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This is not really on topic, but I'm sharing it anyway. This is a GoPro video of Christmas lights in Brooklyn. The neighborhood is well-known for elaborate decorations and draws quite a crowd. I wonder what happens if you live there and don't want to decorate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROgABL7F4F8
If that "rant against the holidays" was directed at me, I guess that's EXACTLY what I mean.
Going back and reading through what I wrote, I'm at a loss to see how I said anything bashing the holidays. By saying how much I miss the ritual, I thought I was embracing the idea of the holidays and feeling a bit of envy for those who still believe.
What does put me off is the idea that if I don't participate in someone else's holiday, I've somehow ruined it for them. If someone requires a piece of me for their holiday to be complete, well, I do bash that idea, I seriously and truly don't have enough pieces left for everyone, but I also don't think that that's what the holidays are about.
Eden, I enjoy participating in other cultures' traditions too, but it's not always so easy to know when I'm welcome and when I'm not, even in religions that have a lot of local adherents. The church I was raised in, all baptized people are welcome to take Holy Communion, and it never occurred to me that the same is not true in all Christian denominations. I still feel kind of bad about the time I took Communion in a Roman Catholic church, not knowing any better. Another time, when a child handed me a candle they were passing around to light the menorah at a Hanukkah party, I was honored to light a candle, but not being Jewish, I really didn't know if I should. It was such a spur of the moment thing that the best I could do was raise an eyebrow at our hostess and get a smile back.
Culturally speaking, Japanese are wierd bunch. They get married in Shinto ceremony and funeral in Budhist ceremony. And big to do children's religious thing called 7,5,3 (shichi, go, san) is to take your child(ren) to shinto shrine to say that your 7 or 3 yo daughter is growing healthy, and for your 5 yo son the same. But its seen not as some religious thing. It was party time for my family. And for the kids, it was time for some sweet confection. Religion didn't even register in my family as something to be concerned with. If its important to you great. if not thats great too.
I do like Christmas for the simple fact that people tend to be more mindful of "peace and good will toward other men." Rest of the year, that sometimes gets lost. And having this holiday to remind us of it is very nice. I did get really mad one year when my ex dragged me to a Christmas church service and some *(&^ nearly caused an accident in the parking lot to butt his way into a parking space that we were patiently waiting. He also flipped us the bird.
So with all the craziness of modern world and the cupcake generation (self centered generation and refuses to share a common cake because they want their own decorated the way they want), this time is nice to remind ourselves that it is about caring for your fellow human being. I also love the tranquail and pastoral music to sooth my worn down and frayed nerve. Thank goodness too for internet buying for the bargain. I would never stand in line at a store or ask a person to work on the holiday. It's a time to spend with our family and friends etc.
Peace be with you,
Seemed appropriate here. Enjoy;
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3SgVuTSPpWw
I've seen this before.
Hysterical, and says exactly what I feel.
Oak, I don't think the rant was directed at you. I don't think it was directed at me, either. Like this video says in a very funny way, people just don't understand.
Funny video.
She's funny!
History of the Christmas tree:
http://www.history.com/topics/christ...as-trees/print
Funny, Trek, thanks.
Also relevant:
http://aberrantart.com/wp-content/up...lues-CARDS.jpg
And this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q#t=272
I guess the takeaway is, that if you have family, whatever they want to do is okay. As someone who doesn't, all it is is painful.
I just saw that for the first time yesterday, Oak, after seeing Neil Gaimans post on Twitter. I know what you're saying.
If I were on your continent, I'd invite you and all of my other favourite Christmas Grinches to go out for a bike ride in the snow, and then go for drinks someplace noisy and unsentimental. Here's a virtual toast to you all. You're some of my favourite people I've never met, the sun has turned and we're moving towards summer. We'll be fine.
Oak,
I could have used that as my theme song this weekend. I took my 85 tear old MIL to mass on Saturday. As I sat and listen to the service, I thought, the music is nice, but the lyrics are a little dodgey.....I followed it up by wishing my husbands family a Happy Solstice the next day:)
They love me anyway.....
We normally run away at Christmas and our tradition is to summit something on Christmas day. WAY too many years of family dysfunction on both sides as brought to this. It works. This year I am stuck at home recovering with the foot. Bit of a bummer......
I agree with lph.....you are some of the coolest women I have never met. I raise my cup of tea to all of you!
Agreed. Wish all of my friends were like you guys.
My favorite thing about Christmas is the day off work and the nightmare daily commute is a little more bearable.
We are Christians, but we don't decorate or exchange gifts or go to church for Christmas. I do enjoy hearing how all faiths celebrate, regardless of the date and what they celebrate.
and I'd invite you to spend the week here on the northern california coast with us :)....a good storm is coming in tomorrow to make a warm fire and bottles of wine or hot chocolate even more enjoyable!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by lph
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7499/...c8a99d83_b.jpg
Thanks for the invite....I am on my way.
Is that your view?
come....:) and yes, just south of mendocino it's the deck off our bedroomQuote:
Originally Posted by rocknrollgirl
Is that the Albion River Inn? Highly recommend the restaurant there. When we first moved to the Bay Area it was a tradition for us to drive up to Mendocino for the day on our anniversary. We did that for three or four years. It was a LONG drive from the south bay, but so beautiful. I had just finished school and we were so poor, we couldn't afford to spend the night and then we were saving for a house.
Veronica
Veronica…it’s a house. It’s even a longer drive for us but we break the drive with an overnight in the napa valley, then a relaxing drive on 128 to here. Lots of good restaurants here including the Albion….great sense of nature and good people too. Happy holidays for you!!!!
From a sunrise walk this morning
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/...618d30e7_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/...5fd972c6_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/...01cb0262_b.jpg
……days end
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7493/...a4d8bd57_b.jpg
todays beginning
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7568/...3fe0a622_b.jpg
pictures like that makes me miss California. I loved Point Reys area. There was a fun century ride event that I went and I was so taken by the beauty of the place.
And yes to all the wonderful women here. And to LPH Glade Jul even if you are a grinch. I was going to fry up some fattigan for my Norwegian neighbor. He is temporarly in a care facility right now. And even though he loves sweets, he told me in no uncertain terms to not bring him ANYTHING. Grinch. Maybe I should ask him if he wants to eat Rudolph for dinner. Reindeer burger or steak... My co-worker returning from Tampere Finland said, "Rudolph was very lean and very tasty!!"
anyway to all of you, enjoy your holiday.
Going to pack, right now....that is really beautiful. I would give you a pic of my view right now, but it is a bit drismal. It has been raining for 3 days.
Oh and wine over hot chocolate please....
This was exactly my reaction!Quote:
Originally Posted by rocknrollgirl
I'm not much of a lie-around-on-a-sandy-beach type person, but I love the waterfront. Your photos are beautiful Rebecca - I can hear the surf pounding away.
We're having Rudolph for dinner! We have a large reindeer steak in the fridge which has just thawed and needs eating. Very tasty, especially with a traditional rich cream sauce with goat's cheese. we can't because of dh's milk allergy, but the meat is still good, and free range.Quote:
Originally Posted by smilingcat
Can I come over for dinner? Now, just where ARE the keys to my private jet :)Quote:
Originally Posted by lph
Sure, pop over, landing strip is clear ;-) It's in the oven now with onions, carrots, cauliflower and red beets around it and smells great. Candles all over the house and Jessye Norman is belting out "Jerusalem", at least until my guys start complaining. So for being in a country that finished celebrating yesterday, I think we're doing pretty well :-) Wishing all TE'ers a good evening, and brightening days to come.
"you can't eat rudolph cuz santa needs him for the teeter totter".....odin
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7524/...0b73371c_b.jpg
Okay so no Rudolph not even a distant cousin. some unrelated reindeer. BTW, I read that only people allowed to raise and keep a reindeer herd is Sami people. Not allowed otherwise. Not even if you are Norwegian, Swede or Finn.
I'll ask if my neighbor wants faarikaal instead. A very rustic simple dish. Lamb, cabbage and peppercorn and some stock. I love lamb. So far, my neighbor has had me eat smoked Norwegian cheese. Pretty smokey and I think I can get to like it after several shots of aquavit. He also had me try pickled herring. I'm bit picky so the herring was good except for the "blood line" the dark meat down the middle. And the traditional Brot (bread) was mighty chewy... rye bread heavy stuff. his bread wasn't the big thin flat circular thing with a hole in the middle...
Yes Rudolph is spared. I think my neighbor will take faarikaal over reindeer any day. ;) My neighbor can't cook all that well anymore so no worries about lutefisk. :D or maybe I should really be worried.
Wow, I'm impressed that you know so much about norwegian traditions! Faarikaal is pretty simple to make, and hearty comfort food. Reindeer: they're free range and cover quite large areas, as they prefer different areas for the calving, winter feeding etc. Keeping reindeer herds in these traditional and protected communal grounds is only for people of Sami origin. But you can keep and raise reindeer on your own land if you like.
It's my neighbor's fault. He pulled out a pristine pair of baby seal boots out of the closet once and wanted to give them to me. Nope not having any part of it. I think its banned in US. Very pretty, looked very comfortable and very warm. It's the one with pointed toes that curled up a bit. My partner took them to a fund raiser for golden retriever rescue group where it was promptly bought by an another Norwegian. I should have taken a photo of it. My partner said that the woman who bought it was so very excited.
He is trying to teach me "Ja, vi elsker dette landet". I can't carry a tune even my life depended on it. This came about from watching Alt for Norge. The last two contestants were asked to sing the first eight words from it. He laughed and counted it off on his finger as he sang. Tells me "See its easy"
I think he misses home. He has lots of stories he tells me. He is a good story teller so even the terrifying things are funny, Sometimes, he brings out things like troll dolls. And I really do enjoy and look forward to talking to him. He tells me of the wild midnight party in the daylight where they go to the summer cottage. go for a brisk swim in the fjord... Can't be that warm?? Sometimes, I think he is telling me tall tales. Good thing for internet, I can pull up photos of the places like trolltunga. You'll never get me to go out on that rock!! It is breathtakingly beautiful but nope. I'm not about to step out onto that rock. And ofcourse he had to tell me Its Constitution Day last May. (It's equivalent to Fourth of July). And it was he who said, or Norwegian is just like German. So I should not have any problem learning it. I'm not so sure.
So yes its his fault. And few other people. One of my former co-worker told me that she hated going to her grandmother's place when she was little. She had to "like" lutefisk. It was a "special treat" for jul. Poor thing.
back to the thread. Yes Rudolph not just because he is tasty but he is pretty cool and Santa needs him to deliver toys for children.
A little late but here's a way to put TE or any website into the holiday spirit;
http://falalalala.it
Fun!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Trek420
Not to mention the reindeer police. I thought you might enjoy this:Quote:
Originally Posted by smilingcat
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...r-police-force
http://siberiantimes.com/other/other...-is-after-you/
I love the pragmatic view the Siberians have on machinery. In harsh cold, well, it just breaks down, doesn't it. Go reindeer. Enjoy your special quality diet.
Yes I enjoyed it. But animals need to be fed, they can get injured and lame... I hope they take good care of the reindeer.