Christmas!!!!!!!

[Blackboar]

Just out of interest, what are you going to do for xmas:D

[Andúril]

Nothing.

[ArwenEvenstar]

going over to moncton! hanging out with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and friends! other then that nothing

[Sween]

i cannot wait my nan and grandad aunt and her son other aunty and uncle and there 2 kids (well they aint kids they are all older than me) my sister are all comming here so we will have a right good time. I love xmas as we are a very spread out family its really the only time of year we are ever all in the same place at once.

Plus all my mates from uni are home there will be meny a shindig :D

[LuthienTinuviel]

i can't wait until all the relatives leave. no offense, i love my family, but i can only take so much of them.

[Miranda]

Going to my uncle's who makes the best Xmas dinner ever!!! Seeing my cousin who I only get to se this time of year and have the annual good humoured arguement with my eldest cousin as to whether horse riding (her profession) or dancing (my profession) is better. Then after Xmas I'm going up to Newcastle to see my best mate and spend new year with my second family and get very drunk looking for a place to celebrate New Year in the centre of Newcastle. Hope everyone on the Moot has a fantastic Xmas especially my best mate on here- he knows who he is!! *evil green eyed stare especially for you* Mx

[Duddun]

Find a place to put the tree.:p

[Sween]

you know our trees just gone up outside i think i may have to decorate my room tommrow :D

[Elven Archer]

This year my brother and his wife are coming to our house for Christmas. last year they did too but it was different. and i had the flu so i couldn't do anything. we always open presents on Christmas eve and then Christmas is just another day. so far this year we're ahead on Christmas. usaully we wait till just about a week or less before the 24th before we get a tree and we usually wait till the 23rd to do shopping. we already have a tree up and i have half of my shoppin done.

[azalea]

I just put my tree up. I'm bummed because I made the unhappy decision to get a FAKE TREE *gasp*. I love getting a real tree, but my allergies have acted up in recent years, and fake trees have so many advantages (cheaper, neater). I'll just have to spray that tree smelling spray to get the nice aroma!

[Elven Archer]

have you tried getting different kids of trees? like frasier fir or douglas fir.

[Andúril]

Elven Archer:
have you tried getting different kids of trees? like frasier fir or douglas fir.There are a number or errors in your post. Allow me to point them out: It is kids off trees, not of trees. "frasier", "douglas", and "fir" are proper names, and require upper case. Thus, Frasier and Douglas Fir.Personally, I don't know Frasier Fir (or his brother), but I sometimes watch Frasier.

I don't pull kids off trees. I'm not into that.

[Celebréiel]

At first me and my friend had this huge genius idea to go to New Zealand for x-mas, lol :rolleyes: but obivously it flopped, so now my plans include watching Two Towers and opening presents.
~Celebréiel

[Shadowfax]

My family's staying home for Christmas... as usual. Which is great because almost everyone else I've talked to at school, etc, are all going places, visiting great aunts they've never met, and overall sound pretty stressed about a time that's supposed to be relaxing and fun. Hmmm. We'll go to church Christmas eve, open some gifts Christmas morning, ya know...stuff like that. Except I'd really love to have some snow. Snow would be so great right now. Darn Pacific Nothwest climate.:rolleyes:

[HOBBIT]

I don't know. Maybe I'll sleep in, see a movie, relax, maybe watch lotr dvd. And I'll probably eat at a nice Chinese restaurant.

[Coney]

Ah, Christmas. That wonderful time when folk of all religions celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ;)


My day will start with going to my friends for a light lunch with her and her kids (so cool watching kids unwrap xmas presents). Then onto my parents house for the traditional Xmas dinner.......this is followed by eating more, drinking too much and falling asleep as the James Bond movie starts on TV.

Wake up at 6pm, shower, shave etc then back to my friends house, drop the kids off at the babysitter, then we go into town........just like a normal Saturday really, except for the tinsel
:)

[Sween]

Originally posted by Coney
Ah, Christmas. That wonderful time when folk of all religions celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ;)


lets not let this go down into a masisve relkgious debate but for me christmas has nothing to do with jesus christ cannot say he even passes my mind.

Christmas is my fav time of year cos simply its the one time my family get together and we are a close bunch if a long way away from each other and spread out.

Christmas aint about jesus its about family and been nice and showing love and affection and food and lights and santa!!!

[Shadowfax]

Hey Sween, how can you say that Christmas is not about Christ? I don't particularily want to enter into a heated discussion either, but why would this holiday be named as it is if it has nothing to do with the one it is named after?

[Lizra]

Oh Geez, here we go!
Anyway, my husband put up some outdoor lights. This is the first time we have ever done it. I guess we're getting a little "wild" in our old age! :) I have my fir tree in this room with the desks and computers. It's been soaking up water for two days and smells great! I'll decorate it soon, but I love the way a "naked" tree looks in the house!
We go to my in-laws on Christmas eve, open presents and eat a fancy dinner. Then home, and Christmas morning, watching the kids with their gifts and hoping they are both pleased and happy. I'll make a fancy dinner and my in-laws will come over for it.
So... what did you get for people this year? I'm getting my husband a 2 month membership to the local gym. It will actually be for the whole family, who knows what people will think or do with it. I thought it might be a fun gift! My daughter is getting a watch, a Pooh fleece, a game for her playstation, money and Lilo and Stich DVD. And little goodies for the stocking, of course. Son is getting a Nintendo game cube thing, some army toys, a soccer fleece blanket and other goodies. He's the tough one cause he still believes in Santa, and changes his mind all the time about what he wants! :rolleyes: I guess I'll do some baking soon to give to all the teachers and others. Hope we/I have fun!

[Starr Polish]

Love the sig, Lizra.

I'll probably open presents if I have any (we usually open one on Christmas Eve, but I think I'm only getting one thing this year), then I'll probably work.

[Arathorn]

I'll mostly likely go with my mom and the brothers to the province to meet up with 1 and 2nd degree relatives (around 50 to 60 people) for the annual Christmas party.

On the first sunday of january, we meet up with the rest of the clan of up to the 4th degree (well over 500 people) in a ranch or a rented stadium.

[Lizra]

Good Lord!! I can't imagine that! I just have my parents and the people I've made myself! So is this fun?

[Arathorn]

Well, the one during Christmas is really great. We're quite close to those cousins, uncles and aunts. My first degree cousins (my mom's siblings' kids) we see every sundayat our grandparent's.

The reunion every january is also fun but is more like a school/fraternity homecoming where there's lotsa games and contests where we form teams. There's so many people that those who are related to each other from the 3rd degree down have to wear the same colored shirts to identify the branch. You're given a sticker ID after you register which has a number stating which generation from the common ancestor (I'm an number 6).

My brother just froze when went the first time they started it 8 yrs ago. He found out that his date fro the prom was a 4th degree cousin. My mom told him afterwards that it's not inbreeding if the shirt colors are different. LOL!

Anyway, it's great when you're looking for referals and looking for business.

Ain't my family hobbit-like :D

[Laurelyn]

I always think that it's a little sad how Christmas is an empty holiday for me. Surely it was sacred once? Surely?
But i don't really know. I don't care. It wouldn't matter to an atheist like me anyways. It's sad, really.

I'm glad to see my family at Christmastime. I'm not glad to get gifts, but I'm glad to give them. I love my family and that's about it.

[Varda Oiolosseo]

I can't wait for Christmas!! I love it!!
The whole family gets together which is great but sadly this year my Great Grandma won't be here this year as she passed away in September. Oh and my uncle won't be coming from Holland this year!!
I'll get to see my 2 Year old cousin and his 2 month old sister though!

Hopefully i'll be getting LOTR goodies too!!!
:D :D :D :D :D

[Varda Oiolosseo]

Yesterday i saw one of the best things ever!!!
It was a talking Treebeard doll!! It was wicked! You pressed this branch and then his eyes open and he say's either:
"Don't be Hasty"
"I'm not a tree! I'm an Ent!"
"Treebeard some call me!"

I can't remember the rest but it was sooooooo good!
I wanted it for x-mas but my grandma says "You're too old for that! When u r 15 u don't want talking trees!"
I said "He's not a tree, he's an Ent"

U have got to see it it is brilliant! :D :)

[Sween]

damn trees allready fallen over

[Lizra]

Mine fell over last year...:( It was "fully loaded" with tons of beautiful fragile ornaments, some very old! I saved all the broken pieces, they are still beautiful. Everybody laughed except me! What a mess! And then you have to start all over again! :( I bought an industrial strenght tree stand after that! Poor Sween!

[Blackboar]

I'm really excited! I'll get to see my nephew for the 1st time ever!!:D My brother too! Ihavnt seen him in ages. He's 30 and lives in Hawaii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's going to take me to see TTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :D

[Blackboar]

Somone post something!

[Silverstripe]

Merry Christmas! (yes, I'm early:D)

My friends and I are going to TTT for Christmas; it probably won't be the first time we've seen it, but it will be fun!!!!!:D :D :D

[Sister Golden Hair]

HUMBUG!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hasty Ent]

OK, Blackboar, but you'll be sorry you asked;)

Christmas? Bah, HUMBUG. I love my friends and family, and enjoy sharing meals with them. BUT, I resent being forced to set aside a particular time and day to do so -- I resent the social pressures to buy gifts for people who have more than they need or deserve -- I resent the nationwide (US) celebration of consumerism and materialism from Nov 26 until January.

What will I do? Participate in the annual family psychodrama... and it may not be so bad, and I'll probably have a good time. On the plus side: my closest friends and family have all agreed not to exchange gifts this year. Last year was the first time we made the pact and it really made the holidays a lot easier to get through. Most of us don't have the money, don't need more stuff, and can use the time we would've spent shopping doing other, more interesting things! Those that had extra cash made larger than normal contributions to charities, certainly a more worthwhile gift than yet ANOTHER sweater...:)

[Silverstripe]

Originally posted by Hasty Ent
OK, Blackboar, but you'll be sorry you asked;)

Christmas? Bah, HUMBUG. I love my friends and family, and enjoy sharing meals with them. BUT, I resent being forced to set aside a particular time and day to do so -- I resent the social pressures to buy gifts for people who have more than they need or deserve -- I resent the nationwide (US) celebration of consumerism and materialism from Nov 26 until January.

What will I do? Participate in the annual family psychodrama... and it may not be so bad, and I'll probably have a good time. On the plus side: my closest friends and family have all agreed not to exchange gifts this year. Last year was the first time we made the pact and it really made the holidays a lot easier to get through. Most of us don't have the money, don't need more stuff, and can use the time we would've spent shopping doing other, more interesting things! Those that had extra cash made larger than normal contributions to charities, certainly a more worthwhile gift than yet ANOTHER sweater...:)

What we do sometimes is give different sorts of gifts; that is, instead of that sweater, we make a contribution to charity in the "gift recipient's" name. Which makes things very interesting...

My family creates new customs sometimes. Especially me.:)

[BeardofPants]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
HUMBUG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, what she said.

And as far as I'm concerned, if you're going to celebrate the birth of Christ, then you might as well trying and work out when his birthday ACTUALLY was, cos it certainly wasn't xmas - the seasons are all wrong. Besides, it was a pagan holiday long before it was a christian one. Another tradition stolen by you damn christians. :p

[Silverstripe]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
Yeah, what she said.

And as far as I'm concerned, if you're going to celebrate the birth of Christ, then you might as well trying and work out when his birthday ACTUALLY was, cos it certainly wasn't xmas - the seasons are all wrong. Besides, it was a pagan holiday long before it was a christian one. Another tradition stolen by you damn christians. :p

Well, THAT's not very nice of you, BoP! And "damned" is the wrong adjective even if you do want to insult Christians, thank you very much.

Yes, we Christians did turn a lot of pagan holidays into Christian ones. I think that in part, Christians wanted to be able to relate to the people. So instead of making up a brand new holiday, they changed the significance of one that was already celebrated.

Anyway, it would be quite hard to change when Christmas is celebrated; everyone's too used to Dec. 25, and most people won't just suddenly change their ways because something we've always done before is inaccurate. (Using the excuse, of course, that "well, that's how we did it before!")

I do wish we didn't go to such extremes with certain things (like shopping!) though.:( Whoever decided to give everyone gifts at Christmas probably wasn't thinking straight. I could think of things that would be equally fun, and less of a hassle.

[Sister Golden Hair]

I loved Christmas when I was a kid. My mom went all out for us, and the religious element was there, but Christmas has become a jole consumed with commercialism. It is nothing but work and money.

I think the gift giving idea came from the Three Wise Men giving Jesus gifts didn't it?

[Silverstripe]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
I loved Christmas when I was a kid. My mom went all out for us, and the religious element was there, but Christmas has become a jole consumed with commercialism. It is nothing but work and money.

I think the gift giving idea came from the Three Wise Men giving Jesus gifts didn't it?

Right. Christmas is still very special to me because of what it symbolizes (the birth of Jesus, even if it's celebrated at the wrong time), but the commercialism makes it a much less enjoyable holiday.

Actually, my favorite holiday has always been Easter, for reasons that should be obvious.:)

[BeardofPants]

Originally posted by Silverstripe
Well, THAT's not very nice of you, BoP! And "damned" is the wrong adjective even if you do want to insult Christians, thank you very much.

Well, technically, I didn't say "damned". :p

Silverstripe:
I think that in part, Christians wanted to be able to relate to the people. So instead of making up a brand new holiday, they changed the significance of one that was already celebrated.

Yeah, and don't forget the persecution of those who still stuck to their pagan customs. :rolleyes: Relating to the people, indeed! Do you usually relate to people by burning them?

Don't get me started on Easter. ;)

[Silverstripe]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
Well, technically, I didn't say "damned". :p



Yeah, and don't forget the persecution of those who still stuck to their pagan customs. :rolleyes: Relating to the people, indeed! Do you usually relate to people by burning them?

Don't get me started on Easter. ;)

Yeah, I know...:p

No. A lot of things Christians have done in the past (and in some cases, today) to try to get others to convert to Christianity are just plain wrong.

Still, not EVERY Christian was persecuting non-Christians. Some recognized that trying to cram the Gospel down people's throats wasn't going to work.

[gimli-son-of-gloin13]

i agree. im christian and i dont go to every one on the street saying well God blah blah blah.i relize that people have other religions. i actually like learning about them. i totaly think the early christians were wrong. well id better stop before i get yelling at the computer screen

[Blackboar]

I'm christian but I don't do any thing about it.

[Elven Archer]

I think the gift giving idea came from the Three Wise Men giving Jesus gifts didn't it? The Bible never actually says 3,i think people think there were 3 because they brought 3 kinds of gifts.:) that's were i always thought the gift thing came from though.
I'm a Christian and i celebrate Christmas but i don't celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Christ.because well i don't believe it is. i'm probably wrong but wasn't it a holiday to celebrate a sun god before it was Christmas? i totaly think the early christians were wrong. just kinda curious....how early? like Bible times early or what?

happy belated Poinsetta day! (Dec.12) the 21st is Humbug day. and last Saturday was Earmuff inventer day.
and what i was originally gonna say......
Christmas is gonna be weird this year cause my dad's company is installing something in all the airports and my dad is going to oversee them putting it in or something. so he's gonna be in the south east U.S. for Christmas most likely. but at least he's only doing the south east states and not all 50.:)

[Blackboar]

I cant wait!
I cant wait!
I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Varda Oiolosseo]

Christmas is in 11 days!!!!!! I can't wait either!!!!!!
:D :D :D

[Firekitten2006]

Originally posted by gimli-son-of-gloin13
i agree. im christian and i dont go to every one on the street saying well God blah blah blah.i relize that people have other religions. i actually like learning about them. i totaly think the early christians were wrong. well id better stop before i get yelling at the computer screen

I totally agree :)

I think the deal with early Christians is the same as when we look back on discrimination. Those people who were doing those things didnt know any better. They just did what they thought they were supposed to do.

And I love all the aspects of Christmas. The family (when they arent yelling and driving me crazy) giving/recieving gifts, and the religous meaning even tho i have never been to a service on Christmas, and even tho the dates are totally screwed up yadda yadda yadda :) Its still a great holiday, and I love celebrating it.

I also totally love Easter!

[Ërendil]

I love Christmas - not long to go now.

[Curunír]

I have a double feeling about christmas. I like the whole sphere about it, but not christmas-evening. That evening always make me down. :(

[Blackboar]

I bought myself a Fibre-Octic tree today!!
It goes really nice in my room!!!!!!!!!1

[Elenka]

I love the days leading up to Xmas: getting and decorating the tree, wrapping presents, counting presents addressed to me, making cards, preparing in advance those pesky thnk u letters...And I love Xmas morning: Opening presents. What I don't like is Xmas afternoon: We get to go see our relatives, torture I can only endure a few times a year. They are kinda religious, and I'm totally not. Ugh.

[HOBBIT]

bah, humbug

[Arathorn]

BTW, in my part of the world, Crhistmas season starts when the "berber" months come along (sept, oct,...). If you want to see commercialism gone into overdrive, come here. Christmas carols start playing here and there. By november you start seeing christmas lights.

Even funnier, is when you hear winter-inspired christmas songs and there's no winter here. :D Well, 'cept maybe for "I'm dreaming of a white christmas" since nothing prevents people from dreaming...

[Lizra]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
[B]I loved Christmas when I was a kid. My mom went all out for us, and the religious element was there, but Christmas has become a jole consumed with commercialism. It is nothing but work and money.


It is a horrible amount of work and money!! So true! As the female who does all the shopping, decorating, cooking, remembering, and freaking out over the budget....I'm glad my birthday comes in January. I deserve a "special day" after all that! My mother-in-law goes on how Christmas is depressing, her folks are dead, she doesn't want anything. The gift giving thing gets pretty pointless when you are an adult. Nowdays, everyone goes out and buys (or charges :eek: ) whatever they want, whenever they want it, so gift buying becomes a joke. My husband and I tease the kids with the christmas gifts in "Little House on the Prairie" Yeah, we're gonna give you a nice shiny penny and your own cup! Woo hoo!
Still, when my Mother-in-law talks how she can't get in the Christmas spirit, but she'll drag the tree out and spend $ they shouldn't, I know she's just doing it for us (children and grandchildren). When the time comes when she can no longer cook a fancy dinner, and both moms can't give me a present, it will be truely depressing for me too! I try to stay upbeat though, and have what fun I can find. I love the live tree in the house, and I love the beautiful ornaments I have collected over the years. It makes me feel good to fuss with them and admire them. I HATE taking the tree down, ugh! I try to enjoy the cooking part, but let's be real here....Arghh!!! :)

[Blackboar]

I'll love it while I get a chance then!!!!!!!

1 day to somthing exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11 days till something exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nibs]

I dunno... it feels less commercial to me now... when I was a kid, I'd make a list of things I wanted, but now, that's all really not pertinent. I just love the atmosphere of Christmas... the music, the smells, the lights, the family... I could do without my solo part in "Oh Holy Night" at church yesterday, though.

Sure, commercialism reigns in the stores and shopping centers, but I find our home a refuge from the "gimme gimme" mood that is so rampant during that time. Too bad I'll be halfway accross the United States from home this Christmas, but feeling joyful nonetheless. Gotta love that Christmas music... (traditional hymns, not "Jingle Bell Rock", or that genre)

[sun-star]

Christmas is a beautiful time of year. I love how happy people are and how excited and friendly they become (with the exceptions of all you Scrooges here ;) ) I'm glad I don't have to cook, and buying presents is a hassle - but come on, isn't it worth it on the day? Being with family, making them smile with good gifts... I'll stop before I get too cheesy. I also like church at Christmas (although of course I like it all the time) because everything looks so pretty, and there's such great music, and hundreds of people for once :D

So what's everyone's favourite Christmas carol? I'm going for Once in Royal David's City :)

[Blackboar]

I don't really know.
I quite like Carol of the Drum!

[Elvedans]

I used to love Once In Royal David's City but the first verse, my favourite one, was always sung by a soloist and we weren't allowed to join in. I'm not particularly religious but I love Carols - they remind me of going to church on xmas eve when i was little. I dunno bout anyone else but i think the tree is very important. It has to be just right!

[Blackboar]

Whats your favourate Christmas song?

I like the one by Slade
:D

[Elvedans]

Me too. Band Aid is good too. And Wizard. Please don't let me go on I'll be here all night!

[Firekitten2006]

Yeah i do love giving people gifts. Today I gave one of my fellow LOTR fan friends her christmas present. She has been saying how much she wanted to learn Elvish. So I gave her the link to that website to learn Quenya. :) She was so happy, it made me feel great just to know how much she loved it.

Now I have to learn it tho, so then we could talk, and freak ppl out...

wait, i already do that :)

[Erawyn]

I like buying presents for my friends, but I don't like getting presents from my parents. Not only because as I already got a couple Chanukah presents I don't really feel the need for more, but my parents spend way too much and I feel guilty.

I mostly just like the tree. It smells nice.

[Finrod Felagund]

Merry Charistmas to All!
I probably won't be on until after Christmas break which begins today, so I'll say it now.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

You guys rock!

Finrod Felagund
AKA, Aaron B.

[kiwi]

I'm going to the Portland hotel which you've probably never heard cos I live at e top of Scotland, anway I'm going with my family. for lunch there and havin a party at night!

[Elven Archer]

you're right i've never heard of it. sounds fun though. my family has never had a Christmas party.we jsut get together,stuff ourselves,and open presents.:) is aberdeen in the top of scotland?

[Miranda]

Feeling quite anti-Xmas at the moment! Facing it on my own. Last year my boyfriend was away in Switzerland and I didn't actually see him Xmas day but he didn't stop sending me msgs and we had a really good few days before he went away. This year- I'm on my own and I'm miserable. This has to be the worst time in the world to feel unloved. Just wish I could live last year again! Mx

[Elven Archer]

i'm sorry you're miserable and on your own. this will be the first Christmas without my dad here. but maybe theyll send him home since he's sick.

[Elenka]

We just finished the 4-H Xmas party. It was great. First, there was Jenni, who called herself a lot of things I probably shouldn't post here. Then there was Stephanie, who is out of the army long enought to come to our Xmas party. Yr was there, and towards the end she was telling us of her wonderful study habits: stay out till 3 am the night before the exam, having fun and looking for excuses to stay out. All in all, it was a great party.