[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Is a Christmas tree specifically catholic? I didn't think so. Yeah we do, Christmas is a nice family time, its evolved into something other than religious I think for alot if people. Traditions can be nice the not eating meat on Fridays is just an odd one I think ( well actually I don't eat meat on Fridays as I'm vegetarian now )

It could be a useful way of using tradition to limit meat intake which is meant to be the way forward.
Doesnt have to he fridays of course

[Marsh.]

I thought "no meat on Fridays" was a Good Friday tradition, not Friday in general.

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I thought "no meat on Fridays" was a Good Friday tradition, not Friday in general.

It changed from the latter to the former over time. Now it's just good friday

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Is a Christmas tree specifically catholic? I didn't think so. )

Christmas is.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Christmas is.

Surely it a Christian thing rather than specifically Catholic, is what I mean

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

It changed from the latter to the former over time. Now it's just good friday

There's a funny bit in Father Ted about that actually, Fr Dougal asking a Bishop, how come it was bad to eat meat on Fridays before but it's OK now, did the other lads go to hell or what?

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

In Poland Christmas Eve is a big thing. You eat sparsely during the day, but then in the evening, once the first star appears, you have Christmas Eve supper. Traditionally 12 dishes although that's only aspiration not a must. All vegetarian: fish few ways, two or three soups, savouries and sweet dishes. And booze. Then midnight mass. After midnight you can eat meat and I'd always visit the fridge after mass and have a cut of ham or a dried sausage

Love traditions like that, the Spanish celebrate on Christmas Eve as well. Don't Polish people leave their tree up until February as well?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Don't Polish people leave their tree up until February as well?

Don't be giving the tree-up-on-30th-september people any ideas Chez!!!

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Don't be giving the tree-up-on-30th-september people any ideas Chez!!!

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Love traditions like that, the Spanish celebrate on Christmas Eve as well. Don't Polish people leave their tree up until February as well?

They do. But the downside is it gets put up late, sometimes as late as Christmas Eve. Stays up until Candlemas, 2nd of Feb.
Also the idea of Carnival starting after Christmas until Ash Wednesday is still present. You meant to have lots of parties and general merrymaking.

[Ammi]

...I’m enjoying reading about your Polish Christmas traditions, TwoSugars......do you have family still in Poland..?...

[Ammi]

...’...Typically, people watch for the first star to appear in the night sky before sitting down to eat. The breaking of symbolic wafers precedes the meal and everyone shares pieces of the broken wafers.’....an incredible feeling of family togetherness.....

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

They do. But the downside is it gets put up late, sometimes as late as Christmas Eve. Stays up until Candlemas, 2nd of Feb.
Also the idea of Carnival starting after Christmas until Ash Wednesday is still present. You meant to have lots of parties and general merrymaking.

When we were young decorations wouldn't go up until the day before Christmas Eve or Christmas Eve itself, I like that they put the decs up in the UK a few weeks before, what I don't like is that as soon as boxing day is over some shops start taking them down, if feels like they are rushing you onto the next shopping event

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...I’m enjoying reading about your Polish Christmas traditions, TwoSugars......do you have family still in Poland..?...

Yes I do.

Originally Posted by Cherie

When we were young decorations wouldn't go up until the day before Christmas Eve or Christmas Eve itself, I like that they put the decs up in the UK a few weeks before, what I don't like is that as soon as boxing day is over some shops start taking them down, if feels like they are rushing you onto the next shopping event

Those decorations are not there to celebrate the season of good will but to tug on your purse strings.
All money driven. People bought presents so shops move on to the next thing.