View Full Version : Christmas Tree
Rare Bird
17-12-2010, 14:46
This is the 2nd year i havent put one up in the home..Anyone else?
Reid Malenfant
17-12-2010, 14:52
Been about 10 years here :eyebrows:
HighFidelityGuy
17-12-2010, 15:23
If it was up to me I wouldn't bother either but the wife insists on not only having a tree but having a real tree. It has to be a big one too. This years is a smidge under 8 foot and cost £50. :doh: It does look impressive and it makes her happy so that's good but I'd rather spend the money on something that lasts. Oh well. ;)
As a devout practising atheist I actually do put up the old plastic tree, in celebration of pre Christian Yuletide...i.e. a right old knees up to keep your spirits up during the bleak northern winter.
But any stars, mangers, or single parent mums get short shrift!!!
Been about 10 years here :eyebrows:
We're just about to put ours up now (a real one, as they're the only ones worth having!) and get the room all nice and Christmassy (piccies to follow later), so cheer up and eat a mince pie, ya miserable buggers! :lol:
:christmas:
Marco.
ours has been up all week, the new kitten has thought about climbing it a few times so it might end up in a heap on the floor yet,
i shall be either pissed, asleep or both :cheers::drunk::santa:
Reid Malenfant
17-12-2010, 15:50
so cheer up and eat a mince pie, ya miserable buggers! :lol:
:lolsign: Sorry, i don't do pies or cakes 3234
I might have a bit of chocolate a couple of times a week & that's about it, but i'll crack open a bottle of bubbly & have a few glasses of Bucks Fizz on xmas day :cheers:
:lolsign: Sorry, i don't do pies or cakes :cheers:
Same here Mark, I remember as a child having a plate of egg sandwiches with candles stuck in for my 6th birthday...not too popular with the other guests though ;)
Day 4 of flu... so a quick Jamaican Rum to cheer/warm myself up :cool:
Haselsh1
17-12-2010, 16:09
My missus has put up one of those bloody awful fibre optic things that change colour constantly. If I were on my own there's no way I'd bother. It looks as though its going to be midnight mass as well. Oh joy...!!!
Reid Malenfant
17-12-2010, 16:20
Same here Mark, I remember as a child having a plate of egg sandwiches with candles stuck in for my 6th birthday...not too popular with the other guests though ;)
Day 4 of flu... so a quick Jamaican Rum to cheer/warm myself up :cool:
:D
Don't get me wrong, i used to eat both but i just appear to have lost my taste for sweet stuff. I also used to take 2 spoons of sugar in tea & coffee, i couldn't take more than a tad on the end of a teaspoon now without it being too sweet :scratch:
Hope you get over the flu quickly :goodluck:
Day 4 of flu... so a quick Jamaican Rum to cheer/warm myself up :cool:
Man Flu, best keep the bottle next to you then Will just in case it turns real bad
We always had a real one until last year - needles and babies/toddlers don't really work, so a falsey it is for the moment. Doesn't look too bad, though.
Man Flu, best keep the bottle next to you then Will just in case it turns real bad
...it's gone beyond man flu, and plummeted straight into real flu, I'm not sure I'm built for this!!!
The worst was I woke up in a shivering in a pool of sweat at about 4 this morning (no change there then), so I thought I'd cheer myself up by having a look at the cricket...Nooooo!!!!! 187 all out...you useless, useless, useless bastards!!!! to ducking Mitchell Johnson of all people... :steam:
That feels better :)
You bunch of miserable bastards and yer doing it wrong! :lol:
Christmas decorations go up Christmas Eve and stay up for the twelve days.
I just couldn’t do a plastic tree, its got to be real because half the beauty is the smell; yeah alright the pine needles are a pain but…
Main presents go under the tree and get opened sometime in the afternoon.
If I still had a mantelpiece I would still be hanging stockings on it for my daughters, which incidentally don’t get opened (small, often silly presents, but still great fun) until everyone is awake and ready. None of this pillow case in the night and all over by 6am in our house.
When the kids were young I read A Christmas Carol to them most years in the days leading to Christmas or another book that represents the spirit of Christams and every year we did and I still do, try to invite someone possibly less fortunate than ourselves, or some grumpy bastard like some here over for a t least part of the day.
Despite being Agnostic I try to attend mass or at least a carol service in a church ;)
My view is the less tradition and “spiritual” content Christmas has the more the grip commerce has on the festival and that imo is just plain awful :steam:
Rare Bird
17-12-2010, 18:03
F*** Christmas
DanJennings
17-12-2010, 18:28
F*** Christmas
:lolsign: nice work, succinctly put sir!
The Grand Wazoo
17-12-2010, 18:50
Christmas decorations go up Christmas Eve and stay up for the twelve days.
Quite right too!
I just couldn’t do a plastic tree, its got to be real because half the beauty is the smell; yeah alright the pine needles are a pain but…
If you're in the market for a nice smelling tree, get yourself a Douglas Fir, none of the others have an aroma like this.
chris@panteg
17-12-2010, 19:56
Christmas ' bah humbug
I've been struck down by flu ' 2 days in bed :( bloody awful , starting to recover now though ! lucky it wasn't next week .
I should make the effort to put a tree up ' but my cats will go mental for it especially Tiggy she is a terror :eek:
You bunch of miserable bastards and yer doing it wrong! :lol:
Christmas decorations go up Christmas Eve and stay up for the twelve days.
I just couldn’t do a plastic tree, its got to be real because half the beauty is the smell; yeah alright the pine needles are a pain but…
Main presents go under the tree and get opened sometime in the afternoon.
If I still had a mantelpiece I would still be hanging stockings on it for my daughters, which incidentally don’t get opened (small, often silly presents, but still great fun) until everyone is awake and ready. None of this pillow case in the night and all over by 6am in our house.
When the kids were young I read A Christmas Carol to them most years in the days leading to Christmas or another book that represents the spirit of Christams and every year we did and I still do, try to invite someone possibly less fortunate than ourselves, or some grumpy bastard like some here over for a t least part of the day.
Despite being Agnostic I try to attend mass or at least a carol service in a church ;)
My view is the less tradition and “spiritual” content Christmas has the more the grip commerce has on the festival and that imo is just plain awful :steam:
+1
Except,for a last few years we have more ecologys conscious,so no more real tree for us.
Everything is in to be together rather than expensive gifts.We invite our parents that afternoon, and when it gets dark the oldest member of the family (my father) brings Christmas tree (which means Christmas) in to the house while singing the old Christmas song.Tradition,ha.Speaking of tradition, we still have some of the decorations that are over one hundred years old.
F*** Christmas
I can see you're pretty active lately (and visible too :lolsign:) and that is good,very good indeed.But you don't change your mood.Don't be like that.Always after the rain comes the sun.No debate about it, I'm an example :)
Spectral Morn
17-12-2010, 23:28
No we don't put one up.
A Not enough room
B Its a Pagan import from Germany and has nothing to do with Christmas (Christ Mas) You can blame Victoria's Prince Albert its all his fault.
C I'm really Victor Meldrew in a metal skin ;)
D I prefer the twinkle of valves
Regards D S D L
Rare Bird
17-12-2010, 23:53
A: No intentions in reinforcing the farse that seems to be Christmas
B: Am as far from religeous can get
C: I could easily be Victor Meldrew
D: I prefer the CDP display counting away
Hi Neil,
No we don't put one up.
A Not enough room
B Its a Pagan import from Germany and has nothing to do with Christmas (Christ Mas) You can blame Victoria's Prince Albert its all his fault.
C I'm really Victor Meldrew in a metal skin ;)
D I prefer the twinkle of valves
Lol!
Pagan import? Whatever.... It's interesting that every Catholic church I've ever been to in my lifetime has always had a Christmas tree inside at Christmas (beside the crib) - so one would presume there is some significance? :)
And when I go to mass on Christmas Eve at our local cathedral, I expect to see one again...!
I also love the twinkle of valves, but sadly I can't see them from downstairs in the lounge when I'm sprawled out in front of the log fire! ;)
Marco (who LOVES nicely decorated REAL Christmas trees and EVERYTHING about a traditional Christmas - so smile and be happy!) :ner:
Rare Bird
18-12-2010, 01:22
Marco (who LOVES nicely decorated real Christmas trees and EVERYTHING about a traditional Christmas) :ner:
So did i back when i was a kid till i got older & realised what christmas is about in the real world. It's all loverly behind closed doors enjoyimg the archetypal Father Christmas, Christmas tree, good food & wine but in the real world it all been destroyed by commercialism/money, even society has changed so much..our kids, they don't look at it like when we were young, it's all about how much mum & dad have spent on presents that we can rub into our less unfortunate friends noses this christmas..
Most kids arnt happy with a stocking at the bottom of the bed with a few nuts & a satsuma, no they wanna bypass all that, all intensions are on computer & mobile phones!, don't get me wrong not all kids are the same but the large majority are.
Parents are a lot to blame, why hell people get into so much debt with credit cards so these kids can have ourageous priced presents is beyond me, is peer pressure that intence? maybe the parents are thinking: are they gonna get bullied, picked on or such because there kids might get poor presents compared to others, kids are very very cruel to each other & yes it is hard for a parent but they are one of the roots to this kinda problem.. I just can't look on it all as i once did as a kid...therefore i believe it's a thing that kids get rightly excited about.
Dude, I totally agree with every word you've written, and that shit pisses me off too, but it still doesn't stop us enjoying Christmas the way WE want... :)
At the end of the day, you can only control your own actions, not those of other people, and I'm certainly not going to let the assholes spoil my fun!!
Marco.
Our house is strange at the best of times, but wifey HATES religion with a passion, I am a lapsed confirmed C-of-E but with strong Buddhist leanings and sonny-jim is totally caught up with "Christmas" the way many of us were as kids... We both agree about and like the Pagan origins of trying to cheer ourselves up in the miserable solstice period, especially this year, so "Christmas" will come down from the loft later ;)
I don't like the thought of a specially cut-down tree which is then recycled after the event (I'd rather have a live one and plant it out after, which we did for some years in our house until it got too unwieldy), so ours is an artificial one. Suits the gold and deep red vibe we've surrounded ourselves with in out little house :)
Below is from a couple of years ago, an album of Christmas Music from Mantovani (I love this 1958 rendition of "Good King Wenceslas") and peace for a little while.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/DSJR_photos/DSCF0614.jpg
Spectral Morn
18-12-2010, 10:51
Hi Neil,
Lol!
Pagan import? Whatever.... It's interesting that every Catholic church I've ever been to in my lifetime has always had a Christmas tree up inside at Christmas (beside the crib) - so one would presume there is some significance :)
And when I go to mass on Christmas Eve at our local cathedral, I expect to see one again...!
I also love the twinkle of valves, but sadly I can't see them from downstairs in the lounge when I'm sprawled out in front of the log fire! ;)
Marco (who LOVES nicely decorated REAL Christmas trees and EVERYTHING about a traditional Christmas - so smile and be happy!) :ner:
Its called pandering to popular culture......;)
Regards D S D L
Lol - well all I can say then is they've been "pandering to popular culture" for bloody years!! ;)
Marco (Christmas trees rule, ya bass! :eyebrows:)
Spectral Morn
18-12-2010, 11:23
Lol - well all I can say then is they've been "pandering to popular culture" for bloody years!! ;)
Marco (Christmas trees rule, ya bass! :eyebrows:)
Indeed :(
Regards D S D L
Anyway, I love most things that are German! ;)
Marco.
Spectral Morn
18-12-2010, 12:11
Anyway, I love most things that are German! ;)
Marco.
Don't mistake my comments for anti-German ones. Its simply that the tradition of using Christmas Trees came from Germany and has its roots in Pagan beliefs....that's all.
The Christmas Tree is another classic example of so called Christains adopting and converting Pagan things to their ends :doh: Not sure how you can do that theologically.
Heres more on Christmas trees http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree
Christmas is pagan too http://www.essortment.com/all/christmaspagan_rece.htm Guess where the modern tradition of Christmas came from......urrrrrrr Germany !
Jesus was probably born in and around September not December. You can work this out by taking into account the Jewish Festivals mentioned in the New Testament (especially the book of Luke) and squaring the Jewish calender up to the Roman one.....not everyone agrees on this though.
Regards D S D L
Covenant
18-12-2010, 13:01
The divergence and suppression of pagan beliefs in the middle ages is a fascinating subject and one I want to read more about (any suggested books appreciated). Almost all symbols of pagan beliefs have been removed from buildings in England but its worth a visit to Roslin Church in Scotland where natural symbols such as the sun and moon are carved in the stone.
Spectral Morn
18-12-2010, 13:12
more here http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk/history.php
However this to me is more interesting plate 3... "Maize
Surrounding a window are carvings of maize or Indian Corn
The presence of this plant carving in the Chapel raises many questions: not only is it an exotic plant but it originates from North America, a country traditionally thought to have been discovered by Columbus in 1492, almost 50 years after Rosslyn Chapel was built."
As the Vikings were in North America and settled in parts of Scotland could maize have been brought back with them first ?
Regards D S D L
Covenant
18-12-2010, 13:53
Brilliant, what an amazing place. Unfortunately you have to fight your way through Japanese tourists to see anything.
more here http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk/history.php
Fantastic place! We've been there :)
I'd love a house with an interior just like it - all lit by candles and nothing else!
As an aside, one of our favourite things are Griffins:
http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/5098/400pxvenicestatueofagri.jpg (http://img573.imageshack.us/i/400pxvenicestatueofagri.jpg/)
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3314/griffioen2ckasteeldehaa.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/griffioen2ckasteeldehaa.jpg/)
I love how they look both visually striking and also slightly macabre and disturbing......
Marco.
The Grand Wazoo
18-12-2010, 14:38
The Christmas Tree is another classic example of so called Christains adopting and converting Pagan things to their ends Not sure how you can do that theologically.
The cross was used by all sorts of cultures, cults & religions long before Christ, but has since been claimed by Christianity as it's own, so is there a difference?
Rare Bird
18-12-2010, 14:52
Marco:
Personally i've always had a thing about Gargoyles.
Spectral Morn
18-12-2010, 14:59
The cross was used by all sorts of cultures, cults & religions long before Christ, but has since been claimed by Christianity as it's own, so is there a difference?
The cross may have been used before but the cross as used in Christianity is a device of torture and horrible death and not related to anything else from before. Its use is a reminder of what Jesus went through and the empty cross is a symbol of his resurrection.
Regards D S D L
Abella playing with 'her' Christmas tree ;):
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4391/img0156zt.jpg (http://img46.imageshack.us/i/img0156zt.jpg/)
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2315/img0155tz.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/i/img0155tz.jpg/)
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7584/img0152b.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/i/img0152b.jpg/)
The tree in all its glory:
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3535/img0165p.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img0165p.jpg/)
Fire blazing, room nice and cosy, and Frank Sinatra playing on the Techie:
http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/4996/img0160f.jpg (http://img815.imageshack.us/i/img0160f.jpg/)
Snow getting deeper now, as daylight fades......
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/834/img0150fe.jpg (http://img832.imageshack.us/i/img0150fe.jpg/)
Time to snuggle up by the fire, open a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau, and shut ourselves off from the outside world:
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/1835/img0163wk.jpg (http://img688.imageshack.us/i/img0163wk.jpg/)
Merry Christmas everyone! :cheers:
Marco.
chris@panteg
18-12-2010, 15:29
Blimey Marco ' i better not show the Wifey that open fire , she will be so upset and envious , very nice and cosy .
Oh its snowing here ' about 6 inches so far ! yikes its like ' the day after tommorow ' out there .
Enjoy, Chris - *that* is what I love about this time of year in the UK, and why I wouldn't thank you for spending Christmas on a beach somewhere abroad.... It's just WRONG! :rolleyes:
Off work now until the 4th January next year, and so it's time to totally switch off, chill out, and indulge in a few well-chosen luxuries! :)
Marco.
Ohhhhh, I like that door knocker Marco :)
(Nah, he’ll never hear me unscrew it behind that door. Where’s me tools?)
I like your fire back as well actually. I’ve got a rather large fire basket and dogs surplus to requirements if you’re interested.
Looking forward to going to collect my tree. It’s grown a bit too big now but I’ll get it in somehow. Got the decorations out and the glass balls have survived yet another year and my German wooden Christmas ornaments are still in one piece so it’s all good :)
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