tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post7630133543671638474..comments2024-01-03T15:30:05.586-05:00Comments on Home in the railroad earth: Were The Puritans Right? Or, How to Save Christmas from the Marketplacesteve on the slow trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-28791915290364522882007-12-17T08:10:00.000-05:002007-12-17T08:10:00.000-05:00Steve -Offhand I don't know; there's a fair bit in...Steve -<BR/><BR/>Offhand I don't know; there's a fair bit in Wikip on it; the person to ask might be the history writer Carla Nayland - see my links - she's a Brit.virtual nexushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955335598875413324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-75456642748419748152007-12-17T00:33:00.000-05:002007-12-17T00:33:00.000-05:00Julie--Thanks for the link. I looked at the North...Julie--Thanks for the link. I looked at the North York Moors site and will check out the other rail sites later. Noticed that the train went to Whitby. Is there any remnant of the famous synod there, where the English decided to adopt the Roman, rather than the Celtic version of Christianity?<BR/><BR/>All the best to you and your family this Christmas.<BR/><BR/>Lisa-Thank you. Looking forward to our marathon writing challenge. Christmas and New Year's greetings to you and Scott.<BR/><BR/>Karen--Global Girlfriend looks like something my girls would have loved as well. Best wishes for the holidays to you and your family! <BR/><BR/>Gledwood--Unforunately a lot of Christians forget the Two Commandments--love your God with all your heard and all your soul and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus put these above the Ten.<BR/><BR/>I'm too committed to Christianity to do pagantide, but I won't try to ban its celebration. I'm a firm believer in the First Amendment.<BR/>Happy New Year to you!<BR/><BR/>Patry, you put it beautifully. And all the best to you, Ted, and your family for Christmas and the New Year.steve on the slow trainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-65457960573038986102007-12-16T21:56:00.000-05:002007-12-16T21:56:00.000-05:00If for no other reason, economic realities are cau...If for no other reason, economic realities are causing most of us to cut back on the commercial excesses of holidays past. <BR/><BR/>My best holiday memories don't have anything to do with the gifts. It's the music, the talk that flows from room to room, the flickering lights illuminating so many happy and belove faces.<BR/><BR/>Peace and love to you and Kathleen and your family.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-37351300579130035832007-12-16T17:09:00.000-05:002007-12-16T17:09:00.000-05:00The puritans weren't "right" though they seem to b...The puritans weren't "right" though they seem to be (and have been) exceedingly selfrighteous (check the American "religous right" - their views aren't based on Biblical stuff at all, though they kid themselves it is)... People like that are just professional miseryguts. They seem to think they're holy yet break the commandments of God as written in the Bible! I think their goal is just to bring down to their level as many of their fellow humankind as possible!!<BR/><BR/>Have a merry pagan tide if you are doing it!<BR/><BR/>And a happy new year!<BR/><BR/>And don't mind me I'm just a hopless heroin junkie<BR/><BR/>;->...Gledwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09308172310486574510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-10028245480090029822007-12-16T15:00:00.000-05:002007-12-16T15:00:00.000-05:00Steve, I've just added a few railway links to my s...Steve, I've just added a few railway links to my sidebar under Virtual Tour - a few steam ones which we've visited over the years. Thought you might like a look if you're passing. <BR/>I know a chap who used to be heavily involved with the London Underground Society.virtual nexushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955335598875413324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-91701858994696641012007-12-15T21:46:00.000-05:002007-12-15T21:46:00.000-05:00Thanks, Steve! I think she's cute, too. :) She lov...Thanks, Steve! I think she's cute, too. :) She loved that Global Girlfriend open house! K.Sustenance Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980573661955592633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-84136589381889358162007-12-15T21:32:00.000-05:002007-12-15T21:32:00.000-05:00You and Kathleen have found meaningful traditions ...You and Kathleen have found meaningful traditions for your family to enjoy. I sincerely admire that.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-47430434325627185362007-12-15T21:03:00.000-05:002007-12-15T21:03:00.000-05:00Szelsofa--Thank you for commenting and for mention...Szelsofa--Thank you for commenting and for mentioning that you did a post on Christmas customs in Hungary. When I have time I'll check your archive.<BR/><BR/>Jessica--Welcome. I suspect that a lot of Americans don't realize that the Twelve Days of Christmas run from Christmas to Epiphany. And that's the time that the commercialization dies down. I'm afraid we can't escape the marketing of Christmas. But we can do things in our own homes to celebrate the coming of Christ to the world.<BR/><BR/>Charles--That's one holiday tradition I'd like to begin keeping. I'll be working Christmas Day (the trains have to run and I don't have the seniority to get the day off), and then driving back to Indiana on St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day in the UK).<BR/><BR/>Karen--I'm sure your children will have fond memories of your Christmas traditions. By the way, i enjoued seeing the picture of your daughter on your blog recently. She's very cute. <BR/><BR/>Ropi--An intersting comparison. It reminds me that I want to do a post sometime about how America's Founding Fathers saw themselves as creating a new Roman Republic. Alexander Hamilton called Aaron Burr "Catiline" and Burr challenged him to what would become the most famous duel in U.S. history.steve on the slow trainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-73841760380996499692007-12-15T15:55:00.000-05:002007-12-15T15:55:00.000-05:00Well, this posts reminds me to the Roman Republic-...Well, this posts reminds me to the Roman Republic- Roman Empire comparism.Ropihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17214991557644729165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-66158181035126383732007-12-15T13:58:00.000-05:002007-12-15T13:58:00.000-05:00I think Charles hit it on the head, which is why I...I think Charles hit it on the head, which is why I do so much shopping on-line now. MUCH more relaxing than all those manic stores. Presents remain a fun part of our traditions, but Advent and the anticipation of the day add so much. I love Kathleen's ideas and am so glad you give her so much credit for all that work, Steve! Though I'm sure she enjoyed it, too. Love the image of your daughter with her special crown. What wonderful holiday memories you and Kathleen have given your children. K.Sustenance Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980573661955592633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-66588052332551162982007-12-14T19:16:00.000-05:002007-12-14T19:16:00.000-05:00It's interesting to think about various kinds of C...It's interesting to think about various kinds of Christmas tradition. Just today I was lamenting the horrors of Holiday traffic and vowing to stay home throughout the holidays. That's my new tradition and I'm sticking to it.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-49037838444662672162007-12-14T15:53:00.000-05:002007-12-14T15:53:00.000-05:00Amen and amen! Thanks for pointing that out. I n...Amen and amen! Thanks for pointing that out. I never knew that about the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but yeah, I'm inclined to think there's something to that. I get so fed up with the commercialism and the refusal to acknowledge Christmas for what it is. I rather think that there would be riots of unprecedented proporations if the annual shopping frenzy were taken away from our culture. Some other holiday would probably be created in its place to allow for such extravagance as we're accustomed to. It makes me sad.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12765673372975518220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-51449318041352696302007-12-14T09:54:00.000-05:002007-12-14T09:54:00.000-05:00It's interesting to see how the seemingly Christia...It's interesting to see how the seemingly Christian world celebrates Jesus's birthday with shopping, eating and having fun, instead of something more appropriate, isn't it?<BR/><BR/>We keep 6 December, when Mikulás comes (this is Saint Nicholaus).<BR/>We call the season before Christmas 'Advent'.<BR/><BR/>We do give presents yes, but in our family, it is not only about presents and surprises.<BR/><BR/>I might write another entry on Christmas customs, but I've already done it in 2006.<BR/>I don't know what else can I add to that...?SzélsőFahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600289147447182465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-87809556013675463792007-12-14T01:12:00.000-05:002007-12-14T01:12:00.000-05:00Julie--I'm afraid we overdo Christmas almost as mu...Julie--I'm afraid we overdo Christmas almost as much as the British. Of course, we got a lot of our Christmas celebration from you, by way of Germany and Prince Albert. But then it was Clement Clark Moore of New York who confused St. Nicholas with Father Christmas. <BR/><BR/>Tea n.--It's been a long time since I had to worry about finals. I did a post a year or so ago on how the student riots of 1970 got me through Bonehead Math at the University of Iowa. I hope you'll be able to get out of that final-exam mood.steve on the slow trainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-59111358030968114242007-12-14T00:33:00.000-05:002007-12-14T00:33:00.000-05:00We do St. Nikolai's Day as well and put candy in s...We do St. Nikolai's Day as well and put candy in shoes and celebrate Advent! I feel so discombobulated this year with school and everything and forgot Advent. Argh! I think I have kept a somber mood going and now that I did my last final (hopefully with a chance to retake it) I will lighten up.<BR/><BR/>That is fascinating about the Wassailers-- this will be fun to bring up later at the dinner table!Tea N. Crumpethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16399889311375477109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12159522.post-36327411012165378082007-12-13T14:11:00.000-05:002007-12-13T14:11:00.000-05:00Fascinating, Steve; what a lovely way to celebrate...Fascinating, Steve; what a lovely way to celebrate; and all the best as your family gear up for the wedding.<BR/><BR/>We will have sons around for a few days over Christmas. The rest of time we go into survival mode with heavy traffic and crowded shops. <BR/><BR/>I'd always assumed we put much more emphasis on Christmas than you do in the States, but I'm not sure that's the case on the basis of what I've seen on the Internet.virtual nexushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955335598875413324noreply@blogger.com