Chatiryworld

December 24th, 2004

It's here, it's here!  Have you got your stockings out (not like that Zeno), mince pies at the ready?  We're going to have a mulled wine fest later on.  Exciting!

Today's (the final) door comes to you with cheese, oatcakes, bere bannocks, ice cream and a dram of Highland Park.  We're Orkney flavoured today, my birthplace and where I learned to walk, talk, read, write, sing, skip, swear...

I've chosen Orkney for today's entry because tomorrow sees the Christmas Day Ba' in Kirkwall, a game where those from one end of the town (the Uppies) and those from the other (the Doonies) aim to get a ball to their respective ends of town.  It's basically a massive brawl and rugby scrum.  There's a repeat performance on New Year's Day.  I've also selected some general festive Orkney links, but up until the middle of the last century Christmas wasn't really celebrated.  Read on

What is the Ba'?
The Ba' website
Book on the Kirkwall Ba'
Orkney has a ball in its darkest hours
Winter festival in Orkney
A view from the hill
Alternative to Christmas pudding
A white Christmas?
House of Winter
Monks on Papa Stronsay

December 23rd, 2004

23rd December is apparently Human Light Day.  What on earth is that?  Basically a humanist Christmas (woo-h00, do I get extra presents, had on, that's not the point...).  It's not something I really want to get into doing, but I'll certainly recognise it.  I suppose I am celebrating it in my own way, by having lunch with my dad, who I haven't seen for a few weeks, and going home to my mum's for the next few days.  Kind of celebrating all the good things that we should be celebrating at this time of year, family and friends and food (even if it's just a Starbucks panini).  Find out more about Human Light Day:

Human Light Day according to Humanist Network News
Official Human Light Day website
Secular seasons
Humanists celebrate a December Solstice of their own
Celebrating the holidays without god: A humanist alternative
A humanist perspective on midwinter holiday traditions
Something to celebrate?
I wish you a merry Christmas
Holiday message from the Unitarian Universalist Association President
I've been reading a bit about Unitarian Universalists recently, finding some elements of humanist associations a bit too militant and cut-and-dry (or at least those who seem to be in the media).  I find the UUs quite fascinating as they basically take on anyone with any belief but give more freedom to explore this.  I suppose they kind of appeal to me as they come from a Christian background, a religion which influences my country and culture, but not everyone who is a UU believes in a god, many are humanists.  It seems to be more of an American movement, we do have a Unitarian church in the UK but it seems to be more Christian rather than encompassing all beliefs and religions (not that they'd turn you away!).

December 22nd, 2004

Nearly there folks, nearly there!  Must admit I'm almost running out of steam on this one (well, I do have entries for tomorrow and the 24th but today?  Hmm.  I'm going to go for the good old British tradition of pantomime.  I haven't been to one for years and must admit there are better ways to spend your time, but if you're a kid, they're great.  When I was in Primary 2 I won a prize in the Kirkwall pantomime painting competition, I think I got £3 Woolies vouchers which I spent on something to do with Barbie.  For those of you who have no idea what a pantomime is, read on:

The Pantomime Pages
It's Behind You!
Pantomime guided tour
What is a pantomime?
Pantomime listings
A unique British entertainment
Blue Peter pantomime video clip

December 21st, 2004

Back to the days of yore (when exactly where they?) and when the whole thing started, the Winter Solstice.  Some people don't like that, especially when you tag it on to Christmas, an essentially Christian festival.  However, when you think about it (please do) Christmas (which I call it for ease of use) is an evolving process.  At the beginning it was to celebrate the solstice, then the birth of Jesus.  As time wore on we have added many new elements - trees, cards, crackers, wassailing, mulled wine, Father Christmas and his various incarnations... (ok, not quite on the scale of the son of god but it's still an evolving process).  Recent additions are decorating the outside of your house with disgusting lights. We've also evolved by learning more about science and how the world works, so that manyof us no longer believe in a god.  I have no qualms about celebrating Christmas even though I am one of the non-believers.  It is a time to celebrate life, your family and friends and get through the dark days of winter.  As we learn more about other religions and beliefs I wonder if we will begin to include elements of Hannukah and Eid.  Anyway, not sure I've made my point clearly but here are today's links:

Candlegrove

Winter Solstice according to the BBC

Solstice celebrations from A-Z

Celebrating Winter Solstice

Solstice and Equinox

Read carefully - here's the science bit

A Winter Solstice party

Maeshowe and the Winter Solstice

December 20th, 2004

Yesterday I wrapped my presents, and yes, Briggy, it's a purpley one (apart from Hugh's which is orange because I got the shop to gift wrap it for me - always ask for this as it is often free).  So we have some wrapping presents links:

Wrapping presents with a cat
Top tips for Christmas wrapping
Formula for wrapping presents from Dundee University
Gift-wrap organiser
All about wrapping from Martha Stewart
No-waste gift wrapping ideas
How to wrap a present in a unique way

December 19th, 2004

As I was dusting my bookshelves this morning I remembered that I wanted to do a 'door' on the Krakow Christmas cribs (I have one on one of my shelves you see).  I saw them when I went to Krakow in 1998 and then earlier this year Tinternet and I saw an exhibition of them at the Lowry in Salford.  I think they are beautiful, they are generally made of bits of coloured foil and the aim is to be as ornate as possible.  My one is only little but it did have to come back on the aeroplane with me.  Read on...

General Polish Christmas information
Christmas creche
Book about the tradition
Buy your own Polish crib
BBC Staffordshire Polish section
Nativity beauties
The Fanciful Krakow Christmas Crib
szopki
A Fairy Tale Stable
And last, but by no means least, my crib.

December 18th, 2004

Today is the day that the Radio Times Christmas special begins.   As a child I used to look forward to the Christmas Radio Times as I could see what film I would be begging my mum and Hugh to let me watch/rearrange dinner around.  Remember how it used to be that you got the Radio Times for BBC programmes and TV Times for ITV and Channel 4?  We only ever got the Radio Times (I have no idea why, we watched the other channels) but at Christmas we got the TV Times too.  Of course nowadays they include all tv listings plus cable, satellite and digital programmes.  I still get excited when I see the Christmas Radio Times (it's on the shelves earlier and earlier) even though I should know better.  In fact, right now I am watching Annie, a film that I happen to know was shown on Christmas Day 1986.  I only know this because my friend ES had wanted to tape Dumbo which was on another channel at the same time but accidentally taped Annie.  I became obsessed with it and we both used to watch it whenever I went round.  Anyway, let's explore British Christmas traditions:

The Queen's Speech is broadcast at 2pm on Christmas Day.  In our house this is when the tv goes off (we may even turn it on just so we can turn it off again).  The first time I spent Christmas Day with my dad I was shocked that my Granny M left the table during the meal to watch it (leaving the dinner table to watch tv is a BIG no-no according to my mum) and also stood up for the national anthem.  Nowadays Channel 4 broadcast an alternative, this year it comes from the Simpsons.
TV Cream has some great Christmas Day telly stuff including the history of The Big Film.
Digital Spy discussion
Kaleidoscope Christmas event
Saturday morning Christmas tv
TV annuals - yesssss!  What ones did you get?  I still like looking for Neighbours ones.
TV Go Home Christmas 2001 (rude words)
And of course, The Snowman

What are your favourite Christmas tv highlights?  I used to enjoy Only Fools and Horses but it was rubbish last year.

December 17th, 2004

Today's 'door' is a simple poem, by George MacKay Brown, who was an Orcadian poet and author.  Next year the Scottish Storytelling Centre's Netherbrow base on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh will reopen.  It will include the new George MacKay Brown Storytelling Library (gissa job) and also a window with the poem below engraved on it (I love writing engraved on glass, as you may just be able to tell from the image to the left).  Have a dip into some of George's work, I enjoy his short stories and his novel, Beside the Ocean of Time is an easier to digest version of the Orkneyinga Saga (well that's how I understood it anyway).  There's something about his work that captures the essence of Orkney, just go and investigate ok?  Anyway, the poem:

Lux Perpetua

Lux Perpetua
A star for a cradle
Sun for plough and net
A fire for old stories
A candle for the dead
Lux Perpetua
By such glimmers we seek you

December 16th, 2004

Am busy freaking out  preparing for my interview tomorrow so rather than google something festive you can enter the heart of Chatiryworld and have a look at my decorations:

Where else would a booklover put her lights?
Christmas tree candleholder adorned with Hannukah candles
I have no tree, so this is how I display my baubles
Close up of the lights
My ickle baby tree
Straw garland
 

December 15th, 2004

I really hate tacky outdoor Christmas lights, especially ones that involve giant Santas climbing chimneys/tv aerials.  They've been in the news a fair bit recently in the UK, and as they say, read all about it!

Tripping the (Christmas) lights fantastic
No cheer in Christmas lights row
Christmas lights displays cost thousands
Deck the halls (in the
Buy your own
Discussion on outdoor decorations
Of course, it's the chavs that are the worst, Chavscum has some photos of the worst in outdoor decorations