How much do you like Christmas?

[Pumpkin_Man]

I think that's how it is for most of us when we get older. The gigts we get seem to pail in comparison to the old traditions of family and decorating. Now that I'm 50, and for pretty much most of my adult life, things like the Advent Wreath, hunting for a good Christmas tree, and attending the Midnight Mass are all more precious to me then all the money gifts in the world. I do purchase something for my grand nieces and nephews within a narrow budget, but for me it's all about the traditions. It's all about lighting that first Advent candle on the 1st Sunday of Advent, it's all about putting up a real Christmas tree, and having family over to trim it up, whild Christmas music plays in the back ground. It's all about joining my brothers and sisters for Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, and most importantly, it's all about the Christ Child, and attending Mass. I screen "The Nativity" every Christmas Eve before I go to bed.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

I've never seen that movie. Is it good, Mike? When it was first advertised, it looked like they'd added a lot of stuff in that's not in the Bible.

A DVD my husband and I really like is The Bethlehem Star, which goes into depth detailing what the star really was (and more stuff besides). You can look at the web site--www.bethlehemstar.net. It is more detailed than the DVD, actually.

ETA: Oh, now that's weird. I just clicked on it to check my link, and everything came up in Chinese! It was there just a week or so back. Don't know if this is just a glitch, or if something has happened to it.

At any rate, you can read a little about it at Amazon. The DVD is called "The Star," and it's by a guy named Frederick Larson. It's very detailed and scholarly, not cheesy like some shows I've seen at the planetarium.


AETA: OK, I had to figure out what was going on. Apparently they have moved the site. I think all the stuff I remember is still there, but it is now http://www.thestarofbethlehemmovie.com. If you click on "resources" you can read all the detailed stuff I was mentioning earlier.

[MacPhantom]

The way I see it, if I gotta go through the hassle of getting stuff for other people, dealing with increased traffic, screaming brats and sick people in every store (even if I'm just out to buy toothpaste), and an constant barrage of sappy tunes about snow and Santa and Jesus, then at the very least I ought to get some spiffy new things out of the whole mess! I'm ALL about the presents, me. And the pumpkin pie.

[Ciuin]

All these problems with 'crowds' can easily be solved by shopping online. If it's your family that's bothering you, move to another state, one that requires an expensive ferry ride or toll to enter. Worked for me.

My favorite part of Christmas is after everyone has gone to bed. I fill myself up with some warm drink, turn off the lights, then sit on the couch and just stare at the tree. A fireplace is an extra nice addition. Another quiet person is also acceptable.

[MacPhantom]

My favorite part of Christmas is after everyone has gone to bed. I fill myself up with some warm drink, turn off the lights, then sit on the couch and just stare at the tree. A fireplace is an extra nice addition. Another quiet person is also acceptable.

Okay. Fair enough. That is the one thing other than the presents that I like about Crimbo. The light deprivation brought on by shorter days does make me appreciate the tree lights.

[Pumpkin_Man]

Murph, the movie IMHO was excelent, and a wonderful retelling of the Christmas Story, but yes, there were parts that were not in the Bible, but then that's pretty much the way all movies thar are based on Bible stories are. When the Bitle was written, the various authors were not thinking in terms of their stories being made into movies or tv shows. When St Mathew wrote his Gospel, he was not thinking of what action scenes or love scenes or what ever that would make for better cinematography or tv watching. He was thinking in terms of whitnessing the life of Jesus Christ. "THe Nativity" has a lot of little scenes added in to illustrate the various stories that were told about the Holy family,. and IMHO, its a wonderful Chrixtmas classic.

Mac, I can almost relate to what you are saying. I hate shopping during the Christmas season. I also hate all the screaming, the headachs, the parking problems, and the list goes on and on. That was a good point about shopping on line, however. I may think interms of that when I shop for presents for my little grand nieces and nephews.

But again, for Christmas is all about the TRADITION, not about getting gifts. I am especialy fond of the Advent Wreath and putting up my Christmas Tree and having my Tree Trimmiong Party.

The thing I hate the most about Christmas, however, is the long Winter season that follows it. I love all the tree lighting, traditions, pumpkin pie or what have you, but on that 2nd day of January, when Christmas and New Years is over, and that morning alarm clock goes off to start the first work day of the new year, then I start longing for Spring, Summer, the beach, my motorcycle and, of course, Halloween.

Mike

[MacPhantom]

Last year's post-Christmas winter was an especially long one, particularly with the twin blizzards we got pounded with in the space of a single week.

[Murfreesboro]

I'll have to check out The Nativity when the season rolls around, Mike! I bet I'd enjoy it.

I have always joked to my kids that, during the Christmas season, everyone is all about snow and winter sports and hot chocolate and all the sparkle of the winter season. But as soon as it's over, everyone is planning a beach vacation, or dreaming about one! Since Christmas arrives at the solstice, there is always a whole lotta winter left to slog through after it's over.

[Pumpkin_Man]

I'm pretty sure Netflix has "The Nativity," and you should be able to find it on line, but it was not a huge hit at the box office when it was out in the theatres.

Mac, we didn't get hit with a lot of snow, but we sure got hit with endless weeks of subzero temps. It actualy stayed below freezing from the day after Christmas, right up until Valentines day. On valentines day of last year, the temps creped up to about 35 degrees. We had two solie weeks in January of day time highs at aroung 4 or 5 above, and night time lows around 6 to 8 below. Most of our snow came in December, so there was some snow on the ground, but for the most part, it was cold and clear. I paide the highest heating billes ever last Winter. I definately plan to stock up on firewood before Thanksgiving gets here. I used a lot of it last Winter.

Mike

[DemonSlayerMau]

Christmas for me is about the spirit of giving. And that's what I enjoy most about that time of year, being able to give someone something. Of course, although I'm not all that religious, I do observe the birth of Christ as well, because it's important and that's what Christmas is about. God's gift to the world. I may not go to church anymore, but I still put up the nativities, because they're important to me.
Sure, Christmas shopping is a right hassle, and never knowing what that person is going to want or what they're going to like. But I think it's worth it.
I also like to screen some good Christmas comedies.
Of course, I was kind of hoping the movie the Nativity would be in ancient Arabic like the Passion of the Christ was, to make it seem more realistic. I mean, they weren't speaking English back in Biblical times!

[MacPhantom]

That sounds brutal, Mike. Is that normal for winters for where you are, or was it just an oddball year?

[Pumpkin_Man]

"THe Passion of the Christ" did seem more realistic because of the language, but it was done in Ariamaic, not Arabic. The ancient Hebrews spoke Arimaic.

No, we don't have those long stretches like that, but we do get at least some bitter cold days through out our Winter season. Last year and the year before were particularly bad, however. But last year was the worst in terms of artic cold temps and strong winds. It was sheer agony getting out of the car to gas it up.

Mike

[DemonSlayerMau]

Well either way Pumpkin Man, I wish they would've done the Nativity in Aramaic rather than English. English just doesn't set the right setting in my opinion. It looked really good until I found out it was in English, then I was kind of disapointed because I thought it would be like Passion of the Christ.

[Catzilla]

I love every holiday.......to kick back & celebrate AND decorate keeps one young at heart all throughout the year IMO

[Pumpkin_Man]

Well I sort of half agree with you and half disaggree with you, DemonSlayer. I do agree that "The Passion of the Christ" was more realistic done in Arimaic, because that is the language that Jesus spoke, and it did make the setting more authentic, but some times, because of my vision, it was a little difficult to keep up with the sub titles. As for "The Nativity," I thought it was very well done. Yes, doing it in Arimaic would have been more "realistic," but some times I just like to sit back and watch the Christmas Story, or the Easter Story without having to deal with sub titles.

Katzilla, I'm kind of the same way. Some holidays don't have as much tradition centered around them as do others. Days like Presidents Day, Lincolns Birthday, or MLK day are great days to just kick back and enjoy a day off from work. I do put out the flag on all three of those days, but there are no really major traditions involved. I also love to decorate for Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving and St. patricks Day. I don't do too an extensive a job, but I do love to acknowledge the traditional mile stone. My favorite will allways be Halloween, though.

Mike