How do people celebrate Christmas

Orio · Post by **Orio** » 21-12-2005 11:54

I realy liked the house lights. Cool

I dont celebrate Christmas since I am not a christian.

Orio.

Benbuben · Post by **Benbuben** » 21-12-2005 13:11

We celebrate christmas, in spite of we're not christians, it's most important holiday in czech. republic... Dinner on christmas eve, staying with family and enjoying peace...

Btw, I am a bit confused - I don't really know, why in many showcases are smiling red Santa's, when Christmas is celebration of little Jesus's birth...

Post by **Kisa** » 21-12-2005 13:28

That Santa has kinda "moved", usually, in Germany, this guy came on the 6th of december.

BunnyS · Post by **BunnyS** » 21-12-2005 13:46

Well I have a fairly normal uk christmas , minus the religious side of things. Big meal , family, friends, drink etc

jooly · Post by **jooly** » 21-12-2005 23:53

Same as Bunny here

Benbuben, Christmas orginates from a pagan festival called Saturnalia which involved gifts and trees. It was kind of hijacked by the Christians because obviously they'd get fewer converts if they had to give up one of the most enjoyable festivals of the year

I'm sure you can find more scholarly articles on the web.

Benbuben · Post by **Benbuben** » 22-12-2005 00:19

jooly: I wasn't studying history of christmas lot, thanks for broading my horizons...

But still don't have any clue what it has to do with Santa...

Btw, on December 6th we celebrate "Mikuláš" - "saint Nicholas", which was mangled by Americans to Santa Claus... But originally he didn't look like Santa (and he doesn't in our country). It's fault of Coca-cola, you know!

nighthawk263 · Post by **nighthawk263** » 22-12-2005 02:01

Jenn did you have enough lights there last year!

I think that wins the Clark W. Griswald award. Very nice though don't get me wrong!

Faldion · Post by **Faldion** » 22-12-2005 06:51

The 6th of December is the Finnish independence day

We generally put some decorations on the windows and a bit of Christmas lights here and there.. Eat lots and share a few presents.
Awesome lights Jenn!

frkyjenn · Post by **frkyjenn** » 22-12-2005 07:38

nighthawk263 wrote: Jenn did you have enough lights there last year! I think that wins the Clark W. Griswald award. Very nice though don't get me wrong!

funny you should mention the Griswald award.. our town has a festival every year (Festival of Lights-big nighttime parade, tour of homes, yule log lighting.. etc) and they hand out two awards.. one is the "theme" award (this years theme was "Holiday Wishes") and they give out the Griswald award. Both are an honor to win.. you get a certificate and $200 towards your electric bill. We've won it (The Griswald award) for the past 5 years.

nighthawk263 · Post by **nighthawk263** » 22-12-2005 08:04

frkyjenn wrote: . We've won it (The Griswald award) for the past 5 years.

I can't imagine why!

Rincewind SW · Post by **Rincewind SW** » 22-12-2005 10:30

This is supposedly what Santa looked like before Coca-Cola arrived. Also he was called Father Christmas, and I thought he was skinnier with a thinner beard. Sounded scary. I think I saw this on Blue Peter or something when I was about 10. Anyway according to this picture Coca-Cola didn't really do much, just turned him red! And maybe gave him reindeer...

Benbuben · Post by **Benbuben** » 22-12-2005 12:35

Rincewind: This one is better...

Futile · Post by **Futile** » 22-12-2005 14:08

frkyjenn wrote: We've won it (The Griswald award) for the past 5 years.

$\o/$

Nicky · Post by **Nicky** » 22-12-2005 22:55

@jenn: I bet you have some giant electricity bills to welcome you into the new year

frkyjenn · Post by **frkyjenn** » 22-12-2005 22:59

Not really.. I usually only run the lights from Thanksgiving until New Years day.. and the $200 from the Griswald award pays a large chunk of the bill.

But even if I did have to pay the full amount.. it would be worth it.