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Post by CherieKropp on Nov 14, 2017 9:55:05 GMT -5
At Christmas time, what are the customs of Friends in UK and Ireland?
Do friends openly decorate Christmas Trees in their homes? Would an Xmas tree ever be found in the meeting room? Give gifts? Hold a special Xmas Dinner?
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rs
Junior Member
Posts: 77
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Post by rs on Nov 14, 2017 16:21:53 GMT -5
We openly have a decorated tree in our home, give gifts and celebrate being together with a special dinner - however, I am what i know would be considered a fringe member....
The home where the local wed eve mtg is has a decorated tree in the room where the mtg is held.
My parents, where the sun am mtg is held, decorate with greenery and lights but no tree, think the gifts are enjoyed by mum (3rd gen) and tolerated by dad (1st gen), likewise christmas dinner. No decorations are displayed in the mtg room, and if christmas falls on a sunday the family expectation is that the gifts/dinner bit will be held on another day.
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Post by CherieKropp on Nov 14, 2017 17:26:46 GMT -5
We openly have a decorated tree in our home, give gifts and celebrate being together with a special dinner - however, I am what i know would be considered a fringe member.... The home where the local wed eve mtg is has a decorated tree in the room where the mtg is held. My parents, where the sun am mtg is held, decorate with greenery and lights but no tree, think the gifts are enjoyed by mum (3rd gen) and tolerated by dad (1st gen), likewise christmas dinner. No decorations are displayed in the mtg room, and if christmas falls on a sunday the family expectation is that the gifts/dinner bit will be held on another day. May i ask which country you reside in? Does your spouse profess?
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Post by mod4 on Nov 15, 2017 2:08:17 GMT -5
@review005, your posts have been moved to your own Halloween thread. It is clear what you are doing in attempting to belittle Cherie's topic on this thread. Also we have received numerous serious complaints which violate ProBoards ToS about stalking of Cherie. Please chill, or you know the only outcome. mod4
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Post by maryhig on Nov 15, 2017 3:30:41 GMT -5
We have Christmas decorations and trees, the older ones in our meetings don't have many, we mainly do it for the children. My mum always had a tree, and we used to decorate it with her. I don't see a problem with it as long as we bring God as Christ to our children and teach them the truth about God. And let them understand that these things aren't important to God, God looks at the heart before anything. Do the friends buy their children Christmas presents and have decorations etc? We do buy presents, but we don't go mad. I bring God into Christmas and teach my children and grandchildren about God and Christ. I teach them anyway, but anything that gets people talking about God is good surely? As long we don't let it go too far, then I think a tree and decorations are no harm. Although as I said, the older ones in our meeting who's kids have grown don't do as many. I do it nowfor my grandkids as they all live near me 😊
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Post by snow on Nov 15, 2017 14:10:38 GMT -5
We have Christmas decorations and trees, the older ones in our meetings don't have many, we mainly do it for the children. My mum always had a tree, and we used to decorate it with her. I don't see a problem with it as long as we bring God as Christ to our children and teach them the truth about God. And let them understand that these things aren't important to God, God looks at the heart before anything. Do the friends buy their children Christmas presents and have decorations etc? We do buy presents, but we don't go mad. I bring God into Christmas and teach my children and grandchildren about God and Christ. I teach them anyway, but anything that gets people talking about God is good surely? As long we don't let it go too far, then I think a tree and decorations are no harm. Although as I said, the older ones in our meeting who's kids have grown don't do as many. I do it nowfor my grandkids as they all live near me 😊 We never had a tree or Christmas presents, but I do remember being allowed to hang a stocking. It usually had things like oranges, candies and nuts in it, but I was always thrilled!
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Post by bendle on Nov 15, 2017 14:31:48 GMT -5
When I was a child my parents always had a tree and decorations, cards etc. There'd even be presents placed under the tree. The tree was sometimes in the 'best room' (meeting room) and though it had lights on it they would I think be turned off during meetings. Other places we went to meetings would also have cards and decorations in rooms where meetings were held.
Christmas dinner was usually a family affair, sometimes we'd have grandparents around, sometimes we'd be at aunt and uncle's etc.
If Christmas day was on a sunday or clashed with special meetings then in my family it was moved back a day so as not to clash. Obviously we were assured that Santa was going to make a special trip out just for all the boys and girls who had professing parents.....
Me personally, I detest Christmas and all that goes with it. I detest the commercialism, the attitude that 'you must have fun', the excuse for excess and the fact that the festival of Christmas was foisted on us by the church to replace the pagan midwinter celebrations of the passing of the shortest day of the year. I tolerate Christmas because my wife loves it and I have two little kids so i'd be a poor dad if I banned it!! Hopefully I can just sit by the fire with a book and go to sleep. Again.
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Post by Gene on Nov 16, 2017 19:21:09 GMT -5
When I was a child my parents always had a tree and decorations, cards etc. There'd even be presents placed under the tree. The tree was sometimes in the 'best room' (meeting room) and though it had lights on it they would I think be turned off during meetings. Other places we went to meetings would also have cards and decorations in rooms where meetings were held. Christmas dinner was usually a family affair, sometimes we'd have grandparents around, sometimes we'd be at aunt and uncle's etc. If Christmas day was on a sunday or clashed with special meetings then in my family it was moved back a day so as not to clash. Obviously we were assured that Santa was going to make a special trip out just for all the boys and girls who had professing parents..... Me personally, I detest Christmas and all that goes with it. I detest the commercialism, the attitude that 'you must have fun', the excuse for excess and the fact that the festival of Christmas was foisted on us by the church to replace the pagan midwinter celebrations of the passing of the shortest day of the year. I tolerate Christmas because my wife loves it and I have two little kids so i'd be a poor dad if I banned it!! H opefully I can just sit by the fire with a book and go to sleep. Again. May I recommend "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens?
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Post by snow on Nov 17, 2017 13:53:46 GMT -5
When I was a child my parents always had a tree and decorations, cards etc. There'd even be presents placed under the tree. The tree was sometimes in the 'best room' (meeting room) and though it had lights on it they would I think be turned off during meetings. Other places we went to meetings would also have cards and decorations in rooms where meetings were held. Christmas dinner was usually a family affair, sometimes we'd have grandparents around, sometimes we'd be at aunt and uncle's etc. If Christmas day was on a sunday or clashed with special meetings then in my family it was moved back a day so as not to clash. Obviously we were assured that Santa was going to make a special trip out just for all the boys and girls who had professing parents..... Me personally, I detest Christmas and all that goes with it. I detest the commercialism, the attitude that 'you must have fun', the excuse for excess and the fact that the festival of Christmas was foisted on us by the church to replace the pagan midwinter celebrations of the passing of the shortest day of the year. I tolerate Christmas because my wife loves it and I have two little kids so i'd be a poor dad if I banned it!! H opefully I can just sit by the fire with a book and go to sleep. Again. May I recommend "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens? I love that old movie! I watch it every Christmas Eve. I like the second version of it best. Do you like it Gene?
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Post by Gene on Nov 17, 2017 20:23:16 GMT -5
May I recommend "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens? I love that old movie! I watch it every Christmas Eve. I like the second version of it best. Do you like it Gene? You know, I don't know that I've seen the movie. I grew up without TV and not going to movies . I probably should watch it. I like the book, though.
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Post by mod4 on Nov 18, 2017 0:28:13 GMT -5
Reminded me of "Dinner for One" which I think is performed at New Year's Eve? Have you seen it Gene?
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Post by maryhig on Nov 18, 2017 1:33:08 GMT -5
I love that old movie! I watch it every Christmas Eve. I like the second version of it best. Do you like it Gene? You know, I don't know that I've seen the movie. I grew up without TV and not going to movies . I probably should watch it. I like the book, though. My favourite Christmas film is it's a wonderful life, I cry my eyes out every time I watch it.
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Post by snow on Nov 18, 2017 14:06:05 GMT -5
I love that old movie! I watch it every Christmas Eve. I like the second version of it best. Do you like it Gene? You know, I don't know that I've seen the movie. I grew up without TV and not going to movies . I probably should watch it. I like the book, though. I have never read the book so I guess we're even. I never grew up with a TV or movies either. I did get one when I left home and I found the old 1931 Christmas Carol and loved it. Over the years there have been newer versions of it. The Muppets and the McDucks even did a spoof on it. But my all time favorite is the 1951 one where Scrooge is played by Alastair Sim. The 1931 one is okay too. It's the first version I ever saw. They play it on most cable channels on Christmas Eve. Maybe have a look.
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Post by bendle on Nov 21, 2017 17:51:08 GMT -5
When I was a child my parents always had a tree and decorations, cards etc. There'd even be presents placed under the tree. The tree was sometimes in the 'best room' (meeting room) and though it had lights on it they would I think be turned off during meetings. Other places we went to meetings would also have cards and decorations in rooms where meetings were held. Christmas dinner was usually a family affair, sometimes we'd have grandparents around, sometimes we'd be at aunt and uncle's etc. If Christmas day was on a sunday or clashed with special meetings then in my family it was moved back a day so as not to clash. Obviously we were assured that Santa was going to make a special trip out just for all the boys and girls who had professing parents..... Me personally, I detest Christmas and all that goes with it. I detest the commercialism, the attitude that 'you must have fun', the excuse for excess and the fact that the festival of Christmas was foisted on us by the church to replace the pagan midwinter celebrations of the passing of the shortest day of the year. I tolerate Christmas because my wife loves it and I have two little kids so i'd be a poor dad if I banned it!! H opefully I can just sit by the fire with a book and go to sleep. Again. May I recommend "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens? Heck, I get enough digs about hating Christmas from my Christmas mad wife!!! No, give me a Scandinavian noir thriller and a terry's chocolate orange and peace and quiet somewhere and I can just about tolerate Christmas day........
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Post by Gene on Nov 21, 2017 20:05:16 GMT -5
May I recommend "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens? Heck, I get enough digs about hating Christmas from my Christmas mad wife!!! No, give me a Scandinavian noir thriller and a terry's chocolate orange and peace and quiet somewhere and I can just about tolerate Christmas day........ You might try embracing your inner Scrooge and hauling the tree out to the garbage heap on December 23. Great fun for all! Just imagine the silence over Christmas dinner. Peace, peace, peace on Earth, and good will to all...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2017 12:22:10 GMT -5
We openly have a decorated tree in our home, give gifts and celebrate being together with a special dinner - however, I am what i know would be considered a fringe member.... The home where the local wed eve mtg is has a decorated tree in the room where the mtg is held. My parents, where the sun am mtg is held, decorate with greenery and lights but no tree, think the gifts are enjoyed by mum (3rd gen) and tolerated by dad (1st gen), likewise christmas dinner. No decorations are displayed in the mtg room, and if christmas falls on a sunday the family expectation is that the gifts/dinner bit will be held on another day. People in these countries are human too, they cannot escape the celebrations, decorations, it is all around them and I believe that in their hearts they appreciate the reason for the season. I myself like the Christmas season, I love the Christmas carols and the special focus on Jesus's birth. Children enjoy it too, the presents, greetings and the pleasant Atmosphere of the jolly season. I don't for one moment believe that the celebrations grieve the heart of Jesus. The only exception perhaps is where some worship Him with their mouths/actions while their hearts are afar off. After the season, He is forgotten for another year by many.
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Post by bendle on Nov 22, 2017 17:16:01 GMT -5
Heck, I get enough digs about hating Christmas from my Christmas mad wife!!! No, give me a Scandinavian noir thriller and a terry's chocolate orange and peace and quiet somewhere and I can just about tolerate Christmas day........ You might try embracing your inner Scrooge and hauling the tree out to the garbage heap on December 23. Great fun for all! Just imagine the silence over Christmas dinner. Peace, peace, peace on Earth, and good will to all... Oh heck no. I'm well outnumbered at xmas time.......
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Post by xna on Nov 22, 2017 20:12:22 GMT -5
At Christmas time, what are the customs of Friends in UK and Ireland? I hope some in Ireland have a drink or two, otherwise they will loose their good reputation.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 15:01:05 GMT -5
At Christmas time, what are the customs of Friends in UK and Ireland? I hope some in Ireland have a drink or two, otherwise they will loose their good reputation. Maybe they get around that with alcohol in the wine for the emblems.
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