Christmas 2019

[Roses]

I put our decorations up on December 1st, which is traditional in our family. All the cards have been posted, and I can put my feet up. We are spending Christmas Day at our eldest girl's vicarage with our DS son, and on Boxing Day all four of us are spending it with our youngest girl and her family. I don't have to do any cooking which suits me very nicely indeed, although we provide the dosh for the food.

How are other posters spending their Christmas?

[jeremyp]

I put our decorations up on December 1st, which is traditional in our family. All the cards have been posted, and I can put my feet up. We are spending Christmas Day at our eldest girl's vicarage with our DS son, and on Boxing Day all four of us are spending it with our youngest girl and her family. I don't have to do any cooking which suits me very nicely indeed, although we provide the dosh for the food.

How are other posters spending their Christmas?

Christmas deco's go up on Christmas Eve and come down before Twelfth Night as is traditional in our family and is the only non vulgar way to do it.

Lunch is being provided by my brother. I normally buy the alcohol.

[Roses]

Christmas deco's go up on Christmas Eve and come down before Twelfth Night as is traditional in our family and is the only non vulgar way to do it.

Lunch is being provided by my brother. I normally buy the alcohol.

I take ours down before New Year. I must remember to get my husband and I a very small bottle of wine each for our Christmas Dinner, we only have alcohol on special occasions these days, our son and eldest daughter don't drink at all.

[ippy]

Christmas deco's go up on Christmas Eve and come down before Twelfth Night as is traditional in our family and is the only non vulgar way to do it.

Lunch is being provided by my brother. I normally buy the alcohol.

Just wondering, which one of the two of you has to spend the most money?

Best regards, ippy.

[Sebastian Toe]

Looking forward to 23rd December when my dear old mum-in-law always pops round, as she has done for the past 41 years,  to celebrate Xmas with us.
This year, I am seriously considering, for the first time, actually inviting her to come in and maybe even stay!
 

[Steve H]

Christmas deco's go up on Christmas Eve and come down before Twelfth Night as is traditional in our family and is the only non vulgar way to do it.

Quite - and garish outdoor decos are definitely as vulgar as hell, especially when, as is nearly always the case, they have nothing to do with the nativity.

[SusanDoris]

It will be just an ordinary day.  Last yar I spent Christmas and Boxing Days with a friend/neighbour, but she died in February, suddenly and certainly unexpectedly, even though she was 89.

[Aruntraveller]

Quite - and garish outdoor decos are definitely as vulgar as hell, especially when, as is nearly always the case, they have nothing to do with the nativity.

Well as the whole Christmas thingy is a mish mash of disparate elements including Pagan and Christian tradition one could conclude you are being pharisaical.

[Steve H]

Well as the whole Christmas thingy is a mish mash of disparate elements including Pagan and Christian tradition one could conclude you are being pharisaical.

Christmas is the celebrsation of the birth of Christ. The clue is in the name. I know he probably wasn't born in December, but it's not meant to fall on the actual date. Good Friday and Pasch Sundsay fall on varying dates, but the crucifixion and resurrection must have happened on two particular dates. It may have acquired some pagan elements, and other religions have major celebrations at about the same time, but that's irrelevant. I do not object to Father Christmas, but he, reindeer, snowmen, etc. should not be the exclusive focus. I also don't object to people having a jolly, boozy good time, at Christmas or any other time, so I'm hardly being pharisasical. Have you teamed up with NS to try to piss me off so much with your adolescent one-liners that I lose my temper again, say something anglo-saxon, and get suspended again? If so, you're wasting your time, as I am not going to.

[Gordon]

The reality is that the overlay of Christianity on this mid-winter festival, in the form of 'Christmas', is just one of several relating to astronomical phenomena, in this case the winter solstice.

I don't think it matters greatly whether it is referred to as Christmas, Saturnalia, Sol Invictus, Winterval or my preferred 'insanity season'.

[Steve H]

The reality is that the overlay of Christianity on this mid-winter festival, in the form of 'Christmas', is just one of several relating to astronomical phenomena, in this case the winter solstice.

I don't think it matters greatly whether it is referred to as Christmas, Saturnalia, Sol Invictus, Winterval or my preferred 'insanity season'.

You can celebrate any or all of those, and Hannukah, but they are not synonyms for Christmas, but other celebrations, and "Winterval" was never even a single day: it was invented as a rather witty name for the whole period from Bonfire night to Easter, by Birmingham City Council, to cover all the council's events in that period, but the Mail-reading, Clarkson-loving, UKIP-voting "political correctness gone mad" troglodytes got hold of it, and started saying that it was a new name for Christmas. It wasn't, and B'ham Council organised Christmas events, under thast name, as part of Winterval.

[ad_orientem]

Haven't made any plans, sent any cards or bought any presents yet. I leave everything to the last minute. We celebrate Christmas on the Eve here. We usually go to my cousin's. She and her husband are chefs so we're always guaranteed good food. Otherwise, I will spend Christmas eating and drinking far too much and watching the footie on Boxing Day. And I love watching episodes of The Two Ronnies and Carry On films that are always on over Christmas, and Die Hard.

[Roses]

Christmas is the celebrsation of the birth of Christ. The clue is in the name. I know he probably wasn't born in December, but it's not meant to fall on the actual date. Good Friday and Pasch Sundsay fall on varying dates, but the crucifixion and resurrection must have happened on two particular dates. It may have acquired some pagan elements, and other religions have major celebrations at about the same time, but that's irrelevant. I do not object to Father Christmas, but he, reindeer, snowmen, etc. should not be the exclusive focus. I also don't object to people having a jolly, boozy good time, at Christmas or any other time, so I'm hardly being pharisasical. Have you teamed up with NS to try to piss me off so much with your adolescent one-liners that I lose my temper again, say something anglo-saxon, and get suspended again? If so, you're wasting your time, as I am not going to.

TV is correct whether you like it or not.

[Aruntraveller]

Have you teamed up with NS to try to piss me off so much with your adolescent one-liners that I lose my temper again, say something anglo-saxon, and get suspended again? If so, you're wasting your time, as I am not going to.

Just pointing out your inconsistency. Sounding a bit paranoid there, Steve.

[Steve H]

TV is correct whether you like it or not.

So am I, whether you like it or not.

[Roses]

So am I, whether you like it or not.

Yes dear if you say so! (One has to humour poor souls like him)

[Gordon]

You can celebrate any or all of those, and Hannukah, but they are not synonyms for Christmas, but other celebrations, and "Winterval" was never even a single day: it was invented as a rather witty name for the whole period from Bonfire night to Easter, by Birmingham City Council, to cover all the council's events in that period, but the Mail-reading, Clarkson-loving, UKIP-voting "political correctness gone mad" troglodytes got hold of it, and started saying that it was a new name for Christmas. It wasn't, and B'ham Council organised Christmas events, under thast name, as part of Winterval.

'Christmas' is just a label though that can be used to indicate the Christian elements of a festival but also the other non-Christian elements that have been added, or both, where the paraphernalia surrounding Santa is the obvious example of the latter. For some 'Christmas' is no doubt rooted in the Christian tradition while, for others, it is all the non-Christian stuff that matters to them: in that sense the term 'Christmas' can now mean whatever anyone wants it to mean to suit their preferences, which may or may not include Christian elements.

Mrs G and I were discussing this last night, and in particular the question of whether if we were on our own and, hypothetically, with nobody else to take into account, would we bother to put up a Christmas tree: she said yes, I said no.

[Nearly Sane]

We are normally away over Christmas but having big holiday at end of Feb so will be at home this year. Just my wife, and I, and the orang-utan, and the penguin, watching traditional Christmas films, drinking champagne and fine clarets, eating salmon and cheese and ethereal vol au vents.

[ekim]

I don't single out any particular day to celebrate.  I try to celebrate every day, as it might be my last.

[jeremyp]

Just wondering, which one of the two of you has to spend the most money?

Probably I do unless you factor in cost of labour.

[Nearly Sane]

Happy Krampusnacht

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

To celebrate watch


https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086zcd6

[Roses]

I am not very keen on properties, which have OTT external Christmas displays, especially those with flashing lights. Until last year there was a bungalow, which was so over the top one had to have a look see. Even our grandson who was about 5/6 at the time commented that it wasn't very nice.  I presume the property as been sold as the display is no more.

[Anchorman]

I'm conducting worship on Christmas Eve, and on the following Sunday.
I'll be at a rellie's gaffe on Christmas day, and then preparing for the usual Hogmanay/Ne'erday endurance course.

[Robbie]

I don't single out any particular day to celebrate.  I try to celebrate every day, as it might be my last.

Excellent idea!

I've posted all my Christmas cards, still have to write some which I'm going to give personally to people whom I see and neighbours.

No decs up yet, too early. I'll get round to wrapping presents in due course, husband is good at that. There's one I must do soon because it has to be posted.

My uncle will get a tree for us, my sister and now, I presume, for my eldest daughter as she is married and lives nearby - a small one for him and my aunt too (he has a share in a garden centre), they'll be with us Christmas day.

[Walter]

Christmas is the celebrsation of the birth of Christ. The clue is in the name. I know he probably wasn't born in December, but it's not meant to fall on the actual date. Good Friday and Pasch Sundsay fall on varying dates, but the crucifixion and resurrection must have happened on two particular dates. It may have acquired some pagan elements, and other religions have major celebrations at about the same time, but that's irrelevant. I do not object to Father Christmas, but he, reindeer, snowmen, etc. should not be the exclusive focus. I also don't object to people having a jolly, boozy good time, at Christmas or any other time, so I'm hardly being pharisasical. Have you teamed up with NS to try to piss me off so much with your adolescent one-liners that I lose my temper again, say something anglo-saxon, and get suspended again? If so, you're wasting your time, as I am not going to.

Jesus : born Christmas Day , died Easter !!!
What are the chances of that happening ? 😡