Open Thread - Thurs 26 Dec 2024: Happy Boxing Day!
Happy Boxing Day!
It's the day after Christmas: Boxing Day (in the UK), St. Stephens Day in 'western Christianity'. On Boxing Day,
servants, tradespeople, and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts. By the 21st century it (Boxing Day) had become a day associated with shopping and sporting events.
Sounds like Black Friday, doesn't it?
I learned about Boxing Day when I lived in England. Didn't do much shopping then, but did exchange presents with my friends and family on that day. Another thing in England - at least where I lived in the northeast - which was different than I was used to from the USA: On Christmas Day, if the family could afford it, they ate out. Poor families saved for months to afford it. Eating out on that day was a BIG DEAL.
Ohh and Boxing Day is also the one of the days for Mummer's Plays, traditional British plays done by amateurs, often featuring sword fights or dances and resurrection. Once again, this happens in England, and sometimes there's a parade beforehand! This tradition is in Philadelphia in the USA as well, when the Mummer's Parade is on New Year's Day. Fun stuff!
By Michael Maggs - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
St. Albans Mummers Production of St. George and the Dragon on Boxing Day in 2015. I love the costumes!
And because it's the season, here's some music. This song is often the number one, or at least in the top 10, of Christmas music in Britain, year after year. The song is 'Fairytale of New York' by the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl. Kirsty died in 2000, saving her son from being run over by a multimillionaire's speed boat. Shane died 23 years later, a year ago. And on it goes...
Thanks for reading. Here's the open thread - remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!
Comments
Happy Boxing Day!
Hope your Boxing Day is great and your Holidays are happy and good! Husband made a ton of food, we are all eating well for the holidays! And a couple of days ago Nikko showed me how much he has learned as he's grown. A few months ago, or less, I dug up the last of the potatoes out of the garden. Nikko was there, and 'helped', playing and watching what I was doing. I got them all, or so I thought. A few days ago, he sniffed out some potatoes that were inadvertently left behind. He dug them up, carefully. He left them on top of the ground, the dirt all around dug up and moved, like they were jewels on a piece of velvet. Then he led me to them, and proudly showed me them, and seemed to be very approving when I picked them up after thanking him and praising him vehemently. Dogs are sure smart, aren't they?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Kirsty MacColl !!!
I remember playing "Days" so many times in darker times, and being in shock at hearing she died. Thanks for the memory jog.
You are welcome!
Hope you have had some great holidays this year!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Your doggie is smart
Tater sniffing and excavating are useful skills.
Impressive! Thanks for the OT.
Happy Kwanzaa and Hanukka
question everything
My first farmdog, Reyna...
used to pick green beans. She'd eat most of what she picked, but she did pick them! Nikko did not eat the tatties though, he didn't even put a bite or claw mark on them. He's strange!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
OK, you had to go and bring that up -- important link below
https://www.gocomics.com/frazz/2024/12/26
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
That was funny!
Thanks, have a good Bach Thing day!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning, sima!
Well, t-storms today and tonight, possible tornado, possible large hail. There goes the electricity!
Well, given the state of the news media, I am continuously in the dark.
The errands I wanted to run will just have to wait until tomorrow.
I sure envy you for your years in jolly old England. What a wondrous life experience, and you got to celebrate Boxing Day properly!
Thanks for the OT, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Your weather sounds challenging!
We've had a lot of rain, the goats are kinda swimming in it. They hate rain. And we've had wind, but not t-storms. Ohh and waves on the shoreline, wow... Luckily we are inside the Puget Sound, so it's not been that bad.
Thanks for stopping by! I too am going to be shopping tomorrow, probably. We'll be in sync, although many states apart
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
HI all, Hi Sima,
HI all, Hi Sima,
Thanks for the OT. My what smart dog you are raising!
Twice moved to a foreign land. I was mostly raised in 'beach cities' socal, with a side of Eastern Sierras. All of a sudden I was somewhere hardly recognizable. The people were all different, how they dressed, their hairstyles, the food was nothing like I knew, their language sounded sorta familiar to my ear but I could hardly understand 'em. Total culture shock.
The first time was when I moved to New Jersey, the second to Texas.
Happy boxing Day all!
.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Hah! Good morning Dysto, know just what you mean.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Ohh, foreign lands...
I didn't think to put my first move in that context. I too was raised near a beach city, although that city was in central ca (Santa Cruz). My first big move was across country to Philadelphia. Talk about foreign! Took a while to understand the lingo. And around that time my parents moved up to Wa state. Green, green all the time! I used to curse that, coming from summer brown, dry CA. Now, I love it
Only been to Texas once, I have to admit. Yes, another foreign land. Have a great holiday weekend and New Year!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning...
Happy holidays no matter what you celebrate (or don't)!
Food is always a big part of holidays. Today I'm making a pot pie and soup from left over Turkey. Warms the house and us when we eat.
Smart dog harvesting taters. Good story.
Thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Happy Holidays to you too!
Food is very important. In fact, some holidays seem to be made by the food, and I'm not including Thanksgiving in that tally :). Easter - ham and potato salad, Saturnalia/Christmas/etc - roast beef, yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and mashed rutabaga. New Years - maybe ham and potato salad, maybe steak... dang I'm hungry again now
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning Sima, thanks for Fairytale of New York,
a real classic which, imho, outshines all that White Christmas type stuff.
Today here is light clean-up and relax and do things like catch up with the e-mail, postal mail,start next year's calendar type of stuff. Avoiding most news and military summary channel, etc.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I agree, it does outshine the white xmas stuff
I think Last Christmas, by Wham, also does that. And it is also always in the top 10 at Christmas in Britain. I too have been avoiding the news. I'm planning 2025's projects for the farm and the house and so on. Will they all get done? Who knows, but at least I'm thinking about them!
Have a great relaxing day, and weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
May you all have a very Luigi day today!
The ruling classes need an extra party to make the rest of us feel as if we participate in democracy. That's what the Democrats are for. They make the US more durable than the Soviet Union was.
I don't know if Luigi meant to show the...
disparity between really rich people and the rest of us. But boy, does it shine out from the dark now. 'Capitalist Hellscape' is true for people dealing with our health 'care', isn't it?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
The Great Asian Restaurant Replacement Theory
Eating out on Thanksgiving and Christmas day is also becoming a thing at least in my area. Went to local Asian restaurants on those days, and places were jam packed with people. The people in the restaurants were by all appearances American.
yeah asian restaurants ignore holidays
.
.
when we more urban it was a great alternative
to the pricy places. Now that we hide in the boondocks
20 mile drive one way is not worth it.
Glad you found a good spot.
question everything
I've got a good Chinese restaurant...
fairly close by. I think I'm heading there this weekend now. But yea, 20 mi one way is too long!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Here in the land of
Pentacosts and Southern Baptists, you can forget about eating out on Thanksgiving or Xmas. There is a "China Town" area in Houston that is probably bustling on those days, but it is an hour away.
We were near Fredericksburg on Thanksgiving, and it is renown for its' many restaurants. Only 1 was open, and it was reservation only seating.
You made me hungry for sweet and sour pork, btw.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
That's it. Going to order orange chicken.
Local Safeway has the most gawd awful deli with stir fried Chinese. But I really like some of their choices. Orange chicken now my favorite although I am not sure it is chicken.
think it sounds good
.
maybe bring your asian flu tester?
question everything
He will be ok.
It is probably not chicken, but "chicken-like".
Taco Bell, famous for beef tacos, now says they do not guarantee it is beef.
This is normal, for shit's sake!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
What the heck???
Can a 'beef' taco be, but beef? Really? Good grief!!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Yea, that made me hungry...
I love Orange Chicken. And General Tso's Chicken, and Orange Beef. Hmmm, which one to get?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Love that theory...
And forgot that eating out on 'holidays' at Asian restaurants happens/ed in my area as well. Was a big thing when I lived in the Los Gatos/San Jose area of CA.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
I nominate Jaska
as the "Smartest Young Doggie of the Year".
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I'm for it!
Nikko too! And Sam
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so