Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Seasons Greetings!

Discussion Open Forum
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MERRY CHRISTMAS, PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO ALL!

Ok, we still have over a month till Christmas, but in my house we’ve already started preparing. We’ve been telling our girl about how Santa makes his rounds, delivering presents for good little boys and girls (nudge, nudge, wink, wink); last weekend I pulled boxes of lights and decorations out of storage; we started looking for a bigger fake tree than last year’s; and I’ve actually gotten a start on the gift buying.

I know, I know, I’m totally nuts. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet and I’m already planning for Christmas. But last year was a disappointment. We didn’t prepare early enough, so there was no anticipation, excitement, only a few measely decorations for a few days beforehand, and desparate, last-minute packages to family back home all arrived quite late. And, my girl is now almost 3 years-old, finally old enough to understand and get excited about Christmas.

So, I’ve decided to do it right this year. We’ll have a decent fake tree, lots of decorations, stockings that will be filled by santa, we’ll sing Christmas songs in the preceding weeks, maybe drink some eggnog and make christmas cookies, and we’ll get homemade Christmas cards (photos of our girl, what else?) and gift packages delivered to family before Christmas. Woohoo.

Anyone else thinking about Christmas already?
Probably not, I know, I’m totally nuts.

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I’m starting to look in that direction now, too. It seems really early but I also found that last year everything seemed to be unsettled and rushed. Brought out the tablecloths and boxes of decorations this week.


Happy Holidays!
 :santa:

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Jesus, MT, talk about being asleep at the wheel! Where the hell WERE you?

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:doh: Damn, I’ll have to pick up a chocolate bunny on the way home from work.

5

Aloow me to be the first to say:

Bah!

Humbug!

And pass the turkey!

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MT is embracing the notion of this season for the very best of reasons-her children!!

this season is magical for us when we are young.

let the season ring for children of all ages.

let the season ring…

7

Check your calender, MT.

For all you Americans, Happy Thanksgiving. I’ll be celebrating by sitting in my bedroom by myself with half a Beijing kaoya and several Daiwan bilu, followed up with a call home to hear my mom complain about my no-good brother and why I’m wasting my life in Taiwan. :beer:

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…oh, finally that is over.

or is it??..

the “christmas season” in america means predominantly one thing: purchase, consume, buy, acquire, obtain, gather, posess, get, have.

it overwhelms many into a buying frenzy. a mass of acquriring.

i thought this season meant something else…

peace, goodwill toward humans…

how does all this wrapping paper fit into this notion??

can’t we just enjoy each others’ company?

jm

9

…this whole notion of ‘christmas’ as it has been interpreted by capitalist economies is ugly.

…this whole notion of ‘christmas’ as it has been interpreted privately can be quite grand and profound.

…just keep it real for yourself.

it’s simple really because the message is simple.

live and let live, buy or don’t buy.

celebrate and rejoice.

tell those you love that you love them.

that should be good enough.

oh, and throw in some wine, beer, cheese and various fatty foodstuffs for good cheer as well.

enjoy it, for what else is life but a journey of many pleasures?

jm

10

Woohoooo! :banana: :santa:

Spent the whole weekend buying gifts, wrapping them, making xmas cards (I’ll post a photo later), packing boxes, then before heading to the office this morning went to hte PO, mailed gifts, cards, etc to my parents, both brothers and their families, and picked up a package from my bro.

In the car after leaving the PO, my wife said, “What a great feeling of relief.” I agree and I’ve been through all this a few dozen times already. It’s all new to her.

A colleague of mine from abroad told me he’s not real excited about preparing for xmas, because his Taiwanese wife just doesn’t get it. On birthdays too, she doesn’t understand the spirit of trying to find just the right gifts for your loved ones, wrapping them and presenting them (instead of just a crass red envelope full of money).

I understand his sentiment. My Taiwanese wife needs to be taught such things too. But she’s learning. Funny, how I’m introducing my 3 year old girl and my 30-something year old girl to the customs of Christmas at the same time. At least the little girl is totally into it. My wife, on the other hand, was doing a lot of grumbling about, “do we have to keep buying presents for everyone, I’m sick of buying presents, how much money are you spending, etc…”

But, I think she’s starting to realize it’s worth all the hassle. If you want to have lots of cool gifts under the tree from friends and family, to open on xmas morning, you need to get gifts for them. If you want nice, thoughtful gifts that you truly appreciate, instead of just the first random crap you ran into in the shopping mall, then you need to put some thought into what you get for them. If you enjoy receiving cards from others, you have to send them yourself.

Yes, xmas is a lot of work – and people complain about it back home too – but it’s well worth it. It’s a great holiday. Far better than driving down the freeway to Chiayi, to sit around watching TV, drinking kaoliang and exchanging red envelopes with the in-laws.

So, MERRRRRRRRY CHRISTMASSSSS!

I hope you’re doing ok, with your preparations. Two weeks to go. (And don’t forget to request the day off from work).

11

Anyone know what that “Little Drummer Boy” song (rum pum pum pum) is about? I have always hated it and now our company is playing it on their intermission muzak program.

Was there supposedly a drummer boy who led the wise men to Jesus in the manger? If not, who is the little drummer boy and why is there a song about him?

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[quote=“Mother Theresa”]Anyone know what that “Little Drummer Boy” song (rum pum pum pum) is about? I have always hated it and now our company is playing it on their intermission muzak program.

Was there supposedly a drummer boy who led the wise men to Jesus in the manger? If not, who is the little drummer boy and why is there a song about him?[/quote]

It’s a Kwanzaa thing, you wouldn’t get it…

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[quote=“Mother Theresa”]Anyone know what that “Little Drummer Boy” song (rum pum pum pum) is about? I have always hated it and now our company is playing it on their intermission muzak program.

Was there supposedly a drummer boy who led the wise men to Jesus in the manger? If not, who is the little drummer boy and why is there a song about him?[/quote]

I don’t think he led the wise men to Jesus. I think he just got invited to go along at some point on the trip.

Not that I actually know much about it. It was just my favorite Christmas song when I was a kid.

I’m told I used to insist that my parents play it over and over again: “Rumpumpum! Rumpumpum! I want to hear rumpumpum!” My guess is that this probably made the song one of my parents’ least favorites – but I still have a soft spot for it.

Don’t worry though, MT. No harsh feelings for speaking ill of the most meaningful song of my childhood ( :wink: ) You have a great Christmas spirit thread going here in this thread, and that puts me in a mind to forgive pretty much anything. :slight_smile:

I’d also add that aside from being a pretty song, it should also have extra appeal for those whos political leanings give them sympathy for the poor boy with no money for gifts who can only contribute a humble song on his drum (as opposed to the three fat-cats he’s with who seem to have used their no-doubt undeserved/embezzled riches to purchase crass material trinkets rather than gifts that came from the heart.)

Anyway, give it a chance though – it will grow on you.

Merry Christmas! :candycane:

-H

14

Wikipedia, which is the source of all divine wisdom these days, confirms that “The Little Drummer Boy” is indeed an ancient legend…dating all the way back to 1958.

en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?tit … rummer_Boy

The 1958 song was apparently inspired by a 12-th century legend–except that in the earlier version, it was a juggler performing for a statue of the Virgin Mary.

What better way to celebrate the spirit of Christmas, than to seranade the proud mothers of sleeping infants with…a drum solo? (Making sign of devil.)

15

Anyone else find e-Christmas cards incredibly tacky?

Yes, they may be cheaper and more environmentally friendly than real cards, but I find them to be a sad development. People (i.e., I) used to get lots of paper cards at work from clients and colleagues, that could be displayed on a shelf or taped on the wall as a colorful reminder of the Christmas spirit. Now, it’s just a bunch of spam emails to be deleted.

But I guess the same could be said on a broader scale too – that people used to send handwritten letters, perhaps with photos enclosed, or evocative postcards. Yes, it’s easier and quicker to send emails and perhaps one writes more frequently as a result, but still, something has been lost. :s

Bah humbug.