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Post by lagatta on Dec 4, 2016 14:29:33 GMT
I hate Christmas too. It used to make me almost physically ill, especially the tacky music and fake sentiment. I've reached a point where it just seems like something going on out there, and the fact that many people have a week off work means I can get together with friends who are often too busy. Often I make a paella, or vaguely Southeast Asian seafood. It is the Winter Solstice after all.
Gabriele, it is often easier to take in "another" culture; it was funny for me to be in Amsterdam then, though frankly Black Peter... I've never found Paris particulary "foreign", but one think I've always appreciated when there is how low-key Christmas is. The department store displays are pretty much restricted to that shopping neighbourhood where I've rarely been. Though perhaps that has changed, I haven't been there at the Solstice for quite a while, except for a very brief visit to a friend (who is a secular Jew, by the way) on my way home from Amsterdam...
"Hot wine"? 1) Why is it in English, for tourists? 2) Shouldn't that be "mulled wine" in English? Hot wine sounds very strange, and not very nice.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 18:28:24 GMT
"Hot wine"? 1) Why is it in English, for tourists? 2) Shouldn't that be "mulled wine" in English? Hot wine sounds very strange, and not very nice. I doubt if even 10% of the English speakers of the world know what "mulled wine" is -- and I would assume that the vast majority of them are from cold countries. On the other hand, "hot wine" informs every person who speaks English as to what they will be getting if they ask for some. I myself was not familiar with the term "to mull" so I looked it up: to grind or mix thoroughly I don't think this would help most people to understand that they would be getting heated spiced wine. I came to Any Port looking for something for a poster on Thorn Tree going to be in Paris over the holidays, and found this! What a great thing to offer them! Not that I'm not enjoying the visit myself... I do appreciate the delicacy of the all white display. I think sometimes one can capture peoples' attention and sympathy more with beauty than with factual pictures which make them feel guilty. In this case, I hope so. I am glad to be useful sometimes, and I am sorry that I do not visit the Thorn Tree as often as I should. After all, it is because of the Thorn Tree (and its unfortunate downfall) that this site exists. As for "hating" Christmas, I could never do that, but I understand the feeling in countries that overdo it. I will readily admit that Christmas music makes my skin crawl. Syrupy, goopy, unbearably sweet songs piped into every single public place that you can imagine, and of course what makes it even worse it that it is the same songs over and over and over again. It might not be so horrible if there were more variety, but I kind of doubt it. In France, I really like Christmas simply because it is so secular and open to everybody. The decorations simply inaugurate a period of about 50 days when you can eat special foods and say nicer things to strangers. I appreciate very much the fact that the less "observant" Jews and Muslims of France have no problem at all putting up Christmas trees and decorations and making sure that Santa Claus brings wonderful things to their children. In France, it is a holiday that concentrates on "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men" and doesn't worry about the religious mumbo jumbo, which doesn't bother me either, since it is peaceful and full of good will. I like going into the churches and seeing the crèches and know that there will not be a baby in the manger until December 25. There is absolutely nothing evil about this holiday. How can anybody "hate" Christmas? I have been in Islamic countries and Hindu countries and Chinese countries during the various festive times, and I have always found them wonderful. I think it requires a very bitter heart to disdain the fact that other people are celebrating something important and peaceful.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 19:50:22 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Dec 4, 2016 20:15:52 GMT
That was an odd thing to say, K2. I know lots of people who can't abide Christmas, and they aren't bitter or nasty people. It is true that it is less overwhelming in France than in many other places, which is a very good thing. And certainly not everyone there, whether nominally Christian, Jewish or Muslim, has a tree and gets into Père Noël. Whenever I was there, we ate, drank and exchanged gifts, but they were from people.
I'm rather stunned by such a reaction to what was a simple opinion, or rather, feeling. Do you think I didn't appreciate the trouble you went to to do this lovely photo essay? I appreciate it very much, and thank all the anyporters for their efforts.
Mulled wine (Oxford): usually as adjective mulled
Warm (an alcoholic drink, especially wine or beer) and add sugar and spices to it: ‘a glass of mulled wine’
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 21:09:40 GMT
I did not mean it to sound like an attack, but I have seen numerous people here and elsewhere say that they "hate" Christmas. While I do understand that this is just shorthand for saying "I hate the way Christmas celebrations are totally overdone and commercialised (etc.)" rather than expressing (I hope) "I totally despise the fact that people are celebrating an occasion when I want to feel mean and bitter about life," it does grate on me quite a bit that people find it necessary or desirable to define themselves in negative terms. So often here I see that when somebody says they like something, whether the subject is sweet treats, a favourite television programme or a country to visit, rather than abstaining from saying something negative, there are many people who feel obliged to say that they hate sugar, disdain the concept of owning a television or have a complete lack of interest in certain countries.
I am not completely innocent of making this sort of comment from time to time, generally thoughtlessly, but I fear that people often use these sorts of statements to express their superiority, wiser lifetyle choices or just are slying saying "fuck you; you're an idiot." Merry Christmas.
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Post by gabriele on Dec 4, 2016 21:23:34 GMT
Funny, I posted my comments and went back to TT to finish off the post...Santa Ana winds here (some say Santana) cut off the power just enough that I lost the internet. Rewriting the post, I know they'll enjoy it all the more now that it's grown to two pages. On the man who declared he hated Christmas: The market is owned by Armenians (definitely into Christmas) but the wealth of foodstuffs available brings in a very ethnically diverse group of shoppers including people from the Balkans and Eastern Europe. I've read some on the history of the conflicts in the Balkans his reasons could be grounded in his faith, his lack of faith (communist) or his dislike of another faith. I had mentioned that I really appreciated the way France approached it. It was cultural and if it was religious, then it was a personal matter, not a matter for the state to be concerned with. I think people (in the US, from the US) who dislike Christmas have unhappy family experiences of that holiday.
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Post by breeze on Dec 4, 2016 21:43:32 GMT
I get tired of Christmas here in the US because it starts too early. Right after the stores take down Halloween decorations, skipping right over Thanksgiving because only the supermarkets really get into that holiday, Christmas decorations and music begin to flood the stores. Crappy Christmas music at that. People start to decorate the outsides of their homes with lights. They populate their yards with plastic Santas and elves and creches. The latest thing is inflatable lawn figures that are kept inflated by a blower, but not 24 hours a day, so that when you drive by in the morning you see Santa and his reindeer collapsed on the lawn as if they'd been on a bender.
We saw one creche scene where Santa was kneeling by the manger, cap in hand.
About half an hour's drive from here is a house that can probably be seen from the moon. I often wonder about the January electric bills of people who pile on the lights.
A very small town near here puts out about 2 miles of luminarias (re-using plastic gallon jugs) on Christmas eve along the main street, the bypass, and up the hill. We drive through with our lights off and it's magical.
Now I feel I have to add that I had wonderful Christmases as a child. I've been over Christmas excess for many years. Just like coca-cola and bluegrass music, one day I'd had enough.
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Post by lagatta on Dec 4, 2016 21:48:26 GMT
In my case, it is more that I find Christmas a VERY depressing time of year, and this is far more common than some might think. I remember my mother confiding to me (like a dark secret) how much she hated Christmastime, and the foreboding she felt at the approach of the season. Now I create a little fuzzy space for myself and my cat, and friends of course. We find positive ways to cope.
Hmm, I'd never answer a comment about a favourite TV show by saying I don't have a TV (I don't, but with modern computers that is no longer even an issue) but as for the sugar thing, it is more a reaction to people talking about how much they LOVE sweet treats (often in sort of a baby voice, even though they are over 30) with the insinuation that everybody feels the same and MUST feel the same. I don't have any problem with people liking sweets. Just don't inflict them on me, except for 90% dark chocolate, of course... I certainly buy little cakes and pastries for sugar-loving friends who come to visit. Leave me my stinky cheese; it is just as fattening.
Gabriele, that is not restricted to people from or in the US. It might be inflated in some places by advertising hoopla - and not only in the States.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 23:03:17 GMT
I totally agree that the completely commercial aspect of the holiday can be tiring/irritating/intolerable. But I don't find it depressing because I am still happy to see other people -- especially children -- happy to see all of the decorative aspects of the holiday. When I remember my own childhood, I know that even just a string of coloured lights can make a kid happy. If I ever forget that, I'll be ready to die.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 4, 2016 23:16:48 GMT
Nothing intelligent to add except that this is sooooooo pretty -- really fun to look at.
A question: in the last picture in #32, are the lights making some kind of 3D effect, or are those transparent panels? Either way, it's very effective.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 23:21:50 GMT
Those are luminous panels placed on the building. I sort of wanted to get more effects in the video version, but the sequence of effects was so long that it never got back to what I wanted to show before my patience ran out.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 5, 2016 12:17:01 GMT
I'm with you Kerouac on the children's appreciation of all that's sparkly about Xmas. My long deceased cousin used to insist his parents wake him when passing a large monkey puzzle tree that was permanently decorated with the old large coloured light bulbs and stood in the front of a roadside hotel. When they had been out to dinner he would fall asleep but roused just before reaching the tree. He was only 2 or 3 years old and called it his Kiffin tree. My dear grandson's have already had some of their large Xmas gifts and are enjoying them. I am packing up a carton of toys - long ago abonned - with clothing and shoes that no longer fit and are hardly worn - and depositing it with some children I saw playing on the sidewalk outside an old house not far from my shop. I might have to make several trips around the block if they are not there when I pass. I want to give it to them not their parents who may secretly sell the stuff.....I'm such a suspicious person
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Post by mossie on Dec 5, 2016 19:37:10 GMT
Very good Tod.
Now the "hating Christmas" theme. i hate the commercialisation of it, which goes on for so long that it must spoil a large part of the magic for children. I also hate the fact that we have abandoned Guy Fawkes and substituted the totally American concepts of Thanksgiving, followed by black Friday. The Americans were giving thanks for having escaped these shores, so it should not concern us, and black Friday is simply an excuse for stores to whip up a false sense of giving something back, when in fact they are disposing of their mistakes and junk.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 6, 2016 14:09:40 GMT
I am exhausted! Decided not to wait handing out the clothes and toys. I only made a small dent into hauling out discarded Ninja Turtles that talk, heaps of Lego -( it was so darn expensive but will be shown new appreciation )- jigsaw puzzle, colouring books that have never been opened, and lots of old cars, cap guns etc. I stripped the entire wardrobe of TShirts and jackets and skinny jeans, blue jeans, black jeans...no shorts found unfortunately. All shoes except two pairs. Now, my dilemma began because when I found the children playing on the sidewalk this morning I noticed there were 5 girls! I thought there were only two so had bought two "Barbie" dolls and two little summer dresses. The screams of delight nearly deafened me and I had to stop them invading the boxes - luckily their mother/aunt/gran appeared to see what the noise was about and fended them off. Tears of disappointment welled up in one of the girls so I calmed her down and promised to be back with more dolls. An hour later I delivered three more dolls, 5 hoola hoops, more soccer balls and soft tennis style ones with some crayons for the colouring-in books. More excited jumping up and down and screaming. When I looked up the huge dirt collection truck had parked his big bull-bar in front of me and was grinning through the window. Then he gave me a 'thums Up'. That made my day even though it was an excruciating 32C.
I'm not finished with them yet and want to drop off face clothes, toothbrushes and soap. Better add some candy too!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2016 14:35:28 GMT
That was a really excellent thing to do. But it is also obvious that you have too much stuff!
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Post by bjd on Dec 6, 2016 15:50:45 GMT
Good for you, Tod. You are giving directly to those who have nothing.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 7, 2016 12:08:24 GMT
When the grandsons lived with us and their dad they had all their clothes and toys here. They moved a year ago and lots of their stuff remained here for lack of space where they were. Slowly they have donned some clothes but now much of it was too small. The toys are accumulated over some years and are stored in big plastic bins. That definitely needs to be raided again.
I was approached by a member of staff today for a donation to their church who buys stuff for kids in homes etc., but I declined to give anything. My explanation was I had done my deed for the year and that is all I wanted to do.
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Post by lagatta on Dec 7, 2016 18:28:13 GMT
It is a lovely deed to do - for the little girls, and also gave a smile to the truck driver. Hope you have little sundresses or other summer clothes for the other wee girls too.
An Argentinian friend here will be heading back to her native country at the end of the month. She tries to spend the summer here ... and the summer there.
At Christmas, do you eat the rich but rather heavy early winter food of British and Dutch heritage, or more braai and summery things? In Argentina, the food from the main mother countries wasn't quite as northern (mostly northern Spain and northern Italy - but with far more red meat) but still a bit heavy for the summer heat. Nowadays a lot of Argentinians and Chileans hold Christmas and New Year's barbecues, according to my friends from the "Southern Cone".
By the way, as for this: no, I certainly don't wallow in feelings of: "I totally despise the fact that people are celebrating an occasion when I want to feel mean and bitter about life" (wouldn't that be horrid?) but what is funny is that such a sentiment would be the polar opposite of "Schadenfreude" I did think that logically it would be Gluckschmerz, but that doesn't seem to be a real German word (unless it has become one by back-formation, as rikita could confirm) but an invention by other non-Germans.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2016 20:10:07 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Dec 7, 2016 21:54:20 GMT
I think those decorations are very pretty, and go well with the architecture of that railway station (the one for journeys to Italy...) I'm sure the huge bauble on the floor can stand up to all the children who will be drawn to run through it!
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 7, 2016 22:54:07 GMT
Don't know why, but I didn't expect to see train stations decorated, and decorated in such a delicately pretty way. The interactive giant Christmas ball is just wonderful.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2016 23:06:55 GMT
Oh, the stations go all out with decorating. I'll show more soon.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 7, 2016 23:08:33 GMT
Okay!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2016 22:20:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2016 22:36:06 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Dec 13, 2016 23:20:29 GMT
Oh, that fish!
Of course the Alsatian Christmas market doesn't substitute for a trip to Strasbourg - or Colmar, but it seems very nice for Parisians.
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Post by fumobici on Dec 14, 2016 3:09:25 GMT
My favorites are the St. Quentin market and the station itself, whose decorations quite agree with me.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 14, 2016 4:30:27 GMT
Twinkly twinkly pretty fun! It all looks so festive. Perhaps Paris-Nord would prefer not to hear that their very elegant and attractive tree resembles The Shard. Actually, that trio of trees are probably my favorites in this whole thread of beautiful trees. You have an impressive market, although looking at how people are dressed, I realize that you were braving the cold to get these pictures. Hope you went home to a warm house and bit the head off a chocolate Santa.
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Post by lagatta on Dec 14, 2016 11:20:02 GMT
Yes, it is quite chilly in much of France this season. It had been similar temps here, but alas we'll have a couple of seriously cold days on Thursday and Friday. I intend to go out only if I'm working outside the house - and that is always near a métro station - If not I'll work here (on a work proposal for one thing) - and continue cleaning drawers, cupboards etc.
My friend who has spent the past months in Cuba is returning on the 20th (the cold snap should be over by then), and my friend from Argentina isn't leaving until the 1st, so we'll have some cosy times along with other friends, and I want a clean house. I'm NOT a tidy person! Not dirty, but you know, papers, books, art supplies etc... I've been working from Italian so I'll have to bump the old brain over to Spanish!
I have friends leaving for France - they are retired and have decent pensions - he is Québécois and she is from Colmar in Alsace (also a lovely city, smaller than Strasbourg). So they'll be in Paris where one of her sisters lives, and in Alsace where the other sister lives, in Strasbourg if I recall. Unfortunately the parents on both side have died, but I think they lived good long lives.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 14, 2016 15:33:31 GMT
It was lovely seeing the stations all decked out. I really appreciated the photos inside La Chapelle Market! In the second photo I seem to recognise the counter with the gentleman in the white coat leaning towards a customer - think we bought some cold meat and pate` for our hotel room picnic.
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