dagblog - Comments for "Jews for Christmas"

Tekufat Tevet--....Virtually

artappraiser — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:15:46 +0000

Tekufat Tevet--

....Virtually all cultures have their own way of acknowledging this moment. The Welsh word for solstice translates as “the point of roughness,” while the Talmud calls it “Tekufat Tevet,” first day of “the stripping time.” For the Chinese, winter’s beginning is “dongzhi,” when one tradition is making balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize family gathering. In Korea, these balls are mingled with a sweet red bean called pat jook. According to local lore, each winter solstice a ghost comes to haunt villagers. The red bean in the rice balls repels him.
In parts of Scandinavia, the locals smear their front doors with butter so that Beiwe, sun goddess of fertility, can lap it up before she continues on her journey. (One wonders who does all the mopping up afterward.) Later, young women don candle-embedded helmets, while families go to bed having placed their shoes all in a row, to ensure peace over the coming year.
Street processions are another common feature. In Japan....

from

Richard Cohen, "There Goes the Sun," New York Times Op-Ed, December 19, 2010

Yes. It was always part of

EmmaZahn — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:01:00 +0000

In reply to Is my absolute #1 favorite

Yes. It was always part of Robert Shaw's Atlanta Symphony Chorus's Christmas program. Recordings are just not the same.

In Abu Dhabi, they're still

artappraiser — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:03:13 +0000

In reply to Jews for Christmas

In Abu Dhabi, they're still practicing up on this, haven't got the whole concept quite right yet, but like the saying goes, it's the thought that counts ?

Too much seasonal spirit: Abu Dhabi hotel 'regrets' £7m Christmas tree

Emirates Palace hotel has second thoughts over decision to 'overload' tree with diamonds, rubies and other gems
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/19/abu-dhabi-hotel-christmas-tree

Is my absolute #1 favorite

artappraiser — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:02:27 +0000

In reply to My favorite part of any

Is my absolute #1 favorite too. And hearing a large choir do it in person is earth shaking---Ode to Joy territory.

Liked this alot.

Orion — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 06:53:53 +0000

In reply to Jews for Christmas

Liked this alot.

Wassailing, yes, and Up Helly

EmmaZahn — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 06:30:33 +0000

In reply to I am always reminded of an

Wassailing, yes, and Up Helly Aa too.

Torte case?

quinn esq — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 05:15:22 +0000

In reply to And what's this dreidel doing

Torte case?

I nearly forgot: Bah, humbug!

acanuck — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 04:52:46 +0000

In reply to And what's this dreidel doing

I nearly forgot: Bah, humbug!

And what's this dreidel doing

acanuck — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 04:52:00 +0000

In reply to It looks like, in keeping

And what's this dreidel doing in my stocking? I asked for a 3-D flatscreen, dammit! I'm giving Santa a week to get his act together, or I'm slapping him with a torte case.

(No subject)

Donal — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:07:55 +0000

In reply to Jews for Christmas