What's the difference between Christmas and Yule? I didn't realize Yule was a holiday until now.

Xalneas and the pollyanna thing sound really nice and warm <3

My mother doesn't like Christmas because she thinks that decorating and giving gifts is too much of a fuss. I don't celebrate Christmas because I don't really have anyone to give presents to...I mean, I have my family, but other than my sister I don't have anyone I'd be happy in giving a present to =.=;;

well that sounds pretty cool, Ari!

edit: Xmas is an Xian construct, really. it celebrates Jesus' birth. Yule celebrates the return of the sun - it's the winter solstice, the first day of winter - which is the longest night. after that, the days get longer - the return of the sun. some people burn a Yule log all night, to ensure that the sun will, in fact, return. seasonal greens are brought inside to decorate the house. and gifts can be exchanged as well

Ohh that's really interesting! I knew Xmas was Christian (Xian means Christian...right?) but had no idea anything other than Chanukah was celebrated around the time.

yep yep!

Old Norse: Dísablót - Valkyrie/Disa's Celebration (sacrificial/religious)

Roman: Saturnalia - Saturn/Chronus's Feast (sacrificial/gift-giving/festival)

Anglo-Saxon: Mōdraniht - Mother's Night (sacrificial festival)

Germanic Celts: Yule - Winter Solstice (gift-giving/festival)

Alternative celebrations: Kwanzaa (African-American), Mawlid (Islam), St. Stephen's Day/Boxing Day (Christian)

Essentially all in the time from Dec. 21-28

accurate. =)

Oh wow, that's really cool. So many holidays around that time of the year! There's something special about the winter solstice :o

Trys, have you ever tried doing like the Munsters do?

and what actually is that, tam?

Ohh. They do a tree and stuff. With cobwebs and skulls on it. And they invite the family for a meal.

*Adds to ideas...like having a long-living tree as an outdoor tree for Christmas and all instead pf cutting down trees every year...maybe a Holly Tree - see modified Holly Bush - would work...but you'd have to make sure kids wouldn't eat the berries.

heh that sounds awesome, Tam

XD

Law, now I want Runa. Why? Because it's made from the leaves of an edible, and caffeinated, holly bush.

Well, that sounds like a giving tree, indeed. xD

...
*Watches a series of wildfires in nearby counties.
Alright, who ordered the three months of no rain? *mumbles about those wacky teens like an old person.

(Not worried - it's not an uncontrollable fire at the moment, but according to some news, it seems some folk are determined to burn America down before tomorrow) xD

Giving tree. Guyusa is nearly good enough! It's gotten my diabetic brother's blood sugar in control.

...They trying to outdo our Fort MacMurry thing?

I don't know. Probably not - probably just my state being idiots and ignoring the current ban on open fires.