All things relating to Christmas

Wren

Well-known Member
Location
Europe
I saw a photo of a family all dressed in matching Christmas Pyjamas the other day, what do you wear for the big day, do you buy anything special ?

Due to covid we now spend Christmas at home but I still like to make the effort and wear something a bit ‘dressy’
 

Nothing special.

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My daughter buys her 3 little ones matching or complimentary Xmas PJ’s which is what they hang out in all day long.

I have many Christmas clothes and I dress head to toe in a Christmas outfit on Christmas Day. 11E30833-2C5D-45AD-8746-66695BBF9268.jpeg
I don’t do a traditional Christmas dinner. Instead I make a huge Christmas breakfast which all the kinfolk devour before we open gifts.

It doesn’t matter whether they get to the house first thing Xmas morning or don’t make it till later in the day due to doing Xmas for their kids etc, I still make breakfast then we open gifts.

after the present opening those of us who don’t have some other celebration to go to all head to the movies together!
 
I
in high school Glee Club we sang the alleluia chorus. I sang Alto.
I've sung The Messiah so many times that I've practically got it memorized. Especially the Hallelujah chorus. Every choral group I've sung with throughout my life has performed that oratorio every year; it always packs the house.

I'm also an alto, but my voice has deepened as I've gotten older, and I'd probably qualify as a tenor by now. 😁
 
"…[T]he [winter] holidays…[are], as my friend Connie says, 'an annual festival put on by women for the enjoyment of men and children.'
~~from Yeah, No. Not Happening: How I Found Happiness Swearing Off Self-Improvement and Saying F*ck It All—and How You Can Too by Karen Karbo
 
I saw a photo of a family all dressed in matching Christmas Pyjamas the other day, what do you wear for the big day, do you buy anything special ?

Due to covid we now spend Christmas at home but I still like to make the effort and wear something a bit ‘dressy’
That's an idea! Maybe I'll buy a pair of Christmas pajamas to wear on Christmas. My dog and bird may get a kick out of that! They sometimes look at me funny when I do something different. bbb.jpg
 

"History of Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

How Did Christmas Start?

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Saturnalia

In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, enslaved people were given temporary freedom and treated as equals. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could participate in the holiday's festivities.

Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

7 minute read

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
 

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