Why I Hate (secular) Christmas

appreciation.

It is meant to point out just how much you really have to be happy about, instead of pointing out the things that you could be unhappy about.

My boys are happy and healthy. This is reason enough for me to be happy.

Sure, I could be bummed out that I don't have a corvette YET, with three young hot things wanting to all sit on my lap, but I know there is always next year for that! :\

Or, as Burl sang:

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow,
but have a cup of cheer.

Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
and ev'ryone you meet.

Oh, ho, the mistletoe
hung where you can see;
Somebody waits for you;
Kiss her once for me.

Have a holly jolly Christmas,
and in case you didn't hear,
Oh by golly, have a holly, jolly Christmas
this year.

(enjoy the earwig if you got down this far!)

just need to be reminded to be human sometimes.

Christmas, the "Peace on Earth, Good will towards man" season is just the thing to get people snapped out of the daily getting lost in the running around going all the important things that take our time that we would not be able to list off the next day.

We get too busy with the day to day, and forget what is really important.

Not forced either. Just reminded. People can still be as miserable as they choose if that is what they want out of life.

Hot Buttered Rum

* 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup butter or margarine
* 1 pinch salt
* 3 sticks cinnamon
* 6 whole cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 2 cups rum
* heavy cream -- whipped
* ground nutmeg -- for topping

Directions:

Put all ingredients, except rum and cream, and nutmeg into crockpot. Add 2 quarts hot water. Stir well. Cover pot and cook on LOW for 5 hours. Add rum; stir to blend. Serve from pot in warm mugs with a scoop of whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg.

Hot Buttered Apple Rum

* 4 cinnamon sticks-- broken
* 1 teaspoon whole allspice
* 1 teaspoon whole cloves
* 7 cups apple juice
* 1/3 cup brown sugar -- packed
* butter
* rum

Directions:

Combine the spices in a piece of cheesecloth and tie with a string. Combine all ingredients in crockpot. Cover; Cook on low for 3-4 hours. Remove spice bag and serve in individual mugs with 1/2 tsp of butter and a shot of rum in each.

Or you can try "Grandpa's Hot Buttered Rum"

* 1 pound butter
* 1 pound brown sugar
* 1 pound confectioners' sugar
* 1 quart vanilla ice cream
* 1 teaspoon nutmeg
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 16 shots dark rum
* 16 cups boiling water

Directions:

Combine butter, sugars, ice cream, nutmeg and cinnamon. Freeze until firm.

To serve, place heaping tablespoon of butter mixture and 1 shot glass dark rum into 1 cup boiling water.

I hope this helps. You will surely like one of them.

Neilb was a wild card!

He let it slip that he too enjoys seeing the glee in the face of the little ones!

Now, don't make me come over there! ;\

Are you going to tell me that you won't delight in waking up Christmas morning with the woman you love and "doing Christmas"?

Or,,,, is Mambo the firestarter today? Hmmmmmmm! This does seem very out of character for you, so flamebait is sounding more and more like the word of the day! Your busted dude!

and invite them ALL to come to spend Christmas with you, but STAY at the hotel instead of trying to board everybody. Bingo!

Drama queens, a quick beotch slap and a "sit down and shut up beotch!" later and all is well in Christmas town.

Ask the answer man!

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas......
(I love that song!)

One of our accounting personell said that symantec found a sys.xxxxxxxxDRM file after playing Mannheim Steamroller on her work desktop.
That will kill the xmas spirit.

I'll have a blue Christmas (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ahh...)
Without you (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ahh...)
I'll be so blue just thinkin'
About you
Decorations of red
On a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same, dear
If you're not here with me

There, is that more along the theme of the day? :^O

Yea a local charity.....
Just what we need, to go and give stuff to people that are too lazy to go out and find a job. The last thing I want to do is spend my time and money on someone who obviously doesnt care enough about his own self and family to get a job and give them a something instead of mooching off of others.

And dont gimmie this " well he may not be able to find a well paying job" BS, if you cant find one well paying job, get 2 that dont pay so well. Its not that hard, I worked as a pipe-fitter helper and repaired computers and TV's when my wife and I got laid-off.

Charities for the unfortunate. What a crock, should be more like charity for the lazy.
Get a job low life and get away from my money.

But thats just my opinion. I know there are others out there that feel the same way but they just dont like to admit it.

I am completely and secularly pissed. Trust me, nobody's religion was in anyway threatened by me sitting at a table and drinking Australian Shiraz (that's red, you plebs - do you think I'm the sort of goit who drinks white) until it ran out...

We had no Carols - shame

We had no Father Christmas - Shame

The CEO spoke "On message" for an hour - would have been a shame but I went to the pub

Nothing at all was slightly Christmassy - big shame

No way could you have realised this had [b]anything[/b] to do with Jesus - Shame!
(surprised?)

Neil :D

p.s. It's taken mr 35 minutes to type and spellcheck this. OZ! If I can do it pissed...

p.p.s [b]Still[/b] missed a fcking typo!Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! Going to bed! And no, I got a cuddle but that's it!

Buy the eggnog and get it REALLY cold. Insert 3 parts rum to 1 part eggnog...

Enjoy!

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in Patara, a village in what is now Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals, murderers, thieves and robbers.

After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance was said to have healing powers which fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day.

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.

One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value -- a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry.

This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home, providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

Another story tells of three theological students, travelling on their way to study in Athens. A wicked innkeeper robbed and murdered them, hiding their remains in a large pickling tub. It so happened that Bishop Nicholas, travelling along the same route, stopped at this very inn. In the night he dreamt of the crime, got up, and summoned the innkeeper. As Nicholas prayed earnestly to God the three boys were restored to life and wholeness. In France the story is told of three small children, wandering in their play until lost, lured, and captured by an evil butcher. St. Nicholas appears and appeals to God to return them to life and to their families. And so St. Nicholas is the patron and protector of children.

Several stories tell of Nicholas and the sea. When he was young, Nicholas sought the holy by making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There as he walked where Jesus walked, he sought to more deeply experience Jesus' life, passion, and resurrection. Returning by sea, a mighty storm threatened to wreck the ship. Nicholas calmly prayed. The terrified sailors were amazed when the wind and waves suddenly calmed, sparing them all. And so St. Nicholas is the patron of sailors and voyagers.

Other stories tell of Nicholas saving his people from famine, sparing the lives of those innocently accused, and much more. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. Today he is venerated in the East as wonder, or miracle worker and in the West as patron of a great variety of persons-children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, labourers, travellers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need.

Sailors, claiming St. Nicholas as patron, carried stories of his favor and protection far and wide. St. Nicholas chapels were built in many seaports. As his popularity spread during the Middle Ages, he became the patron saint of Apulia (Italy), Sicily, Greece, and Lorraine (France), and many cities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Belgium, and the Netherlands (See list). Following his baptism in Constantinople, Vladimir I of Russia brought St. Nicholas' stories and devotion to St. Nicholas to his homeland where Nicholas became the most beloved saint. Nicholas was so widely revered that more than 2,000 churches were named for him, including three hundred in Belgium, thirty-four in Rome, twenty-three in the Netherlands and more than four hundred in England.

Through the centuries St. Nicholas has continued to be venerated by Catholics and Orthodox and honoured by Protestants. By his example of generosity to those in need, especially children, St. Nicholas continues to be a model for the compassionate life.

Widely celebrated in Europe, St. Nicholas' feast day, December 6th, kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity. In Germany and Poland, boys dressed as bishops begged alms for the poor—and sometimes for themselves! In the Netherlands and Belgium, St. Nicholas arrived on a steamship from Spain to ride a white horse on his gift-giving rounds.

December 6th is still the main day for gift giving and merrymaking in much of Europe. For example, in the Netherlands St. Nicholas' Day is celebrated with the sharing of candies (thrown in the door), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving in early Advent helps preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

Since the 1968 revision of the Roman Catholic calendar, some ask if Nicholas is still really regarded as a saint. It is helpful to remember the Feast of Our Holy Father, Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonder-worker, remains highly ranked and unchanged in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches.

The Roman Catholic calendar revision did remove forty saints, but not Nicholas. Commemoration of ninety saints was made optional, meaning, celebration of their feast days was no longer required for faithful Roman Catholics. Although Nicholas was in this group, it does not mean he and the others are not real saints in the Roman Catholic Church. In the case of Nicholas, it was even stressed that there was no doubt of his authenticity.

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won't have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door,
that's the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too

Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but then
Teacher says a hippo is a vegeterian

There's lots of room for him in our two-car garage
I'd feed him there and wash him there and give him his massage

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuseses
And hippopotamuses like me too!

http://soe.hyperchat.com/newchat/u/yummy/~soe/hippo.wav

Have a listen and enjoy.

Happy Holidays!!

I'm tired of hearing the X is taking Christ out of Christmas. Everyone Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity clone (or actual one) seems to be pushing this craptastic idea that has no basis in reality.

Everyone does know that the X is short hand for Christ, right?

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/xmasabbr.asp

My principle beef about Christmas is that the churches won't simply acknowledge and impart that the day chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus was actually the birthday of Mithra.

The closest I ever get to celebrating Christmas is to send out Christmas cards to friends so that they will know I still care about them.

I do, however, always choose a Christian motif for the cards and I am quite frankly appalled that lifetime Christians send me tatty little cards showing a Christmas tree, or a candle and bells, or Santa Claus or ANYTHING but a simple Christian illustration.

I discontinued exchanging gifts decades ago for the reasons stated in the original post.

Why not make a short hand for 'mas' ?? If you really need one all that bad ... Its not like the word is 240 miles long ...

No wonder the spirit of being thankful and looking towards God (at least once a year) as been taken out of christmas ....

]:)

As per Firestars' recipe, but leaving the rum and the butter till last.

Simmer extremely gently for around 3-4 hours before adding the rum. Simmer again for approximately 5 minutes. Adjust heat up, and just before it gets to the boil, remove from heat, and put into heatproof cups then add a generous dollop of butter, and stir rapidly until it melts into the mix (careful with metal spoons, it can boil the mix!)

Drink as hot as possible! No cream needed!

Cheers, all

GG

what was that about metal spoons?
And which of the recipies is closest to what you do GG?

My sister-in-law called (again) the other day to borrow money. This woman works 2 jobs and has 5 kids to raise, so of course it's impossible to refuse. But the true beauty of the situation is that her husband is a worthless waste of human flesh who hasn't held a job for more than 3 months for the past 12 years or so.

Just thinking of this situation brings me back to the day 15 years ago when we had to get $400 on a Sunday and drive to her house to give her the money to get him out of jail following his first DWI charge. Only $400. Seems so quaint now. Well, at least he doesn't drive any more.

Grrrrrr. I love it.

that's the usual list of ingredients used in my part of the world.

Metal teaspoons - as the mix is so hot when you come to add in the butter, be careful if using a metal spoon to stir in the butter and melt it - it conducts the heat and you either end up with hot fingers or a cup bubbling over with hot buttered rum!!

If you're following star's no. 1, be careful about the amount of nutmeg - start with just a little, you don't want it to overpower the flavour of the rum.

Incidentally, the rum should be dark and if possible of the "thick" variety, but don't use the 40 proof on this one unless you're used to it.....it's a lethal concoction! Personally, Lambs Navy Rum is favourite in my house, but I don't know if you get that where you are, jd.

Hometime for me! My weekend starts here!

Have a good one, all!

:D

GG

I just loaded up their station on my pc and am listening to "Talking to My Generation"

That's strange though, because the last ten songs shown on their website are Christmas.

The true answer to all of your complaints is to take Christ out of Christmas and turn it over to the holiday of conspicuous MAS consumption it has become.

When you look into the history of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ in December, you discover that Advent and Christmas were INVENTED by the Catholic Church to replace the pagan Winter Solstice celebrations in England and Northern Europe.

Based on a combination of the Bible passages on the birth of Jesus, and historical records, the actual birth of Jesus most likely took place in what is now July or August.

Let's determine a proper date to celebrate the birth of Christ with the full solemnity it deserves.

Then, turn the late fall shopping rush over to the mass merchandisers lock stock and barrel.

Besides, for a Christian, the real meaning of the life of Jesus takes place on Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

Before it is too late, we need to take secularism OUT of the Easter celebration.

Chas

they have EGGNOG milkshakes!

WOO WOO! :^O

Watched a doc on "The world's worst jobs", the Xmas episode(British in origin, surely).

It went into the drinking traditions of Saturnalia, midwinter solstice etc. (The worst job of slave who had to clean up after vomiting Masters). It also went into the whole Boar's head tradition which was transferred to early Christianity. The worst job there was cleaning the boar's head. :) They cheated and used a blow toarch to burn off the hair, but the old method was worse.

But they didn't lose the biblical prohibition - Jesus himself said that nothing his father created is unclean. He also said that he did not mock those who kept kosher, so there is room for interpretation.

James

I'm going to report you to the powers that be at TR for posting a link to such a site.

I kept waiting for the joke or the nastiness, but it just kept loading the sappiness on. The smiling child especially nauseated me.

In the future, please keep your holiday spirit to yourself, Old Guy. Perhaps you and JD can get together for an eggnog.

I reckon not but we shall see.

Recipe, please Old Guy

Yep, I'm the Old Guy; especially according to my 18 yo son, who may not get any older if he keeps that up!

Ooh, I wish I could still drink--that buttered rum would be great! I'm one of the "better living through chemistry" types now. Although since they took Vioxx out it's getting harder to get up.

I'm still having a blast with Christmas, though!!

Remember, I'm talking from the South--Tennessee.
I'm not sure how they make it. My Mom gave the recipe to my wife who had to get her Mom to figure it out in order to make it. But, they finally got it right.
I know it has milk, eggs, lots of sugar. The have to boil it in a pot for awhile. Once it's through they whip up egg whites to put in it so it's lumpy. Other than knowing it is great that's all I know. I do have to put Vanilla Flavoring in it instead of Rum or Whisky but the Rum used to be the best.

I autothought that one, too, Mark!

(There's a surprise! :D)

GG

recipe as made in the UK .....

600ml (1 pint) Milk
6-8 Egg yolks
50g (2 oz) Sugar
1 Vanilla pod

Split the vanilla pod lengthways scraping out the seeds.

Bring the milk almost to the boil, remove from the heat and add the vanilla seeds and pod.
Allow to stand for 15 minutes to allow the vanilla to infuse the milk. (adjust time to suit your own preference) Place the egg yolks, sugar and in a bowl, beat until thick and creamy. Remove the vanilla pod from the milk and slowly beat into the egg mixture. Place in a heavy based saucepan and cook over a low to medium heat (do not allow to boil) , stirring constantly, until the custard thickens.

Regional variation: either add a large pinch of cinnamon once the mix is warmed through, but not too hot, or place in serving dishes or ramekins and sprinkle lightly with grated nutmeg (or brown sugar first, then nutmeg)

Ok, I just got hungry! And I don't have time to make custard tonite! Old Guy, I'll get you for this!!!

:D

GG

should I set the player to record these for you? Oh, first I should warn you that one of the specials from Benders a few years ago was an hour of two old biddies discussing death.....

but you'd still probably enjoy it, wouldn't you?!

:p

GG

Ok, let's stick with the Vioxx--I don't want to turn too red over here.

GG, your recipe sounds close but we drink ours from a glass.

Sorry I made you hungry. I won't be able to get any boiled custard until Christmas Eve. Now, that's all I'll think about...

are you related to DMambo, by any chance?

:p :D

]:)

GG

Yes ma'am it's not hard to turn me red. Some of the employees here really get a kick out of doing that. Rudolph doesn't have a thing on me...

I'm staying away from DMambo! He didn't like the link I gave him yesterday. He got me skeered now!

Do I need to get the switch out?

Oh, and don't twist this one either...

What the heck is going on there? Riots on the beaches in Sydney and in Perth??? I'm dumbstruck. Is this part of a deep-rooted problem, or is it being overblown in the press?

What's happening, Aussies?

I heard on the news the other day that religious organizations were protesting places that called Christmas trees "holiday trees" as not to offend non-Christian customers.

The religious right-wingers were protesting stores and getting the names switched back by stores to "christmas trees" in their advertising.

Can anyone tell me though how in the world the Christian right can say that the "tree" became theirs to dictate the name of??

And, does having the tree as a divine representation of the holiday and a religious symbol not break the commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me"? Is it any different than the golden cow?

Personally, I thought Christmas (in the truly religious sense) was about...the birth of Jesus Christ...not a friggin tree.

Goes to show you how silly and possessive and material the right-wing religious loonies have gotten.

Greed is the root of all evil. GIMME MY TREE!! :^O

so[b] MERRY CHRISTMAS [/b]everyone! :\

Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
but have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
and everyone you meet

Oh
ho
the mistletoe
hung where you can see;
Somebody waits for you;
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly jolly Christmas
and in case you didn't hear
Oh by golly
have a holly
jolly Christmas this year