~July 2007 K-1 Filers~

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Excuse me! But Thanksgiving should be about giving thanks cuz that´s what what the name says What sort of a tradition is that for men to sit and watch a game of handball (cuz let´s face it...american football has really little to do with football cuz they really play with a crooked ball and hands )

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

In CZ the main Xmas day is actually the 24th. We do our traditions, feed animals in the forest, festive dinner, carol singing, let the Xmas tree sparkle, open pressies in the evening, cut the apple to see if we are going to stay healthy, put candles in halves of empty nutshells and it swims on water, etc. It´s such a magical evening.

And we celebrate Baby Jesus not Santa Claus cuz Santa Claus is actually Saint Nicholas (coming from Italy - he used to secretly give gifts to people who needed it). St Nicholas´s name is actually written in the CZ calendar on 5th December and he goes into the streets on 6th December with Angel and Devil and visits children and checks if they were good all year and they usually sing him something or tell a poem and if they were good they get some candies or little thingies like that and sometimes the devil gives them a bag of coals if they weren´t behaving nicely I guess that idea in American culture is represented by the Xmas stocking...but I don´t know why in USA they combine Santa Claus (St Nicholas) and Baby Jesus in one holiday cuz it´s not.

It´s kinda sad that Santa Claus is a made up caricature (the way it looks) maybe about a hundred years old and it´s invading the Czech "Xmas market" and media are trying to put this image into children´s heads and some of them already think that that´s what the Baby Jesus looks like ...a fat old man in a red coat

After all Xmas is supposed to be Christian holiday to celebrate Baby Jesus´s birth and if there should be any gift giving then it should be done (like it is in Italy) at the beginning of January (I think it´s the 6th) which is when the Three Kings came to visit Baby Jesus and brought him gifts.

So Xmas should really just be about spending time with your loved ones and I guess it´s up to everyone how much they let the commercialism into their lives. It would be nice for Scott to spend the time with you Rachel but he is stubborn so he probly won´t but I am sure you will have fun anyways

[StillThePrettiest 4]

welcome back, OJ

*hug*

I am with you one thousand percent on the proper celebration of Christmas... NO ONE does it like the Europeans

I've never been so fortunate to spend a Christmas in CZ but I have spent two in Germany... they have lovely traditions too

and, believe it or not, our package got there *gasp* and we received NOA1s (three, in separate envelopes your $1010 at work ) in less time than seems to be the average... I keep TRYING to mess with my life but it doesn't work

biometrics on Saturday

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

MARTA!! Glad to see you!! Thanks for your nice comment, and yes I'm trying to stay positive =] Going to NY on Sunday for a week, cannot wait!

How is your tummy doing? =]

That was a beautiful description of Christmas, and sadly my oh-so-American family does the typical million gift giving extravaganza. It was refreshing when I met Adriano and he told me that they don't even really give gifts. Sometimes they get like a fruit basket from a friend or boss, but even that isn't so common. The down side is that I will probably never get a Christmas gift from him, but I am okay with that. Oh yea, he still doesn't believe that we celebrate Christmas on the 25th and not the 24th, he just doesn't get it. I guess we will have to make him a believer this year!

I like Thanksgiving better than Christmas, because it is really all about family, giving thanks and of course, eating. I am really excited to spend Adriano's first Thanksgiving with him and my entire family. We go out to eat (a cardinal sin, I know) for Thanksgiving, so there is fortunately no football watching. My grandpa was a career Army/Navy/National Guard man, so we all go out to a nice catered restaurant at the army base in Brooklyn (if you're reading, Rae, it's Fort Hamilton). Afterwards we go to my aunt's house for our second serving of dessert ('cake and coffee').

Edited October 14, 2008 by BabyBlueSusie

[Jeraly 4]

Excuse me! But Thanksgiving should be about giving thanks cuz that´s what what the name says What sort of a tradition is that for men to sit and watch a game of handball (cuz let´s face it...american football has really little to do with football cuz they really play with a crooked ball and hands )

I agree with you on the football thing!!! Oh! And for those interested (and tbh I can't imagine anyone who would be interested not making it themselves) but they have marzipan and cranberry Stollen in World Market

I think Christmas has become amazingly commercial. I am not a religious person but that is why to me it is about spending time with family - sometimes it is the only time of year that I see some of them. I think as an adult it is important to remember how Christmas originated and when we have kids we will try to teach them about different religions and celebrations so they can learn to be open-minded and decide for themselves what they want to believe.

Saying that, one of the best Christmases I remember was when we went to midnight mass (when we were younger - it was so exciting staying up so late!) and we all had candles and sang carols. I love Christmas carols and have done since I was in school (CofE so had lots of hymns and carols!). I was Christened as a kid but really just like to be open-minded about all religions. I don't think it is that I don't believe, just that I don't want to pigeon-hole myself

Now I am going to have to see where they do midnight mass - we have a church at the end of our road so it would be a really nice thing to do

*dances off to look up mass and Christmas pudding recipes...*

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

I think this year I shouldn´t really be making many plans for Xmas I will pack my hospital bag and wait But I know myself so I know I won´t just sit around and wait So we will see

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Oh btw...there´s no sign of Xmas in Europe yet. I was surprised that I got back here and they are already selling Xmas cards, decorations, cookies and stuff. I was all in that autumn leaves turning colours, leaves falling setting and was ready for the pumpkins and scaries and go into the store and it´s jingle bells, jingle bells Funny Now let´s start shopping for Valentine´s Day

[*julez* 124]

I think this year I shouldn´t really be making many plans for Xmas I will pack my hospital bag and wait But I know myself so I know I won´t just sit around and wait So we will see

You forgot that you're have the baby on my birthday Jan. 4th, so you'll be able to enjoy the holidays! I don't mind if you name him Julian in my honor!

[Jeraly 4]

Hehehe - I haven't found a whole lot of Christmas stuff here yet - it is still mainly hallowe'en and Thanksgiving but then in the UK I started buying presents really early on to make sure I had enough money to buy everyone something. Of course, here there is always something major going on so it is a little more difficult to get wrapped up in early Christmas shopping - especially as Jeremy doesn't worry about it until after Thanksgiving I think I am going to have to start something soon...

I have a kitten that keeps trying to attack my butt while I am sat on the chair - it is really painful!

[Jeraly 4]

Yay! I just got a parcel from my mum with Worcestershire Sauce, gravy granules, tuc biscuits, lots of oxo cubes, garlic puree etc. I am soooo excited!! Yippee!!!

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

Wahoo! Case transferred to CSC yesterday!!

[*julez* 124]

That is some good news Susie! Congrats!!

[Jeraly 4]

Great news Susie!!! I still can't even see anything online - boo!!!!

Also must be a weight off your mind - if you don't have an interview then it makes things with Adriano moving a little easier :dance:

[StillThePrettiest 4]

Aly, I've found Heinz Worcestershire at the 99c Only Store... I'm sure it's available here if you have a look

[Jeraly 4]

Nope - all I can find is the American Lea & Perrins with the HFCS in I think I even found some of that in the 99c store But no heinz... But now I have a big bottle of the good stuff and a backup bottle of the HFCS American stuff I don't think we'll be running out for a while