I'm Jewish but I will watch any version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol I can find on cable. Wonderful holiday video this has been! I always learn so much.
"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kindly, forgiving, charitable time, a time when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely to their fellow creatures. And so uncle though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver into my pocket, I do believe that it has done me good, and I say, God bless it." - Fred Hollywell (A Christmas Carol)
My Christmas traditions include display of the household silver. One of my favorite pieces is a sterling nutmeg grater, which I use for hot chocolate. In Colonial American times, there were a few basic patterns, such a thread, fiddle, or bead. This changed when Gorham Sterling brought American silversmithing to international heights. Colonial Williamsburg has a video on their fantastic display of Colonial silver.
I do appreciate the fact my family doesn't change much: We found what works and what we all enjoy. The same decorations always go up. Christmas Eve night: we always watch the George C Scott version of A Christmas Carol. As for the food it's no-pressure and something we all enjoy: Homemade fried chicken for Christmas Eve dinner, and grilled steak for Christmas Day. Because: .... fried chicken and steak. What's not to love? We just want to keep the stress out and have fun with each other with a glass of wine or two.
Enjoyed your reading of Thomas. And yes, some of us love the Muppet version of A Christmas Carol. Even some of who saw it for the first time only a year ago. This year I bought a little grinder just for spices for teas. Each day after my coffee I have fresh cinnamon/clove/cardo man/fennel tea. I like to think about how rare such a treat once was while savoring it.
I wish i knew a man like you. I wish i had a neighbor that literally set up part of his life as if he lives in the 1790s. I’d be so down to dress up and hang out. Talk about the traditions. I have a history degree. Maybe i’m a weirdo.
Most of what we think of as "Christmas Today" comes out of the 19th century. The Christmas Tree, Santa Clause, Christmas Cards & even most of the Christmas music we sing today weren't even in existence till after the 18th Century. Christmas in the 18th Century was more of a religious holiday.
One of the traditions my family follows comes from the different geographical locations we lived when I was growing up. My Dad served over 30 years in the army, and I spent the first half of my childhood in Colorado. We got used to having what I retroactively now call “Thanksgiving 2”: a bird, sides and a lot of the same stuff we made in November. My Dad got orders to San Antonio, Texas in 1995, and by 1996 we had our first snowless, very warm Christmas. We didn’t WANT to have a hot oven going all day down there; my Dad had the idea of doing a steak on the grill, lobster tail, salad and a baked potato for Christmas dinner. It was a hit, and even now, in Colorado (again), we still do that steak on the grill (and I might bring a Key Lime Pie too for dessert.)
Pomegranate - so weird. My Grandad ran off to sea rather than work in in the Glasgow shipyards. He love loved pomegranate and curry Eating it with a small spoon and a wooden toothpick Really weird as a child - rather eat a banna or tangerine It was brilliant.
Oliver Cromwell, a diehard puritan and rabid antiPapist, banned Christmas celebrations because Christmas was too Papist, the Christ Mass. Puritans, as a rule were very minimalist in worship and did not decorate churches, have sacred art, or embellished prayer books.
🎄Besides all family traditions regarding food, decorations, and Christmas carols, we always read the account of the first Christmas from the Bible, as found in the New Testament. Indeed the first Christmas. 🌠
At friends houses. (Not at home.) we had a cider punch bowl. Theirs was originally fairly minimal but Dave tends to overdo such things, I went all in with the cider, oranges, lemons and minimal rum. The plumb pudding would be I suspect a fairly low down surreptitious way to celebrate a holiday. 💁 I can’t really say for sure but the creation of a plumb pudding seems to have taken on a somewhat disproportionate importance. English men in prisons far from home would make the effort to create the puddings.
I find it interesting you say wa-sail bowl. It's the first time I've heard it pronounced that way. I always think of the Christmas song " Here we come a wasseling...." (wasel-ing)
My understanding of the Puritan/Presbyterian thinking was: MASS is Roman Catholic; Mass is idolatry and Blasphemy (worshipping a biscuit as Jesus Christ). Many Christians were put to death for this conviction. Also the Roman Catholics still recognize that Christmas was derived from the Pagan "holiday" firstly from Saturnalia (the Pagan Satan), then it was a Mithraic "holiday", and also the "holiday" of Sol Invictus (the 'god' that Constantine venerated, and modelled himself on... and all this manifested in the "spirit" of Christmas being a total bacchanalia of drunken depravity.
I like to watch "Christmas Carol"the movie adaptation by Dickens and bake goodies that my Mom and Grandmothers always cooked in the holidays. Eg,sugar cookies,and pecan pies.
Today I learned there is a postal strike in Canada and only because of curiosity about Christmas traditions. They really are the loft apartment above a party, as Robin Williams described it.
A friend was telling us at church one time that his family tradition was that on Christmas morning the family (had to) ate oysters, including raw ones, before they could open presents. Upon hearing this everybody's stomachs did flipflops. We all groaned. 🤮
Butterwelsh? I'm assuming that's like butterscotch, but from Wales instead of Scotland? Is it different in any way other than geography? Now I want to know if buttermanx exists.
I don't think the American colonies knew England was a republic for 3 years and the first thing they did was mint silver pine tree pennies and when monarchy was restored said of course we're not minting coins it's a token to commemorate the tree you his in ,the crown has the colonies loyalty forever 😂😂😂
I'm Jewish but I will watch any version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol I can find on cable. Wonderful holiday video this has been! I always learn so much.
There should be more people like you ❤wish you the most of life
Great lighting for this episode
Thank you and Glad Tidings to your family.
Thank you, Jon, Lauren and Ivy, regards to Ryan _in absentia_ and Merry Christmas to you all!
"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kindly, forgiving, charitable time, a time when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely to their fellow creatures. And so uncle though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver into my pocket, I do believe that it has done me good, and I say, God bless it." - Fred Hollywell (A Christmas Carol)
Thank you for such wonderful videos and keeping history alive!
Thanks for sharing with us, you all have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the family time together. Fred.
Merry Christmas to you and yours Jon. God bless you all.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Arkansas!
Mine is one of those readings of A Child's Christmas in Wales. I've always loved it.
Merry Christmas and all the blessings of the seasons Townsends.
🎶God rest ye Merry Gentlemen, Let nothing ye dismay🎶. Soon now, next week. I must get those gift cards in the mail 💌
Are we all going a WASSAILING.?.?
The postal strike here is finally over. 🇨🇦 🍁
🎄Christmas cards will be late this year.
My Christmas traditions include display of the household silver. One of my favorite pieces is a sterling nutmeg grater, which I use for hot chocolate. In Colonial American times, there were a few basic patterns, such a thread, fiddle, or bead. This changed when Gorham Sterling brought American silversmithing to international heights. Colonial Williamsburg has a video on their fantastic display of Colonial silver.
Happy Saturday from Australia ❤❤❤
Thank you Jon. Amazing stories.
I just found this ! Enjoyable!! Merry Christmas from Mississippi
Have greatly enjoyed your show for years. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Good to see ya bro🥃🫂💪🏻have a merry Xmas, enjoy! And thank you for all you have done with content!
I love the colour of that jade mug. If I get a job in the new year I might get a new mug to use at work. ;)
May 2025 find you blessed with that new job. Happy new year!
Wishing you employment, health and happiness in 2025. And a jade mug from Townsends!
I do appreciate the fact my family doesn't change much: We found what works and what we all enjoy. The same decorations always go up. Christmas Eve night: we always watch the George C Scott version of A Christmas Carol. As for the food it's no-pressure and something we all enjoy: Homemade fried chicken for Christmas Eve dinner, and grilled steak for Christmas Day. Because: .... fried chicken and steak. What's not to love? We just want to keep the stress out and have fun with each other with a glass of wine or two.
Enjoyed your reading of Thomas.
And yes, some of us love the Muppet version of A Christmas Carol. Even some of who saw it for the first time only a year ago.
This year I bought a little grinder just for spices for teas. Each day after my coffee I have fresh cinnamon/clove/cardo man/fennel tea. I like to think about how rare such a treat once was while savoring it.
Merry Christmas 🎁🎄⛄🎁🎄😊😊😊
Merry Christmas from Geneva!🎄
Thank you for this video! Mich appreciated 😊
Had to work late last night so I only caught the end of your stream. Catching the replay now 😊
This year I gave bayberry candles to friends, family, and employees to burn for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
Lovely colonial tradition.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Glad tidings for a delightful season!
I wish i knew a man like you. I wish i had a neighbor that literally set up part of his life as if he lives in the 1790s. I’d be so down to dress up and hang out. Talk about the traditions.
I have a history degree. Maybe i’m a weirdo.
Most of what we think of as "Christmas Today" comes out of the 19th century. The Christmas Tree, Santa Clause, Christmas Cards & even most of the Christmas music we sing today weren't even in existence till after the 18th Century.
Christmas in the 18th Century was more of a religious holiday.
One of the traditions my family follows comes from the different geographical locations we lived when I was growing up.
My Dad served over 30 years in the army, and I spent the first half of my childhood in Colorado.
We got used to having what I retroactively now call “Thanksgiving 2”: a bird, sides and a lot of the same stuff we made in November.
My Dad got orders to San Antonio, Texas in 1995, and by 1996 we had our first snowless, very warm Christmas.
We didn’t WANT to have a hot oven going all day down there; my Dad had the idea of doing a steak on the grill, lobster tail, salad and a baked potato for Christmas dinner.
It was a hit, and even now, in Colorado (again), we still do that steak on the grill (and I might bring a Key Lime Pie too for dessert.)
Thank Him for his Service
Merry Christmas to all of you and your families!
I have criminally neglected this channel for some time. My apologies.
Merry Christmas and happy new year to you John and your friends and family. Love your channel
Merry Christmas!
Christmas blessings from Utah!
Sorry to have missed it! Merry Christmas Townsends!!!!
Pomegranate - so weird. My Grandad ran off to sea rather than work in in the Glasgow shipyards.
He love loved pomegranate and curry
Eating it with a small spoon and a wooden toothpick
Really weird as a child - rather eat a banna or tangerine
It was brilliant.
Oliver Cromwell, a diehard puritan and rabid antiPapist, banned Christmas celebrations because Christmas was too Papist, the Christ Mass. Puritans, as a rule were very minimalist in worship and did not decorate churches, have sacred art, or embellished prayer books.
Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 ❤️ 🤶
🎄Besides all family traditions regarding food, decorations, and Christmas carols, we always read the account of the first Christmas from the Bible, as found in the New Testament. Indeed the first Christmas. 🌠
O Tannenbaum 🎉
lovely
At friends houses. (Not at home.) we had a cider punch bowl. Theirs was originally fairly minimal but Dave tends to overdo such things, I went all in with the cider, oranges, lemons and minimal rum.
The plumb pudding would be I suspect a fairly low down surreptitious way to celebrate a holiday. 💁 I can’t really say for sure but the creation of a plumb pudding seems to have taken on a somewhat disproportionate importance. English men in prisons far from home would make the effort to create the puddings.
Hey, Jon. I would like to thank you for considering my request by doing this live video.
Thanks for the suggestion!
@@townsends You're welcome. By the way, I have written a dramatisation of Washington Irving's Old Christmas.
I find it interesting you say wa-sail bowl. It's the first time I've heard it pronounced that way. I always think of the Christmas song " Here we come a wasseling...." (wasel-ing)
My understanding of the Puritan/Presbyterian thinking was: MASS is Roman Catholic; Mass is idolatry and Blasphemy (worshipping a biscuit as Jesus Christ). Many Christians were put to death for this conviction. Also the Roman Catholics still recognize that Christmas was derived from the Pagan "holiday" firstly from Saturnalia (the Pagan Satan), then it was a Mithraic "holiday", and also the "holiday" of Sol Invictus (the 'god' that Constantine venerated, and modelled himself on... and all this manifested in the "spirit" of Christmas being a total bacchanalia of drunken depravity.
I like to watch "Christmas Carol"the movie adaptation by Dickens and bake goodies that my Mom and Grandmothers always cooked in the holidays. Eg,sugar cookies,and pecan pies.
Today I learned there is a postal strike in Canada and only because of curiosity about Christmas traditions. They really are the loft apartment above a party, as Robin Williams described it.
The postal strike here is finally over. 🇨🇦 🍁
🎄Christmas cards will be late this year ...
I don't have a family anymore... will you have a members Christmas dinner? :)
If we have more member events we could all do volunteer work on multiple projects :)
A friend was telling us at church one time that his family tradition was that on Christmas morning the family (had to) ate oysters, including raw ones, before they could open presents. Upon hearing this everybody's stomachs did flipflops. We all groaned. 🤮
My mother is the one that stopped that tradition in our family. It was smoked oysters though.
@EverettvonNordeck-gf2cw Your mother is awesome. 😊
Butterwelsh? I'm assuming that's like butterscotch, but from Wales instead of Scotland? Is it different in any way other than geography?
Now I want to know if buttermanx exists.
Ya know, if you connsume enough nutmeg in a certain amount of time, you get spacey. 😂😮
The like 👍 button is NOT working.
😳 Again
Good.
Yes. England's Puritans had a lot to answer for. Many went west of course
Does anyone else remember Irving's Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon having a different name on it, or am I brain damaged?
🌠 Merry Christmas to you all. 🎄 🍞 🍗 🥗 🥮 🍪
Please do remember the reason for the season.
💗
So in the Welch boys Christmas story it refers to not getting a catapult. Is that referring to a sling shot or a model of an actual catapult?
You doing a cider drink, you drink a lager drink…
🎄🎁☃️
LOL’ing
It's nice! But I can hear someone furiously tapping on a keyboard! Did I miss a lively chat?
So you have family in Australia?
It sounds like the Burger Meister lived in the 1600s.
17th century, the birth of the GRINCHES. 😳
I don't think the American colonies knew England was a republic for 3 years and the first thing they did was mint silver pine tree pennies and when monarchy was restored said of course we're not minting coins it's a token to commemorate the tree you his in ,the crown has the colonies loyalty forever 😂😂😂
🍍 🍒 🍍
Brittany was here. Dece 21 2024 9:52am good morning😂 happy holiday
I try to enjoy these, but they seem to drag . Like trying to watch Major League Baseball