Banning Red And Green?

[SharonC]

Canadians,too. My childhood days in Newfoundland were, somewhat, different though. We celebrated the days of Christmas...not just one day. We had mummering. We would dress up and go from door to door. Knocking on the doors, we would ask if the mummers were allowed in. Then there would be guessing to find out who everyone was under their masks,etc. Christmas was more about house parties, pots of soup, fruit-cake and syrup(wine and hard liquor for the adults). The focus wasn't so much on the gifts. I know my mom was quite the seamstress and knitter. Homemade caps and scarfes were the usual gift....or vamps(SharonC knows what they are).

Believe it or not, Staro, my mother did not knit. I remember being most excited about my stocking. I would get an apple, orange, grapes and nuts, plus a few small toys. Being part of a large family, money was not plentiful so for us fresh fruit was such a big treat. My mom made the most delicious light and dark fruit cakes. A slice of fruit cake with a glass of Purity strawberry syrup was something I loved. Thankfully, my sister carries on the fruitcake tradition. Our house was always full at Christmas with friends and neighbours. I remember that more than presents I received. How times have changed.

 

[staropeace]

Believe it or not, Staro, my mother did not knit. I remember being most excited about my stocking. I would get an apple, orange, grapes and nuts, plus a few small toys. Being part of a large family, money was not plentiful so for us fresh fruit was such a big treat. My mom made the most delicious light and dark fruit cakes. A slice of fruit cake with a glass of Purity strawberry syrup was something I loved. Thankfully, my sister carries on the fruitcake tradition. Our house was always full at Christmas with friends and neighbours. I remember that more than presents I received. How times have changed.

I make the fruitcakes ...love them. I liked the lime syrup. That new blue syrup is really good too. The Italian places here in Edmonton use our Purity for their ices.

 

[staropeace]

Sharon, did your family have a pot of soup for after Christmas eve service or Mass? I always have chili lol. Dad would always have salt fish and raisin bread for supper on Christmas eve.

 

[Neesy]

Canadians,too. My childhood days in Newfoundland were, somewhat, different though. We celebrated the days of Christmas...not just one day. We had mummering. We would dress up and go from door to door. Knocking on the doors, we would ask if the mummers were allowed in. Then there would be guessing to find out who everyone was under their masks,etc. Christmas was more about house parties, pots of soup, fruit-cake and syrup(wine and hard liquor for the adults). The focus wasn't so much on the gifts. I know my mom was quite the seamstress and knitter. Homemade caps and scarfes were the usual gift....or
vamps (SharonC knows what they are).

Now I know what a "vamp" is (not a vampire!)

 

[SharonC]

W

Sharon, did your family have a pot of soup for after Christmas eve service or Mass? I always have chili lol. Dad would always have salt fish and raisin bread for supper on Christmas eve.

We always had fish on Christmas Eve. My dad, who wasn't even Catholic, always insisted on that. Salt fish and potatoes with drawn butter. I can taste it now!

 

[AnnaMarie]

I make the fruitcakes ...love them. I liked the lime syrup. That new blue syrup is really good too. The Italian places here in Edmonton use our Purity for their ices.

I lost a lot of my mom's recipes, but somehow both her light and dark fruitcake recipes survived.

One year I made several of each, left them a few months to ripen, then invited the family over. I have to admit, it is one of my best Christmas surprises as each person was selecting cookies off the tray and everyone took a piece of fruit cake. I watched each face as they took their first bite. Everyone closed their eyes, just savouring that childhood flavour. One of my brothers actually said "it's like she's back with us for Christmas".

 

[Angelo Bottigliero]

Angelo, I'm Catholic, and I have a book that tells about Black Peter so: When Nicholas was imprisoned, in an attempt to get him to forsake his religion, the prisoners were forced to do hard labour (I think it was mining). Nicholas was also tortured by his captors, and one of his tortures was that spikes were driven through his thighs, making it difficult for him to walk at times. 'Peter' was a fellow prisoner, likely Ethiopian, who carried the future saint around when he couldn't walk. He converted to Christianity, continued as Nicholas' helper once they were out of prison, and was even with him at the council of Nicea (where the church leaders developed the Nicene Creed). Peter was certainly NOT a slave.

Thank you so much, did not know this

 

[Angelo Bottigliero]

Here is a link to a video of the politician apologizing. He is almost crying, for cripes sake. It goes to show how a tradition can be perceived as offensive

Nova Scotia Liberal breaks down in discussing photo of blackface character - Yahoo News Canada

Wow - is this character (Zwarte Piet) a subject of ridicule? Or is it just because the tradition of 'blackface' is seen as someone making fun of black people? It sounds like the people of Nova Scotia were very offended and this politician was in a lot of hot water as a result.
Is it also (as some have said) true that the character is black from going down chimneys? (or is this just another twist on the story?)

There are lots of people that claim he's black from the chimney. But that doesn't explain the afro, big red lips and gold earrings. He's NOT ridiculed though

 

[skimom2]

Thank you so much, did not know this

Keep in mind, it's all legend at this point--someone writing down a story from oral tradition. So long ago that no one can say with absolute certainty. Rings true to me, though

 

[staropeace]

Keep in mind, it's all legend at this point--someone writing down a story from oral tradition. So long ago that no one can say with absolute certainty. Rings true to me, though

Usually legend has some truth.

 

[arista]

I love me some Round-a-bouts!

Round abouts are like playing frogger the real life version.

 

[FlakeNoir]

Round abouts are like playing frogger the real life version.

They work really well for us here, but that could be the less traffic thing at play.

 

[Chuggs]

How far is too far? Have we reached that yet? Pretty soon the P.C pendulum will have swung so far around that it'll come back and hit us in the arse.

It was reached a long time ago.

 

[Chuggs]

The principle at this school is an idiot. You can't on one hand say that you don't want to offend people, then on the other hand offend people anyway...probably more people. We have so many idiots in this world that it astounds me. Why can't we all just live and let live? If you believe in something, believe in it. If you don't, don't. Thank God my kids go to a school that is not this asinine.