I'd like to know what you usually plan for Christmas/Holyday season, and what you're doing this year, if different.
Particularly interested in non Christians; do you celebrate Christmas anyway, even if it has no religious meaning?
As for me, on one side of the family, it is the usual stuff we have been doing for years. Christmas Eve is at my aun't place, at 20:00 where there will be an exchange of gift, in a precise order, including time for surprise gifts wich the kids still love. Followed by a cold buffet and there more gifts attached to game. My father has declined to attend this year, he'll be spending Christmas with his girlfriend, her kids&grandkids.
On the 25th, we go to the same side of the family, this time at my cousin's place for a 5-7 course meal, depending on how he feels. That's the best part, good food, good wine :)
On the other side of the family, there is never anything planned in advance, it seesms all of my father's family is allergic to planning. So instead of trying to split myself during Christmas time trying to accomodate everyone, I took the initiative and invited my cousins for the 27th, leaving the adults to their own planning.
I'll be serving a non traditional roastbeef, with a standard 5 course meal, nothing really fancy, no gifts :)
On January 1st I'll be receiving my mother's family, as usual. Fancier dinner, with more than decent wine. My dad's gf kids&grandkids will also be there, wich means about 21 people.
Big meal at my parents Christmas Eve afternoon (Christmas dinner #1), Church that evening, go home put the kids in the bed, fetch all the loot and then go to bed. Wake up open presents with the kids, wife, and mother-in-law and eat breakfast. Arrive at my parents around 11AM and stay there the rest of the day, huge Christmas dinner (Christmas dinner #2) that night.
The usual.
Celebrating Christmas is a wonderful thing! It is nice to be close to the people you care about, and to have an excuse to feast and buy nice things for folks.
I'll be spending Christmas with my roommate's family- Used to, there was a big get-together down in Mississippi I always attended, but I don't really have any ties with my family anymore.
I have had a lot of fun shopping around to pick out the perfect gifts for everyone, and I ordered myself a nice kettle.
I'm a little confused by the idea of non-christians not celebrating Christmas. Insomuch as non-christian here means "atheists, agnostics, and other assembled white disbelievers" they are culturally Christian anyway- Christmas has always been part of the society they grew up in, and its such a nice thing. I don't know anyone who'd turn their back on it, and to do so really seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
My family is out of town, so we tend to alternate between going to Winnipeg for Christmas, and staying home. This year we stay home.
My wife's family does absolutely nothing at all for Christmas Eve (which seems batty to me). My wife's parents may or may not come over on Christmas Eve to spend the night. I think we'll cook some good steaks.
In the morning we'll open presents with the boys of course, then slowly get everybody dressed and ready (and get naps in for the boys). Then we'll head over to my wife's sister's place an hour out of town where we'll have turkey and the usual fixings (plus pyrogies).
Boxing Day there is another get together for the extended family at someone's house - will be a whole bunch of cousins there.
On the 27th/28th my parents are flying into town. My brother will drive up and join them. They'll then be with us over New Years.
Every Saturday before Christmas I have a party for my niece, nephew and my own two kids. I build a fire in the fireplace, order pizza and have snacks & cookies out for them. They each get to pick out a Christmas show or movie they want to watch. I have stockings out for them (I usually buy cheap stockings and put their names on them, for them to keep) and I always figure out a way to get them to go upstairs & play while I sneak down & put little presents in their stockings. When they come downstairs I tell them Santa must have stopped by and that gets them all excited even though the stocking stuffers are mostly dollar store crap that breaks the next day.
The whole practical purpose of the party is to give my wife & sister in law a free evening to run out and do last minute shopping (or just go out for margaritas or whatever if they're caught up). But I also feel like my family needs to build some fun traditions beyond what we've had in the past.
On Christmas Eve I usually go to a mid or late evening church service with my parents and one or both of my brothers depending on their schedules. Will probably take the kids this time. I didn't always like going to church as a kid but I was always cool with Christmas Eve service-- always seemed like a good way to get a head start on celebrating Christmas proper. I learned the hard way not to drag my wife off to my church, so she stays back and cooks what has become our traditional Christmas Eve late dinner-- guizo which is an Argentine stew with rice, beef, peas, and tomato sauce. I usually let Tommy open a couple presents. My sister in law usually drags her kids to a Papist church service and her sister usually has something on Christmas Eve so I rarely get to see my niece & nephew that night.
Christmas morning we have our own thing with the kids opening their presents to see what Santa brought, and then around noon we go to my parents' house to eat our afternoon "dinner" which can be anywhere from 1:00 to 4:00pm depending on my brother's work schedule. Then we open presents, eat more, and watch videos of Christmases past.
Papist church is the true church. :pope:
We did the annual extended family Christmas gathering last Saturday. Usually the dynamic is the four uncles rehashing the exact same childhood memories for the 18th year in a row and the other nuclear families sitting in morose silent clumps eating their chili and chicken noodle soup. I lucked out by getting extended one on one time with my favorite cousin.
My contribution of Calvados was generally well-recieved, and my idea to sing Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" in the bathroom (for the acoustics) turned out very well. Particularly as all the rug rats (all amazingly cute) started dancing along to it.
Little kids really make Christmas.
Christmas day itself will once again be at the community center my dad sits on the board of. Less fun is expected than usual as the new director has pissed off all the old school clientele and they no longer show up.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 20, 2012, 12:21:30 PM
Little kids really make Christmas.
Definitely, once they reach age 3 or so.
Quote from: Grey Fox on December 20, 2012, 12:16:29 PM
Papist church is the true church. :pope:
:rolleyes:
Then why do you have a Nazi Anti-Christ in St. Peters?
Quote from: derspiess on December 20, 2012, 12:24:37 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 20, 2012, 12:21:30 PM
Little kids really make Christmas.
Definitely, once they reach age 3 or so.
Which is why, despite the fact that Timmy has already seen two Christmases, I'm really excited about this one. :)
Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2012, 12:28:26 PM
Which is why, despite the fact that Timmy has already seen two Christmases, I'm really excited about this one. :)
Yeah this is David's third as well and I think the first time he understands a bit what is going on. Granted he is only 2.
December 21: I'll do a little kind of Winter Solstice thing like meditate, light candles, and pray for snow. (:glare:)
December 22: We'll open presents with the kids. I'll also probably make my Baked Potato Roasted Garlic Clam Chowder with freshly baked crusty bread.
December 23: Kids go to their dad's house. I clean the house.
December 24: I work during the day, then I'm going to services at the UU church at 7:00pm, out for Chinese Buffet, then to midnight mass services at the Episcopalian church (I love the music, candles, insense, prettily-dressed people :wub:).
December 25: Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I don't change out of my pajamas, I don't cook any food (except maybe some oatmeal if I'm feeling like a hot breakfast), I don't plan anything. We order pizza (or Chinese, if no pizza place is open) for dinner. This year, I'm considering a marathon of Tales from the Green Valley or A Tudor Feast or A Victorian Christmas. I'll also likely be painting or otherwise crafting while watching the shows.
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2012, 12:29:38 PM
Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2012, 12:28:26 PM
Which is why, despite the fact that Timmy has already seen two Christmases, I'm really excited about this one. :)
Yeah this is David's third as well and I think the first time he understands a bit what is going on. Granted he is only 2.
Carl's first full sentence was at Christmas.
It was "Daddy, open the presents!" :lol:
Usually it is a time for having meals with friends and family.
This year we are doing that a couple days early and then travelling to where it is summer. We did that last year as well. It may become the new normal.
Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2012, 11:47:54 AM
My family is out of town, so we tend to alternate between going to Winnipeg for Christmas, and staying home. This year we stay home.
I was going to laugh at you for having to travel to Winnipeg, but then I realized that the only advantage that Grande Prairie and Peace River have over Winnipeg is that they're closer and they don't flood as often. Well, Grande Prairie doesn't flood at least. :(
This year, we're staying in town. My parents are coming to town so we're having dinner on the 24th at my sister's and the 25th at my place. Gifts will be exchanged.
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2012, 12:41:02 PM
I was going to laugh at you for having to travel to Winnipeg, but then I realized that the only advantage that Grande Prairie and Peace River have over Winnipeg is that they're closer and they don't flood as often. Well, Grande Prairie doesn't flood at least. :(
Jesus, talk about a cripple fight.... :sleep:
Quote from: Caliga on December 20, 2012, 12:42:27 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2012, 12:41:02 PM
I was going to laugh at you for having to travel to Winnipeg, but then I realized that the only advantage that Grande Prairie and Peace River have over Winnipeg is that they're closer and they don't flood as often. Well, Grande Prairie doesn't flood at least. :(
Jesus, talk about a cripple fight.... :sleep:
:lol:
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2012, 12:41:02 PM
Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2012, 11:47:54 AM
My family is out of town, so we tend to alternate between going to Winnipeg for Christmas, and staying home. This year we stay home.
I was going to laugh at you for having to travel to Winnipeg, but then I realized that the only advantage that Grande Prairie and Peace River have over Winnipeg is that they're closer and they don't flood as often. Well, Grande Prairie doesn't flood at least. :(
I can think of one thing Winnipeg has that GP/PR doesn't! :w00t:
Christmas dinner with friends' family on Christmas Eve (the 24th is the "big" day in Germany and Austria - getting together with the family, having dinner, exchanging presents . . . - 25th/26th are more for visiting other relatives etc.), then relaxing and probably catching up on my unwatched blu rays.
Going home would mean an get-together with my Mom, my sister and her two grown up kids, with lots of awkwardly trying to find a topic we can all talk about and watching TV ad nauseam.
Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2012, 12:47:12 PM
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2012, 12:41:02 PM
Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2012, 11:47:54 AM
My family is out of town, so we tend to alternate between going to Winnipeg for Christmas, and staying home. This year we stay home.
I was going to laugh at you for having to travel to Winnipeg, but then I realized that the only advantage that Grande Prairie and Peace River have over Winnipeg is that they're closer and they don't flood as often. Well, Grande Prairie doesn't flood at least. :(
I can think of one thing Winnipeg has that GP/PR doesn't! :w00t:
An empty hockey arena? I suspect you're right. :lol:
I'll be at the shelter. Then go to my sister's house late in the afternoon.
Quote from: merithyn on December 20, 2012, 12:32:25 PM
December 21: I'll do a little kind of Winter Solstice thing like meditate, light candles, and pray for snow. (:glare:)
December 22: We'll open presents with the kids. I'll also probably make my Baked Potato Roasted Garlic Clam Chowder with freshly baked crusty bread.
December 23: Kids go to their dad's house. I clean the house.
December 24: I work during the day, then I'm going to services at the UU church at 7:00pm, out for Chinese Buffet, then to midnight mass services at the Episcopalian church (I love the music, candles, insense, prettily-dressed people :wub:).
December 25: Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I don't change out of my pajamas, I don't cook any food (except maybe some oatmeal if I'm feeling like a hot breakfast), I don't plan anything. We order pizza (or Chinese, if no pizza place is open) for dinner. This year, I'm considering a marathon of Tales from the Green Valley or A Tudor Feast or A Victorian Christmas. I'll also likely be painting or otherwise crafting while watching the shows.
:cool:
I could make it to Stonehenge for it, but I was up that way earlier and too many of the fords and minor roads are flooded out.
You have excellent taste, their latest series is about the 'Wartime Farm' and was filmed at a farm just the other side of Southampton Water from here. :)
Quote from: mongers on December 20, 2012, 01:32:41 PM
:cool:
I could make it to Stonehenge for it, but I was up that way earlier and too many of the fords and minor roads are flooded out.
One of these days I'd love to be at Stonehenge for one of the solstices to see how the Neo-Druids celebrate it. :cool:
QuoteYou have excellent taste, their latest series is about the 'Wartime Farm' and was filmed at a farm just the other side of Southampton Water from here. :)
Haven't heard of the new one. I'll have to look into it. My favorite is still the Victorian Farm. It was my introduction to the series, and I absolutely love it. I have a massive crush on Fonz :wub: but I love the others, as well.
Neo Druids. Pfft. Rome had the right idea with the real ones.
Quote from: merithyn on December 20, 2012, 01:45:08 PM
One of these days I'd love to be at Stonehenge for one of the solstices to see how the Neo-Druids celebrate it. :cool:
They celebrate it with a wicker man. :menace: :punk:
Quote from: Caliga on December 20, 2012, 01:56:14 PM
Quote from: merithyn on December 20, 2012, 01:45:08 PM
One of these days I'd love to be at Stonehenge for one of the solstices to see how the Neo-Druids celebrate it. :cool:
They celebrate it with a wicker man. :menace: :punk:
Um, I think that's a spring thing. Maybe May Day?
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 20, 2012, 01:47:44 PM
Neo Druids. Pfft. Rome had the right idea with the real ones.
My eyes can't roll back far enough when she says silly things like that. It's like calling people who played "Panzer General" Neo-Nazi.
Quote from: Lettow77 on December 20, 2012, 11:33:52 AM
I'm a little confused by the idea of non-christians not celebrating Christmas. Insomuch as non-christian here means "atheists, agnostics, and other assembled white disbelievers" they are culturally Christian anyway- Christmas has always been part of the society they grew up in, and its such a nice thing. I don't know anyone who'd turn their back on it, and to do so really seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Well, for Jews, the birth of Christ doesn't mean much, I guess. I don't know if secular Jews not living in Israel do celebrate Christmas with their family, or if they pass over to simply celebrate Hannukah when it is not at the same time as Christmas season.
24th - baking and then attendance for Christmas eve service at the church chosen for that year
25th - meal of sorts (kinda potlucky) and open presents with mother's extended family (at some point in the afternoon my siblings and I sneak off to see my father's extended family for a few hours).
26th - go to theater to see "Christmas" movie picked for that year.
Quote from: viper37 on December 20, 2012, 02:08:35 PM
Well, for Jews, the birth of Christ doesn't mean much, I guess. I don't know if secular Jews not living in Israel do celebrate Christmas with their family, or if they pass over to simply celebrate Hannukah when it is not at the same time as Christmas season.
Heh. No Christmas in Israel is just another work day.
I try to please Thor, Odin and Frey.
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2012, 02:18:31 PM
Quote from: viper37 on December 20, 2012, 02:08:35 PM
Well, for Jews, the birth of Christ doesn't mean much, I guess. I don't know if secular Jews not living in Israel do celebrate Christmas with their family, or if they pass over to simply celebrate Hannukah when it is not at the same time as Christmas season.
Heh. No Christmas in Israel is just another work day.
I figured that about Israel, but those in Canada, US, Europe, where we have a day or a week off, I'm curious if they nonetheless picked up the tradition.
Quote from: The Brain on December 20, 2012, 02:19:45 PM
I try to please Thor, Odin and Frey.
Good. Are they, pleased I mean?
Quote from: viper37 on December 20, 2012, 02:24:40 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2012, 02:18:31 PM
Quote from: viper37 on December 20, 2012, 02:08:35 PM
Well, for Jews, the birth of Christ doesn't mean much, I guess. I don't know if secular Jews not living in Israel do celebrate Christmas with their family, or if they pass over to simply celebrate Hannukah when it is not at the same time as Christmas season.
Heh. No Christmas in Israel is just another work day.
I figured that about Israel, but those in Canada, US, Europe, where we have a day or a week off, I'm curious if they nonetheless picked up the tradition.
The stereotype is they like to go to the movies on the 25th since they have the day off and they theatres are half empty.
Quote from: viper37 on December 20, 2012, 02:24:40 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2012, 02:18:31 PM
Quote from: viper37 on December 20, 2012, 02:08:35 PM
Well, for Jews, the birth of Christ doesn't mean much, I guess. I don't know if secular Jews not living in Israel do celebrate Christmas with their family, or if they pass over to simply celebrate Hannukah when it is not at the same time as Christmas season.
Heh. No Christmas in Israel is just another work day.
I figured that about Israel, but those in Canada, US, Europe, where we have a day or a week off, I'm curious if they nonetheless picked up the tradition.
One of my partners makes a habit of telling people he is available on the 23-26 for arbitrations. :D
Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2012, 02:28:24 PM
The stereotype is they like to go to the movies on the 25th since they have the day off and they theatres are half empty.
And out for Chinese food. :)
Yeah the Chinese food one is pretty common. I recall a Simpsons gag about a Jew being visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past and it was just a vision of lots of Chinese Food.
Quote from: Valmy on December 20, 2012, 02:45:37 PM
Yeah the Chinese food one is pretty common. I recall a Simpsons gag about a Jew being visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past and it was just a vision of lots of Chinese Food.
That's inverted racism.
Working Xmas Day, it was always Atman's Deli and their massive corned beef sandwiches. Whether on the dashboard of a squad car or at the bail office, that was my traditional Xmas dinner throughout most of the 1990s.
Quote from: garbon on December 20, 2012, 02:14:05 PM
24th - baking and then attendance for Christmas eve service at the church chosen for that year
25th - meal of sorts (kinda potlucky) and open presents with mother's extended family (at some point in the afternoon my siblings and I sneak off to see my father's extended family for a few hours).
26th - go to theater to see "Christmas" movie picked for that year.
Is your aunt still off of Kwanzaa?
Quote from: Barrister on December 20, 2012, 02:28:24 PM
The stereotype is they like to go to the movies on the 25th since they have the day off and they theatres are half empty.
I know a lot of non-Jews who do that. That was my best friend's family's tradition and his dad was a Methodist minister.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 20, 2012, 02:48:57 PM
Working Xmas Day, it was always Atman's Deli and their massive corned beef sandwiches. Whether on the dashboard of a squad car or at the bail office, that was my traditional Xmas dinner throughout most of the 1990s.
:thumbsup:
Quote from: derspiess on December 20, 2012, 02:50:21 PM
Quote from: garbon on December 20, 2012, 02:14:05 PM
24th - baking and then attendance for Christmas eve service at the church chosen for that year
25th - meal of sorts (kinda potlucky) and open presents with mother's extended family (at some point in the afternoon my siblings and I sneak off to see my father's extended family for a few hours).
26th - go to theater to see "Christmas" movie picked for that year.
Is your aunt still off of Kwanzaa?
I think she gave up that bit of African resurgence when everyone on my father's belittled it. I don't think anyone uses her "African" name, anymore. :D
I spent one Christmas at a nudey bar. That was pretty grim.
Not least because the fuglier dancers got stuck with the shift.
Quote from: garbon on December 20, 2012, 02:52:46 PM
I think she gave up that bit of African resurgence when everyone on my father's belittled it. I don't think anyone uses her "African" name, anymore. :D
Dang, so no extra presents still.
Quite unusually, I am spending this Xmas mainly alone.
D. left for his hometown with his mom (who is still wheelchair bound) to meet his grandparents and he is coming back on the 27th.
My aunt (mom's sister) who never married used to live with my parents but she died earlier this autumn, so my parents do not feel like hosting a Christmas eve dinner this year. Instead I am having them over for the dinner and then they leave for vacation at some spa resort on the Xmas day.
My plans are to see "Hobbit" on the 25th and "Cloud Atlas" on the 26th. I'm back to work on the 27th anyway.
I will probably have some friends over for the New Year's Eve.
Quote from: viper37 on December 20, 2012, 02:25:08 PM
Quote from: The Brain on December 20, 2012, 02:19:45 PM
I try to please Thor, Odin and Frey.
Good. Are they, pleased I mean?
Doesn't look like it.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6hbHR.jpg&hash=da3c74471fae7b183bf18687ca50b6ef38144802)
I plan on assembling toys that need assembling. Various profanities will be used.
Thankfully, I didn't buy the Lego Super Star Destroyer for my eldest boy. Still tempted though.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 20, 2012, 04:39:51 PM
I plan on assembling toys that need assembling. Various profanities will be used.
Thankfully, I didn't buy the Lego Super Star Destroyer for my eldest boy. Still tempted though.
I have none of that this year, thankfully. Taking a break from the tricycle, bike, train track, and drum set of years past. Lots & lots of Legos, but that's something we build later on.
Quote from: derspiess on December 20, 2012, 04:57:23 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 20, 2012, 04:39:51 PM
I plan on assembling toys that need assembling. Various profanities will be used.
Thankfully, I didn't buy the Lego Super Star Destroyer for my eldest boy. Still tempted though.
I have none of that this year, thankfully. Taking a break from the tricycle, bike, train track, and drum set of years past. Lots & lots of Legos, but that's something we build later on.
The girls have multiple Pony playsets and I need to see if they need assembling. I'll also get stuck playing with ponies. I WANT PINKIE PIE
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 20, 2012, 04:59:36 PM
I'll also get stuck playing with ponies.
Boo-fucking-hoo.
Usually we spend the evening of 24th with the in-laws, and the kids open their in-law presents there.
Christmas day is my birthday, so usually we're with my family: morning mass, then opening the presents, then a traditional Chrsitmas meal, then falling face down on the sofa trying to digest the lunch. Usually this part is interrupted by the kids who want me to assemble their toys, this year it will be me playing with my son's RC helicopter :w00t:
The only drawback of the day will be that, for the fourtiest year in a row, my birthday cake will be a panettone, Italy's traditional Christmas cake :mellow:
L.
Quote from: Pedrito on December 20, 2012, 05:58:29 PM
The only drawback of the day will be that, for the fourtiest year in a row, my birthday cake will be a panettone, Italy's traditional Christmas cake :mellow:
Damn, what are the odds!?
Quote from: Martinus on December 21, 2012, 02:46:36 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on December 20, 2012, 05:58:29 PM
The only drawback of the day will be that, for the fourtiest fourtieth year in a row, my birthday cake will be a panettone, Italy's traditional Christmas cake :mellow:
Damn, what are the odds!?
FMP :blush:
L.
Most people in HK aren't Christians but we celebrate anyway. It is just an excuse to take vacation, eat, shop, etc.
Quote from: Pedrito on December 21, 2012, 02:59:04 AM
Quote from: Martinus on December 21, 2012, 02:46:36 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on December 20, 2012, 05:58:29 PM
The only drawback of the day will be that, for the fourtiest fourtieth year in a row, my birthday cake will be a panettone, Italy's traditional Christmas cake :mellow:
Damn, what are the odds!?
FMP :blush:
L.
I wasn't referring to a typo, just making a joke about the odds of your fortieth birthday in a row falling on Xmas. :P
Quote from: Martinus on December 21, 2012, 03:09:44 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on December 21, 2012, 02:59:04 AM
Quote from: Martinus on December 21, 2012, 02:46:36 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on December 20, 2012, 05:58:29 PM
The only drawback of the day will be that, for the fourtiest fourtieth year in a row, my birthday cake will be a panettone, Italy's traditional Christmas cake :mellow:
Damn, what are the odds!?
FMP :blush:
L.
I wasn't referring to a typo, just making a joke about the odds of your fortieth birthday in a row falling on Xmas. :P
I can only assume this is some kind of Polish traditional joke :hmm:
L.