Winter Holiday Thread

[Dr. MD MD]

http://realitysandwich.com/238049/shaman-claus-the-shamanic-origins-of-christmas/


Santa was a shaman and his sack of goodies was a sack of mushrooms.

[Dr. MD MD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjggWxGYLdo

[Evil Twin Of Zen]

the last time i made a batch of this stuff... i used it to tile my bathroom wall.

[Swishypants]

the last time i made a batch of this stuff... i used it to tile my bathroom wall.

Peanut and Pecan Brittle is good all year. I send batches to my enemies to pull the fillings out of their teeth.

[albrecht]

Peanut and Pecan Brittle is good all year. I send batches to my enemies to pull the fillings out of their teeth.

So true. That and taffy was likely invented by an evil dentist or just the ADA.

[albrecht]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8

One of my favorite non-church Christmas songs. And that live version is great. Man, NHS needs to cover "dental." Was actually shocked when I just looked up and Shane MacGowan is still alive. Good for him, considering his drinking! My other favorite Christmas song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p053GxJX5y8

[ksm32]

While manning my Salvation Army Kettle today I zoned out and began to really observe the many people walking around. All kinds of them from the attractive genetically gifted like myself to the 'I sure hope they aren't breeding' kind of folk. I also noticed some arabs speaking in in their native tongues and they seem to have a negative effect on me as I tend to get very angry. Not because of islam but because I naturally seem to loathe their kind.
Also some teens who asked me how much they paid me to stand in the cold ringing a bell virtually begging for money for OTHER PEOPLE!? I politely let them know that I was not getting paid and that I rather enjoyed it. On the good side, I was the recipient of a lot of Merry Christmas's from random nice folks, the kind you want living on your street. You know, normal, nice, and they most likely take care of their lawns. That says a lot about them.


Been doing this for thirteen years now and it never gets old. I truly love it.


Merry Christmas.

[21st Century Man]

While manning my Salvation Army Kettle today I zoned out and began to really observe the many people walking around. All kinds of them from the attractive genetically gifted like myself to the 'I sure hope they aren't breeding' kind of folk. I also noticed some arabs speaking in in their native tongues and they seem to have a negative effect on me as I tend to get very angry. Not because of islam but because I naturally seem to loathe their kind.
Also some teens who asked me how much they paid me to stand in the cold ringing a bell virtually begging for money for OTHER PEOPLE!? I politely let them know that I was not getting paid and that I rather enjoyed it. On the good side, I was the recipient of a lot of Merry Christmas's from random nice folks, the kind you want living on your street. You know, normal, nice, and they most likely take care of their lawns. That says a lot about them.


Been doing this for thirteen years now and it never gets old. I truly love it.


Merry Christmas.

You are doing the Lord's work. God bless you and your family.  Have a Merry Christmas.

[Swishypants]

People who don't EDGE their lawns when they mow should be shot in the asshole!

[21st Century Man]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC_oAHaWMto

[21st Century Man]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Z6sNCMvhc

[Dr. MD MD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xNuUEnh2g

[Rix Gins]

https://youtu.be/AEfo61CQnfI

[K_Dubb]

https://youtu.be/AEfo61CQnfI

Oh cool, Rix!  I've never heard of this guy; he seems to be a sort of Oregonian (unless I'm mistaken that's the capitol building) Philip Aaberg, whose "Christmas on the Highline" has been a favorite since I was little.  And he has a couple Christmas cds, what joy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GNS2R-I1dU

[Swishypants]

Santa Claus has GREEN GLOVES! Everybody know dat! And what's with this Father Christmas, bathrobe bullshit? Giving children candy with no pants on is Dr. Mexican pedo territory!

[pyewacket]

No more doctor's appointments until after New Year's, so I thought I'd join you all for a bit and post about the old tradition of ghost stories for Christmas.

Here's a good site that covers this subject.

"Christmas Spirits- Part I"

http://www.hypnogoria.com/html/ghoststoriesforchristmas.html

I am finding more of them on Youtube that I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPs0ecmfSvA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muJyiMMAfTk

[Up All Night]

Let it Snow !!!

[Up All Night]

My favorite rendition of the Carol of the Bells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha3bdBpYfxA

[21st Century Man]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBD_Hgbykog

[K_Dubb]

My favorite rendition of the Carol of the Bells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha3bdBpYfxA

Good taste!  That is a particularly gorgeous cd, with a lot of the French carols I know only from the instrumental noels by Charpentier, Corrette and Delalande.

[Swishypants]

 

[Gd5150]

https://youtu.be/pt4OnY-dTCA

[K_Dubb]

Sibelius actually wrote 5 Christmas carols as his Opus 1.  For some reason they're not too popular outside of Finland.  This is perhaps the most well-known, though usually in its roughly contemporary Swedish version, which I've endeavored to translate into verse.  I guess because of all the syllables in Finnish the Swedish text is a little more dense and adds the strikingly modern-sounding part about a guardian angel, änglavakt, literally an angel-watch, but I can't find a good rhyme for that so I borrowed somebody else's solution.  I sincerely apologize for God/sod but this stuff is harder than it looks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi8Imt6P5iM

Give me no splendor, gold, or pride
To celebrate His birth;
I ask but for an angel-guide
And peace to men on earth.
Let's lay a feast and give our best;
The King we prayed for is our guest.
Give me no splendor, gold, or pride;
Give me an angel-guide.

The children ring, with joyful sound,
The spruce on native sod;
Though darkness gathers all around,
Our light's the Word of God.
O, let me live, my conscience clear,
With sturdy faith and hope and cheer!
Give me a home on native sod
Lit by the Word of God.

To rich and poor, to high and low,
Come, holy Christmas peace.
To children playing in the snow
Give warmth that will not cease.
O from Thy ancient bounty bring
These gifts! O come, my Lord and King,
To rich and poor, to high and low,
And children in the snow.

[starrmtn001]

This is a live stream.  It should run continuously through the season.


https://youtu.be/ZNpvj5i_GRw

[starrmtn001]

http://realitysandwich.com/238049/shaman-claus-the-shamanic-origins-of-christmas/


Santa was a shaman and his sack of goodies was a sack of mushrooms.

Aldous?                I KNEW IT!!!

[albrecht]

Sibelius actually wrote 5 Christmas carols as his Opus 1.  For some reason they're not too popular outside of Finland.  This is perhaps the most well-known, though usually in its roughly contemporary Swedish version, which I've endeavored to translate into verse.  I guess because of all the syllables in Finnish the Swedish text is a little more dense and adds the strikingly modern-sounding part about a guardian angel, änglavakt, literally an angel-watch, but I can't find a good rhyme for that so I borrowed somebody else's solution.  I sincerely apologize for God/sod but this stuff is harder than it looks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi8Imt6P5iM

Give me no splendor, gold, or pride
To celebrate His birth;
I ask but for an angel-guide
And peace to men on earth.
Let's lay a feast and give our best;
The King we prayed for is our guest.
Give me no splendor, gold, or pride;
Give me an angel-guide.

The children ring, with joyful sound,
The spruce on native sod;
Though darkness gathers all around,
Our light's the Word of God.
O, let me live, my conscience clear,
With sturdy faith and hope and cheer!
Give me a home on native sod
Lit by the Word of God.

To rich and poor, to high and low,
Come, holy Christmas peace.
To children playing in the snow
Give warmth that will not cease.
O from Thy ancient bounty bring
These gifts! O come, my Lord and King,
To rich and poor, to high and low,
And children in the snow.

I imagine the translating from Finnish into Swedish and still try to match the music is a tougher challenge since the languages are different roots. As we all know from frequent C2C and radio caller Bill From Madison the Finns are an odd lot and sort of out of place surrounded by Germanic or Slavic languages.
ps: I like the sentiment about the "children playing in the snow."

[Rix Gins]

Oh cool, Rix!  I've never heard of this guy; he seems to be a sort of Oregonian (unless I'm mistaken that's the capitol building) Philip Aaberg, whose "Christmas on the Highline" has been a favorite since I was little.  And he has a couple Christmas cds, what joy!
https://youtu.be/AEfo61CQnfI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GNS2R-I1dU

Good eye, K.  That is indeed the state capital building located at Salem, Oregon.  John lives due north from there at a town called West Linn, Or., just outside of Portland.  Or rather I should say 'my dear friend' John Nilsen, especially whenever I assume my Richard Hoagland persona..."My dear friend Arthur C. Clarke."  I came across John once, many years ago at the local mall, happily playing away at his piano.  I stopped to listen to a couple of his songs before he stood up and announced that it was 'break time.'  I purchased his new CD and he signed it.  So there, Mr. Hoagland...and just how many autographed items did you acquire from the late Arthur C.? 
http://www.johnnilsen.com/johnnilsen.html

[Up All Night]

Favorite Christmas Party Music from Boots Randolph:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p41vjJLKYdc

[Up All Night]

Arthur Fielder and the Boston Pops perform Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL8e0ZRuzmU

[Up All Night]

The Harry Simeone Chorale

The Little Drummer Boy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b05N20Q3JG4

Do You Hear What I Hear ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADj-Ru3JQp0