[Bionic]

I think those of you who are doing something for others at Christmas are wonderful. I have often thought about it but have never managed to get my act into gear to do it.


Well done to you all 

[Anke]

Just come back from walking the dog in a short-sleeve T-shirt... "festive spirit" - am I in the wrong country? 

No tree yet, Xmas dinner is shrieking his/her head off as I type (will be done tomorrow though), but have just finished eating the first home-made Stollen... maybe sometime on the 24th I'll get there...

Sorry I don't do Christmas really. 

[Womble]

I think a lot of us on here must be closer to the land and the seasons, so we appreciate festivity around those things rather than the version hijacked by the Church.

Well I come from completely the opposite direction.
Christmas is about Jesus and church.and God's blessings over all of us.

What an interesting contrast!! 

As Fleecewife says, we feel FAR closer to the land and the seasons than we used to do, and we will absolutely be celebrating on December 21st. The days are getting longer!  Light at the end of the tunnel! Soon no more frozen water and carrying hay by torchlight! It would feel wrong not to celebrate that (though no naked bonfire dancing has been arranged as yet).

However, as a Christian, I also want to celebrate Christmas. God sent to earth in human form, with human frailties, human difficulties, fleeing as a refugee to Egypt (more of a resonance than usual this year). 

So, I'll accept and embrace both of these interpretations of Christmas. However, look about you! Jingle Bells in every shop from Bonfire Night onwards. People spending money they don't have, to buy things they don't need, to impress people they don't like. I even had a card through the post yesterday wishing me a happy #SCREWFIXMAS  . Now, THAT is the version of Christmas that I reject  .

So, I guess what I'm saying is yes, I think we should celebrate the seasons turning, and yes, if you are a believer, you should celebrate Jesus' birth. Just don't expect to get a present from me!! 

[Marches Farmer]

I suppose, when you unpick the layers, whether to celebrate the WInter Solstice or the birth of Christ or Honecker, this particular time of year has had deep significance for many centuries.  What we all seem to abhor is the materialism that's swamped it in recent years.

[Penninehillbilly]

We're having some friends over on Sunday to celebrate the Solstice (I know it's a day or so early but Tuesday is awkward for most folk).

Weather permitting, we'll have a bonfire and naked dancing and mulled cider. Should get the festivities going 

You don't do the Wicker Man bit as well do you?  lol,
I tried to get some friends in the village interested in doing something for the Solstice,  was told everybody's too busy preparing for Christmas . 
Nearest the we get to do anything like that is a May spring service down in the woods. That is lovely though, hearing birds singing in the background.

[Marches Farmer]

Eric Freeman, who did so much to conserve the GOS and Gloucester cattle, has a wassailing ceremony in his orchards every January.

[Fleecewife]

I suppose, when you unpick the layers, whether to celebrate the WInter Solstice or the birth of Christ or Honecker, this particular time of year has had deep significance for many centuries.  What we all seem to abhor is the materialism that's swamped it in recent years.

You've hit the nail on the head MF.  Although it's not only in recent times we have deplored the materialism.  Back in the '50s the commercialism was already under discussion, perhaps because of the contrast with the war years.
I'm not religious in any way, but I appreciate those who celebrate Christmas as Jesus' birthday, good works, going to church, singing carols.  It's the way the season has been taken over by nothing to do with Christ's birth.  The expectation from many children that they will get a large number of huge expensive presents, which their parents get themselves into debt for, and spend the rest of the year paying it back. It horrifies me to see children ripping open parcel after parcel, not even bothering who the presents are from, let alone taking time to appreciate the gift and the person who has given it.  It's so much snatch and grab - that's what I think has so little to do with Jesus' birthday.

In many ways I wish that Christmas and the pagan festivals could be kept separate.  Today the two are twisted together into one big festivity, and both lose by it.

Let's just celebrate in our own ways and try to ignore the tat and hype.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Oow some interesting points as ever from my fellow smallholders but before Rosemary's innocent enquiry turns into an impassioned debate ( not that, that ever happens on this forum eh Dan? )


How about the festive amongst us share their tips for getting in the Christmas mood. Whether its waving your Wassail cup, gluing bits back on your 20 year old nativity figures, making more mince pies than anyone could reasonably be expected to eat or wrapping tinsel round the horns of your Golden Guernsey.


What floats your Yuletide yacht, sets the wind in your Solstice sails or furls your festive flag.


I have just spent yet another solitary day full of smelly smallholding chores and need all the cheer I can get! 

[Bionic]

Oh yes Buffy, mince pies..... I'm off to make some 

[Rosemary]

I'm going to make somemince pies tonight. Cheating by buying pastry and I'm going to try a crumble topping rather than pastry.

Tis the season to be jolly

[Dan]

This whole thread fair warms the cockles of my heart. We're blessed to have you all here on TAS. 

[Marches Farmer]

Our newest neighbour has gluten intolerance and our oldest can't eat dairy products.  We've found a pastry recipe using olive oil and gluten-free flour so, if we can produce something edible, are going to invite both  round for mince pies

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Aw Marches!


  here's me and Fleecy delighting in our Pagan ancestry and Womble referring to modern parallels with ancient Egypt and there you are bringing us bang up to date with the modern challenges of spreading festive cheer against a backdrop of 21st century food intolerance. 

And I thought uniting the Pagans and Christians was a challenge[size=78%] [/size]   You've got your work cutout there I'd say.


RESPECT 
 

[Womble]

How about this photo of our neighbour's Christmas tree to get us all in a festive mood? 

[Fleecewife]

Oh Womble, I love it