On the Nature of Things | Forum

A happy July 1st - Independence Day to all the 'Merkins.

A happy Thanksgiving to all the Canadians - les Canadiens.

A happy Halloween to all who celebrate.


[And to the boring killjoy bureaucrats of Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, who don't]

A happy Thanksgiving to all the Americans.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating.

We had an eventful one; the oven broke in the middle of cooking. It was then a mad rush across the city, bird and all strapped in, to a workable kitchen. We managed to cook everything; it turned out alright, though I wish we had browned the turkey a tiny bit more.

happy thanksgving.

I am thankful I dont have to politely pretend peoples roast turkey tastes nice once a year

While in the apparent minority, I love turkey.
We don't have the marathon dinners my great-grandparents did, but turkey isn't even the centerpiece of the meal here. The star is probably the lasagna and, for me, the turkey soup. Some may say it's the pignolis/cannolis/cookie aspect of the evening.

cannoli is delicious, I wouldnt have to pretend to enjoy that, ditto a good lasagna.

A happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate.

A Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.

In Japan, Christmas has been adopted as a celebration, but not being a Christian nation, without any of the original religious aspects.

Time Out Tokyo | What's the deal with... KFC and Christmas in Japan?

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

- WW Longfellow

Typhoon wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 5:51 pm A Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.

In Japan, Christmas has been adopted as a celebration, but not being a Christian nation, without any of the original religious aspects.

mid summer/mid winter holidays predate all modern religions.

christmas is mostly family and friends time in australia, religious or not.

.. and happy christmas alll.

noddy wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 10:09 pm

Typhoon wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 5:51 pm A Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.

In Japan, Christmas has been adopted as a celebration, but not being a Christian nation, without any of the original religious aspects.

mid summer/mid winter holidays predate all modern religions.

Quite

noddy wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 10:09 pm christmas is mostly family and friends time in australia, religious or not.

Christmas Eve in Japan is like Valentine's Day for the young.

thats so funny, christmas is always the least romantic thing I can think of - for a lot of folks its just endless stress trying to meet some imaginary standard.

Wouldn't the Golden Week be analogous, commercially and socially? Or am I mistaken about that?

NapLajoieonSteroids wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 1:22 am Wouldn't the Golden Week be analogous, commercially and socially? Or am I mistaken about that?

Well, Golden Week consists of four national holidays. However, none are associated with the exchanging of gifts.
A lot of people travel during this holiday, but mostly for tourism rather than family reunion.

The only gifts involved are if one travels, then one is expected to buy the obligatory souvenir gifts | omiyage | お土産 to distribute to family, friends, and colleagues.

Typhoon wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 3:33 pm

NapLajoieonSteroids wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 1:22 am Wouldn't the Golden Week be analogous, commercially and socially? Or am I mistaken about that?

Well, Golden Week consists of four national holidays. However, none are associated with the exchanging of gifts.
A lot of people travel during this holiday, but mostly for tourism rather than family reunion.

The only gifts involved are if one travels, then one is expected to buy the obligatory souvenir gifts | omiyage | お土産 to distribute to family, friends, and colleagues.

I see and stand corrected.

--------------------------------------------------------

Hope all who celebrated had a Merry Christmas.

NapLajoieonSteroids wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 11:16 am

Typhoon wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 3:33 pm

NapLajoieonSteroids wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 1:22 am Wouldn't the Golden Week be analogous, commercially and socially? Or am I mistaken about that?

Well, Golden Week consists of four national holidays. However, none are associated with the exchanging of gifts.
A lot of people travel during this holiday, but mostly for tourism rather than family reunion.

The only gifts involved are if one travels, then one is expected to buy the obligatory souvenir gifts | omiyage | お土産 to distribute to family, friends, and colleagues.

I see and stand corrected.

--------------------------------------------------------

Hope all who celebrated had a Merry Christmas.

No worries, as the Aussies would say.

The the traditional time for family reunion is approaching: the first three days of the New Year.

A Happy New Year 2024 to all.

Happy New Year to Y'all

Happy New Year to all y’all.

A happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate.

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