How you celebrate christmas?

[MarkusS]

And in the spirit of Christmas I hope all our Christian members have nice time. Spare a thought about us though while yeh drink, feast and make merry we look on in envy. But not to worry I have plans, secret plans to make sure Santa visits me ...

@Vergennes @Technogaianist @MarkusS @gambit @Penguin @Providence @A.P. Richelieu and others I might have missed.

Thank you man. I appreciate it. We might have had beef in the past but forget about it

 

[Fenrir]

And Spare a thought about us though while yeh drink, feast and make merry we look on in envy.

I might be too drunk to remember your name depending on how my visit with the family goes, but I'll try my best to keep everyone in mind as I'm enjoying the holidays and spreading cheer.

But I've got my emergency wine on standby just in case.

 

[takeiteasy]

We have the electric bulb Christmas stars decorate the houses all across Kerala state. Like these made out of thick papers in various colours. Christmas Carol parties visit in the evening through the Christian houses. Some Orthodox Churches I believe celebrate Eesho Misiha's (Jesus Christ) birth on January 15th or so. But, generally it's December 25th for rest of the factions.

The Churches and Shrines are decorated with bigger stars like these:

This is 25 days lent observance for most of the Syriac Christians in Kerala - from Dec 1 to 25 that includes abstaining from Red meat, poultry, fish, egg etc. So, a temporary vegetarianism for us Syriac Catholics.
Celebrations, well we attend the Holy Qurbana on December 25th after confession in the parishes. Later, will have our own style Appam and Beef Stew or Mutton stew followed by a large number of other items (the list is long) :
http://www.vazhayila.com/p/christmas-specials_01.html

People also makes red wine from grapes which are brewed for 40-50 days. And of course with Alcoholic drinks. Pork and Alcohol are mostly consumed by Latin Catholics (Latin Catholics = The Roman rite like in the west) in our state.
Happy Christmas

 

[Aryzin]

@MarkusS , I was in SMIPAR years ago when in the Army. Holiday season I was invited by Italian family. We ate lentils with some awesome sausages. I think I gained 5 lbs that day.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

We might have had beef in the past but forget about it

No worries. Truth be told I know some Italians in UK and are very nice people. There is no doubt that when it comes to style Italians lead the way. I like being dressed nicely and use Italian style houses as inspiration. And being as you are the Meditearnean and first point of landfall for refugees I can see why you guy's are so sensitive about the issue.

Oh and seeing we are on even keel my favourite movies of all time feature Italians - From Sergio Leone's Once upon a time in the West/Once upon a time in America with the musical score from Ennio Morricone is about as good as it gets to Godfather etc

 

[T-123456]

Christmas is the best time of the year,im either invited to a Dutch or a German family(depends on the girlfriend ),a German family this year,the best food music and people come together to have a nice evening/night,they just enjoy the togetherness with family and friends.
Some go to church and some dont but its always fun.
Man,i like Christmas.

 

[Hell hound]

No friggin escaping them. I live well on the suburbs but just few days ago my door knocked and there was bunch of them trying to raise some money. How the hell they knew I was the only Muslim in the grove I have no idea. Pakistani's as you know are the most narrow minded bigots that Allah ever sent down to earth. If your light they will call you 'gora', if your dark they will call you 'kala', if your in the middle they will call you typical, if you place Christmas lighs just to sort of fit in they will call you 'kaffir'. I am sure you know the deal.

yeah our people sure do like to label/judge others

 

[T-123456]

I want to try celebrating Christmas at least once in my life. The tree seems like hassle though, might try to order a plastic one.

You have to celebrate it either in ''old'' Europe or the US to experience the real Christmas feeling,its something special.

 

[Desertfalcon]

That's what I call a tree !

This year I would not do as usual,I am going to be at our church as we will organize a dinner,to the poor persons,those that are alone and the old persons. I think that it's important to help others in this moment,and seeing others smiling and saying 'Merci' is just an amazing sensation. I will not be with my family,but think they understand.

Joyeux Noel, Monsieur!

 

[Vergennes]

Joyeux Noel, Monsieur!

Merci,à toi aussi ! ;-)

 

[Aryzin]

Now that's good Xmas spirit. Peace to the world!

 

[Hell hound]

oh and i almost forgot happy Christmas guys

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

And in the spirit of Christmas I hope all our Christian members have nice time. Spare a thought about us though while yeh drink, feast and make merry we look on in envy. But not to worry I have plans, secret plans to make sure Santa visits me ...

@Vergennes @Technogaianist @MarkusS @gambit @Penguin @Providence @A.P. Richelieu and others I might have missed.

Christmas here is really a continuation of the Yuletide festivities of the Vikings.
It is not called Christmas, it is still called Jul = Yule in Scandinavia.
The main celebration is Christmas Eve, because that is the day the Vikings celebrated.
The most prominents things of Swedish Christmas celebration are:

Christmas Ham

Herring

And surprise, surprise, Donald Duck at 15:00

Last but not least, Tomten, aka Santa Claus.
The modern figure of Santa Claus was created for a Coca Cola commercial by a Swedish immigrant to the US.
He based it on the mythical figure tomten, which was a smallish grumpy old guy that took care of Your farm.
As reward, he expected a bowl of porridge in the morning of Christmas Day.
If you did not provide that bowl of porridge, you were in deep deep trouble.

Wish You a Merry Christmas = God Jul!

 

[MarkusS]

@MarkusS , I was in SMIPAR years ago when in the Army. Holiday season I was invited by Italian family. We ate lentils with some awesome sausages. I think I gained 5 lbs that day.

oh...we too have lentil soup with sausages.

Its sometimes really too bad. Mom makes awesome food...my grandmas too. So you eat and eat and eat...last year my belly was so full i feared my navel plops outward and did not know how too sleep. I ended up on my side and pushed a pillow under my belly to support ha ha.

 

[Aryzin]

@A.P. Richelieu , is that the same ham we eat in the US?

Or is it more like speck or prosciutto?

@MarkusS ,That is what limoncello is for! Or a nice hot milk and Rum !