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Yuletide Toutube: Winter Solstice Song
Dec. 13th, 2009 11:22 amBecause my church celebrated Yule last night.
Dec. 13th, 2009
It's that time of year again!
Time for all good nonbelievers to sharpen up their tongues and horns and go after the poor persecuted majority who celebrate Christmas.
Why if you don't take up this call, who knows what might happen!
Retailers might start putting up decorated evergreens before the Halloween candy hits clearance! Or worse, in JULY!
Garland, lights, shapes on lightpoles, decorated trees all might start showing up in public places!
Retailers might stay in the red all year, a clear triumph of capitalism!
Ordinary citizens might shamelessly display tens of thousands of lights on their houses and trees, or worse, put out giant inflatable snowmen and Santas, light up reindeer, nativity scenes or the local football mascots pulling Santa's sleigh.
Churches might have to emphasize love and peace and good-will toward people.
The mailbox might get crowded with envelopes bearing greetings and well wishes from friends and relatives.
Small children might wander the neighborhood, banging on doors and *horrors* SINGING at helpless householders!
Endless music might pour from radio and loudspeakers, caroling about angels and newborn kings, about sleighbells and snow, about home and family.
Fruitcakes and almond crescents and butter cookies, popcorn tins and peppermint nougats, peppermint bark, cherry cordial kisses and Godiva chocolate might fill the candy aisle of your local store.
People might *gasp* say MERRY CHRISTMAS! After all, it's such an offensive holiday that only 90% of the country celebrates it!
Oh...wait.
But what do I know? I'm an Unreal American anyway. I don't live in a small town. I'm a woman. I'm not straight or Christian. I have a college education. The only thing I have in common with "Real Americans" is my skin color, same as 75% of the population. So of course, I can't POSSIBLY understand.
I say Happy Holidays. If someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, they get one back. If I don't know what they celebrate, they get a Happy Holidays, since there are six major religious holidays that all fall in December. Acknowledging these IS the War on Christmas writ large.
There are holly and mistletoe and a tree, but there are no Jesus ornaments on it. There is no Nativity scene or electric train under it either.
We hang stockings, but Santa doesn't fill them. Father Winter does.
All our Santa pictures are the Father Christmas style, not the Coca-Cola/Thomas Nast style.
I sing VERY rude words about "Faunus the Roman Goat God" instead of Rudolph. But not in front of the children.
So, of course, I just don't get it. How could I, being in an inter-faith household?
My husband is nominally Christian. He hates Christmas. He hates carols. When they made him, they cast him the Scrooge mold and called it good. (He doesn't believe in ghosts, so he has no fear there)
My boys are nonbelievers.
My girls, like me, are pagan.
So, break out your scourges of holly leaves, sharpen your antlers, light a nine or seven-pronged torch and let's wage that War proudly!
Never mind that we are so outnumbered as to be insignificant, especially when you consider interfaith families and non-Christians who celebrate the holiday as a purely secular one.
Christians are 75% of the population.
Non-Believers are 15%.
Non-Christians are about 4%:
Jews at 1.2% are still the largest.
Eastern Religions (including Buddhism) are at .9%.
Muslims are .5%
"New Religious movements and others" are 1.2%.
(About 5% didn't answer the Aris poll)
Clearly, we are winning!
Time for all good nonbelievers to sharpen up their tongues and horns and go after the poor persecuted majority who celebrate Christmas.
Why if you don't take up this call, who knows what might happen!
Retailers might start putting up decorated evergreens before the Halloween candy hits clearance! Or worse, in JULY!
Garland, lights, shapes on lightpoles, decorated trees all might start showing up in public places!
Retailers might stay in the red all year, a clear triumph of capitalism!
Ordinary citizens might shamelessly display tens of thousands of lights on their houses and trees, or worse, put out giant inflatable snowmen and Santas, light up reindeer, nativity scenes or the local football mascots pulling Santa's sleigh.
Churches might have to emphasize love and peace and good-will toward people.
The mailbox might get crowded with envelopes bearing greetings and well wishes from friends and relatives.
Small children might wander the neighborhood, banging on doors and *horrors* SINGING at helpless householders!
Endless music might pour from radio and loudspeakers, caroling about angels and newborn kings, about sleighbells and snow, about home and family.
Fruitcakes and almond crescents and butter cookies, popcorn tins and peppermint nougats, peppermint bark, cherry cordial kisses and Godiva chocolate might fill the candy aisle of your local store.
People might *gasp* say MERRY CHRISTMAS! After all, it's such an offensive holiday that only 90% of the country celebrates it!
Oh...wait.
But what do I know? I'm an Unreal American anyway. I don't live in a small town. I'm a woman. I'm not straight or Christian. I have a college education. The only thing I have in common with "Real Americans" is my skin color, same as 75% of the population. So of course, I can't POSSIBLY understand.
I say Happy Holidays. If someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, they get one back. If I don't know what they celebrate, they get a Happy Holidays, since there are six major religious holidays that all fall in December. Acknowledging these IS the War on Christmas writ large.
There are holly and mistletoe and a tree, but there are no Jesus ornaments on it. There is no Nativity scene or electric train under it either.
We hang stockings, but Santa doesn't fill them. Father Winter does.
All our Santa pictures are the Father Christmas style, not the Coca-Cola/Thomas Nast style.
I sing VERY rude words about "Faunus the Roman Goat God" instead of Rudolph. But not in front of the children.
So, of course, I just don't get it. How could I, being in an inter-faith household?
My husband is nominally Christian. He hates Christmas. He hates carols. When they made him, they cast him the Scrooge mold and called it good. (He doesn't believe in ghosts, so he has no fear there)
My boys are nonbelievers.
My girls, like me, are pagan.
So, break out your scourges of holly leaves, sharpen your antlers, light a nine or seven-pronged torch and let's wage that War proudly!
Never mind that we are so outnumbered as to be insignificant, especially when you consider interfaith families and non-Christians who celebrate the holiday as a purely secular one.
Christians are 75% of the population.
Non-Believers are 15%.
Non-Christians are about 4%:
Jews at 1.2% are still the largest.
Eastern Religions (including Buddhism) are at .9%.
Muslims are .5%
"New Religious movements and others" are 1.2%.
(About 5% didn't answer the Aris poll)
Clearly, we are winning!
Links of Various and Sundry
Dec. 13th, 2009 01:13 pmPink Petal Books is hosting a winter festival and giving away goodies made by the authors with each purchase of their books. Today: December 13 & 14 - It may be snowing, or it may not. However our customers will receive a snowflake ornament with their purchase.
(my day is the 21. You get a moose in a Santa hat with tree-lights on his antlers holding a sign that says "Merry Chrismoose.")
Jesus? Not so much the reason for the season is![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
alyxbradford's look at Christmas celebrations over the centuries.
The GLBT Bookshelf has launched the All Gay Romance Blog. It's the free tartlet sample of what your favorite authors are writing.
You meet interesting people while doing research. Stagecoach Mary Fields, hard-drinking, cigar smoking stagecoach driver and mail-carrier, who broke more noses in Central Montana than anyone ever, according to Great Falls Examiner.
From my defunct cookbook:
Aunt Rocky's Coke Cake
2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
2 sticks oleo
3 Tbsp. cocoa
1 c. Coke
3/4 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. mini marshmallows
Combine flour and sugar. Heat oleo, cocoa, and Coke to boil. Pour over flour and sugar. Mix.
Add rest of ingredients. Beat well. Sprinkle marshmallows over top. Bake 350ΓΈ for 30-35
minutes in a greased and floured 9x15 pan.
Icing:
1/2 c. butter
6 Tbsp. Coke
3 Tbsp. cocoa
1 box powdered sugar
1 c. walnuts
Boil butter, cocoa and Coke. Pour over sugar, add nuts. Spread on hot cake.
(my day is the 21. You get a moose in a Santa hat with tree-lights on his antlers holding a sign that says "Merry Chrismoose.")
Jesus? Not so much the reason for the season is
alyxbradford's look at Christmas celebrations over the centuries.The GLBT Bookshelf has launched the All Gay Romance Blog. It's the free tartlet sample of what your favorite authors are writing.
You meet interesting people while doing research. Stagecoach Mary Fields, hard-drinking, cigar smoking stagecoach driver and mail-carrier, who broke more noses in Central Montana than anyone ever, according to Great Falls Examiner.
From my defunct cookbook:
Aunt Rocky's Coke Cake
2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
2 sticks oleo
3 Tbsp. cocoa
1 c. Coke
3/4 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. mini marshmallows
Combine flour and sugar. Heat oleo, cocoa, and Coke to boil. Pour over flour and sugar. Mix.
Add rest of ingredients. Beat well. Sprinkle marshmallows over top. Bake 350ΓΈ for 30-35
minutes in a greased and floured 9x15 pan.
Icing:
1/2 c. butter
6 Tbsp. Coke
3 Tbsp. cocoa
1 box powdered sugar
1 c. walnuts
Boil butter, cocoa and Coke. Pour over sugar, add nuts. Spread on hot cake.
Blots from the Debauched Desk
Dec. 13th, 2009 04:00 pm- 23:19 @edonald Scalzi's are all fictional. I OWN the SW Holiday Special. my own extra special 11th birthday prezzie. #
- 13:09 @edonald Stir whip stir whip beat beat stir. Yes, i am evil. #
- 13:14 @SmartBitches Better than making the prawn subside as he spears his erection... #
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50 book project: 2 to go!
Dec. 13th, 2009 10:58 pmThis is cut for length. The * designate a book I read for the m/m romance challenge. Be aware, not all my books are safe for work or children. The stuff that you can't get at Amazon has links.
( 1-44 under here )
48) Dreadmire Chronicles: Knight of the Demon Tree. Elizabeth Donald. This is not your fluffy bunny and cavorting unicorn fantasy nove. This is The Float Trip From Hell. (paddle faster, Kance, I hear banjos!) Four adventurers plunge into the depths of the Dreadmire in search of the elf one of them loves. Bad things happen. And happen. And happen. High Octane Nightmare Fuel, folks. You are warned. Highly recommended.
( 1-44 under here )
48) Dreadmire Chronicles: Knight of the Demon Tree. Elizabeth Donald. This is not your fluffy bunny and cavorting unicorn fantasy nove. This is The Float Trip From Hell. (paddle faster, Kance, I hear banjos!) Four adventurers plunge into the depths of the Dreadmire in search of the elf one of them loves. Bad things happen. And happen. And happen. High Octane Nightmare Fuel, folks. You are warned. Highly recommended.