Christmas-time is here.

[OldGit]

You don't think Finnish is a real language, do you?  Cos it's not - it's just a spoof to confuse foreigners by making weird gibbering noises.   As soon as nobody's listening they talk proper English, just like normal people.

All these so-called foreign languages are the same.  You couldn't actually convey meaningful information in any of 'em.

[Buddy]

You don't think Finnish is a real language, do you?  Cos it's not - it's just a spoof to confuse foreigners by making weird gibbering noises.   As soon as nobody's listening they talk proper English, just like normal people.

All these so-called foreign languages are the same.  You couldn't actually convey meaningful information in any of 'em.

So that's why I would constantly trip over my own tongue when trying to speak it. 

[history_geek]

You don't think Finnish is a real language, do you?  Cos it's not - it's just a spoof to confuse foreigners by making weird gibbering noises.   As soon as nobody's listening they talk proper English, just like normal people.

All these so-called foreign languages are the same.  You couldn't actually convey meaningful information in any of 'em.

Blast and damnation, we have been discovered! I must warn the goverment!

[not your typical...]

You don't think Finnish is a real language, do you?  Cos it's not - it's just a spoof to confuse foreigners by making weird gibbering noises.   As soon as nobody's listening they talk proper English, just like normal people.

All these so-called foreign languages are the same.  You couldn't actually convey meaningful information in any of 'em.

Blast and damnation, we have been discovered! I must warn the goverment!

So the conspiracy theories are true! 

[Tank]

A chap I knew worked for a Swedish company and he couldn't speak Swedish, but all the Sweads could speak English so in meetings they all spoke English. One day he was off work and the next day one of the Sweadish chaps told him that they had had a meeting the previous day (while he was off) and they had done it in English out of habit even though he wasn't there!

[Buddy]

A chap I knew worked for a Swedish company and he couldn't speak Swedish, but all the Sweads could speak English so in meetings they all spoke English. One day he was off work and the next day one of the Sweadish chaps told him that they had had a meeting the previous day (while he was off) and they had done it in English out of habit even though he wasn't there!

Yea, English is really common over there. A lot of the children watch TV in English because English programs are better than Swedish ones

[IcyBabe]

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year simply for the spirit of it all and the cold weather, fresh tree smell in the house, hot cocoa, good food, time with the family etc. etc.  It's the experience of it than anything religious involved that I can't get enough of  

[Will]

1. Do you celebrate Christmas/any of the other winter Decemberish (sorry about that, southern Hemisphere) holidays? Whether you do or you don't: Ever gotten flak for it?

I celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas, as they're basically cultural holidays. I love Christmas. I put months and months of thought (and paychecks) into what kind of gifts I give, I cook my very best recipes for my family and friends, and I listen to and play Christmas music all month long.

To me, Christmas is a holiday celebrating family, peace, and joy. These are things worth celebrating in tradition.

3. Since this is a religious holiday, and a lot of us have religious family and friends: how do you keep the peace during the holidays?

Christmas isn't a religious holiday, tbh. As was pointed out on the Daily Show last night, Christians as recently as a few hundred years ago were strongly against celebrating Christmas and found it to be offensive and sacrilegious. While Christmas has some religious roots, so do the names of the days of the week. That doesn't mean enjoying Friday means I'm worshiping Freya, the goddess for whom the day is named. Christians are welcome to think Christmas is their holiday, just like anyone is welcome to believe something that's incorrect.

4. If us evil atheists with our evil atheist agenda successfully secularize/steal Christmas, what should we rename it?

Call it the Natalis Solis Invicti (birth of the unconquered sun). It's badass and more historically accurate.

[not your typical...]

1. Do you celebrate Christmas/any of the other winter Decemberish (sorry about that, southern Hemisphere) holidays? Whether you do or you don't: Ever gotten flak for it?

I celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas, as they're basically cultural holidays. I love Christmas. I put months and months of thought (and paychecks) into what kind of gifts I give, I cook my very best recipes for my family and friends, and I listen to and play Christmas music all month long.

To me, Christmas is a holiday celebrating family, peace, and joy. These are things worth celebrating in tradition.

Well stated. I concur. That is really what Christmas is now.

4. If us evil atheists with our evil atheist agenda successfully secularize/steal Christmas, what should we rename it?

Call it the Natalis Solis Invicti (birth of the unconquered sun). It's badass and more historically accurate.

It is more badass.... me likes.

[Pharaoh Cat]

4. If us evil atheists with our evil atheist agenda successfully secularize/steal Christmas, what should we rename it?

Xmas!

[Pharaoh Cat]

For fun I made a "Merry Cthulmas from Santa Cthulhu" page on Faceboook.

[DeterminedJuliet]

[Sandra Craft]

This first one is an interview with David Hallberg, the first American to dance with the Bolshoi Ballet, on the Colbert Report:  interview

And here's the reason this is in the Xmas thread -- Hallberg, ballerina Hee Seo and Stephen Colbert perform a dance from The Nutcracker.  Enjoy:  dance

[Crocoduck]

I'm conflicted when it comes to Christmas. I always find it to be extremely stressful and it always makes me feel melancholy if not out right depressed.

On the other hand I like the lights, trees and the plastic Snowmen in peoples yards. I also like a lot of the classic Christmas music. When else do I get to listen to the great Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole without people laughing at me.

I also love some of the movies like Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story although I read Jean Shepherd book last year and it was so different from the movie I it's weird watching the movie.

I voted Meh and I think that sums up my ambivalence best.

[Buddy]

I'm conflicted when it comes to Christmas. I always find it to be extremely stressful and it always makes me feel melancholy if not out right depressed.

On the other hand I like the lights, trees and the plastic Snowmen in peoples yards. I also like a lot of the classic Christmas music. When else do I get to listen to the great Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole without people laughing at me.

I also love some of the movies like Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story although I read Jean Shepherd book last year and it was so different from the movie I it's weird watching the movie.

I voted Meh and I think that sums up my ambivalence best.

It is a tradition for my mom, brother, and me to watch Christmas Vacation. Heck, Mom named her cat after Ruby Sue (her eyes were crossed as a kitten)