[Potironette]

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 =.=;;

[trystan830]

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

[Potironette]

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.

[trystan830]

yep yep!

[Lawtan]

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

[trystan830]

Originally Posted by Lawtan

Essentially all in the time from Dec. 21-28

accurate. =)

[Potironette]

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

[Tam I am]

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

[trystan830]

and what actually is that, tam?

[Tam I am]

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

[Lawtan]

*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.

[trystan830]

heh that sounds awesome, Tam

[Tam I am]

XD

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

[Lawtan]

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

[Tam I am]

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?

[Lawtan]

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