering what it was that is such a problem? Animaterra, I thought I knew you pretty well around here, but don't tell me you're one of those lame adults who don't believe that Santa exists!!??!?!?!?!! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Amergin Date: 21 Nov 00 - 07:39 PM Spaw, are you trying to say he uses helpers? Here I was thinking he just got around well for an old guy.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Hotspur Date: 21 Nov 00 - 09:09 PM One of my favorite Christmas things is going to get the tree. We don't go to a tree lot, we go out tramping in the woods at a tree farm and measure and argue and appraise and get frozen, and then we find the Best Tree Ever (every year! we're just talented) and cut it and carry it back to the car and rope it onto the roof. I learned to identify evergreens and tie various sailor knots this way. My other favorite Christmas thing is caroling. We gather all our singing friends and go around the neighborhood and sing at every house. My dad, who dresses as a Victorian gentleman, is especially fond of the Gloucestershire Wassail. Wassail, wassail all over the town! |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Thyme2dream Date: 22 Nov 00 - 01:25 AM Snow and Christmas lights and baking sugar cookies and caroling and starry winter nights and magic and and and....And this year is extra special cos my MagicIan is coming across the pond for Christmas and Hogmany as well...after 5 months apart, he is the BEST prezzie I'll get this year! Yes my eyes are sparklin' like they did when i was little and yes I'm twirling around for joy--oh goody, CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: jaze Date: 22 Nov 00 - 01:54 AM Family, friends, movies, music and food. But mostly the feeling of goodwill that's abroad at Christmas. People are a lttle kinder, think of others more. Wouldn't it be great if we could stretch it out over the whole year?? |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Boxette Date: 22 Nov 00 - 07:38 AM Yeah, it's great how everyone seems to smile a whole lot more. Turning all the lights off and sitting looking at the tree has always been one of my favourite things to do, not to mention the sound of carollers outside. If they're tuneless/very drunk, you can always laugh, and if they're actually decent it's one of the sweetest sounds you'll ever hear. What about eating only turkey and stuffing sandwiches until mid-January? Takes some beating. Spaw, you've let the cat out of the bag now; you're just an old softie at heart Kit |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Grab Date: 22 Nov 00 - 08:02 AM Afterwards: The Xmas adverts not being on the telly, the tinsel coming down from the shops until next July (or possibly earlier), no more huge crushes in the shops. Before: Chestnuts. And peanuts. And chocolate. And those crystallised lemon and orange slices. Grab. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Steve Parkes Date: 22 Nov 00 - 08:22 AM Last year, purely on impulse, Mrs P (Sue) bought one of those trees with the fibre optic lights in the tips of the branches; kitsch, naff, you name it! But when we turned it on, it was magic! Turn the lights down, and you're four years old again, just sitting -- no tv, no radio, no msuci -- and gazing at this incredible fairy-land delight. And all without a prescription! I cna remember when I really was four (or it might have been three), going to bed and Dad telling me "it's Christmas Eve tonight": a wonderful surprise -- imagine getting that far and not knowing! And I can remember when I was three, having an actual stocking (a long wooly sock) with ... I'd better stop, I'm getting too carried away! Steve |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Nov 00 - 08:28 AM That's it........I've been waiting for someone to mention chestnuts. How anybody can eat a roasted chestnut is beyond me. I love most nuts, but chestnuts are something else entirely, even in dressing. Although my family was big on Christmassy things, I had never gotten involved witha chestnut somehow. So ten years ago we are making out "Zoo Lights" trek and the zoo has all kinds of wintery stuff like skaters and of course "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." I get the warm fuzzies and buy a couple of bags on the way out. Wayne opens them up in the van and passes them to Karen, Connie, the kids, and of course, me. I pop the sucker in my mouth as I'm driving out and..................well, uh......................... Look, I dunno' any other way of phrasing this except to say that 1) I have never eaten dog crap; and 2) If I HAD ever eaten dog crap, I'm SURE it would have tasted better than that chestnut! Now I don't want you to think I just gave up on them. The next year I bought them again and .......... Yep, more dog crap. I want to mention that I was not alone, but had a van full of children and adults in full agreement. The second time, several of them, obviously smarter that I, would not partake. Then again, I am stupid, so the NEXT year I bought yet another bag! This time I think the dog had gotten into someone's garbage. Its been a few years now and I still get razzed every year for buying the things back then. We're about a month away from our annual Zoolights visit and its been 6 or 7 years, so...................Maybe I'll try again. Maybe the dog died. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Naemanson Date: 22 Nov 00 - 10:05 AM I have been avoiding this thread because I have not yet found my Christmas spirit. Also I cannot pick out any single favorite thing about Christmas. Mole, Animaterra, I take my glasses off to watch the tree as well. I hadn't considered a connection to my youth. I just enjoy the bright fuzzy blur of the lights and shiny ornaments. There are nights when I just like to sit up reading next to the tree keeping it company, feeling the energy of the season settle in on me and fill me with the spirit. Matt, you are right, everything is my favorite. In our family Thanksgiving is the date for the Christmas music to come out of its hidey-hole. The quintessential Christmas album in our family is The Twelfth Month Of The Year by The Kingston Trio. This gem has a number of regular carols but also includes Riu Riu Chiu, Scarlet Ribbons, and Three Jolly Coachmen. The gentle harassment of the children is near and dear to my heart. It begins with the purchase of the first present and "Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, I know something you don't know!" The piece de resistance is the efforts made to sleep in on Christmas morning followed by an insistence on having breakfast or at least a cup of coffee and some of the traditional pull apart cinnamon bread. Spaw, it was no secret to me that you are an old softy. It is standard procedure for softies to hide behind a curmudgeon exterior. You'll find that's true for most, right Kendall? BTW, LMAO about the chestnut story Spaw.
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Naemanson Date: 22 Nov 00 - 10:12 AM BTW, about the existence of Santa Claus, let me tell you a story. We try to celebrate Christmas all together at the family farm in New Limerick, Maine. Once, when my children and their cousins were getting to the point when they were beginning to doubt the existence of Santa Claus we were able to point out the tracks left by the sleigh and reindeer in the snow on the roof. There was even some straw that had dropped from the sleigh and some reindeer poop as well. They still remember the thrill of knowing their friends were wrong. Of course we had to help out Santa because part of the magic is that he doesn't tend to leave tracks. We were very nervous as my brother skied across the roof and walked up to the chimney. But it all worked out well. We even remembered to hide the ladder. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: mousethief Date: 22 Nov 00 - 11:32 AM The lengths parents will go to to deceive their kids amazes me. My 1st wife and I never tried to get our kid to believe something that wasn't true. Later she asked why we didn't do the SC thing; we said we didn't want to lie to her and have her find out we had been lying to her. She was impressed; our parenting stock went up severalfold that day. Go ahead, flame. I know all the arguments by the way about the magic of childhood and all that, so merely repeating them won't change my mind. Chestnuts, to me, taste like a combination of walnuts (which I don't exactly hate, but don't really love either) and baked potatoes (which I like, but not plain). Bleh. Our kids always get a night to lie in sleeping bags underneath the tree, which for that night we kept lit all night. It's part of the magic for them (something my wife did with her kids before I married her/them). Alex |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Steve Parkes Date: 22 Nov 00 - 12:05 PM Funny, my wife and kids can't stand chestnuts, but I love 'em. More nostalgia: it takes me back to when I was a kid in the fifties. We'd buy them in the centre of Walsall (in Darwall St, outside the old Imperial Cinema, and next to the bus station) from Chris Dicicco. He had one of those ovens on wheels -- lie those "Pickwick" baked potato things they have today, but utterly filthy and coal-fired, pulled by his horse. He did the spuds as well. There was a bucket full of salt hanging on the side, I recall, and you helped yourself. In the summer he was an ice-cream man. He had the hot food side sewn up tight -- the only other local Italian form, Pelari's, only did the ice-cream. Happy days! |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Naemanson Date: 22 Nov 00 - 01:06 PM Alex, I grew up on "tall tales" and believe in them as a part of the rites one passes through in growing up. I have a vast store (well, all right, maybe only half vast) of stories ranging from completely ridiculous to the almost believable. In traditional cultures telling tales (lying) is an art form and an entertainment. I don't think my children suffered from their belief in the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, or Santa Claus. In fact these have become treasured parts of their childhood. This is not to say you are wrong in what you have done. Obviously your children have appreciated it. As I see it there is no right or wrong, only different ways to approach the holidays. Oh, and I love the idea of the kids sleeping under and around the tree. Makes me wish I could institute it for my kids. |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Kim C Date: 22 Nov 00 - 01:19 PM Loved Spaw's chestnut story! Can't say as I've ever eaten any. I like ol' Santy Claus. Even more fascinated by him as an adult, when I found out that the Santy Claus legend is actually rooted in a great mix of facts and myths (as most legends are). My friend LuAnne made me a ceramic Santy with the woodland creatures around him. I couldn't bear to put him back in the box and convinced Mister that he should stay up all year. This weekend we'll probably drag the stuff out of the basement. You know which stuff I mean. I also like to pour me a glass of wine while I wrap presents, and have my movies on. Don't get much wrapping done, but so what. Last year, for the first time ever, I made a plum pudding. Entirely from scratch. With hard sauce too. Had never done that before and was scared to death. It was a smashing success! Got to figure out when I can do it this year - all the weekends are already full. I have had a hard time getting spirited - this is the first Christmas without Dad and of course I miss him, and I just don't feel as social as I normally would, and I don't always feel like people around me really understand that. (That's their problem.) BUT thanks to this great conversation I am feeling a lot more jolly. Plus, I have done the first of my outrageous Christmas manicures - this week, fingernails are green with red stripes and those little stick-on jewels. Hey, why should gals with long fingernails have all the fun! I forgot to mention, too, that I have a neat little copy of A Christmas Carol that I love to read. It's one of my very favorite stories. Gosh, now I remember all the fun things about Christmas! Thanks, guys! (and gals!) KFC |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: mousethief Date: 22 Nov 00 - 01:20 PM I made a NEW THREAD for the Santa vs. no-Santa argument so it doesn't pollute this thread. Alex |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Kim C Date: 22 Nov 00 - 01:59 PM I bought the dogs some reindeer antlers too but they don't like them. Isn't that just like a kid... you buy em stuff and they don't wear it... ungrateful little urchins... |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: mousethief Date: 22 Nov 00 - 04:54 PM to wear or to eat, Kim? |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Rick Fielding Date: 22 Nov 00 - 05:06 PM Hey Kendall, as far as I'm concerned onions are "un-American AND un-Canadian". I feel just like Bush senior (in one area, anyway) when he said, "I'm the President, and I don't have to eat brocoli!" (or some other green vegetable) Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: What's your favourite thing about Xmas? From: Kim C Date: 22 Nov 00 - 05:15 PM Onions are the best. But to each his own! Merry Christmas! |