Christmas!!!!!!! - Page 2

Arathorn · 12-09-2002, 12:09 AM

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 · 12-09-2002, 12:45 AM

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

Arathorn · 12-09-2002, 01:07 AM

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

Laurelyn · 12-09-2002, 08:25 AM

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 · 12-09-2002, 02:17 PM

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!!!

Varda Oiolosseo · 12-09-2002, 02:28 PM

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!

Sween · 12-09-2002, 03:01 PM

damn trees allready fallen over

Lizra · 12-09-2002, 04:07 PM

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 · 12-10-2002, 12:47 PM

I'm really excited! I'll get to see my nephew for the 1st time ever!!

My brother too! Ihavnt seen him in ages. He's 30 and lives in Hawaii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's going to take me to see TTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blackboar · 12-13-2002, 01:21 PM

Somone post something!

Silverstripe · 12-13-2002, 01:27 PM

Merry Christmas! (yes, I'm early

)

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!!!!!

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 12-13-2002, 01:33 PM

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

Hasty Ent · 12-13-2002, 01:34 PM

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 · 12-13-2002, 01:41 PM

Quote:

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 · 12-13-2002, 03:03 PM

Quote:

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.

Silverstripe · 12-13-2002, 03:19 PM

Quote:

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.

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*** · 12-13-2002, 03:26 PM

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 · 12-13-2002, 03:40 PM

Quote:

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 · 12-13-2002, 03:58 PM

Quote:

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".

Quote:

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.

Relating to the people, indeed! Do you usually relate to people by burning them?

Don't get me started on Easter.

Silverstripe · 12-13-2002, 04:09 PM

Quote:

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

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

Don't get me started on Easter.

Yeah, I know...

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.

12-09-2002, 12:09 AM	#21
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	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. __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures...

12-09-2002, 12:45 AM	#22
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	Good Lord!! I can't imagine that! I just have my parents and the people I've made myself! So is this fun? __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats!

12-09-2002, 01:07 AM	#23
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	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 __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures...

12-09-2002, 08:25 AM	#24
Laurelyn Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Valinor, right next to Telperion . . . what did you expect, Michigan? Posts: 1,315	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. __________________ The Third Age of Entmoot has begun. Angel of music, guide and guardian! Grant to me your glory! The country I eat and spend the day in is by no means the country I sleep and dream in. Define patriotism. Hold the boat, you spastic monkey! ~ Elenka

12-09-2002, 03:01 PM	#27
Sween im quite stupid Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cockermouth Posts: 2,058	damn trees allready fallen over __________________ Yeah god hes ok but i would rather be judged by a sheep than that idiot

12-09-2002, 02:17 PM	#25
Varda Oiolosseo Tea Bag Queen Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mirkwood Posts: 973	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!!!

12-09-2002, 02:28 PM	#26
Varda Oiolosseo Tea Bag Queen Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mirkwood Posts: 973	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!

12-09-2002, 04:07 PM	#28
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	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! __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats!

12-10-2002, 12:47 PM	#29
Blackboar Legolas's beloved sister and Queen of the Wood Elves of Mirkwood Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Under the hill at Bag-end, Hobbiton the Shire Or Rivendell,I can't remember!!!!!!!!!! Posts: 1,086	I'm really excited! I'll get to see my nephew for the 1st time ever!! My brother too! Ihavnt seen him in ages. He's 30 and lives in Hawaii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's going to take me to see TTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12-13-2002, 01:21 PM	#30
Blackboar Legolas's beloved sister and Queen of the Wood Elves of Mirkwood Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Under the hill at Bag-end, Hobbiton the Shire Or Rivendell,I can't remember!!!!!!!!!! Posts: 1,086	Somone post something!

12-13-2002, 01:27 PM	#31
Silverstripe Empress of the Writewraiths Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Running around somewhere inside my head. So what are YOU doing here?! Posts: 1,546	Merry Christmas! (yes, I'm early) 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!!!!!

12-13-2002, 01:33 PM	#32
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	HUMBUG!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

12-13-2002, 01:34 PM	#33
Hasty Ent Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 516	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... __________________ Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

12-13-2002, 03:26 PM	#37
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	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? __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

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