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Americans are rich. Everybody gets presents.
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Click here if you're having trouble sleeping.
"We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones." - François de La Rochefoucauld -
I read a library book--"The Battle for Christmas"--describing how the holiday was essentially remade in the New York in the early 1800s. Prior to that point, it had been a period of enforced benevolence to the poor, where gangs of drunks went from rich house to rich house singing and demanding booze, good food and other gifts. Essentially a Christianized version of Saturnalia that let the poor let off steam, but it often got out of hand and was at times suppressed by the authorities, especially in New England. When the landed gentry lifestyle disappeared, the holiday lost what charm it had. St. Nicholas, etc. were largely introduced to create a new, family-centered Christmas. By this account, the St. Nick traditions overseas developed independently; in both cases he was chosen because he was the most prominent Saint with a feast day in December. Also, he's strongly associated with New York.
Or so I read. The book was boring and repetitive, but it seemed to make a strong case.Comment
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Wait a second. People still eat candy? I thought it was only used for decoration. Why would anyone eat that crap?“As a lifelong member of the Columbia Business School community, I adhere to the principles of truth, integrity, and respect. I will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”
"Capitalism ho!"Comment
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Oh. Yeah. That's weird.Originally posted by Nikolai View PostClick here if you're having trouble sleeping.
"We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones." - François de La RochefoucauldComment
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You don't say if you were invited over Sparky?Originally posted by Uncle Sparky View PostAny views I may express here are personal and certainly do not in any way reflect the views of my employer. Tis the rising of the moon..
Look, I just don't anymore, okay?Comment
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hockey tickets!In Soviet Russia, Fake borises YOU.Comment
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Getting gifts from Santa takes all the guilt and embarrassment out of Christmas gifts. Your parents may have had to turn the thermostat down to 64F all winter to be able to afford to buy you that new shiny piece of plastic, but Santa just hired some elves to build it! You're not bleeding your loved one's dry (or giving them hypothermia) ... you're a job creator!Comment
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Hiking shoes, a digital camera, a Retron 5, and a gallon of 99% isopropyl alcohol."Comment
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Family is always welcome... isn't that the same in Oz?Originally posted by Alexander's Horse View Post
There's nothing wrong with the dream, my friend, the problem lies with the dreamer.Comment
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What did I get for Christmas?
Ben was banned.“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)Comment
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Was he really? That is an Xmas gift we can all enjoy.
Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.Comment
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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)Comment
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My favorite thing for Christmas is complaining about my gifts. This year, however, people cornered me into making a Christmas list. It's a little insincere to gripe about things you chose yourself. And if there's anything I want from my complaints, it's that they are sincere.
Now, my grandmother is reliable for getting me terrible gifts. In fact, since she wasn't with us for Christmas, my family hid her gift from me, so that I wouldn't be able to comment on it. I would have none of that and demanded to get my present from my beloved grandmother. She got me a calculator.
Last edited by DaShi; December 29, 2014, 18:21.“As a lifelong member of the Columbia Business School community, I adhere to the principles of truth, integrity, and respect. I will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”
"Capitalism ho!"Comment
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I bought a wafflemaker for my sister to give my wife as a present, so that my wife could make me waffles on Boxing Day.One day Canada will rule the world, and then we'll all be sorry.Comment
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