KEF - not sitting in the GH on your own? Bless you and welcome to the SAD club.
Pansyface,Philippa and Lyn - some good points made Northern Finland would indeed be a challenge light-wise. How about living there between March and October and Tasmania for the rest of the year?
Philippa, I'm sure the idea of Christmas cards and trees came over from Germany. Our German cousins are big on Christmas (love Stollen!!) I suppose the socio-economic situation back in the 1600s was merely an exaggerated version of how it is today. The rich landowners would dine in comfort while the poor were happy to make it through the winter. The church would have been the focal point of festivities rather than the shopping centre as it is now.
That's an interesting point butterfly, I hadn't thought of that.
I'm sorry to hear that Runnybeak Pull up a chair.
Verdun - you're a big softie really aren't you But yes the expectation to spend when many people really can't afford to. Of course, the media whips the Christmas hysteria into a frenzy. TV adverts portray houses packed to the rafters with shiny,happy people while simultaneously driving home the point that if you're not one of them, there is something seriously wrong in your life. Social conditioning.
Christmas cards are an evolution of visiting/calling cards which developed from the early 18th century. There was etiquette over which side of the card was turned up or down, if it was reciprocated and if that was in an envelope or not.
Christmas trees came to the UK via Prince Albert after the German tradition.
Christmas day as a day off and celebration much more recent (1958). In Scotland, Ireland and northern England the tradition was the giving of presents (normally food) on Handsels Monday and not Christmas, which was just a normal working day.
We can blame the likes of Coca-Cola and various American movies for the modern Christmas.
Personally I miss the lights when taken down, as it makes January so dark and gloomy.
One of my favourite books and one I re-read frequently is an abridged version of The Diaries of Parson Woodforde - he gives several accounts of how he spent Christmas - for many people it was a working day with perhaps a slightly better meal - and a day when the more fortunate members of the community considered it their duty to give a small gift to their servants and the poor of the community.
"...25 Dec. 1786 - It being Christmas Day, I had the following old men dine at my House on roast beef & plumb Pudding and after Dinner half a Pint of strong ale and a shilling to each to cary home to their Wives..."
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Posts
KEF - not sitting in the GH on your own? Bless you and welcome to the SAD club.
Pansyface,Philippa and Lyn - some good points made
Northern Finland would indeed be a challenge light-wise. How about living there between March and October and Tasmania for the rest of the year?
Philippa, I'm sure the idea of Christmas cards and trees came over from Germany. Our German cousins are big on Christmas (love Stollen!!) I suppose the socio-economic situation back in the 1600s was merely an exaggerated version of how it is today. The rich landowners would dine in comfort while the poor were happy to make it through the winter. The church would have been the focal point of festivities rather than the shopping centre as it is now.
That's an interesting point butterfly, I hadn't thought of that.
I'm sorry to hear that Runnybeak
Pull up a chair.
Verdun - you're a big softie really aren't you
But yes the expectation to spend when many people really can't afford to. Of course, the media whips the Christmas hysteria into a frenzy. TV adverts portray houses packed to the rafters with shiny,happy people while simultaneously driving home the point that if you're not one of them, there is something seriously wrong in your life. Social conditioning.
KEF you are voted as St Knickerless this year
I used to be in the SAD club but not now I have met you guys
Thanks
Lesley LOL.
Christmas cards are an evolution of visiting/calling cards which developed from the early 18th century. There was etiquette over which side of the card was turned up or down, if it was reciprocated and if that was in an envelope or not.
Christmas trees came to the UK via Prince Albert after the German tradition.
Christmas day as a day off and celebration much more recent (1958). In Scotland, Ireland and northern England the tradition was the giving of presents (normally food) on Handsels Monday and not Christmas, which was just a normal working day.
We can blame the likes of Coca-Cola and various American movies for the modern Christmas.
Personally I miss the lights when taken down, as it makes January so dark and gloomy.
One of my favourite books and one I re-read frequently is an abridged version of The Diaries of Parson Woodforde - he gives several accounts of how he spent Christmas - for many people it was a working day with perhaps a slightly better meal - and a day when the more fortunate members of the community considered it their duty to give a small gift to their servants and the poor of the community.
"...25 Dec. 1786 - It being Christmas Day, I had the following old men dine at my House on roast beef & plumb Pudding and after Dinner half a Pint of strong ale and a shilling to each to cary home to their Wives..."
So the wives didnt get any dinner Dove?
It seems not