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God Rest Ye Merry
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God Rest Ye Merry |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia 
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This past week marked the inauguration of the Holiday Season around my house with the observance of some time-honored traditions and serendipitous events. I was around for the very first airing of Charles Shultz's Charlie Brown Christmas special on network television in the sixties and haven't missed a broadcast in all these years. Now, my kids and I gathered around in front of the big screen TV the youngest snug in my lap and the oldest, reluctant at first, was belly laughing with her younger brother as the Peanut's gang danced to Schroeder's unique jazz piano. Bad animation, simplistic plot, and a melodramatic Linus' rendering the Christmas Story from the New Testament all combine to make this favorite an enduring heritage for ages to come and still brings a timely message about generations, materialism, and spirituality. Another delight was a cable viewing of the classic Miracle on 34th Street, the real one, with the real Santa -- Edmund Gwenn, with Maureen O'Hara (vavoom), and even William Frawley (Fred from I Love Lucy). They can't even get close to making them like that any more - but the 1994 version with Elizabeth Perkins (yow!) and an apt Richard Attenborough in the role of Kris Kringle gets a big thumbs up for cinematography (not to mention sexiest mom in a Christmas movie). As a couple of popular radio stations have converted from their country and pop formats for the season to holiday music I've also had the pleasure of taking a few road trips with the kids -- and again -- the oldest who would rather be listening to the Britney/Avril/poptarts et al station -- reluctantly found herself giggling and singing along with of all characters -- Miss Piggy and John Denver. We spent one night decorating the tree and had hot chocolate and Russell Stover candy -- and of course on Friday -- a snowball fight... What Holiday(s) will you celebrate? What's on your agenda as the season unfolds this year? Are you in the mood yet? Or still feeling Grinchy? |
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Ringo 
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes |
Actually,I have started my Christmas season.... This past wekend, I got to see my daughter for the first time in five weeks,so we made the absolute most of it. My Christmas Tree ornaments were all demolished when the basement flooded during that friggin hurricane. That gave my daughter and I a chance to make new ones out of Paper plates, and construction paper, and popcycle sticks, and home-made play-do, and the whole works... Then we decorated the house, and even went shopping for her brother, her mom, and her cousin (Whixch I- of course- paid for), and then we went and saw the Christmas lights display at the local park... which led to a tour around the area to look at the houses... As for the Christmas specials... The Family Channel (I think) is running their annual non-stop Christmas show programming, and I have seen almost all of the old ones. Christmas tunes??? Bah-friggin-humbug.... Abiout the only one I like is the tune that Savatage did (which was re-done by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (with the same leader)....and the "crazy ones". I did get tickets to see TSO in Philly, though... It's gonna be a great show... We are all equal but we’re individually different |
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Opeth Senior Member
since 2001-12-13
Posts 1543The Ravines |
The original Grinch cartoon is a classic, I love it. My favorite movie is A Christmas Story - "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!" The absolute worst Christmas movie that I have ever seen was The Grinch. Dr. Suess would be turning over in his grave, if he could, upon watching that one. Talk about taking a great story and twisting it completely into knots. |
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KristieSue
since 2003-01-31
Posts 1460PA, US |
I haven't gotten the ambition to decorate for the holidays yet, but when I do... :-) As for traditions, I do have one. Every year on the first laying snow, I watch "It's A Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart. That is my absolute favorite movie. Love to cuddle with my significant other, drink hot cocoa, have popcorn and watch the movie. As for celebrating, it ends up differently every year. I always celebrate Christmas Eve with my grandparents, aunt & cousins, and brother. Christmas Day is mine to designate appropriately. This year I will be visiting a few friends. Love Christmas. Hate the snow, but love the time of year :-) I love buying gifts...whohooooo Do songs on the radio sing to all the fools in love? |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Well I should have been Mrs. Santa Claus as my checklist is all done, including the shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, and all the cards are sent. I like to get it all done early so I have time to enjoy every single second of this season. I love to have all my shopping done so I can go watch other people do theirs (must be something for Freud in this habit you think?) I love to volunteer a lot during the month of December and find it rewarding to see the smiles on people's faces. It saddens me though to think of how many there are that we can't bring a smile to their faces. Speaking of faces, I love taking time to listen to children's choirs and watch those sweet faces light up on stage. I sample every single thing they are giving away to try, and love every single smell and taste associated with the this season. I think Christmas is the only time of the year everyone lets their guard down and lets the spirit take hold of them, or I would like to think that. For that reason alone it is the one season I think everyone loves no matter what nationality or religion they are. I am ready and say, bring it on! |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
I have a tradition that I follow every year. I choose one person in my life who has made an impact on me during the year. I buy 2 ornaments that relate in some way to them. I give them one ornament, with a note telling them how they affected my life in a positive way. I keep the other ornament to put on my tree and each year when I decorate, I remember all those people in my life, present and past, who've touched my life in some way. |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
Yeah Ringo that's a killer rendition of, I beleive, the tune you're referring to -- The Carol of the Bells. Interestingly it is based on the Ukrainian song "Shchedryk" whith the same melody but different words. "Shchedryk" means the "Generous One". It refers to the god of generosity, the Dazh Boh - the Giver God, which is the sun. So it was very tied into Winter Solstice celebrations. Christianity came to Ukraine in 988, but the people incorporated their ancient customs into their new beliefs. But I'm going to send three spirits to you in your dreams tonight if you don't stop humbugging all the rest of the great stuff out there from Bing to Bowie, Nat King Cole, Roy Rogers, shoot -- the list is just endless -- I even like Steamroller.. heh.. Happy Holidays [This message has been edited by Local Rebel (12-09-2003 05:12 PM).] |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
Yeah Opeth I always liked Christmas Story too -- great nostalgia there since that's how Christmas really was (at least how I remember it) when I was a kid and I'm actually back living in the area that was set in -- quite a bit has changed though. A tad burned out on it now though since I know the entire script verbatim... Didn't mind the Grinch movie too much .. actually had some moments -- but, I'm ambivilent about taking the kiddies to Cat In The Hat -- heard too many bad reviews. _________________________ Kristie Sue I love It's a Wonderful Life Too... but, ever since Carvey did his alternate ending on SNL "Hey -- Old Man Potter had the money all along... let's kick him to death" -- I burst out laughing at the end... Other BIG one's on my list are Holiday Inn and White Christmas -- but -- hey -- they're big on everyone's list... SO.. when you decorate is your house going to look like Sparky Grizwalds???  _____________________ Mysteria It's not really that I procrastinate about buying presents -- I just hide them at the store  I love to hear children sing too -- they're the center of the season as far as I'm concerned. I'm glad you're an enthusiast! ____________________ Sharon.. That sounds like a cool tradition. When we were decorating the tree my four-year-old was thrilled when we were digging through the ornaments and found the one commemorating her first X-mas. It's all about family history and tradition eh? My sister is big on making ornaments too... ________________ And to all you Grinches and Scrooges out there -- get ready for a visit from the spirits of netpoets past, present, and future in your dreams tonite...  And though it's been said -- many times -- many ways; [This message has been edited by Local Rebel (12-09-2003 05:27 PM).] |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Wait, this thread is not over...not by a long shot.... My only birthday wish most every year – is that we put up the tree. In the past it was a real tree, and I would like to have real trees still, but the price they put on something God gave us is horrendous…to say the least. So a few years back I capitulated and have a marvelous albeit fake tree that I love to put up. I can string more lights on it than one could imagine, and it gleams from the inside out with light that I always feel catches at least One Eye…. I haven’t had the opportunity to put up my tree in the last three years. This year, as my one and only birthday gift, it’s going up. It may even contain silver tinsel, a “let’s not make a mess” problem that again, I’ve capitulated to, but this year, I think I shall do so. If family members insist on birthday presents, all I have asked for in the past years is “something for the tree…” and thus, I have various and varied ornaments, sometimes one unique ornament; sometimes a set of four. Some ornaments contain my children’s names…this seems to be a good year to begin making ornaments that contain my grandchildrens’ names… I have beautiful memories of trees that seemed to glow forever; And of trees that were of a Snoopy variety… But always, always, They were dressed with love, and caring, Smiles and light… Reb…it’s so good to see you. Hug ‘em all for me. |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
consider them all hugged Karilea  Hugged-em lots and lots and lots just this morning. Sooooo... You got that tree up yet? Ah, I remember my brother (born in July) always wanted the tree up for his birthday too... the neighbors thougt we were nuts. Ceptin that the fake trees back then were pretty low quality -- I remember we had a small aluminum foil type tree that we'd put up in July -- there were certainly no real ones... But, as much as I like a real tree -- I like the decorating and looking at it aftward much more than the process of getting a real one and dealing with it through the season -- so -- unlike Sparky Griswald you won't catch me driving out the country to get a real one -- I capitulated long ago -- and just last year finally bought one that has all the lights integrated right into it -- talk about convenient  -- but it looks like a tree and it works for me...I think today -- we're going to do ELF... heard it's great..  Ringo... Listened to that one again yesterday -- forgot there was a contrapunctal strain of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen layered in there -- done really well.. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
The tree is up, Reb, along with the requisite angels. I spent most of yesterday unpacking, placing, putting, bracing, ringing chimes and recalling moments…There will be some additional placement of candles and such – those things I leave to my decorator husband. [He’s not an actual decorator, but he has great potential…] Do notice, please, the required snow to make it look VERY wintry. I had a hard time making it stick to the trees, don’t y’know. But it looks like it might stay for awhile.    [This message has been edited by Sunshine (12-14-2003 03:05 PM).] |
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Obscurity Member
since 2003-12-04
Posts 153In A Melancholic Dream |
quote: You know his wife had to agree to the screenplay before she would sign part of the rights over, I believe they went through 5 or 6 different versions before being approved. |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
Ahhh... Tiz Grande Karilea... a Grande Tree. My snow keeps melting, and coming back, and melting, and coming back... more falling right now... maybe it will stay *cough* |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
 You're just waiting for me to offer you a hot toddy, aren't you?As for the snow, get four or five inches at once, and it tends to stick around for a little while. Now...on to the finishing of the Christmas Cards! |
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