Christmas or New Year

Post by **Skylace** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:56 pm

eefanincan wrote:
Skylace wrote:I love that musical!

High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Now if only I could sing like Julie Andrews!!!!

You and me both! We could make an album!

Post by **eefanincan** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:34 am

Skylace wrote:
eefanincan wrote:
Skylace wrote:I love that musical!

High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Now if only I could sing like Julie Andrews!!!!
You and me both! We could make an album!

The Couch is alive with the sound of....... erm, umm.... well, you get the idea!

btaylo24 · Post by **btaylo24** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:34 am

Has anyone got their xmas tree up yet?

barry

Post by **Skylace** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:50 pm

btaylo24 wrote:Has anyone got their xmas tree up yet?

barry

Will put it up Friday and decorate Saturday. We wait to put up decorations until Dec 1. I am looking forward to it! :decorate:

Twirley · Post by **Twirley** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:20 pm

We usually wait till first weekend in December, too. Although I think we'll be a weekend later this year due to being a bit hectic right now.

Can't wait to get the lights on the front of the house. It always looks so lovely. Will try to post a pic when we've done it!

btaylo24 · Post by **btaylo24** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:56 am

Shall we have a best XMAS tree competition... Best pic wins "XMAS TREE OF 2006" award?

(Must be of own tree, not mates etc etc)

Most votes win??

What ya all think?

Barry

Post by **Skylace** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:12 am

btaylo24 wrote:Shall we have a best XMAS tree competition... Best pic wins "XMAS TREE OF 2006" award?

(Must be of own tree, not mates etc etc)

Most votes win??

What ya all think?

Barry

Don't see why not. I would also just be happy to see everyone's decorations. Christmas trees, menorah's, you name it!

btaylo24 · Post by **btaylo24** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:17 am

Sorry to sound stupid but what are ""menorah's""??

Cheers

Barry

Post by **Skylace** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:44 am

It's used during the Hanukkah festival

btaylo24 · Post by **btaylo24** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:21 am

Ok, thanks...Was not sure what it was....

Why 9 candles?

Cheers

Barry

6ULDV8 · Post by **6ULDV8** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:12 pm

A white elephant by the way is the name used for an unwanted / unused or naff gift.

The term has been around for yonks... I remember many years ago as a kid going to a jumble sale & seeing a sign for a 'white elephant' stall & being highly disapointed that there were no white elephants there & only items still in their boxes.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Back on topic:

I have to say Christmas despite it being so damn commercial nowdays (more so than ever).
It's shoved down ya' throat from mid October now in all the stores, on TV etc...

However, being a parent of 3 young boys, all the excitment in them makes it a very special time.
Indeed the saying 'Christmas is for the kids' rings true.

As an adult, my fun is being as tacky as possible with the outdoor decorations just to piss off the neighbors...
They all have their house & garden lights etc done by professional services, myself & the kids delight in the 'trailer park' style decorations "as much tacky stuff as possible".

=======================

As for new years eve...
If you recall, I was looking forward to one of my first non-working new years eve at home...
Having DJ'd or ran sound / lighting or performing (magician / comedy magic etc) 99% of my adult life, being at home was a treat, however, it was pretty lame.

There is such a buzz new years eve when your with a crowd (drunken or not)... ya' don't get that at home with the wife falling asleep on the sofa & the kids tucked up in bed.
(Ohhh & there is the monetary thing... ya' don't get paid 2 or 3 times your usual exhorbitant fee for staying at home on new years eve).

Post by **Skylace** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:34 pm

btaylo24 wrote:Ok, thanks...Was not sure what it was....

Why 9 candles?

Cheers

Barry

Hanukkah itself means "dedication"

The center candle is called the "shamash" which means "guard" or "servant". It is used to light the other eight candles.

A very short version of the story is the Maccabee's had reclaimed the Jewish temple and right to have their religion (from Rome) and were going to redidicate the temple to God. They wanted to relight the menorah during the celebration. They looked everywhere for the blessed oil, and found a small flask that contained only enough to light the menorah for one day (the menorah is never supposed to stop burning in the temple). It was going to take eight days to bless and ready the new oil.The story goes that the oil lasted for eight days. Just enough time to bless the new oil.

So each candle represents a day of the miracle. One candle is lit every evening. There is one prayer that is said every evening when you light the candles. (There are other things said also, but this is as you light)
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu, v'kiyemanu, vehigi-anu laz'man hazeh.
(Translation: Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.)

That's a quick overview. Hope it makes sense!