Support wanted !! Anyone else here who doesn't like Christmas ??

[Ziroc]

quote:

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Originally posted by Pangur Ban:
After reading some of the Christmas threads here in IW I'm starting to feel somewhat out on a limb ...

Is there anyone else here who does NOT enjoy Christmas ?
I'm not alone, am I?

I participate in all the celebrations, sincerely wish all the best for all my friends and relatives, ( hey, I wish the best for them every day of the year .. ) and join in the gift giving/receiving thing, but I don't feel any sort of special "magic" = Christmas Spirit that others seem to have. For the last 15 years or so I have felt that the festive season is something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

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You should check out the new John Grisham book called "Skipping Christmas". it's about the Commercialization of the holiday, and is kinda funny too.. worth a read!!

[Melusine]

OK I found a nice recipe on a site that also summarises the Sinterklaas celebration (with only a few mistakes ).

Hello Baking Enthusiasts!

Sinterklaas is coming to town...Only the town happens to be Amsterdam and he is more Saint than jolly old elf. When Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands on December 5th, he is always accompanied by Pete. Pete is a marvelous character whose antics rival Sinterklaas for the love and affection of the crowds gathered to welcome them on their journey from Spain.

While Sinterklaas greets the crowd with his Saintly manor, Pete is know to hand out tasty nuggets called Pepernoten to the children anxiously waiting to great them and ring in the Holiday Season. Start your own tradition from The Netherlands this year and hand out these spicy little cookies to each guest as they arrive at your door.

Pepernoten Spiced Cookie Balls (Makes 5-Dozen Small Cookies)

Ingredients:
2 cups All-purpose Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Anise Seed; Ground
1/2 tsp. Cloves; Ground
1 1/4 cups Brown Sugar; Firmly Packed
2 Large Eggs
1 Tbs. Candied Orange Rind; Diced
In a large bowl sift flour and baking soda together with all the spices. Add remaining ingredients and combine until mixture forms a dough. With floured hands, form the dough into about 60 1/2-inch balls and place on greased cookie sheets. Bake in a pre-heated 350-F degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cookies are light brown. Store in an airtight container.



A better, more traditional recipe:

Ingredients:
125g baking powder
1 tsp treacle
1/2 tbs 'speculaas'-spices
25g butter
50g brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbs milk

Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180-220 C. Mix all ingredients in the mixing bowl. Wash your hands and with your wet hands mix everything well. Knead the mix until it becomes a dough that does not stick to your hands. Grease the baking-tray using the butterbrush Roll the dough into little balls, as big as marbles, and put these on the baking tray. Put the baking tray in the middle of the oven and for about 20 minutes. Turn of the oven, let the gingernuts cool for 10 minutes and then use the spatula to remove them from the baking tray.

[Redblueflare]

I guess i've already said this, but I love Christmas and the Christmas spirit. I know that Christmas originally came from the Pagans, and yes I too hate all the commercialism. (Which I can easily ignore to a certain point.) Still I enjoy decorating Christmas trees, singing (Or playing) Christmas Carols, and looking at Christmas lights. Nothing better than snow at Christmas too. At least I think so.

[Pangur Ban]

Thanks for all the comments, peoples ...

( slight change of topic )
There is something very strange going for this time of year !!

Nothing feels quite "right" for December. I estimate the number of houses in my local area displaying Christmas lights has fallen by at least 75%. My suburb was well known for such displays, ( one house only a few minutes walk from my home was decorated with over 5000 fairy lights last year - this year, nothing !! ) Our work Christmas party was cancelled as not enough people wanted to attend. Is any one else noticing this sort of thing?


P.S. For general amusement and entertainment, I will post the "Legend of the Christmas Brick and the Christmas Dragon" in a few days time ...

Purzz,
Pang.

[Garnet FalconDance]

Yesterday was our annual Winter Bazaar at church. I had a table (and did relatively well, considering [img]smile.gif[/img] ). Even though the committee paid for advertising and there was scads of quality assorted goodies (from baked items to books to candles to aromatherapy to massage!) there really weren't many shoppers. I have a couple orders to fill for custom items, but several packed up the majority of their inventories at the end.

People seemed both cautious about spending and rather glum in general. Definitely not 'in the spirit'.

[Garnet FalconDance]

Re. lights: we drove by one house and yard last night on the way to eat out and there was a house that was *SO* decorated--the city should have paid them to take them all down! Even the out buildings had lights and the *entire* yard was decorated--shoot, these ppl probably kept the elect. company in business for the month already! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Not many around here have lights up, us included (but we never do). It seems to go in spurts--there will be several houses in a neighborhood which seem to compete for who can be the gaudiest and then the rest seem to throw up their hands in dismay (or disgust) and forego altogether.

[Pangur Ban]

I've solved the mystery about our local Christmas lights ...

It seems as if vandals went around our area last weekend destroying peoples decorations and cutting the wiring for fairy lights on houses with insulated shears.

Sigh. I may not be fond of Christmas, but at least I don't go around wrecking it for others ...

Pang.