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Post by cherry on Dec 13, 2009 12:47:41 GMT -5
I know hanukkah started this weekend, so the countdown is on! Any plans for the holidays ladies? I know some people will pack up and go see the family for up to 2 weeks which is epic! I'm putting up my decorations tonight. I resisted the urge to put them up weeks ago cos I don't have the excuse of kids
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Post by shortieblatt on Dec 13, 2009 13:18:43 GMT -5
Well this Christmas season the only decoration I put up is my nativity scene. I dont see a reason for a tree mainly cause I have no kids and no one ever comes to my home cause I live in an apartment (and it is small so ppl dont like coming here). Which to me the nativity scene is the meaning of the holiday and I have happy with just it out this year. We are going to my unlce's on Christmas so just traveling that day cause he lives only 2 1/2 hrs away. Then back home to spend time with my hubby.
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Post by Karen on Dec 13, 2009 13:40:49 GMT -5
Yay for starting this thread - I was just thinking about starting something similar! I celebrate Christmas, but I'm not religious or spiritual at all, so Christmas for me means celebrating family traditions and spending time together more than anything. I put my tree up last weekend, but it's not decorated yet. That's on the agenda for today. My sister and brother in law will be in the state for a few days (they live far away) and we always spend Christmas Eve together with my dad's side of the family and my Grandma a few hours away. Christmas Day, I'm always back at my house, chilling by myself. I rent some movies and order Chinese food. Anyone have any favorite holiday traditions or movies??
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Post by cherry on Dec 13, 2009 14:45:29 GMT -5
I love Christmas for the happniess of gathering and gifting and eating and I love the spiritual side too. My mother banned Christmas for us growing up for whatever bizarre reason so I love it now but I'm a bit devoid of traditions so far. My sister does not 'do' Christmas at all but she goes along with it for me so I love making the dinner and setting the table. My fave films are It's a Wonderful Life, Love Actually, Muppet Christmas Carol but I'm sure there's millions more I've forgotten! I think the best thing about these is that they mark a nice halfway in the winter for the northern hemisphere and give those of who celebrate something nice to look forward to in the cold weather.
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osb
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by osb on Dec 13, 2009 16:37:26 GMT -5
My sister and I started off on Xmas rather late in life; but now both of us being in multi-religious relationships, we thought we'd have a little fun with the gift giving...
So every year, we plan 4 secret gifts for each other: from Santa Claus, Hanukkah Harry, Kwanzaa Kenny and Karthigai Kumaran. Santa, of course, comes down the chimney looking for cookies. Hanukkah Harry, after the famous Saturday Night Live sketch, has his donkey cart ("On Herschel! On Shlomo!"). Kwanzaa Kenny comes from South Side Chicago (I used to work there, got the accent down pat); but he's too cool for wheels, he wears shades and hops on the subway. And Karthigai Kumaran rides over from South India in his magic autorickshaw, tooting his horn and emitting clouds of purple smoke. I get great fun out of illustrating the cards. Our husbands think we're cracked.
Doesn't matter, the winter solstice is a metaphor and a sign that cold will end, and spring come again. And that's worth celebrating anywhere!
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Post by cherry on Dec 13, 2009 16:49:31 GMT -5
Love it osb, that has to be the most multi-cultural Christmas I've heard of yet!
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Post by pamelaj on Dec 14, 2009 7:19:54 GMT -5
Im celebrating christmas and put all my decorations and tree up a few weeks ago. Ive been done my shopping for months and everything is wrapped, tagged and ready to go. I also celebrate the true meaning of Christmas which of coarse is the birth of Jesus. I do not follow my religion any other day but christmas to me is meant for spending time with family, friends, visiting and food. I will be doing 3 christmases this year
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Post by cherry on Dec 14, 2009 15:24:44 GMT -5
I swapped swifts with a girl on Christmas eve cos they changed her shift to finish at 10 instead of 8:30 and she usually sees her family. It felt really nice to help her out. It takes me an hour to get home so that gives me times to get freshened up and down the road for midnight mass which I've always chickened out of every year. I truly love the sentiments in the holidays. Anyone able to explain Kwanzah? My granddad was an American citizen and basically black but he was all about Christian holidays and never mentioned this African holiday in late December.
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Post by hellsbells on Dec 14, 2009 16:08:48 GMT -5
Will be recovering from my lap, bossing my mum and brother around in my kitchen telling them how to make the Christmas dinner......:-)
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Post by KSA on Dec 14, 2009 22:42:06 GMT -5
I made my 2nd Hanukkah dinner on my own this year:) Latkes are so good prob not good for Endo tho! My in laws go to Florida for the winter so the holiday is up to me to make special for my hubby who is Jewish. We celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. It is nice to celebrate both I enjoy the traditions and the family time we spend together. Jacob loves it too. We decorate for both too. Lots of blue and white and red and green every where in our home. Holiday cards are out so if you sent me your address you should be getting yours soon. Happy Holidays to all:)
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osb
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by osb on Dec 15, 2009 0:00:48 GMT -5
Cherry, far as I know Kwanzaa is a kind of thanksgiving or harvest festival... but I actually don't know any Africans who celebrate it! Seems like really an American alt/Xmas thing.
No tree for me this year - am taking a big shortcut on festivities. Hubby is leaving on Dec 24th for a long-planned, much-dreamed-of, wild-ass climbing expedition (in the Antarctic!!! Aaiigh, and I thought Canada was cold...). Duration uncertain, they'll get dropped off and then picked up by an old Ukrainian air force plane when weather next allows; anything from weeks to months (he's on a leave of absence from work).
Am trying really hard not to telegraph how nervous I am about this.... but I think my best Xmas gift ever will be when I see him safely back home.
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Post by cherry on Dec 15, 2009 9:16:37 GMT -5
Wow I can imagine that will be nerve racking!!! I cannot imagine why anybody would cheerfully go out in the cold, never mind the Antarctic! I broke out the mulled wine last night, yummmmm.
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Post by Karen on Dec 19, 2009 12:23:17 GMT -5
So I realllllly put off Christmas shopping this year until the last minute. But, I just got it ALL done this morning in only 3 hours! I'm so freaking excited! Now all I have to do is fight it out at the post office once I have a few things wrapped and then I'll be done.
A friend and I are going to bake cookies tomorrow, too. Can't wait!
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Post by Karen on Dec 24, 2009 8:11:17 GMT -5
Happy holidays, ladies! Wishing you nothing but good company, good food, and good thoughts!
I know 2009 has been a rough one for a lot of us, myself included. I'm going to take some time to reflect on it all in the next week and kiss it all goodbye on NYE!!
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Post by hellsbells on Dec 24, 2009 8:33:21 GMT -5
Me too Karen, it's not great to be in recovery over xmas but it's good to get my diagnosis before the end of the year so I can start afresh in 2010, and now I know what I'm dealing with I'm better equipped to manage my health. Have a great one y'all!!
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