Happy Yule!!

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays!!

Today is December 21st. It is the Winter Solstice (In the Northern Hemisphere), also known as Yule!!

Today is the celebration of the birthday of the new Sun King!!

So, Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Quanza, Happy Chaunakah, Happy ChristmaChaunaQuanzica....

Happy Holidays!!


***I am posting a link to some info regarding Yule....for anyone who may be interested in understanding a bit about it. This is not meant to convert folks...to say that one belief or faith is better than another...or to pick fights. This is merely info for people who like to learn about different faiths/customs.

There may be certain ways things are stated in this info that could be offensive to folks...but I did not write it and I do not intend for it to offend. If you don't want to read...you don't have to. You don't have to accept it...you don't have to like it. It is what it is. I will not be offended if you don't read it.

If you do find it too offensive....please let me know and I will remove the link. Or contact a mod and they can remove it.

http://www.spiritual.com.au/articles...le-nichols.htm

Happy Yule everyone!!!

May all of of enjoy this season as you choice to celebrate it. May the spirit of all things bring peace and harmony into your hearts and lives.

Thanks to those who responded, and to those of you who took time to read!!

I was a little disappointed that more people either chose not to read, or not to at least share the sentiment of the Holiday Season and wish those of us that do practice a different faith some cheer.

Not that I need it, but it would have been nice to hear from others who, although they do not practice this faith, could share warm thoughts and feelings with those they do not agree with or do not understand.

I think there is a lot of fear in this world that is mixed up in all the different faiths. The main reason for this post was to make an attempt to move past that fear and foster tolerance.

It got two responses and 18 hits so far from folks that have viewed it so I would say it was successful.

To those who chose not to view or read it....I wish you Happy Holidays and hope that one day you will be more open to learning about and acknowledging other people's faiths, without fear.

Blessed Be!!

My husband is Muslim but we still celebrate Christmas because it's fun for the girls and I grew up with it. I do think we need to be sensitive to the fact that not all people celebrate 'Christmas'. If I don't know for sure what exact holiday someone celebrates then I just go for the generic wish of 'Happy holidays'. Thanks for the good wishes ((Elysium)) and Happy Holidays to you and all the PC members.

I read your thread and post, Elysium, as I aways read your posts because I find them full of wonderful thoughts, wisdom, entertainment, wit, charm and love.

This post was no different. However, in my life right now, Christmas is overshadowed by recent sorrows including the news that the midwest is expecting an icestorm followed by a snowstorm which will likely make it impossible for my son's father to drive him the 98 miles to Wichita to the airport so he can come here for Christmas.

There are no decorations up this year because we've been traveling so I haven't been able to get into the spirit. Hubby just put his mum to rest yesterday in England and will fly home on Christmas day.

So, I hope you understand that sometimes, circumstances make it difficult to celebrate the holiday season.

(formerly Vickie in Phoenix)

Sorry to hear that (((Vickie))) and I'm afraid I feel the same way, but for different reasons. Things are very bad financially for us and thank God a nice friend sent the girls a $100 dollars each and my brother sent them 50. I have 1 $20 gift for the youngest and nothing for the older daughter yet. I have to actually borrow a bit from each of them, and later reimburse them - to buy something for them. My heart isn't in it, but I don't want to ruin it for them. I keep telling myself, it's really not the money that makes Christmas- but they usually have at least 5 gifts. The holidays are bitter-sweet for people who are struggling with mental illness or financial problems. I hope it works out for you Vickie

I know of what you speak...I think this is the first time in many years finances haven't been strained for us this time of year. Yet, anyone would probably fall over if I revealed how much money the trips to and from England have set us back. As he got older, my son, for whatever reason, asked for less and less as his "special requests" at Christmas time. This year, it was only one thing. Even though I never felt that my son was "deprived" of anything, no matter how much I could or couldn't afford to spend on him, I always felt like I impressed upon him the value of what he did have and that he knew that he was privileged to have what he had. The only proof I had was that he took care of his belongings. He was the only 9 year old with a cell phone in his school. The reason was, I couldn't walk down our driveway to find him. So, he had one at a very young age. And he never lost it! Not until he was 13 and jumped into a swimming pool with it in his pocket! Then he was "punished" by having to use an old one until we could afford to replace his.

I'm sure your girls will appreciate everything they receive and will love this holiday as much as all the others. It's us parents that always sweat the details!

[quote=Elysium;1233062]Wishing everyone Happy Holidays!!

Sorry Elysium...
I have just read your post... but better late than never..
Yule Tidings.

Blessed Be
HazyDazy

Here they still call it Yule, Jul. At his point they used to try to getrid of all the perishables that couldn't makeit through to spring. So from really early on up here, it has been a huge comsumer, yep! consumer holiday. Plenty of old stories of folks eating themselves to death. Strange, isn't it. They also used to have midvinterblott about now. It was a less pleasent aspect of solstice, sadly.
We get lots of chances to think about such things, as there are scattered graves from the bronze and early iron age scattered around the farm and the village nearby, not to mention some old "box" graves. I think a lot about the people who lived here once, about how it is not unlikely that they have links to my sons.
GOD JUL, Elysium! May the New year bring you joy!

Well, we sent Father Christmas an email this year, telling him that we had no tree for him to hang our gift on, unfortunately, due to unforseen circumstances. However, tomorrow, on Boxing Day, we will be going to our daughter and son-in-law's house to enjoy turkey, ham, brussels, new potatoes with rosemary, deviled eggs, Christmas cake, plenty of wine (no doubt) apple and sweet potato pie and who knows what else. It's impossible to get a decent Stilton in this country so forget that. We'll make do with whatever we can dig up.

My contribution is always a homemade deep dish apple pie which my step daughter always requests. My son-in-law is an amazing cook and tends to venture into the exotic so sometimes it's a bit interesting. Of course, we always have crackers and everyone is required to wear the funny paper hats. We do try to do it as English as possible but it is hard to find so many of the things here in Phoenix and I do not know how to make marzipan frosting. I guess that will be my next big challenge in life. Then will come the yule log.

I pick up my husband and son tonight at the airport, their planes arrive two minutes apart at two different terminals! Not sure how the logictics of that will work but we'll figure out something.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Oh my....that all sounds soooooooo yummy!! Can I come?

I hope your Son and Husband had good flights and they got in safe. And I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!

I just wanted to say I actually had one of the nicer Christmas's, even though I was worried about the money. The girls were great in understanding, there wasn't going to be the same amount of gifts, compared to other years. It was alot less stress not having as many gifts to buy and wrap.