Nutcracker? Sweet!

[Kajira Callista]

I think you got it - I am bothered by those that think the kid was delivered on Dec 25th and that there is nothing else going on in the world that other have a right to celebrate - and I expect your "Merry Christmas" would not have a militant in-my-face tone to it.

Given how cold it has been here of late, we will need a large fire to help encourage my little-willy to make an appearance at the dance

I'm sure we could work something out to encourage him to make an appearance.

 

[Homburg]

What about the people who know when Jesus was born etc. and still celebrate Dec 25 as a day to remember the gift we got.

Yup, exactly how many cows give birth in december? How many sheep? Yet the classic image includes newborn calves and lambs. Not gonna happen in the dead of winter. And, yes, winter is cold in Bethlehem.

Probably more telling is that Saturnalia was celebrated on December 25th in the Julian calendar.

--

Given how cold it has been here of late,

I was waiting in my car today to pick my son up from the bus, and had both windows and my sunroof open, all while wearing shorts, flips flops, and a fleece shell that was unzipped and too hot for the weather.

December in Virginia can be very interesting.

 

[00Syd]

December in Virginia?


I'm in Boston and do you know what the tempeture was today? It was 60 degrees this morning. In Boston. In December! wtf

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I was waiting in my car today to pick my son up from the bus, and had both windows and my sunroof open, all while wearing shorts, flips flops, and a fleece shell that was unzipped and too hot for the weather.

December in Virginia can be very interesting.

It was in the mid-20s here in East Tennessee Sunday night/Monday morning. It's 64º degrees today (and was yesterday) and Friday night's high is projected for mid-40s, with a low Friday night in the mid-20s. December in TN can be frustrating, because that type of temperature flip-flop is what often throws me into bronchitis or pew-moan-ya. The only thing I miss about Florida (after 30+ years there) is the warm (95% or so of the time) winters.

And all you damyankees, don't bother telling me what a wimp I am, how I couldn't hack it in your neighborhoods, blah blah blah. I know it's colder where you are, and I don't give a damn. I don't like being cold, whether it's "just" mid-20s at night, or 20 below!

 

[00Syd]

Sometimes I wish I lived in Florida. 65 degree winters sound heavenly.

 

[graceanne]

What about the people who know when Jesus was born etc. and still celebrate Dec 25 as a day to remember the gift we got.
And I'm betting if I said Merry Christmas to you, you would say it back in respect for what I believe... And then I would watch you dance naked in respect of what you believe.

Exactly. *hugs*

I know that their are some deliberately ignorant people out there who actually think Jesus was born on December 25th, but most of us know differently. We choose to celebrate his birthday then.

 

[Shankara20]

I was waiting in my car today to pick my son up from the bus, and had both windows and my sunroof open, all while wearing shorts, flips flops, and a fleece shell that was unzipped and too hot for the weather.

it is so sad to see a Top suffer - they just don't have what it takes to suffer with grace....

 

[Shankara20]

And all you damyankees, don't bother telling me what a wimp I am, how I couldn't hack it in your neighborhoods, blah blah blah. I know it's colder where you are, and I don't give a damn. I don't like being cold, whether it's "just" mid-20s at night, or 20 below!

You tell 'em!



hold on - I'm one for 'em.......

 

[Harmony_1985]

Stop flaunting your warm temperatures!

I almost slid on my backside 3 times walking to the hairdressers today!

 

[Kajira Callista]

Oh, what a good girl
Oh, what a good boy
Oh what a big smile
All because of a toy!

If you sit on my lap today
A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay
When you tell what you wish for --
In a whisper
Be prepared to pay.

If you sit on my lap today
A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay
When you sit on my left knee
Don't be stingy
Be prepared to pay.

If whenever you take
You give a little back
Then whoever you love
Will give a little love back
So give a little love
Get a little love back
Don't you have a little love
That you want to get back

If you sit on his lap today
A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay
When you sit on his left knee
Don't be stingy
Be prepared to pay.

Now if you sit on my lap today
A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay!

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

Umm... you're a techie. Did you ever think of using yer dang grounding strap while you're trying to wrap packages?

That's a thought, but then it gives the girls something to dangle from while I'm trying to wrap. Plus, where the heck would I connect it?

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

ROFLMAO

In the short term, paper and tape is cheaper, but I collect bags. I have tons of them, and rarely have to buy them. At family parties I go around and collect them.

Well geez, share the wealth.

 

[Wolfspet]

I have worked retail for twenty years. I adore Christmas.

I, however, hate the Holiday Seasons. All of 'em. Retail Exmas, Hollow-een, Eekster. Hate 'em.

And I hate Christmas music when it occurs in any month other than December. My store starts on All Hallows Day with the music. Nine hours a day, five days a week, there is no escape.

 

[graceanne]

Oh, what a good girl
Oh, what a good boy
Oh what a big smile
All because of a toy!

If you sit on my lap today
A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay
When you tell what you wish for --
In a whisper
Be prepared to pay.

If you sit on my lap today
A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay
When you sit on my left knee
Don't be stingy
Be prepared to pay.

If whenever you take
You give a little back
Then whoever you love
Will give a little love back
So give a little love
Get a little love back
Don't you have a little love
That you want to get back

If you sit on his lap today
A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay
When you sit on his left knee
Don't be stingy
Be prepared to pay.

Now if you sit on my lap today
A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay!

I will never be able to watch that movie in perfect innocence again. Pervert.

Well geez, share the wealth.

Sure. I'll email 'em to you.

 

[JMohegan]

ok so here is my real complaint about this holiday season - those who are militant with the "He is the reason for the season" stuff thinking that December holidays are and have always been about the day Jesus was born and believing that was Dec 25th.

Silly misguided people.

The winter solstice, this year Dec 21st, has been a time of celebration for thousands and thousands of years. It marks the great news that the sun has stopped dropping towards the horizon that the days will stop getting shorter and eventually it will get warm again and we can grow crops and the hibernating creatures will walk about once again so we can kill them for food and supplies . We will not all die

I think that calls for a kick-ass party.

So did and do the earth based religion / spiritual paths to this day

So did the Jews, long before the time of Jesus, thus the beginning of the high holiday Hanukkah.

So about 1600 +- years ago when this relatively new religion following, more or less, the teachings of Jesus was struggling for converts there was a problem when the newbies ran back to party hearty with their old friends each and every December. The powers in charge (all males by-the-way) decided to celebrate Jesus' birthday (he was born in the spring) in December to hold their customer base. Some "celebrate" his birth in December - he was not born in December - silly.

So "He is the reason for the season" is a lie - and a very good marketing slogan. The sun returning is the "reason for the season" and a damn good reason to dance naked by a fire in the woods, or what ever.

Enjoy whatever reason you join with friend and family. Light candles at sundown, give gifts, eat special food, decorate your house, say "Happy Holidays" to strangers - and if they get pissy and retort with "Marry Christmas" say back with love and understanding "Happy Solstice you silly person you".

Happy Solstice everyone...

ps - there are many things I do love about this time of year - but that is for some other thread...

I don't mind that some people believe Jesus was born on December 25th. It seems no more far-fetched than believing his mom was a virgin, or that he would one day rise from the dead. As long they keep it to themselves, whatever gets people through the night is fine with me.

"Keep it to themselves" is a political reference. I don't care about the music on some radio channels; I can listen to others. I don't care about the lights on people's homes; for god's sake, it's a lot less environmentally harmful than NASCAR. I don't care about the commercialism; I don't have to buy into it.

I do care, very much, when politicians, right-wing media, and other opportunists try to use Christmas to inflame culture wars - either out of a sense of cultural superiority or for personal gain. For example, asserting that Christmas is somehow under attack because store employees are encouraged to give a uniformly respectful "Happy Holidays" greeting (as opposed to the frequently presumptuous "Merry Christmas"), and calling for boycotts as a result, is outrageous.

Year round, I do care, very much, when people try to force the tenets of their own religion onto non-believers. I do care, very much, about the way religion is often used to spread hatred, intolerance, and divisiveness in this country.

 

[JMohegan]

I Hate Eggnog

It is truly vile.

 

[JMohegan]

But since I danced as both the Sugar Plum Fairy and flowers in my innocent youth, I have to say the Nutcracker Suite (as originally intended) holds a warm place for me.

Seriously? Were you a professional dancer?

My sister was one of the little girls in the party scene for a few years, and then a soldier when she got a bit older. But the more complicated roles were danced by adult members of a professional group.

 

[intothewoods]

This is a un-PC place we, each and everyone of us, can list all those things we hate about this season...

I hate the Nutcracker!​

well, just to be clear, not this sort of nutcracker ...

http://www.sydesjokes.com/pictures/n/nutcracker_suite.jpg​

I feel like the Jewish girl should not come in here, but oops, I came in.

I'm pretty much fine with all of Christmas, and think it's a very pretty holiday, but I don't like people who argue with me about Christmas, and force me to have a discussion about why I don't celebrate it. It's just gets tiring. If I hear "you know it's actually pagan" one more time, I will go bonkers. It's to the point where I want to say, oh, well I hate pagans! (I don't)

There's just a contingent of people who seem hell bent on wanting everyone to experience this time of year in the same way. It's never been religious folks for me - I know people will be shocked to hear that. But it's been true for me.

 

[intothewoods]

ok so here is my real complaint about this holiday season - those who are militant with the "He is the reason for the season" stuff thinking that December holidays are and have always been about the day Jesus was born and believing that was Dec 25th.

Silly misguided people.

The winter solstice, this year Dec 21st, has been a time of celebration for thousands and thousands of years. It marks the great news that the sun has stopped dropping towards the horizon that the days will stop getting shorter and eventually it will get warm again and we can grow crops and the hibernating creatures will walk about once again so we can kill them for food and supplies . We will not all die

I think that calls for a kick-ass party.

So did and do the earth based religion / spiritual paths to this day

So did the Jews, long before the time of Jesus, thus the beginning of the high holiday Hanukkah.

So about 1600 +- years ago when this relatively new religion following, more or less, the teachings of Jesus was struggling for converts there was a problem when the newbies ran back to party hearty with their old friends each and every December. The powers in charge (all males by-the-way) decided to celebrate Jesus' birthday (he was born in the spring) in December to hold their customer base. Some "celebrate" his birth in December - he was not born in December - silly.

So "He is the reason for the season" is a lie - and a very good marketing slogan. The sun returning is the "reason for the season" and a damn good reason to dance naked by a fire in the woods, or what ever.

Enjoy whatever reason you join with friend and family. Light candles at sundown, give gifts, eat special food, decorate your house, say "Happy Holidays" to strangers - and if they get pissy and retort with "Marry Christmas" say back with love and understanding "Happy Solstice you silly person you".

Happy Solstice everyone...

ps - there are many things I do love about this time of year - but that is for some other thread...

I really do get what you're saying, and I have many good friends who celebrate the solstice, but I also have Christian friends who celebrate it as the birthday of Jesus. I don't think anyone I know thinks Jesus was actually born that day! It's just something that developed over time as Christianity co-opted certain pagan and other minor religious celebrations. To each his own, and I agree with you that that should be respected.

I honestly could care less if someone says happy holidays or merry christmas.

I'd prefer to gracefully bow out of any equal time type celebrations, as they seem to perpetuate the idea that Chanukah is a major holiday, and the only holiday that non-Jews care to learn about.

Speaking of Chanukah - Shank, I've never heard that Chanukah is related to the solstice. I wouldn't be shocked - and I'm not a true believer, but I couldn't find anything about it. Chanukah is the celebration of a military battle, and a miracle which supposedly occurred thereafter. It's celebrated on a particular date on the Jewish calendar, which means it could fall anytime from November through the end of December or even the beginning of January. Also, it is not a high holiday. Pretty minor, as Jewish holidays go, which is why I don't really like for it to be the outreach Jewish holiday, so to speak.

 

[Homburg]

It is truly vile.

I dislike the stuff as well. viv likes it so we've got some in the fridge. I have found that it is useful to wash away the horrific aftertaste of some meds I'm on to kill the damned cough I had recently. Eggnog taste awful, but it is not as awful as the med.

So there you go - Eggnog, not as bad as nasty medicine.

 

[JMohegan]

I'm pretty much fine with all of Christmas, and think it's a very pretty holiday, but I don't like people who argue with me about Christmas, and force me to have a discussion about why I don't celebrate it. It's just gets tiring. If I hear "you know it's actually pagan" one more time, I will go bonkers. It's to the point where I want to say, oh, well I hate pagans! (I don't)

There's just a contingent of people who seem hell bent on wanting everyone to experience this time of year in the same way. It's never been religious folks for me - I know people will be shocked to hear that. But it's been true for me.

The most religious person in my neighborhood is deeply disgusted, and in fact offended, by the celebration of Christmas as a commercial extravaganza. Santa, Frosty, the Rockettes, Rudolph, stores & ads pushing "Christmas" merchandise - she considers all of those to be odious distractions and distortions of a sacred holiday.

 

[midwestyankee]

The most religious person in my neighborhood is deeply disgusted, and in fact offended, by the celebration of Christmas as a commercial extravaganza. Santa, Frosty, the Rockettes, Rudolph, stores & ads pushing "Christmas" merchandise - she considers all of those to be odious distractions and distortions of a sacred holiday.

My wife's niece and her husband refuse to bring Santa into their home in any way because it "ruins the true spirit of Christmas." They intend to raise their children with a purely religious Christmas tradition. Good luck with that in a few years when the kids start going to preschool and elementary school.

 

[Kajira Callista]

I will never be able to watch that movie in perfect innocence again. Pervert.

HEH

 

[Puman]

My wife's niece and her husband refuse to bring Santa into their home in any way because it "ruins the true spirit of Christmas." They intend to raise their children with a purely religious Christmas tradition. Good luck with that in a few years when the kids start going to preschool and elementary school.

...exactly... I was also rather "bah humbug" about Christmas until I had kids. It's also the BEST bribe tool of all.
"You must be good or Santa won't come."

 

[Shankara20]

I'd prefer to gracefully bow out of any equal time type celebrations, as they seem to perpetuate the idea that Chanukah is a major holiday, and the only holiday that non-Jews care to learn about.

Speaking of Chanukah - Shank, I've never heard that Chanukah is related to the solstice. I wouldn't be shocked - and I'm not a true believer, but I couldn't find anything about it. Chanukah is the celebration of a military battle, and a miracle which supposedly occurred thereafter. It's celebrated on a particular date on the Jewish calendar, which means it could fall anytime from November through the end of December or even the beginning of January. Also, it is not a high holiday. Pretty minor, as Jewish holidays go, which is why I don't really like for it to be the outreach Jewish holiday, so to speak.

I stand corrected (I do sorta like to be corrected at times )

thanks