So, christmas is in a few months. What traditions do you have that are religious?

[mindfulzen]

So, I was thinking about christmas, and would like to know how you do it on 24th, possibly the sundays before. And the days after christmas. Anything significant for you? The days are getting shorter now, colder, bad weather, fall. I cannot wait. Was searching for a thread about christmas, but it came up a bunch of other threads about covid and stuff at the top, so we need a nice new positive thread about christmas. Something to look forward to. I have never celebrated christmas like that myself.

I Just used to watch the christmas cartoons and christmas movies they air in the morning on 24th. Then waiting around, and stressing with wrapping gifts, alternating in the bathroom, ironing clothes, getting dressed, waiting some more at the table or watching TV. Then eating some chicken legs or pork, while the rest of the people forcefeed themselves a disgusting poor mans soup because of tradition, talking about how good the soup was this year. Cabbage boiled for 6-8 hours, and steamed cabbage on the side. A total cost of 10 dollars to feed 6-8 people. My little dinner costs way more than theirs. Folks had little food here in the wintertime in older times, just cabbage and potatos it seems, and could fish some. So they also do a fishrap to dip in the soup, making it disgusting to the max. I would not feed that food to animals even, so 24th have been eating a meal along with people eating animalfood and lying about how tasty it is. No scripture, not a word about Jesus. Apart from some blasphemic jokes perhaps, when we watched the pope speaking later

So, this christmas I am doing the cartoons and usual christmas movies. But I will also watch the early mass they air from the church. Think I will add some religious movies, read some scripture. Much christmas music of course. Tree that I cut myself, much candles, pine branches around, because that smell is the smell of christmas. Then it is mass from the vatican at night. Do not really have anything else. Seems a bit empty. Do not know what I should cook either, fried chicken legs, potatos in gravy, with chilisause does not feel very christmasy. So, any good suggestions to meals too? I do not like fish. And what events to do during the day before dinner at 8. I do not ski or skate on ice. Do have a snowmobile. And also if there is some significant to mark in the following days

 

[Lynx]

Shorter and colder days? Man, here in west Tennessee late August is the single hottest part of the year. I'd LOVE shorter, colder days!


If you're watching the Pope on TV and attending Mass, I assume you are Catholic.

We're Pentecostal and we have a big ole family dinner in the evening on December 24th. At that time we exchange all the presents. In our family we love having family dinners - birthdays, holidays, random Sunday afternoons, anything can be a good excuse to have a family dinner - and winter is a fun time for us because it has plenty of excuses.

On Christmas morning we return for a big ole family breakfast with cheese-and-scrambled eggs, biscuits (that did NOT come from a can!) sausage, bacon, white gravy, maybe some chocolate gravy, all the good southern breakfast stuff. Oh yeah, and cheese grits. Everybody brings a $10 wrapped gift and we play Dirty Santa after breakfast. Then we go home and take a long nap.

What about this is religious? All of it. We're big believers in strong families here.

 

[Lynx]

Okay, okay, the part about taking a long nap may not be incredibly religious.

 

[mindfulzen]

Shorter and colder days? Man, here in west Tennessee late August is the single hottest part of the year. I'd LOVE shorter, colder days!


If you're watching the Pope on TV and attending Mass, I assume you are Catholic.

We're Pentecostal and we have a big ole family dinner in the evening on December 24th. At that time we exchange all the presents. In our family we love having family dinners - birthdays, holidays, random Sunday afternoons, anything can be a good excuse to have a family dinner - and winter is a fun time for us because it has plenty of excuses.

On Christmas morning we return for a big ole family breakfast with cheese-and-scrambled eggs, biscuits (that did NOT come from a can!) sausage, bacon, white gravy, maybe some chocolate gravy, all the good southern breakfast stuff. Oh yeah, and cheese grits. Everybody brings a $10 wrapped gift and we play Dirty Santa after breakfast. Then we go home and take a long nap.

What about this is religious? All of it. We're big believers in strong families here.

Hehe, so I am not pentacostal, good one bruh. You should drop some anger. Should I put you on the ignorelist? Or do you seek reporting? Think there are laws against cyberbullying.

 

[Lynx]

No anger involved. I was making an observation that you seem to be Catholic. I had not seen anywhere else you had mentioned being Catholic... though I do not see every post made on the forum, so you might have mentioned it in a thread I don't follow.

 

[tourist]

Hehe, so I am not pentacostal, good one bruh. You should drop some anger. Should I put you on the ignorelist? Or do you seek reporting? Think there are laws against cyberbullying.

Maybe Santa will put him on the naughty list.

 

[cinder]

Hehe, so I am not pentacostal, good one bruh. You should drop some anger. Should I put you on the ignorelist? Or do you seek reporting? Think there are laws against cyberbullying.

How is stating that you appear to be catholic and he is pentecostal angry or any sort of attack at all? Or do you have a problem with people who aren't catholic?

 

[mindfulzen]

How is stating that you appear to be catholic and he is pentecostal angry or any sort of attack at all? Or do you have a problem with people who aren't catholic?

That nick follows me in all threads making sly comments. It is the familybit and the foodthing. Since I have asked for some advice regarding former family that I have chopped off my familytree, and I really like fried chicken and other junkfood, which often comes up. Like in a thread about the cross or something yesterday, where mother Thersa was mentioned. I made a comment about assuming that she was not doing fasting in heaven, and probably wished for fried chicken, some other southern food, and pasteries and candy. I could reply to the religion part, I chose not to for that nick. Sometimes it is best to ignore. Otherwise the thread will be flooded with off topic nonsense. I am not catholic, orthodox. Religion is personal for me, not communal. But general question, not many orthodox here.

 

[mindfulzen]

How is stating that you appear to be catholic and he is pentecostal angry or any sort of attack at all? Or do you have a problem with people who aren't catholic?

I also chatted some in july, about celebrating halfchristmas with babaquefoods and christmas soda. Playing some christmas music and watching christmasconcerts. As I do now too, regarding the christmas albums. I love darlene love's christmas album and some other ones, play them all year. Since there are no concerts, some swedish artists have put out past christmas concerts this summer, to make up for not making money on touring.

 

[Lynx]

That nick follows me in all threads making sly comments. It is the familybit and the foodthing. Since I have asked for some advice regarding former family that I have chopped off my familytree, and I really like fried chicken and other junkfood, which often comes up. Like in a thread about the cross or something yesterday, where mother Thersa was mentioned. I made a comment about assuming that she was not doing fasting in heaven, and probably wished for fried chicken, some other southern food, and pasteries and candy. I could reply to the religion part, I chose not to for that nick. Sometimes it is best to ignore. Otherwise the thread will be flooded with off topic nonsense. I am not catholic, orthodox. Religion is personal for me, not communal. But general question, not many orthodox here.

No way, this ain't even close to sly. You haven't SEEN sly! I could be sly enough to rival anybody in Bible Discussion Forum if I wanted.

I was just answering the thread. Maybe I mistook the thread topic... I thought it was about Christmas traditions. Did I get the wrong topic?

 

[seoulsearch]

Hehe, so I am not pentacostal, good one bruh. You should drop some anger. Should I put you on the ignorelist? Or do you seek reporting? Think there are laws against cyberbullying.

Ok, now I'm curious.

Is accusing those you disagree with of cyberbullying your standard operating procedure?

Because here is another instance in another thread in which you accuse another completely different, regular member of doing the same:

Mkay buddy. you seem to have opened up my profile and reply to all my threads. Do you have an issue with me? What do you want? Is there anger?

Thick skin, no issue. But seemed like you tried to offend in the serious thread about crosses, where you kind of emulated me. Bit weird to go through a persons past comments and dig through it all, to emulate him, and try to mock him, if you do not intend to offend. Just saying. Are you a cyberstalker? Must I choose between serious and fun? Can I not do threads on both?

The members you are throwing accusations at are just two of several long-time regular members here who take the time out of their busy days to regularly answer/comment on a good number of the new posts that are made here.

There are several regular posters here whom you will see in almost every thread -- not because it's personal because of you, but because they just choose to read and respond to most of the topics that come up on a very regular basis. And the mods are very familiar with who they are and what their posting styles are like, so you can report them if you like, but they already have a long track record here that the admin will take into account.

If you are wanting to accuse anyone whose posts you don't like of being angry cyberbullies who are after you and then threatening to put them on your ignore list, the rest of us might as well start pointing out all the regulars in advance to make it faster and more convenient for you.

And I certainly don't mind if you start with me first.

There's a lot worse things to to be called than an angry cyberbully who deserves to be put on someone's precious, prized ignore list.

The funny thing is, being the person who accuses multiple people of cyberbullying often points out whom the real bully with anger issues really is.

 

[cinder]

That nick follows me in all threads making sly comments. It is the familybit and the foodthing. Since I have asked for some advice regarding former family that I have chopped off my familytree, and I really like fried chicken and other junkfood, which often comes up. Like in a thread about the cross or something yesterday, where mother Thersa was mentioned. I made a comment about assuming that she was not doing fasting in heaven, and probably wished for fried chicken, some other southern food, and pasteries and candy. I could reply to the religion part, I chose not to for that nick. Sometimes it is best to ignore. Otherwise the thread will be flooded with off topic nonsense. I am not catholic, orthodox. Religion is personal for me, not communal. But general question, not many orthodox here.

Yeah there aren't a lot of orthodox here. And your profile says you became a christian fairly recently so I'm guessing what you're really asking is if anyone has any Christmas traditions related to Christ's birth and coming to the world that they celebrate around Christmas time. If you search you can find a lot of Christmas traditions that have been tied into Christ and his birth even though they may not have originated in a Christian mindeset. One thing I like to do is watch the movie the Nativity story (it's in English, not sure if anyone has made a sweedish version) and read through the first couple chapters of Matthew and Luke during the advent season. I believe the orthodox follow a similar church calendar to catholics and lutherans which sets aside the 4 sundays before Christmas as the season of advent and usually the scripture readings and services are focused on a new church year ( I believe they all start with advent) and preparing for the coming of Christ as well as looking forward to his second coming.

Nativity sets, depicting the stable birth of Christ with shepherds, wisemen, mary and Joseph are another popular tradition. I have a nice one my grandparents gave me that I setup every year. Also advent calendars ( usually a countdown to christmas type of thing with chocolates behind each day's flap, though I've got a nice one that I would like to put scriptures or christmas tasks or something in to do one a day during that time) are popular. You can probably find some devotionals that are focused on advent and coming up to Christmas as well if you do daily devotionals.

But for most of us, most of Christmas is focused on food and fun and enjoying the gifts God has given us including our family and giving some to others to imitate God. If you're estranged from your family you could think about hosting some other people who have no where to go for a meal and movie or games or whatever you all agree you'll enjoy and maybe even get small gifts to exchange with each other.

 

[mindfulzen]

Yeah there aren't a lot of orthodox here. And your profile says you became a christian fairly recently so I'm guessing what you're really asking is if anyone has any Christmas traditions related to Christ's birth and coming to the world that they celebrate around Christmas time. If you search you can find a lot of Christmas traditions that have been tied into Christ and his birth even though they may not have originated in a Christian mindeset. One thing I like to do is watch the movie the Nativity story (it's in English, not sure if anyone has made a sweedish version) and read through the first couple chapters of Matthew and Luke during the advent season. I believe the orthodox follow a similar church calendar to catholics and lutherans which sets aside the 4 sundays before Christmas as the season of advent and usually the scripture readings and services are focused on a new church year ( I believe they all start with advent) and preparing for the coming of Christ as well as looking forward to his second coming.

Nativity sets, depicting the stable birth of Christ with shepherds, wisemen, mary and Joseph are another popular tradition. I have a nice one my grandparents gave me that I setup every year. Also advent calendars ( usually a countdown to christmas type of thing with chocolates behind each day's flap, though I've got a nice one that I would like to put scriptures or christmas tasks or something in to do one a day during that time) are popular. You can probably find some devotionals that are focused on advent and coming up to Christmas as well if you do daily devotionals.

But for most of us, most of Christmas is focused on food and fun and enjoying the gifts God has given us including our family and giving some to others to imitate God. If you're estranged from your family you could think about hosting some other people who have no where to go for a meal and movie or games or whatever you all agree you'll enjoy and maybe even get small gifts to exchange with each other.

That was good suggestions. Will check the movie out. No need for versions in our languages.For some reason our version of PBS sends a slovakian movie from 1960 or whatever that is dubbed in the moring, every year since then. Everybody sees it every year almost. Nice tradition. Yes, asking because this will be my first christmas as a christian. Always did the advent thing despite being atheist. Mainly about scripture and important rituals or what it may be, like reading that verse or book to that meal on that day, etc.

I am celebrating christmas with God this year, no family at all.- No gifts. A homesteadlike situation. I will probably be over to my parentsd and wish them a merry christmas, and help my father on the farm, so he will be done earlier than if not, so he can join the family at dinner. Not my choice to be estranged, I was forced to interact with a former brother I had a conflict and hatred between. So I tol him I cut him from my familytree, and he was just a common person as strangers I met. He could come and talk if he wished, but we were done as brothers. So bit messy, and he celebrates christmas at my parents house, so I do not. This is not a problem from me. It was such a bad atmosphere last christmas, so I just dropped christmasdinner. Just best for all, so all can have a christmas without an everlasting conflict. Looking forward to it, doing biblestudy reading the books about that particular time and those events. Could not have that focus in a house filled with a bunch of people.

 

[Lynx]

Ah, it's SUGGESTIONS you want!

I recommend a movie called it's a wonderful life. In addition to being a Christmas tradition, it also reminds us how much everything we do affects those around us. (The acting is pretty hokey, a relic of the decade in which it was made, but the theme is pretty good.)

Find something you can make that a lot of people like, make a lot of it and give it to a lot of people. Make it your signature gift that you give people every year. I do sourdough bread. If I did not do that I could do caramel cremes.

In fact homemade caramel cremes are so easy that I would recommend you try that first. Sugar, cream, saucepan, candy thermometer. A little experimenting and you can get the right proportions and temperature down perfect. After you cool and cut them, coat them in powdered sugar to keep them from sticking to each other. Put them in small tins to give to people.

My grandmother does peanut butter fudge, in much the same way and also using those small tins. The pastor's son especially has begun looking forward to it every year.

It may seem a bit boring to give people the same thing every year, but when people start looking forward to it every year it becomes something special to them.

 

[Lanolin]

just do door to door carols, have been doing that ever since I was a child. Used to sing round the hospital to those who were bedridden.

Find a church group or get into contact with a hospital or hospice and spread some cheer

 

[Lanolin]

Oh the other thing people can do, (I havent done every year, but you can if you want) is Operation Christmas Child.
You fill a shoebox with gifts and it gets flown to a child in a poorer nation for Christmas

and theres also Angel Tree ministry, This one you buy a gift for a child whos parents are in prison and cant go out to buy gifts, or cant afford to. Though with this one you kinda have to make sure their parents dont keep the gifts, and sell them for cash to buy drugs but there are probably things in place to prevent that.

 

[mindfulzen]

Oh the other thing people can do, (I havent done every year, but you can if you want) is Operation Christmas Child.
You fill a shoebox with gifts and it gets flown to a child in a poorer nation for Christmas

and theres also Angel Tree ministry, This one you buy a gift for a child whos parents are in prison and cant go out to buy gifts, or cant afford to. Though with this one you kinda have to make sure their parents dont keep the gifts, and sell them for cash to buy drugs but there are probably things in place to prevent that.

Houston, we have a problem. This was going to be a happy thread about christmas and will be that, just have to add some vital information of my situation, that I was not planning on sharing here, so we do not suggest spending big on gifts. I kind of stopped paying some bills a few years ago whenkind of died in this life, because of the toxic relation and some others with old drugbuddies, and some creditcard as shield against the worlds violence. Immense pressure and attacks, and financial obligations out of control, so I kind of went on a vacation from life for like 3 years. Woke up somewhat perhaps 1 month or two before last christmas, and found the strength to go into my web bank, and go through somer unpaid bill, some television at a collection agency, 1000 dollars, ignored it. Because there was a demand from the creditcard I was planning to use to pay most bills, it was forfeited, gone to the federal taxcollector, sent from the police who had tried to contact me at an adress I was vacant from. Owed a bit over 4 000 dollars, only had 1 000 dollars on my account, it was overdue, gone over to some courtissue if the police would process it in time. Got to dowenpay that 1 000 there. And got to pay the rest next month, not paying anything else. Then paid the rest the next month just in time.

Took a toll, many more bills overdue. Much issues with family that christmas, kind of did a number on me. Despair, and mother got sick. Then I woke up somewhat, moved into a vacant house, read the bible while ignoring the financial problems, and stacks of unpaid bills. Was christian, but I believe I was marked by the holy spirit, and got a calm, believe it or not. And I could live again, and do some stuff for others, and deal with some stuff again in truth, but none liked it, because it came from religion, so I was told it was open to bills finally, after a letter came from the TV provider. It was a bill on 300 dollars, I did not know I had televisionbill taken care of. That must have been a secret christmaspresent from my parents last year. Stealing a bill I did not open, and paying it pretending to be me, behind my back. Which I appreciate. But there are more bills, and we cannot communicate yet, because I went away for some years. So, a wall, and I have probably 10 000 dollars in unpaid bills, that I must sort out, so no presents to anybody this year. The christmas present they want, is that I ask them for help to pay my bills. Not a gift we all three know, that I cannot afford. So, I take myself out of it, and do not pretend everything is allright this christmas, making it a bummer for them. Doing me, because that is what they need. I am surprised everyday my debitcard still works.I have expected it to be denied for like 2 years. So, no suggestions about spending big on others, not wanted by others. Told all of them, I do not give gifts anymore. Not an issue, do not need to give gifts to feel good about myself. It would not feel good doing it now, when I have to ask for financial aid, and ask for advance of hertiage or I will have to go to some courts, and deal with all this stuff, or have people coming to collect the few assets I have.

So, just some small stuff, free stuff regarding tradition in faith, meaningful stuff. Perhaps some extravagant suggestions for treats and dinner on the 24th or other important days. Also new years day, I like that day. And it kind of is a new year for me of significance now. If things work out well. Moving out of an apartment, 1 000 dollars allocated to debtpayment each month. Got a fund with around 5 000 dollars or so, it is a start, of good faith, dealt with the big bill, only many small ones adding up to more money I currently have, that have gone to far, that I will probably get a paymentplan for, so no problem. But obviously, this limits how I can do christmas, and other stuff, which is why it matters more also. Ignore the issues, just saying, do not want sympathy or anything, just want cheap and meaningful things that matter for christmas. A positive focus to look forward to, while some stuff is messed up financially and personal, that I cannot control. Kind of hard to ask for this financial aid when strained. So, no gifts to anybody, no good charity to kids here or in other countries, perhaps I will spare 50 dollars to some beggars cup if I go to town to buy christmaspresents to my parents if the card still works, but otherwise no. Then it is just about christian traditions that are free, as long as you have a bible. If no suggestion for small stuff to do that are appreciated but cost very little. Sorry about the bummer, but do not mind it, and do not comment on it, off topic, this is about a happy christmas. So make it a sidenote if you want to comment on it, in a comment about a nice christian christmastime. .

 

[Lanolin]

its ok you dont need to spend at all (last christmas I didnt buy any gifts, and if any where given to me I would give them away to children, who dont have them) I was just saying what I did or what the church would do that I recall....obviously people that are well off can afford to be kind to those who are less well off. and people in church, and yes, there are people in church that are well off as well as those who are not..which is why a lot of people do the 'secret santa' thing because sometimes it can be rather humiliating to be the charity case for some...

You can enjoy singing carols. Thats the christmas spirit. Rememeber Jesus was born in a lowly manger. He is the gift.
Be open to reciving what God has for you. If we dont ask, we dont receive.

 

[mindfulzen]

its ok you dont need to spend at all (last christmas I didnt buy any gifts, and if any where given to me I would give them away to children, who dont have them) I was just saying what I did or what the church would do that I recall....obviously people that are well off can afford to be kind to those who are less well off. and people in church, and yes, there are people in church that are well off as well as those who are not..which is why a lot of people do the 'secret santa' thing because sometimes it can be rather humiliating to be the charity case for some...

You can enjoy singing carols. Thats the christmas spirit. Rememeber Jesus was born in a lowly manger. He is the gift.
Be open to reciving what God has for you. If we dont ask, we dont receive.

That is nice.Yes humiliating to chip in on gifts that cost 500 dollars, with 30 bucks, and pretend you earned 1/6th of the thank you for it. Not a city were I will be, so cannot hand gifts over to needy kids, which sounds nice. I obviously cannot do the secret santa thing, since I will celebrate it alone. But good suggestion for others who are poor. I will get a present from myself, and I will get the same cashgift as my parents give to their other kids, which is put into the fund I may or may not have intact at christmas.

Open to God, kind of locked in it, so have no worries for me. I will accept if I am offered a gift from God at christmas. I have not asked for anything in that regards, and will not yet. I do not pray. I do biblestudy first, have not read the bible yet. About 1/4th covered, think I have touched upon 90% of the important stuff though, but still learning some more before I am ready to pray. God can still give me a sign as gift, just cannot give me salvation before I ask for it. I will probably do it around christmas if I keep the pace reading the book. Otherwise, it will be in the start of next year, at peace regardless. Just wondering about christian traditions in december. The forum needed a positive christmasthread. About what christmas is about, apart from gifts, the biblical significance.

 

[AnnG]

A Christmas season tradition I have done since I was a kid, was watch Christmas movies. My favorites are Scrooge 1951 version starring Alastair Sim, The Bishops Wife with Cary Grant are among the few. Of course my favorite Christmas cartoons, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman etc.

Decorating the house and putting up the Christmas Tree right after Thanksgiving. 🎄

Now that I'm much older, good food, family and togetherness at the Holidays are more important to me.

Some advice for you.... Life is short and holding onto bitterness is not sweet. Let go of grudges. Jesus would be pleased that you did.