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General => The Shed => Topic started by: adam04 on December 08, 2005, 18:05:59
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why is xmas in winter? couldnt they put it in summer?
Have been putting xmas lights up outside now for about a week and a half. No, it isnt going to look like blackpool alluminations. it just takes time!
Two more sets to go up tomorrow, big rush now to get them up! then thye get turned on...yipee!! will take some pictures when they are all up.
Anyway, back to the title, its freezing, two nights now i have been out in the dark, and have come in with icicles cuming off from my fingers! if it was in summer, it would be warm and the it wouldnt be dark so early!!! grrrr!!!
anyway, merry xmas! ;D ;D ;D
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Head south Adam, then you can enjoy Christmas on the beach, barbies and all.
Oh and one other thing ... bah humbug ... ;D ;D ;D
Derekthefox ;D
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Thing is Adam, if it were in summer, your lights wouldn't be very interesting until after 10.30pm as it is light until then!!
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It is in winter because this is when the pagan festivals are. Solstice is of course on 21st December and the celebration is that things get better from hereon so lets have a nice cheery festival during these dark days. The Romans had there mid-winter festival actually on 25th December and it is this pagan date that the Christians nicked - it was the only way of getting the pagan locals on board.
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Never managed with this pagan!
Bah Humbug!
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Then do something about it!!!!
Many years ago..the girls were young teenagers and we said this one Christmas...Why is Christmas in the cold dark winter
During one day in the next July the Governor and I decorated the room, put up the tree, the Governor cooked a full Chriistmas dinner with Chriggie pudding and we wrapped pressies
When the girls came home from school were they surprised...we had dinner wearing paper hats and pulling crackers...are we mad...course we are....but did we have fun
Go on...go for it ;D ;D
Derek
Derek
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Christmas is not "in winter" Adam - it's on 25th December! Which depending on where you are in the world is during spring, summer, autumn, winter.........
My uncle takes great delight in bragging about his Christmas BBQs in Oz, and sends cards featuring Father Christmas wearing red shorts and a red teeshirt!!!
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yes i thought about that, the only people who get warm summers are those who get warm winters!!! grrr, arnt they mean!
Love the idea Derek. dont think the nieghbours will mind, they think i have got everything the wrong way round when i was cutting the lawn in Mid November. ;D
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It is in winter because this is when the pagan festivals are. Solstice is of course on 21st December and the celebration is that things get better from hereon so lets have a nice cheery festival during these dark days. The Romans had there mid-winter festival actually on 25th December and it is this pagan date that the Christians nicked - it was the only way of getting the pagan locals on board.
I got a slightly different version!
It is the 25th because the records said that Jesus was born on the 25th. No one knew when though so December was selected so that the Christians had something to celebrate along side the Pagansbecause once they converted they had to denounce the paganism. Therefore by celebrating Christs birth then they could still party. Originally it was January 6th (and still is in Holland) but I don't why on that one!
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The calendar was changed in the 18th Century but some churches still go by the old Julian calendar, which went back to Julius Caesar and had got out of synch with the sun. The late Roman church was very much into hijacking pagan festivals; in Britain we still name Easter after an old pagan goddess, with the result that some extreme fundamentalist churches claim that celebrating it is 'worshipping' pagan gods despite the fact that it originates from Passover. I don't know when the Saturnalia, if it was the Roman version, became Christmas, though doubtless it's out there on the Net somewhere.
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Originally it was January 6th (and still is in Holland) but I don't why on that one!
well originally you were given presents on the 6th jan, as according to the story this is when the wise men arrived with their gifts. makes sense, no?
present opening for is the 24th december, btw ;D
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Christmas in summer is loverrley! BBQ on the beach followed by a game of beach cricket of course!!
Two of my families Chrissie food traditions are New Potatoes and Raspberries - not a sprout for miles ;D
I feel compelled to share with you the Aussie version of Jingle Bells:
Dashing through the bush,
in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust,
esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side,
singing Christmas songs,
It's Summer time and I am in
my singlet, shorts and thongs
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Engine's getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard,
he is welcome too.
All the family's there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way,
by the barbecue.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go,
we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through,
before the washing up.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute
And there is also a Rolf Harris song about Santa's sleigh being pulled in the southern hemisphere by 6 white kangaroos!
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Love it Moggle !!!
Derekthefox :D
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He he he! My daughter has a different version to Jingle Bells too - but it's because she's 4:
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
MacDonald's farm it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh
And apparently the Little Donkey is carrying a precious loaf!
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Thanks for the one Moggle - it's a beaut!
I've just sent off prezzies to my rellies in WA. Will be thinking of them all on the beach at my Aunt and Uncle's ........
Love CLx
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And there is also a Rolf Harris song about Santa's sleigh being pulled in the southern hemisphere by 6 white kangaroos!
I knew it.. I should have immigrated to OZ?
(http://img430.imageshack.us/img430/7695/whosetiredofsnow4ga.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
;D ;D ;D ;D
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Too many Australians there for my liking ;)
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Well I have never been, so I can't really offer an opinion, and the thought of travelling all that distance ...
Derekthefox :D
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Erm (talks in a very quiet voice) ... I am heading off to New Zealand on Monday for a wedding and will stay there for a southern hemisphere Christmas. I can't wait!!!
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Two of my great nephews who have lived in Australia for quite a number of years say that they still cannot get use to eating Christmas dinner sitting in the sun
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Oh Steve am I jealous!! That's the country at the top of my hit list when sproglets are all growed up!! May be needing zimmer by then, but want to do Tibet, Cambodia, Malaysia and......is a long list.. ;D ;)
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Enjoy how fantastic enjoy the southern hem. I think Christmas is in winter cos ..............it just cheer's us up. So dark etc
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Yes I would love to see the Far East, and the Indian subcontinent as well, but I must summon up the will power to endure the travelling ...
Derekthefox :D
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Having just got back from 3 weeks in Tenerife, I can't seem to get my head round Christmas at all. 8) 8) (I havenot sent 1 Christmas card yet and I have some to go to Australia)
They were putting Christmas trimmings and trees up ready for the people who will spend Christmas in the sun, but sorry it would not be the same without the fog and freezing cold and maybe snow,and at the very least wind and rain. :P :P
Rosemary
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Well at least I have a weekend on the Costa Blanca around Jan 20th, so will draw some energy from that momentary respite from our winter !!!
Derekthefox :D
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Rosemary. Better hurry up with Australian mail. Yesterday was last posting date, I just made it.
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Because it's a total appropriation of the pagan winter solstice/yule festival. On 21st December (the shortest day) they would mourn the death of the sun. then celebrate the birth of the sun and worship the earth mother goddess on the 22nd. There was festing, gifts (to the earth - sacrifices), lighting of trees (well - setting the yule log on fire) etc. Of course this got turned into the birth of the son from the holy virgin (still worshipped, but one step down from that of the goddess). The early Christians were very much in favour of bringing the pagans into line by nicking all their festivals.
So many other Christian festivals can be traced back to pagan ones.
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Erm (talks in a very quiet voice) ... I am heading off to New Zealand on Monday for a wedding and will stay there for a southern hemisphere Christmas. I can't wait!!!
Oooh, you lucky chap! I'd love to go there and visit the vinyards in the north of the south island. Have a great time!