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Christmas Open Thread

by thebesig••79
Christmas decoration theme – American Dreams. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Merry Christmas This Aint Hell! 

You guys come up with the themes and focus for this thread. In the meantime, here are some Christmas/Holiday music that was performed during the Medieval Period and the Renaissance:

Medieval Carol “Gaudete”:

Artist: London Cello Orchestra, The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, Geoffrey Simon
Album: A Cello Christmas

Personent Hodie:

https://youtu.be/zTz_rcolwyA

MUSIC: Andrea Alonso / Celtic Song – A Celtic Christmas CD

As I Lay on Yoolis Night|English Medieval Christmas Song:

Artist: Martin Best Ensemble, The
Album: Christmas Medieval Music

Over an hour of medieval Christmas music; Medieval Carols, Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly:

Various artists listed under video.

Have fun this Christmas, enjoy the visits, gifts, feasts and drinking, but be safe and don’t be a stranger here. Knock yourself silly with enjoyment and posting. 

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79 thoughts on “Christmas Open Thread”

      1. Just so you know I’m not totally heartless, Commissar, I will note for you that we are only two days away from the Decembrist Revolution of 1825. Cheers! Of course, that didn’t turn out so well for the Decembrists, but it is said that it’s the thought that counts.

  6. Oh such memories of long distant past. Grandma, mom and aunt cooking all the delicious German recipes for Christmas dinner after church, Turkey, home made dressing, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, vegetables cooked many different ways, Home made pies of all sorts, cookies and best of all home made whipped cream. After the meal the women would clean up and sit at the dining room table and talk, the men would find a comfortable chair and talk a bit then fall asleep for a bit, course they would unbuckle their belt and unfasten the top button on their pants and us kids would take some of our new toys and play with them. After a bit the men would stir around and Grandpa would go out in the kitchen and start his mixing of things for the folks and pass them around and much to the females there dismay us younger fellows would would get a smaller portion to drink, dang but I wish I knew what he used for the spirits (read alcohol) he would use in his eggnog but with a little nutmeg on top, he made a good tasting appetizer before a large supper of left overs. Sitting here and thinking about those old days kinda makes me wonder if between grandpa and Doc Jones were why I liked to drink a drink every so often. Oh our towns were small and the one I started out in was about 400 people and one doctor and if your child was sick with a bad cold, you would go see Doc Jones and often he would give strict instructions of a shot of whiskey and put to bed under a bunch of blankets and it worked, as felt a lot better after we woke up.
    Merry Christmas Everyone

  12. Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year. And I leave the following here for those who might want to imbibe over the holidays:

    “He sees you when you’re driving,
    He knows when you’re 08”

    Enjoy but do so safely.

    1. Our local police department put out a notice on FaceBook that as a result of the midweek holiday there would be no judge available from Friday (12/22} until the following Thursday (12/27). The chief cautioned that any police contact would mean missing Christmas at home. He did say that he had turkey loaf on the jail menu for the 25th.

  14. Dear Santa,

    All I want for Christmas is peace on Earth and goodwill towards men. If you can’t manage those things, I need some ammo and cash. Thanking you in advance, I am, yours truly, 2/17 Air Cav

    1. Ditto what Cav said, but I’ve been extra good and would like some m67s and claymores.
      C-wire around the axles of mine enemies wouldn’t hurt either.

  17. Since I’ve already posted this year’s holiday week column – and it wasn’t too Christmas-specific except for the addendum – here’s last year’s Christmas trivia column, holiday specific though it is. Enjoy, my TAH friends, and a very Merry Christmas to you all!

    DID YOU KNOW…?

    Did World War I come to a halt for 24 hours in 1914 due to a Christmas truce?

    By Commissioner Wretched

    Dear Santa Claus,

    First, let me assure you that I have been a good boy this year. A very good boy.

    Well, maybe not that good.

    I would go into what I’ve done bad this year, but you – being all-knowing, all-seeing, and having those darned elves everywhere – already know all about it.

    And while I’m on the topic, I hope to get some assurance from you that I will get credit for all the good things I’ve done. Last year, you know, we sort of got our wires crossed, and some of the really good things somehow didn’t make themselves known to you.

    I could tell when I looked under the tree Christmas morning. I’m guessing all those letters, telegrams, and e-mails somehow got … redirected.

    But I digress.

    I’d go into what’s on my list for this year, but you know what? I’d chuck it all for just one thing – having people enjoy the little trivia fun I provide them every week.

    Just make sure they enjoy what I do, and I’ll be satisfied, no matter how good (or bad) I was in 2017.

    Have a safe trip down from the North Pole, and I’ll leave the traditional milk and cookies out for you. Maybe you’ll get there this year before Sassy (my cat) gets the milk.

    Love, CW

    Now, on to the Christmas trivia!

    Did you know …

    … Santa Claus has not always been depicted as a “fat jolly old elf”? In the earliest illustrations of St. Nick, he’s often shown as a stern symbol of discipline. (In other words, he knows you’ve been naughty.)

    … the letters that children write to Santa actually go somewhere?  No, not the “Dead Letter Office” or the trash bin. All letters addressed to Santa in the United States are sent to the post office in Santa Claus, Indiana. (Think of it as a satellite office of the North Pole.)

    … not everyone enjoys Peace on Earth on Christmas? There’s a village in Peru where people use the day to settle their grudges from the year, and they do it by fist fighting. This lets them start the new year off on a clean slate. The practice is called Takanakuy, and it happens in Chumbivikcas Province near Cuzco. (I guess their Christmas list consists of championship title belts.)

    … Christmas stories around the fire used to feature some pretty scary stuff? In the “olden days,” people shared scary ghost stories on Christmas Eve. The tradition has shifted over the past century to Halloween. (I can imagine it: “Boo! No presents for you!”)

    … you might just have an alternative to the wood chipper for your old Christmas tree? There are several zoos around the country that would gladly accept your old tree, which they would use as food for some of their animals. (Sharing the feast, don’t you know.)

    … the best-selling single record in history is a Christmas song? “White Christmas,” composed by Irving Berlin for the movie Holiday Inn, has sold more than 100 million copies. (And I don’t care who else tries to sing it, Bing Crosby did it best!)

    … Christmas has helped make Sir Paul McCartney a much richer man? His song “Wonderful Christmastime” gets a great deal of radio airplay this time of year, and he rakes in almost half a million dollars annually in royalties. What’s surprising about that is, many critics feel it’s McCartney’s worst song ever. (After all those years of playing Christmas music on the radio, I’ve become numbed to all the hoopla about the songs.)

    … Christmas caused a real problem for the national restaurant chain Denny’s? Since most Denny’s are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they were constructed without locks on the doors. In 1988, for the first time, Denny’s decided to close on Christmas day. Locking up the restaurant suddenly became a real problem. (I wonder what they ended up doing? Armed guards come to mind, but … have you ever actually eaten at Denny’s?)

    … three of the most popular Christmas songs of all time were written by people who did not celebrate the holiday? “White Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,”and “The Christmas Song” – which you know better as “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” – were all written by Jewish people.

    … World War I ground to a halt during Christmas of 1914? During a lull in one of the many interminable battles on Christmas Eve, British soldiers in their trenches heard the Germans across the no-man’s-land singing “Stille Nacht,” the German version of “Silent Night.” The British soldiers joined in, and a truce was called between the two armies for 24 hours. The men emerged from their trenches, exchanged gifts with each other, and even played a game of soccer. Afterward, the battles resumed.

    … people who write “Xmas” for the holiday are not really taking Christ out of Christmas? Bear with me for a moment. The use of the letter “X” is actually the use of the Greek letter pronounced “chi,” which is used as an abbreviation for Christ in that language (and is the first letter of the Greek spelling of His name). If anything, “X” is keeping Christ in Christmas, not taking Him out. (It’s all Greek to me.)

    … your Christmas shopping helps the economy? Holiday shopping accounts for up to 1/6 of all retail sales in the United States.

    Merry Christmas!

    1. When folks say, “Happy Holidays”, they’re saying, “Happy Holy Days”. It could mean the entirety of Christmastide.

      There’s also an “Eastertide”, which my birthday falls under if it doesn’t fall during Holy Week. I was born at the right time of the year to have every birthday land in Eastertide, Easter, or Holy Week. :mrgreen:

  19. Thanks for the music, a reminder of all the holidays I spent away from home, either in CONUS or some faraway land.
    Might be why the season was always diminished in importance, (for me, anyway…).
    Peace to all.

    1. Yep…

      USMC = U Sukkers Missed Christmas 🙂

      Honestly, though some of my best Christmases were platoon level Christmases.

  21. Y’all are my family this year- dealing with the choices I have made. Thanks to all, especially those who have kept this place going in the absence of the Platoon Sergeant…
    If you know of someone who is alone right now, give’em a holler, just say “what’s up”. Might be just what they need.
    Not a cry for help, just a thought. I’m gonna find a place to volunteer or something.
    Happy Holidays to all of you!

    1. We’re all here for each other, Curt. We’re the family that puts the “fun” in “dysfunctional “. Merry Christmas to you and everyone that gathers here!

    2. Merry Christmas, Curt.
      191 days until the 4th of July, which is like Christmas but instead of drunk with a funny hat and a bad sweater you’ll be drunk with explosives.
      It’s all about perspective my friend.

      2. Well, you -could- celebrate our victory at Trenton.

        Christmas, musketry, cannon, and lots of BP booms.

  22. Not really sure what is going on here … but, Merry Christmas jus the same.

    Baby Jesus is about to be born and we have some duties tonight.

  24. We picked up Thai food for dinner tonight; looking forward to some really spicy green curry and rice tonight…

            1. Just did Christmas Eve ham, turkey, and smoked ribs with my parents. Tomorrow is Christmas kuy teav (pronounced something like “c’theiu,” Cambodian pho), beef on a stick, and Asian fried chicken with the in-laws.

              1. Nice TOW! Cooked smoked sausage, potatoes, and peppers for the crew at the station, go home in the morning, will have a prime rib tomorrow with the family.

                1. Yesterday had a small spiral ham. Today, Christmas, we are going to a Chinese restaurant. Ever notice how it is that Chinese restaurants are often open on holidays? The place we go every year is packed to the gills. Line is out the door. Looking forward to some fried rice and spring rolls. Wishing all a Merry Christmas.

  25. I put off wrapping gifts. Put it off some more. Now, it’s Christmas Eve and I have to do all this wrapping. Beats putting a thingamajig together for a 12-year old at midnight, though, because I never could find Slot E. Some chinerman is probably still laughing his butt off for throwing that empty reference to Slot E in there.

    1. “Some assembly required” and the frustration that comes with it is a pure expression of a father’s love.

  26. The gnarly old fat guy is apparently now sleigh-runners up from the North Pole, and NORAD has once again engaged its code-name SANTA tracker to recon the incoming fast mover. Forget the government shutdown, some things take priority…

    https://www.noradsanta.org/

    1. One of my nieces looked that up this morning. I told her that if the Red Chinese try to screw with Santa, he’ll have some F-22s clearing the airs pay for him.

    2. I took a quick peek, NORAD is tracking Operation Gift Giving Socialist Indoctrination above Argentina right now.
      The image show that it is snowing above South America, better yet, from space.
      I’m glad NORAD has nothing to do with rocket science or we’d be…wait, they do?
      Well, sh*t.

  28. Merry Christmas every one.
    Drive carefully and be safe. Believe it or not, you are unreplaceable to some one.

  29. Merry Xmas to all from an Aussie living in Malaysia. It’s just after 1000 on Xmas day here, and hot as hell. Off to hit the pool!

  30. Christmas Eve’s Past, post kiddie’s bedtime, when I’d be half shit-faced wrenching on bicycles or any one of several “some assembly required” toys with directions in Chinese, missing a few steps and parts, and wrong tools. I emerged, bloodied but victorious with the shiny new things arranged just so, with the help of Mrs.AW1 of course.
    I really miss those days…
    Merry Christmas, and remember who it’s really all for.

    1. The words:

      Latin text:
      O magnum mysterium,
      et admirabile sacramentum,
      ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
      iacentem in praesepio!
      Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Iesum Christum.
      Alleluia!

      English translation:
      O great mystery,
      and wonderful sacrament,
      that animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in a manger!
      Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
      was worthy to bear our Saviour,
      Jesus Christ.
      Alleluia!

      1. Yes, I can see how you would be moved. It’s magnificent music. Equally moving is the church. It’s wonderful that Man could build something so magnificent. I love old(er) buildings: the mansions in Newport, the Biltmore House, old churches, antebellum houses, etc.

  33. Merry Christmas to all!

    Luke 2 KJV
    10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

    11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

    1. We did our traditional family Christmas Eve celebration this evening. I always read the Christmas story from Luke and Matthew before we open presents. When we go to this part in Luke 2 our 7-year-old granddaughter recited it and the following verses for us, from memory.

      This year we had all the children their spouses home (last year our son was deployed) as well as all 8 (or 9, if you count the one due to be born in 2019) grandchildren and the single neighbor.

      Financially, it has been a hard year for all of us, and illness has taken a toll on time an resources, but a warm pair of socks means a lot. And each of our 8 grandchildren contributed to a book for each Mrs. GB and I: The Book of Grandma Greatness and The Book of Grandpa Greatness where each one wrote (or in the case of the youngest, colored) a page that says “My GRANDMA/GRANDPA Is Great Because…” – with very specific things they enjoy about each of us.

      Bill Gates, George Soros, and all the rest of those ‘successful’ guys cannot buy what we have.

      Merry Christmas to all of you at This Ain’t Hell. For those grieving, may the season have joy to outmatch the grief, and the grief be made bearable by the good news of Christmastide.

  34. you know, i have not heard one thing about kwanzaa this year…. Merry CHRISTmas to all, and to all a good night!

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