Or Mr. Magoos's Christmas Carol? That show used to scare the candy canes out of me!

I loved Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. "With Razzleberry dressing." I think that Dickens would love it. Especially if he knew Mr. Magoo's character.

Even as a kid, when it was new, I thought Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer was a practice piece and that they would get the animation right the next time they did something. The future animator in me I guess.

I saw it again a few days ago. I'm surprised they still let it out of the box. I'll probably be playing Santa Claus Conquers the Martians this Christmas. That's so corny its funny.

Nothing better than Jean Sheperd's "A Christmas Story". Bumpus!

The PC liberals and atheist are trying real hard to ruin Christmas. Why the hell do the 90% have to bow to the 10% of malcontents?

Check out "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven Of Bliss". Jean Sheperd takes the Parker family on a summer vacation road trip. (Basically Christmas Story meets National Lampoons Vacation.)

And if you want to see the worst Christmas film of all time, check out "Kudzu Christmas". It has everything. Dying puppies, a man with mental problems being rehabilitated as a school crossing guard and virtually nothing to do with Christmas. We watch it every year because it is so bad.

Are you being ironic? (someone once said we need a ironic font) Then you need one of these

If not, then: oh, come on! and

Just purchased "The Gathering", a late '70's made for TV Christmas movie with Ed Asner and Jean Stapleton. Movie is OK, but it was filmed in Hudson (where we lived) and Chagrin Falls Ohio. Nothing evokes Christmas more for our family than Hudson at Christmas with the mouse running up the clock tower. My two oldest kids were in the cover photo on the Christmas edition of the Hudson Hub in about 1980, sitting with Santa in his sleigh. I think that was the same year that Revco got flooding on Christmas Eve due to a bursting pipe. My wife was the pharmacist/manager and was there all night. Ah, memories...

So many opinions, many of which I absolutely agree with. But, this wouldn't be the internet if yet another bit of server space was used for yet another statement would it?

For me and mine Christmas has evolved as we have changed. We are now a lot more tolerant and appreciative of other people's faith and belief than we were as kids. This is due in part to more education and to a much more ethnically and racially diverse society in which we live. Also, as we have experienced the tragedies and joys of life we have definitely lost the "candy store wonder" part of religion. Besides, most of the celebrations are, as has been posted, adaptations of other traditions.

Part of the evolution for us has been the divisive actions by religious groups and churches. As a result they no longer have the leadership role they once did. That has left us free to make up our own minds and to celebrate as we see fit. After all most of what has been said is based on Faith. Faith is ultimately something that cannot be proved but is strongly believed. As such mutual respect goes a long way.

Oh yes, commercialization. I decry it because in our society it seems an indispensible part of our economic structure is buying things. From the increase in self-storage structures I wonder how much of those things are ever used.

Yes, that was a favorite of mine, too.

What ever happened to Amal and the Night Visitors?

Still see that opera put on, from time to time, just not on Tv.

Very well written HawkOwl, I pretty much agree with this reply. The commercialization of the Christmas season and all the craziness that comes with this is just sickening to me. As I said previously we are seeking a more traditional Christmas and family activities in our home. It is somewhat easier with both children grown and one living in Atlanta and the other leaving for a ministry job in Quebec shortly since he graduates from college Friday.

Bill

How are liberals and atheists ruining your Christmas. Are they coming into your church and stomping on the manger?

Church is where the Christian christmas is. If it is precious to you. Celebrate it. The civil christmas is adapted from pagan holidays with Santa Claus, Reindeer, frenzied shopping, 12 Days of Christmas, Christmas Trees, family get togethers. If you don't like that they are both called Christmas, perhaps the Christians should not have tried to co-opt the pagan holiday and rebrand it.

And then there is calling this time the Holidays. There is good reason for that. This time is not just Christmas. We can also celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Buddha's Enlightenment Day, and sometimes Ramadan. Don't be a grinch and require that everyone celebrate your holiday. Some of these traditions are older than Christianity. But by in large they all celebrate the good in people, they celebrate hope. They celibrate community. That can't be all bad.

So, happy Buddha's Enlightenment Day (Dec 8) to you!

Just don't take away my egg nog.....

I just noticed that Starbucks no longer sells Holiday blend. They call it Christmas blend now.

Should I be concerned?

They probably did a marketing study using focus groups and decided that they would sell more coffee if it had the word "Christmas" instead of "Holiday". Great Lakes Brewing Company Christmas Ale is wildly popular in its market area, and I doubt that it would be as successful if it were "Holiday Ale". "Holiday" sounds generic and bland. "Christmas" sounds like eggnog, cinnamon, and crisp winter evenings.

Oh, and who gives "Holiday Presents"?

Holiday is such a generic term, it seems to me. But I don't think anyone elses policies can dilute what you feel in your heart.

Very open minded post. Sometimes those who complain the most about PC demand that the rest of us cow tow to their political correctness.

Now about "Amahl and the Night Visitors".

I did some snooping around the community. Although TV performances of the opera are rare (I wonder why), a local actors group puts on "Juan Diego and the Night Visitors".

It turns out that there are large numbers of Hispanic workers in the area (many down at Shelbyville to help out with the horse farms). It is almost impossible to find a young Semitic looking male for the rather demanding role of Amahl, but many of the Hispanic youth have absolutely wonderful voices. As a Hispanic is featured in the lead role, and to be culturally sensitive, they changed the marquee name to Juan.

It takes nothing away from the performance, they assure me, because if you've seen Juan you've seen Amahl.

That is all.

Christmas has not changed for me, the feeling part that is.

I’m of course mucho older, have a different family role, live in a different place, and have different family members as my parents, grandparents and even sibs have passed away and new generations of family members have come in their place. None of that has changed for me how much I love the holidays. Other than cold weather, it is my favorite time of the year. Even being married to a Jew for the last 40 years has changed nothing. We celebrate all of the holidays.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah

The winter solstice got co-opted long ago ..
but here is to the days getting longer again..
Cheers !

Well, try as I might, I just can't find anything to want this year. My kids are grown and independent, so presents there will be perfunctory, yet functional. It will be Ho-hum this year. bk

Because they yell louder! And that is the only reason.

If you did what I think you did - then LOL!

I think a local church is putting it on in Champaign- Urbana. Makes for a good small opera, as it was originally written for Tv by Gian Carlo Mennotti. I believe it was in competition for Tv operas, it came down to "The Tender Land" by Aaron Copland, and "Amahl" . I think it was for broadcast on CBS Opera Showcase, but My source could be wrong. I agree, Juan Diego sounds just fine. Sometimes you just have to fine tune the opera situation, it's been done alot.