Halloween

[Scepticalscribe]

Well the door will remain unanswered as it does most of the time someone calls by.
I'm not a fan. Never have been. I think it's one of those holidays we have imported from the US. Maybe not its origins, but the process of decorating ones house in fake ghosts and witches isn't for me.

And I have told you that this is an ancient celebration, with roots in pagan times, - where it was a feast to celebrate and acknowledge (and possibly placate) the dead - overlaid with subsequent Christian traditions - traditions which also salute, and recognise - and acknowledge the distance from - the dead, while recognising the role they have played in our lives.

Candidly, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the US, or US influence!

As for ghosts - long before Christopher Colombus tripped over the American landmass - fear of the unknown (ghosts and witches both) haunted elements of the European subconscious and unconscious, and were used - sometimes unscrupulously - by powerful bodies for their own ends.

This is a fascinating feast, and an excellent occasion to enable children to explore questions of identity, 'darkness and death' in a safe setting. I welcome it.

 

[Apple fanboy]

And I have told you that this is an ancient celebration, with roots in pagan times, - where it was a feast to celebrate and acknowledge (and possibly placate) the dead - overlaid with subsequent Christian traditions - traditions which also salute, and recognise - and acknowledge the distance from - the dead.

Candidly, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the US, or US influence!

As for ghosts - long before Christopher Colombus tripped over the American landmass - fear of the unknown (shots and witches both) haunted elements of the European unconscious, and were used - sometimes unscrupulously - by powerful bodies for their own ends.

This is a fascinating feast, and an excellent occasion to enable children to explore questions of identity, 'darkness and death' in a safe setting. I welcome it.

I hear what you are saying, but the way it is celebrated now is far to commercial and Americanised for me.

Not my scene at all.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I hear what you are saying, but the way it is celebrated now is far to commercial and Americanised for me.

Not my scene at all.

Everything is - well, a great many things - are - Americanised an commercialised now - the saccharine horror of Valentine's day evokes nausea in me at times; but, but, but you extract what is spell-binding, thoughtful and arresting in the older traditions, and discard the surface tinsel.

A lot of life is 'a la carte'. You have choices, and therefore, you can choose what to celebrate, acknowledge and remember - and what to discard.

I love the sense of 'balance' in the old Celtic year, which is still acknowledged in our world, superimposed with a Norse vocabulary of time, - the days of the week - interspersed with months derived from Latin - and a Christian interpretation (sort of taking ownership of - Christian appropriation wouldn't have worked if they salute what the old traditions acknowledged - they just put a new spin on them) added to that.

Thus, the two solstices - the longest and shortest days were measured and recognised - Stonehenge is only one of the best known, there is Avebury, - in Ireland - there is Newgrange, and places such as Knowth - while the 'hinge times' - the times where the divisions between the living and the dead - with both living and dying, fertility (Beltaine) and death (Hallowe'en - it is no coincidence that even now - All Saints and All Souls are different - but sequential days) both acknowledged and celebrated.

To my mind, the legacy of that is heathy, and it is a brilliant way of introducing discussion and treatment of such topics to a youngster, particularly an imaginative and intelligent youngster.

 

[rafark]

I love it.

 

[0388631]

Hallowe'en?

I am; I like it - a fun time, and a nice mid-term break.

Not a fan of winter, generally, but Hallowe'en is a different matter.

Just when I think I have you figured out in terms of what you like you surprise me.
[doublepost=1509397832][/doublepost]

Well the door will remain unanswered as it does most of the time someone calls by.
I'm not a fan. Never have been. I think it's one of those holidays we have imported from the US. Maybe not its origins, but the process of decorating ones house in fake ghosts and witches isn't for me.

I don't know. Works for Theresa May. Worked for Thatcher, too.

 

[D.T.]

Fresh roasted pumpkin seeds! Extra good this year, just a little olive oil and sea salt.

 

[Phonephreak]

I am not a social person. Prefer my own company. The next 2 months are my least favorite time of the year. Would rather stay home for thanksgiving and Christmas is done after Christmas morning with my children.

Making light of someones preference of not enjoying the holidays. If you enjoy them great. I tell that to my girlfriend and family. I spend the minimum time doing the holiday thing. I’m happy with it. My family has accepted it. Alls fine

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I am not a social person. Prefer my own company. The next 2 months are my least favorite time of the year. Would rather stay home for thanksgiving and Christmas is done after Christmas morning with my children.

Making light of someones preference of not enjoying the holidays. If you enjoy them great. I tell that to my girlfriend and family. I spend the minimum time doing the holiday thing. I’m happy with it. My family has accepted it. Alls fine

But - and this is a serious question - because I have met quite a number of individuals who express the preferences that you do, and in the way that you do, and, in my experience, their moods tend to determine to what extent others around them are able to enjoy themselves and appreciate what such holidays have to offer. In other words, at their worst, their moods serve to act as killjoy behaviour.

Does your approach to such holidays have an impact on whether others - those close to you - can - or feel able to - enjoy them fully? Or, are those close to you so mindful of your preferences that their possible expression of their enjoyment of such a traditional feast day and time is curtailed?

Personally, I don't much like winter - I dislike the poor quality of the light, the darkness, the cold, the short days, - and that is before we even begin to approach Christmas. And yes, above all, I deplore the relentless commercialisation of Christmas - not least the decreasing time off enjoyed by sales staff - this used to be a break of the best part of a week - as the commercial imperative demands that profits continue to roll.

And yet: As with Hallowe'en, which traditionally allowed for the signalling of the passing of one of the 'quarters' of the year, most societies where the seasons are markedly different, marked the period of the shortest and darkest days of the year in some meaningful manner, a time when you stepped back and took stock of your place in the world, and thought about things.

It is surely no coincidence that one of the times when people choose to change their lives - such as handing in their notice the minute they find themselves returning to jobs or positions that they may hate after the Christmas break and deciding that they could no longer face that job, that office, those colleagues, that boss, ever again in the rest of their lives. The first day back after Christmas is often a day when people act on decisions they have had the time to contemplate over the Yuletide break.

Anyway, I love those dark, dead, days between Christmas and the New Year; they are like a suspension of standard time, when you are removed from your normal routine, and it is a time - for me at least - to think and stake stock, and ask about the meaning - an purpose of - your life.

Long before Christmas superseded such celebrations, this was a time for the telling of tales and stories, myths and legends; Christmas added a further layer to that, and the commercial dimension is superimposed on top of that again.

I think we lose something valuable if we fail to mark these times of the year, and there is nothing to suggest that we cannot take from modern (or older) traditions the aspects, or elements, or features that we prize.

 

[Huntn]

But - and this is a serious question - because I have met quite a umber of individuals who express the preferences that you do, and in the way that you do, and, in my experience, their moods tend to determine to what extent others around them are able to enjoy themselves and appreciate what such holidays have to offer. In other words, at their worst, their moods serve to act as killjoy behaviour.

Does your approach to such holidays have an impact on whether others - those close to you - can - or feel able to - enjoy them fully? Or, are those close to you so mindful of your preferences that their possible expression of their enjoyment of such a traditional feast day and time is curtailed?

Personally, I don't much like winter - I dislike the poor quality of the light, the darkness, the cold, the short days, - and that is before we even begin to approach Christmas. And yes, above all, I deplore the relentless commercialisation of Christmas - not least the decreasing time off enjoyed by sales staff - this used to be a break of the best part of a week - as the commercial imperative demands that profits continue to roll.

And yet: As with Hallowe'en, which traditionally allowed for the signalling of the passing of one of the 'quarters' of the year, most societies where the seasons markedly differed, marked the period of the shortest and darkest days of the year in some meaningful manner, a time when you stepped back and took stock of your place in the world.

Long before Christmas superseded such celebrations, this was a time for the telling of tales and stories, myths and legends; Christmas added a further layer to that, and the commercial dimension is superimposed on top of that again.

I think we lose something valuable if we fail to mark these times of the year, and there is nothing to suggest that we cannot take from modern (or older) traditions the aspects, or elements, or features that we prize.

You'd love Minnesota in the Winter. One of my favorite Halloweens was the 1991 Halloween Blizzard, but it was tough looking scary in your snow parka.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I am not a social person. Prefer my own company. The next 2 months are my least favorite time of the year. Would rather stay home for thanksgiving and Christmas is done after Christmas morning with my children.

Making light of someones preference of not enjoying the holidays. If you enjoy them great. I tell that to my girlfriend and family. I spend the minimum time doing the holiday thing. I’m happy with it. My family has accepted it. Alls fine

We don't celebrate Christmas at all anymore. It's just another day.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

You'd love Minnesota in the Winter. One of my favorite Halloweens was the 1991 Halloween Blizzard, but it was tough looking scary in your snow parka.

Not really a fan of snow, but I do like the 'taking stock' and 'taking time to think' elements of the Christmas break. It is a time when I often do a lot of deep reading.

 

[Apple fanboy]

But - and this is a serious question - because I have met quite a number of individuals who express the preferences that you do, and in the way that you do, and, in my experience, their moods tend to determine to what extent others around them are able to enjoy themselves and appreciate what such holidays have to offer. In other words, at their worst, their moods serve to act as killjoy behaviour.

Does your approach to such holidays have an impact on whether others - those close to you - can - or feel able to - enjoy them fully? Or, are those close to you so mindful of your preferences that their possible expression of their enjoyment of such a traditional feast day and time is curtailed?

Personally, I don't much like winter - I dislike the poor quality of the light, the darkness, the cold, the short days, - and that is before we even begin to approach Christmas. And yes, above all, I deplore the relentless commercialisation of Christmas - not least the decreasing time off enjoyed by sales staff - this used to be a break of the best part of a week - as the commercial imperative demands that profits continue to roll.

And yet: As with Hallowe'en, which traditionally allowed for the signalling of the passing of one of the 'quarters' of the year, most societies where the seasons are markedly different, marked the period of the shortest and darkest days of the year in some meaningful manner, a time when you stepped back and took stock of your place in the world.

Long before Christmas superseded such celebrations, this was a time for the telling of tales and stories, myths and legends; Christmas added a further layer to that, and the commercial dimension is superimposed on top of that again.

I think we lose something valuable if we fail to mark these times of the year, and there is nothing to suggest that we cannot take from modern (or older) traditions the aspects, or elements, or features that we prize.

I think the (few) people that don't wish to celebrate these holidays are forced to by those that do, rather than the other way round.
Fortunately my wife and I are of one opinion when it comes to this time of year (for the same reason).
November is actually the worst month as it was my daughters Birthday. I book that week off every year now so I don't have to be sociable at work.
But I'll happily skip all holidays.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I think the (few) people that don't wish to celebrate these holidays are forced to by those that do, rather than the other way round.

Professionally, but not personally.

Personally, as I have written above, you can craft your own way of dealing with such holidays.

Professionally, I had worked on Christmas on a number of occasions, and don't mind doing so, especially if everyone else wishes to be off, as those with children often do; but, there are holidays that I like - Easter is one, and I will always try to take at least a week off at that time.

Fortunately my wife and I are of one opinion when it comes to this time of year (for the same reason).
November is actually the worst month as it was my daughters Birthday. I book that week off every year now so I don't have to be sociable at work.

But - and I have worked in a lot of different - and, in recent years and decades - mostly international - environments.

Most people don't give a damn about your - that is, anyone's - personal circumstances. They will benignly - if indifferently - wish you well, but - unless you are close to them, - in general, they don't care too much about your personal life.

You can be as sociable - or as non-sociable - as you like at work.

But I'll happily skip all holidays.

I think it is healthy to differentiate - or draw a firm distinction - between 'on' time , the time when one works, and 'off' time, when one doesn't; it is also healthy to be removed - by time, geography, circumstance - from one's normal environment. Otherwise, one is defined solely by work - and, perhaps - personal relationships.

That is not enough. Not to my mind, at least.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Professionally, but not personally.

Personally, as I have written above, you can craft your own way of dealing with such holidays.

Professionally, I had worked on Christmas on a number of occasions, and don't mind doing so, especially if everyone else wishes to be off, as those with children often do; but, there are holidays that I like - Easter is one, and I will always try to take at least a week off at that time.




But - and I have worked in a lot of different - and, in recent years and decades - mostly international - environments.

Most people don't give a damn about your - that is, anyone's - personal circumstances. They will benignly - if indifferently - wish you well, but - unless you are close to them, - in general, they don't care too much about your personal life.

You can be as sociable - or as non-sociable - as you like at work.



I think it is healthy to differentiate - or draw a firm distinction - between 'on' time , the time when one works, and 'off' time, when one doesn't; it is also healthy to be removed - by time, geography, circumstance - from one's normal environment. Otherwise, one is defined solely by work - and, perhaps - personal relationships.

That is not enough. Not to my mind, at least.

You can choose how you deal with the holidays to a point, but people will still try and impose their way of what you are supposed to do on the holidays. Like when I said as someone who would rather skip Halloween I'll still have people banging on my door this evening. People I don't know or care to know.

As for skipping holidays I was referring to Christmas, Easter and the like. Not time off work just to makesure you realise I'm not insane! I always prefer a day off to a dark winters morning.
On that note I better go and defrost the car!

 

[Phonephreak]

But - and this is a serious question - because I have met quite a number of individuals who express the preferences that you do, and in the way that you do, and, in my experience, their moods tend to determine to what extent others around them are able to enjoy themselves and appreciate what such holidays have to offer. In other words, at their worst, their moods serve to act as killjoy behaviour.

Does your approach to such holidays have an impact on whether others - those close to you - can - or feel able to - enjoy them fully? Or, are those close to you so mindful of your preferences that their possible expression of their enjoyment of such a traditional feast day and time is curtailed?

Personally, I don't much like winter - I dislike the poor quality of the light, the darkness, the cold, the short days, - and that is before we even begin to approach Christmas. And yes, above all, I deplore the relentless commercialisation of Christmas - not least the decreasing time off enjoyed by sales staff - this used to be a break of the best part of a week - as the commercial imperative demands that profits continue to roll.

And yet: As with Hallowe'en, which traditionally allowed for the signalling of the passing of one of the 'quarters' of the year, most societies where the seasons are markedly different, marked the period of the shortest and darkest days of the year in some meaningful manner, a time when you stepped back and took stock of your place in the world, and thought about things.

It is surely no coincidence that one of the times when people choose to change their lives - such as handing in their notice the minute they find themselves returning to jobs or positions that they may hate after the Christmas break and deciding that they could no longer face that job, that office, those colleagues, that boss, ever again in the rest of their lives. The first day back after Christmas is often a day when people act on decisions they have had the time to contemplate over the Yuletide break.

Anyway, I love those dark, dead, days between Christmas and the New Year; they are like a suspension of standard time, when you are removed from your normal routine, and it is a time - for me at least - to think and stake stock, and ask about the meaning - an purpose of - your life.

Long before Christmas superseded such celebrations, this was a time for the telling of tales and stories, myths and legends; Christmas added a further layer to that, and the commercial dimension is superimposed on top of that again.

I think we lose something valuable if we fail to mark these times of the year, and there is nothing to suggest that we cannot take from modern (or older) traditions the aspects, or elements, or features that we prize.

I won’t lie and say that my familyloves my holiday feelings. I have been told that my holiday feeling are noticeable by them and they wish I could enjoy the holidays. I told them that I’m sorry but the holidays are not my thing at all. I always go to my mothers or brothers for the holiday dinners. I’m not in a terrible mood, I’m just quiet and keep to myself. I usually leave shortly after the dinner and go home to enjoy my quiet time.

I never understood why other people care about how I feel about the holidays. I haven’t enjoyed them in years.

Yes Halloween is the opening to the season of my misery. I dread it because I know they are coming. My goal is the new year because then the holiday season is over.

I truly love my job and never mind going to work. I’m just ended my stay home vacation yesterday and was ready to return to work. I usually try to work the holidays as my line of business(healthcare) is always open.

Holidays are just not everyone cup of tea.

 

[Huntn]

Not really a fan of snow, but I do like the 'taking stock' and 'taking time to think' elements of the Christmas break. It is a time when I often do a lot of deep reading.

That year in Minnesota there was snow on the ground for about 5 months, so if you were not into outdoor Winter activities, there was a lot of time to comtimplate.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That year in Minnesota there was snow on the ground for about 5 months, so if you were not into outdoor Winter activities, there was a lot of time to comtimplate.

Or to shovel snow off your drive!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That year in Minnesota there was snow on the ground for about 5 months, so if you were not into outdoor Winter activities, there was a lot of time to comtimplate.

Contemplate, think on, mull things over, ponder, reflect on, ruminate over, muse on, and consider.

That is leaving aside, eating, drinking, sleeping, reading and listening to music....

Or to shovel snow off your drive!

No.

I will leave that to those who are gifted with surplus energy, and need an excuse or some exercise to burn it off.

 

[Phonephreak]

Contemplate, think on, mull things over, ponder, reflect on, ruminate over, muse on, and consider.

That is leaving aside, eating, drinking, sleeping, reading and listening to music....



No.

I will leave that to those who are gifted with surplus energy, and need an excuse or some exercise to burn it off.

shoveling snow is the worst task. Period. Not a fan of snow. Don’t mind the cold but snow. Yuck

 

[jkcerda]

That year in Minnesota there was snow on the ground for about 5 months, so if you were not into outdoor Winter activities, there was a lot of time to comtimplate.

spent a year in Chicago, midgets & snow DON'T go together

. 80*s with 5000% humidity sucks as well, I love SoCAL weather .

 

[D.T.]

spent a year in Chicago, midgets & snow DON'T go together

. 80*s with 5000% humidity sucks as well, I love SoCAL weather .

I remember that, didn't you get lost in the snow for a week?

 

[jkcerda]

I remember that, didn't you get lost in the snow for a week?

oddly enough I was better driving in the snow than plenty of locals , I was careful while they were over confident and ended up sliding on the shoulder or hitting the curbs

 

[Macky-Mac]

That year in Minnesota there was snow on the ground for about 5 months, so if you were not into outdoor Winter activities, there was a lot of time to comtimplate.

that's the time of year when Minnesotans improve either their snowmobiling skills or their drinking skills.....tho actually a lot of them work on perfecting both at the same time

 

[webbuzz]

oddly enough I was better driving in the snow than plenty of locals , I was careful while they were over confident and ended up sliding on the shoulder or hitting the curbs

Happens every year with the first snowfall. People with AWD and 4WD are probably the worst.

 

[D.T.]

It was a _good_ one! Decent trick-or-treat volumes (we handed out full bars, the kids were flipping out), new decorations were fun, had some friends over, lots of traffic through the house from the block for "to go" beverages (people know how we roll ). Recovery has been ... slow