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All sorts of odd musings end up on this page. Then they get stored in 'The Kitchen Drawer'. Enjoy.
Misadventures in Mayenne
Reflections on a season
What do you want for Christmas? It’s a question I have come to dread. But I am getting better at answering it. Well I thought I was. This year my request for some new bake ware has been met with a slightly frosty reception from hubs, and his friends have assured him that buying a woman ‘a couple of cake tins and a spatula’, is not the done thing. So I have been chastised for not requesting a ‘proper present’ and told in no uncertain terms that whilst I can have my spatula, I must also have a ‘proper’ present. I give up.
I have to hold my hands up to being just a little bit of a Grinch sometimes. It's not that I don't like Christmas, I actually love it. What I don't like is that the build up to the big day seems to be starting earlier and earlier each year. My sources in the UK reported the first signs of tinsel appearing in early August. I mean that's just ludicrous. At least I didn’t see any here till October, and that's bad enough. The pressure to have the 'perfect day' is enormous, and impossible to live up to for us mere mortals, and it seems to leave people frustrated and disappointed when a ‘perfect day' is not had by all. And the arguments about where are we going to for Christmas, what on earth can we get for presents, how on earth are we going to afford it all. Perfection costs. And what of the big day itself? All that energy and finance spent, hours sweating over the ‘best meal of the year’. The nagging worry that something has been missed, because, let’s face it, if you don’t have ALL the trimmings, the whole day will be ruined. And it seems if you don’t send yourself spiralling into debt to ensure that the right gifts are given, then you have failed the spirits of Christmas. And what if people don’t like the gifts you have agonised over? Oh the horror. IT MUST BE PERFECT!
But WHY do we go to all these lengths for just one day? Well tradition of course! Of course if we were following tradition to the letter then we would all be out in the fields singing our ‘carols’ to the planet Saturn. Most self - respecting students of theology, (and I know quite a few of those), will freely admit that the birth of Christ was probably in either October or March and that 'the church' hijacked the time of the winter solstice merely as a fixed date to commemorate it (and of course smarten up all those pagans!!!) In A.D 354, it was Bishop Liberia of Rome who ordered people to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25. This date made sense to the Roman emperor who wanted to make Christianity the favoured religion and to get people to celebrate Christ’s birth. What better way to do it than take over the pagan holiday on that date? As an early theologian said during those years, “we hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of Him who made it”.
Sociologically I think it's fair to say it's been hi-jacked again, this time by the commercial secularists of this world - I mean Santa Claus is the biggest advertising success in the world. But what of the man himself, who was he and how has he become the epitome of children’s ‘wish fulfilment’ and the cause of many a New Years overdraft.
Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus He was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra, now Demre, in Turkey . Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. Pre-modern representations of the gift-giver from church history and folklore, notably St Nicholas, merged with the British character Father Christmas to create the character known to Britons and Americans as Santa Claus. Father Christmas dates back at least as far as the 17th century in Britain, and pictures of him survive from that era, portraying him as a jolly well-nourished bearded man dressed in a long, green, fur-lined robe. He typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, and was reflected as the "Ghost of Christmas Present", in Charles Dickens festive classic A Christmas Carol , a great genial man in a green coat lined with fur who takes Scrooge through the bustling streets of London on the current Christmas morning, sprinkling the essence of Christmas onto the happy populace. Many people, myself included, believe that it was coca-cola who first changed Santa’s livery from green to red in a huge advertising coup. I have found out this is not in fact true. Images of Santa in red pre-date the fizzy drink by many decades. They just capitalized rather well on it. Another seasonal myth de-bunked!
In our house the ‘Pere Noel list’ is kept short and small (I have never really understood why most parents let Santa take credit for the best gifts), Moo has obliged in recent years but her perceptions of his benevolence are being altered by her peers and this year she has raised the bar slightly higher, but still within tolerable limits. ‘Santa’s’ gifts are small and fun, and at all times must include a clemantine in the foot of your stocking. I still have no idea where that particular tradition originated from, but it is a tradition so therefore must be strictly adhered to lest we displease the Gods of Yule. Of course Santa is also excellent behavioural aid for many parents for the last month or two of the year. In our house his elves seem to have morphed into undercover agents reporting any misdemeanour back to HQ with the great man himself deciding if the incident will impact of the quality of gift. I am fully in favour of the lump of coal in the stocking threat!!
As a practicing Christian I found this one of the most difficult and trying times of the year when I lived in the UK. The commercial and social pressure was almost too much to bear, hence the aforementioned Grinch-like attitude to the season. Somehow country Christmases seem a much more civilised affair, with a lot less pressure for perfection and a lot more focus on family and actually celebrating the birth of Christ or the coming of the spring, depending on your spiritual sentiments, and much more at one with the spirit of the community and the land. Many traditions are accepted and celebrated here, some of which were quite alien to us when we arrived, some are a welcome reminder of times past and some are straight from the front of a Christmas card. I think I am more excited than Moo about the upcoming visit to the village by the man himself in his horse drawn sleigh. (As I explained to Moo last year the reindeer have to rest-up for the big night!).
Gifts from the heart, whatever form they take, and wonderful food are lovely, and welcome, but if preparing a giant turkey that will feed a small nation is enough to send you screaming for the valium, then perhaps it’s time to reflect on what you actually WANT to do, and not what you feel you must.
So what of our Christmas celebrations. Well the cards are written, my gifts have been thoughtfully and economically purchased, (and quite frankly if you don’t like them, tough). I do not know what to expect for Christmas from other people, but whatever it is however large or small it will be thankfully received, (that's not to say Hubs and I wouldn't sell our respective mothers for a big Cadbury’s selection box under the tree this year. Mum, you know I love you dearly and you are my best friend in the world, but you also know there is a distinct possibility that it's a tiny bit true. No, I'm only joking of course. Really I am *). And as for the rest of the preparations, I thought I had it cracked this year, I really did. Hubs job was going to be taking us all to Macau for Christmas this year, with Moo and I jetting in on the 23rd for a fully catered hotel festival, but due to a series of delays with the production it will once again be a Christmas at home for the 3 of us. Hubs will get 2 weeks of instead of 2 days, and the most wonderful gift of all, it’s his turn to cook. Now that’s what I call a perfect Christmas!
(*but if you haven't finished your shopping yet and you are considering gift ideas ..... )
Whatever you do to and wherever you happen to be I hope you all have a happy and peaceful Christmas.
What do you want for Christmas? It’s a question I have come to dread. But I am getting better at answering it. Well I thought I was. This year my request for some new bake ware has been met with a slightly frosty reception from hubs, and his friends have assured him that buying a woman ‘a couple of cake tins and a spatula’, is not the done thing. So I have been chastised for not requesting a ‘proper present’ and told in no uncertain terms that whilst I can have my spatula, I must also have a ‘proper’ present. I give up.
I have to hold my hands up to being just a little bit of a Grinch sometimes. It's not that I don't like Christmas, I actually love it. What I don't like is that the build up to the big day seems to be starting earlier and earlier each year. My sources in the UK reported the first signs of tinsel appearing in early August. I mean that's just ludicrous. At least I didn’t see any here till October, and that's bad enough. The pressure to have the 'perfect day' is enormous, and impossible to live up to for us mere mortals, and it seems to leave people frustrated and disappointed when a ‘perfect day' is not had by all. And the arguments about where are we going to for Christmas, what on earth can we get for presents, how on earth are we going to afford it all. Perfection costs. And what of the big day itself? All that energy and finance spent, hours sweating over the ‘best meal of the year’. The nagging worry that something has been missed, because, let’s face it, if you don’t have ALL the trimmings, the whole day will be ruined. And it seems if you don’t send yourself spiralling into debt to ensure that the right gifts are given, then you have failed the spirits of Christmas. And what if people don’t like the gifts you have agonised over? Oh the horror. IT MUST BE PERFECT!
But WHY do we go to all these lengths for just one day? Well tradition of course! Of course if we were following tradition to the letter then we would all be out in the fields singing our ‘carols’ to the planet Saturn. Most self - respecting students of theology, (and I know quite a few of those), will freely admit that the birth of Christ was probably in either October or March and that 'the church' hijacked the time of the winter solstice merely as a fixed date to commemorate it (and of course smarten up all those pagans!!!) In A.D 354, it was Bishop Liberia of Rome who ordered people to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25. This date made sense to the Roman emperor who wanted to make Christianity the favoured religion and to get people to celebrate Christ’s birth. What better way to do it than take over the pagan holiday on that date? As an early theologian said during those years, “we hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of Him who made it”.
Sociologically I think it's fair to say it's been hi-jacked again, this time by the commercial secularists of this world - I mean Santa Claus is the biggest advertising success in the world. But what of the man himself, who was he and how has he become the epitome of children’s ‘wish fulfilment’ and the cause of many a New Years overdraft.
Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus He was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra, now Demre, in Turkey . Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. Pre-modern representations of the gift-giver from church history and folklore, notably St Nicholas, merged with the British character Father Christmas to create the character known to Britons and Americans as Santa Claus. Father Christmas dates back at least as far as the 17th century in Britain, and pictures of him survive from that era, portraying him as a jolly well-nourished bearded man dressed in a long, green, fur-lined robe. He typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, and was reflected as the "Ghost of Christmas Present", in Charles Dickens festive classic A Christmas Carol , a great genial man in a green coat lined with fur who takes Scrooge through the bustling streets of London on the current Christmas morning, sprinkling the essence of Christmas onto the happy populace. Many people, myself included, believe that it was coca-cola who first changed Santa’s livery from green to red in a huge advertising coup. I have found out this is not in fact true. Images of Santa in red pre-date the fizzy drink by many decades. They just capitalized rather well on it. Another seasonal myth de-bunked!
In our house the ‘Pere Noel list’ is kept short and small (I have never really understood why most parents let Santa take credit for the best gifts), Moo has obliged in recent years but her perceptions of his benevolence are being altered by her peers and this year she has raised the bar slightly higher, but still within tolerable limits. ‘Santa’s’ gifts are small and fun, and at all times must include a clemantine in the foot of your stocking. I still have no idea where that particular tradition originated from, but it is a tradition so therefore must be strictly adhered to lest we displease the Gods of Yule. Of course Santa is also excellent behavioural aid for many parents for the last month or two of the year. In our house his elves seem to have morphed into undercover agents reporting any misdemeanour back to HQ with the great man himself deciding if the incident will impact of the quality of gift. I am fully in favour of the lump of coal in the stocking threat!!
As a practicing Christian I found this one of the most difficult and trying times of the year when I lived in the UK. The commercial and social pressure was almost too much to bear, hence the aforementioned Grinch-like attitude to the season. Somehow country Christmases seem a much more civilised affair, with a lot less pressure for perfection and a lot more focus on family and actually celebrating the birth of Christ or the coming of the spring, depending on your spiritual sentiments, and much more at one with the spirit of the community and the land. Many traditions are accepted and celebrated here, some of which were quite alien to us when we arrived, some are a welcome reminder of times past and some are straight from the front of a Christmas card. I think I am more excited than Moo about the upcoming visit to the village by the man himself in his horse drawn sleigh. (As I explained to Moo last year the reindeer have to rest-up for the big night!).
Gifts from the heart, whatever form they take, and wonderful food are lovely, and welcome, but if preparing a giant turkey that will feed a small nation is enough to send you screaming for the valium, then perhaps it’s time to reflect on what you actually WANT to do, and not what you feel you must.
So what of our Christmas celebrations. Well the cards are written, my gifts have been thoughtfully and economically purchased, (and quite frankly if you don’t like them, tough). I do not know what to expect for Christmas from other people, but whatever it is however large or small it will be thankfully received, (that's not to say Hubs and I wouldn't sell our respective mothers for a big Cadbury’s selection box under the tree this year. Mum, you know I love you dearly and you are my best friend in the world, but you also know there is a distinct possibility that it's a tiny bit true. No, I'm only joking of course. Really I am *). And as for the rest of the preparations, I thought I had it cracked this year, I really did. Hubs job was going to be taking us all to Macau for Christmas this year, with Moo and I jetting in on the 23rd for a fully catered hotel festival, but due to a series of delays with the production it will once again be a Christmas at home for the 3 of us. Hubs will get 2 weeks of instead of 2 days, and the most wonderful gift of all, it’s his turn to cook. Now that’s what I call a perfect Christmas!
(*but if you haven't finished your shopping yet and you are considering gift ideas ..... )
Whatever you do to and wherever you happen to be I hope you all have a happy and peaceful Christmas.