The topic is traditions for either "major" or "minor" holidays (define these however you want).  The holiday in question should be at hand (for example, no discussing Christmas traditions in March; only when it's around Christmas).

What unique things do you do for the current holiday?

Happy St. Patrick's day!  I notice the special emojis are up.

I don't have a lot of traditions for St. Patrick's day.  Most of the time I try to wear a little green.  Green desserts seem to be all the rage, too.  Chicago takes the day pretty seriously - there's an annual parade and the Chicago river is dyed green.  Our good friends are dining at an area restaurant that serves corned beef and cabbage - we're unable to join them this year but that sounds really good!

In my younger days, sometimes we'd go to a friend's house, as we have friends who like to host house parties on (or around) St. Patrick's.  It's been a long time since we've done that, though.

The only “tradition” I have on St Pat’s Day is to wear clothing of a certain color. :D

I wear green and listen to some Irish music.

I love this one. (Sorry can't embed it because I am on my tablet.)


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbf4-O7HPA


Cat

...Chicago takes the day pretty seriously - there's an annual parade and the Chicago river is dyed green...


For those who've never seen it, it's quite the sight:

https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/03/14/12/newFile.jpg?width=1200

^ Wow, that’s totally amazing! :o ;D I’ve not seen anything like that.

For those who've never seen it, it's quite the sight:

https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/03/14/12/newFile.jpg?width=1200


That looks like a sea of pistachio.

For those who've never seen it, it's quite the sight:

https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/03/14/12/newFile.jpg?width=1200


San Antonio does that, too.


Something I forgot to mention with my tradition, I have Irish Breakfast Tea!


Cat

Don’t do anything special for St Patrick’s Day. Some pubs have special promotions on Guinness and the like but that’s about it.

Don’t do anything special for St Patrick’s Day. Some pubs have special promotions on Guinness and the like but that’s about it.
My local pub was closed for St Patrick’s Day... ?

My local pub was closed for St Patrick’s Day... ?


Does it usually close on Sundays?

Anyone have any Good Friday traditions?  When I worked, our company had it designated a holiday for a while, but in the last several years they stopped.

Besides our church service, we don't have many Good Friday traditions.  But we always observe the day.

Anyone have any Good Friday traditions?  When I worked, our company had it designated a holiday for a while, but in the last several years they stopped.

Besides our church service, we don't have many Good Friday traditions.  But we always observe the day.

Well, for a lotta years, my parents were church musicians, so the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday) was a big deal. There would be plenty of music for them to perform for the services. They retired from their church jobs in 2021, so they are relieved to not have to be so busy at that time of year anymore.

Around this time I sometimes listen to the album Jesus Christ Superstar and maybe Godspell. 


Funny story. When my mother worked in theatre, they preformed Godspell. After one matinee, my mother heard one blue-haired old lady say to another, "I liked it but I didn't like how it ended." I guess they were not aware that that story was basically the Gospel of Matthew-only with modern dress.  :D ;D ;D ;D


Cat

Anyone have any Good Friday traditions?  When I worked, our company had it designated a holiday for a while, but in the last several years they stopped.

Besides our church service, we don't have many Good Friday traditions.  But we always observe the day.


Usually eat a hot cross bun.

Around this time I sometimes listen to the album Jesus Christ Superstar and maybe Godspell. 


Cat


Excellent idea, I haven't listened to the original 1970 "Jesus Christ Superstar" rock opera  album on Decca Records in years.

Incidentally, that original album came out in two versions. Initially it came out in the standard gatefold sleeve that any double album would come out in. This was 1970, and just as the album was taking off George Harrison released his classic triple album "All Things Must Pass" which came in a box. I think Decca must have thought "Jesus Christ Superstar", already a hit album, would have even more gravitas if it was in a box like Harrison's. So they did it. I think the box is now the rarer of the two. I have both, and I got them both (at different times) in thrift shops, for about $1.99 each.

Both the gatefold and the box have the exact same graphics, and both come with the same "libretto" featuring lyrics, credits and sketches of the musicians and singers that were involved.

The box:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KzwAAOSwwoljcViC/s-l300.png

The libretto sketches:

https://images.45worlds.com/f/ab/various-artists-dxsa-7206-3-ab.jpg

Around this time I sometimes listen to the album Jesus Christ Superstar and maybe Godspell. 


O0 I don't own Jesus Christ Superstar (have heard many tunes from it) but I have Godspell which I really enjoy.


Excellent idea, I haven't listened to the original 1970 "Jesus Christ Superstar" rock opera  album on Decca Records in years.

Incidentally, that original album came out in two versions. Initially it came out in the standard gatefold sleeve that any double album would come out in. This was 1970, and just as the album was taking off George Harrison released his classic triple album "All Things Must Pass" which came in a box. I think Decca must have thought "Jesus Christ Superstar", already a hit album, would have even more gravitas if it was in a box like Harrison's. So they did it. I think the box is now the rarer of the two. I have both, and I got them both (at different times) in thrift shops, for about $1.99 each.

Both the gatefold and the box have the exact same graphics, and both come with the same "libretto" featuring lyrics, credits and sketches of the musicians and singers that were involved.

The box:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KzwAAOSwwoljcViC/s-l300.png

The libretto sketches:

https://images.45worlds.com/f/ab/various-artists-dxsa-7206-3-ab.jpg


Very cool about the album packaging!  O0

Excellent idea, I haven't listened to the original 1970 "Jesus Christ Superstar" rock opera  album on Decca Records in years.

Incidentally, that original album came out in two versions. Initially it came out in the standard gatefold sleeve that any double album would come out in. This was 1970, and just as the album was taking off George Harrison released his classic triple album "All Things Must Pass" which came in a box. I think Decca must have thought "Jesus Christ Superstar", already a hit album, would have even more gravitas if it was in a box like Harrison's. So they did it. I think the box is now the rarer of the two. I have both, and I got them both (at different times) in thrift shops, for about $1.99 each.

Both the gatefold and the box have the exact same graphics, and both come with the same "libretto" featuring lyrics, credits and sketches of the musicians and singers that were involved.

The box:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KzwAAOSwwoljcViC/s-l300.png

The libretto sketches:

https://images.45worlds.com/f/ab/various-artists-dxsa-7206-3-ab.jpg


I didn't have the album but someone in my family did because I grew up listening to it. Someone also had the soundtrack to the movie.  When I bought my own  album on CD probably about 20 +/-  years ago, I knew every lyric to every song.


Cat

I have had a number of notable Easter traditions over the years. I’ll discuss them in detail later.

Happy Easter, everybody!

Happy Easter to all! http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/easter/smiley.gif

I’ll be going out to church with my family, then we’ll go to a restaurant for an early dinner.

I have had a number of notable Easter traditions over the years. I’ll discuss them in detail later.

When I was a kid, I would always have Easter egg hunts. By age 10 I had my last one of those. For the rest of my growing-up years, we would usually have a meal at my grandma’s house.

For 17 years (2003 through 2019 inclusively), my parents and I would go out for an Easter brunch at this Italian restaurant we like. During that span they offered a buffet with all kinds of delicious foods. For the first 11 years that we did this, my grandma would join us and she was always the one to pay the bill. Then she died in 2014, so then just my parents and myself went out for Easter brunch. (Then the pandemic began, and the restaurant was closed for a while, which is why this tradition had to discontinue.)

When I was a kid, I would always have Easter egg hunts. By age 10 I had my last one of those. For the rest of my growing-up years, we would usually have a meal at my grandma’s house.

For 17 years (2003 through 2019 inclusively), my parents and I would go out for an Easter brunch at this Italian restaurant we like. During that span they offered a buffet with all kinds of delicious foods. For the first 11 years that we did this, my grandma would join us and she was always the one to pay the bill. Then she died in 2014, so then just my parents and myself went out for Easter brunch. (Then the pandemic began, and the restaurant was closed for a while, which is why this tradition had to discontinue.)


Sounds wonderful.  Did your restaurant reopen after COVID?

Sounds wonderful.  Did your restaurant reopen after COVID?

Yes. In 2021.

During the first few months of Covid, it was shut down completely; no one could dine in. In late 2020 it opened for takeout; people could call in an order and drive to the restaurant to come pick it up. And in May of 2021 it was reopened for dining in (under a limited capacity).

Excellent idea, I haven't listened to the original 1970 "Jesus Christ Superstar" rock opera  album on Decca Records in years.

Incidentally, that original album came out in two versions. Initially it came out in the standard gatefold sleeve that any double album would come out in. This was 1970, and just as the album was taking off George Harrison released his classic triple album "All Things Must Pass" which came in a box. I think Decca must have thought "Jesus Christ Superstar", already a hit album, would have even more gravitas if it was in a box like Harrison's. So they did it. I think the box is now the rarer of the two. I have both, and I got them both (at different times) in thrift shops, for about $1.99 each.

Both the gatefold and the box have the exact same graphics, and both come with the same "libretto" featuring lyrics, credits and sketches of the musicians and singers that were involved.

The box:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KzwAAOSwwoljcViC/s-l300.png

The libretto sketches:

https://images.45worlds.com/f/ab/various-artists-dxsa-7206-3-ab.jpg

Over the Easter season I saw a TV production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" with John Legend as Jesus Christ and Alice Cooper as King Herod.

Easter traditions for me are as:

Good Friday - It is a public holiday in the UK, visit seven churches, with the final visit the 3pm mass. Hot Cross Buns.
Good Friday and Holy Saturday - for eating, for meat I eat only fish. Do not wash clothes or throw away rubbish.
Easter Sunday - Attend mass and enjoy Easter Eggs.
Easter Monday - It is a public holiday in the UK, go somewhere special.

My tradition for April Fools Day is to spend most of the day on the phone.


Cat

I am having tacos tonight.


Cat

I am having tacos tonight.


Cat

Great minds think alike! I have plans to make some tacos for dinner as well!

I am having tacos tonight.

Cat



Great minds think alike! I have plans to make some tacos for dinner as well!


O0 Great idea!  We seldom celebrate Cinco De Mayo, but as we entertained Sunday evening, it seemed appropriate to have it as a theme, food-wise.  It seemed to work out, despite that I didn't know what I was doing...

It looks like I will be eating tacos for a few days.

I was able to use salsa that Carlos made. After I finish this up, there is still one more batch in the freezer and that will be the very last food that Carlos made.  :\'( :\'( :\'(


Cat

Cinco de Mayo isn’t a thing in the U.K. Dai and I happened to have enchiladas today

May Day is a festival celebrated in the U.K. Many Morris sides dance the sun up on May 1st.

Maypole dancing is another tradition. A tall pole has multiple coloured ribbons fastened to the top and dancers hold a ribbon each. The dancers weave in and out of each other plaiting the ribbons around the pole.

Cinco de Mayo isn’t a thing in the U.K. Dai and I happened to have enchiladas today


The hilarious thing is, it isn't a thing in Mexico either.  ;D  ;D  ;D

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a very small holiday, primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where the historic Battle of Puebla took place. It commemorates the Mexican victory over the French empire on May 5, 1862. It is not any kind of national holiday in Mexico, and banks and other establishments remain open. Despite what current people would love to think, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo, like chop suey, is primarily an American concoction.

So why do Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo?  The small-time Mexican holiday was promoted heavily in the United States in the 1960s by activists who, in part, “identified with the victory of Indigenous Mexicans (such as Juárez) over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla,” History.com says. I myself never remember hearing about it before about fifteen years ago.

Cinco de Mayo isn’t a thing in the U.K. Dai and I happened to have enchiladas today

May Day is a festival celebrated in the U.K. Many Morris sides dance the sun up on May 1st.

Maypole dancing is another tradition. A tall pole has multiple coloured ribbons fastened to the top and dancers hold a ribbon each. The dancers weave in and out of each other plaiting the ribbons around the pole.


The Maypole is a phallic symbol used to celebrate Beltane-the Pagan celebration of fertility on May 1st. (But, I'm sure you knew that.  ;) )


Cat

The Maypole is a phallic symbol used to celebrate Beltane-the Pagan celebration of fertility on May 1st. (But, I'm sure you knew that.  ;) )


Cat


T. Rex
"Beltane Walk"
1970

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUNEYOs-Eeo

T. Rex
"Beltane Walk"
1970

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUNEYOs-Eeo


Jethro Tull also did a song called Beltane. I would post it but I am on my tablet and can't post videos.


Cat

Jethro Tull also did a song called Beltane. I would post it but I am on my tablet and can't post videos.


Cat


Yes, the English bands in particular, of that era, wrote a lot about that type of thing. It was part of the lore of the land. Another one I like is "Witchwood" by the Strawbs. Very mystical sounding.

Mother’s Day: I usually do something nice for my mom.

One year (2015) my dad and I took her on an Alaskan cruise. All other years we usually do something at or near home.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Happy Mother's Day AG, How was yours? :)

Let’s see, it’s almost Memorial Day in the States. I don’t really have any “traditions” per se, but most years we like to try to do a barbecue.

When we lived in Connecticut the town had a big parade for Memorial Day with groups like the Girl Scouts and local sports teams joining in. Most of the town lined the parade route.

It is also a holiday in the UK marking Whitsun (or the Pentecost). In Derbyshire several towns and villages will have their well dressing festivals this weekend. In Gloucestershire there is the world famous cheese rolling event

I decided to keep with tradition and have my "porch party" on Spring Fling" ( the Saturday before Memorial Day). It was my first time hosting alone. I think I did ok. I was sorry that some people couldn't make it and others (I'm sure) didn't get my invite but who did come made it a great time.

Now I have so much left over food that no one took home with them.


Cat

I post this every Memorial Day.

Arlo Guthrie
"When A Soldier Makes It Home"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDAl7lGGtSo

Father’s Day: I always make sure to do something special for my dad.

Sometimes we take him out for a meal; sometimes we cook something for him.

Happy Father's Day to all!

Father’s Day: I always make sure to do something special for my dad.

Sometimes we take him out for a meal; sometimes we cook something for him.

As for me, I just keep it simple I buy him a card and it makes his day.

Thinking of all of my dads today: my biological dad, my step-dad, & my dad-in-law. And of course, I can't help thinking about Carlos-but I think about him everyday.


Cat

As for me, I just keep it simple I buy him a card and it makes his day.

I always get a card for my dad too. Same with my mom for Mother’s Day. (And their respective birthdays.)

Thinking of all of my dads today: my biological dad, my step-dad, & my dad-in-law. And of course, I can't help thinking about Carlos-but I think about him everyday.


Cat


(((hugs)))

Happy Independence Day to all my friends in the U.S.A.!  (And happy day wishes to all my friends not in the U.S.A.)

Happy Independence Day to all my friends in the U.S.A.!  (And happy day wishes to all my friends not in the U.S.A.)


O0

My family always finds good ways to celebrate the Fourth. It’s always a day off for us. (Except in years when it fell on a Sunday, such as 1993, 1999, 2004, and 2010 - because my parents were church musicians and had to do music for services; it was work for them.)

Happy Independence Day to all my friends in the U.S.A.!  (And happy day wishes to all my friends not in the U.S.A.)

Happy Independence Day to you too, AG. :)

For a couple of years in the early 1990s, my family and I came out to a beach resort for the 4th and went home on the 5th. It was a nice experience.

In 2000 a friend of mine invited me to his house; he and his family were hosting a holiday party and we got to see fireworks from the backyard (they originated from the athletic field at a nearby school). That was the last time I went into a swimming pool until we had one built in our backyard in 2019.

And in 2012 I was invited to a holiday party hosted by a friend of mine in the Bible study group that I was part of at the time. This friend, a young woman, lived near the beach so we had a chance to walk down to the beach. (I was one of only two guys to attend this party; the other man who came was the husband of one of the other women in the group).

Some time in the next few days, I will have my annual viewing of 1776. I will probably watch Hamilton, too.


Cat

It’s Labor Day! Another holiday in the States.

Wishing a happy Labor Day holiday to friends in the U.S.A., and wishing a happy day to everyone else!

Wishing a happy Labor Day holiday to friends in the U.S.A., and wishing a happy day to everyone else!

Happy Labor Day to you, AG. O0

Most years I have stayed home on Labor Day. If we ever went out, it was to someone’s house for a get-together, usually involving a barbecue. However, we often make our own barbecue if we stay home.

Happy Halloween!

Today is Diwali day. Diwali is a festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Homes are decorated and Diwali lamps will be lit. Our town has some lights in the town centre (similar to Christmas lights) to celebrate with the community.

We live near Leicester which is known for having the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India. Dai and I are going tonight after work. The temples will be open to visitors and there should hopefully be samples of rangoli patterns on the floor. We also plan to get a curry or something (restaurants often have a special buffet for a decent price). There is also a stage set up in the park with traditional dancers performing and the finale is a firework display.

Beautiful evening out so I am sitting on the porch with a bowl of Hershey's bite size bars waiting for the ghosts & goblins to come begging. A few already came but it would s still very early.


Cat

During my childhood, I wore a Halloween costume every year from age 5 through age 13. After that I decided I would not dress up for Halloween anymore. Just my personal preference.

Happy Halloween!

During my childhood, I wore a Halloween costume every year from age 5 through age 13. After that I decided I would not dress up for Halloween anymore. Just my personal preference.


I've gone to a few Halloween parties as an adult (though it's been years).  I wore costumes to those parties.  Barring a party, I don't dress up.  But I usually dressed up as a young child.

I've gone to a few Halloween parties as an adult (though it's been years).  I wore costumes to those parties.  Barring a party, I don't dress up.  But I usually dressed up as a young child.



I don’t think I’ve ever attended a party for Halloween during my adult years. However, when I was a kid I did attend one in the gathering hall of a church when I was 9, and I accepted an invitation to one at a friend’s school when I was 11. Plus I went trick-or-treating. I always did that in my own neighborhood, except for the year I was 10, when my dad took me trick-or-treating at a shopping mall (all the stores had someone handing out candy).

Have a lot of candy left over. The people across the street had so many people but they don't want to cross the street which I do understand. It is a busy road with a lot of trucks. But I don't understand the people who walk right in front of the house. Sometimes I hate being invisible. Next year I think I am going to get some more lighting. That might help. Meanwhile I have a lot of candy.


Cat

It did not seem like Halloween, there were no Trick or Treaters at my door!

It did not seem like Halloween, there were no Trick or Treaters at my door!

Me neither, nobody at all, our neighborhood was quiet.

Me neither, nobody at all, our neighborhood was quiet.
Quiet yes for here, except for fireworks for Diwali (the Indian Festival of Light).

Quiet yes for here, except for fireworks for Diwali (the Indian Festival of Light).


We didn’t bother with any bonfire night fireworks at the weekend because we had seen such good ones at the Diwali celebrations.

We didn’t bother with any bonfire night fireworks at the weekend because we had seen such good ones at the Diwali celebrations.
There were fireworks every night all week.

There were fireworks every night all week.


We had more on Friday and Saturday. Apparently elsewhere in town someone has been letting off fireworks around one in the morning

Today is Veterans' Day. We used to go to Applebee's for my free meal. We then discovered the local school put on a spaghetti dinner for vets & their families. We went to that and it was very enjoyable. We were going to go back but that never happened. I didn't have anyone to go with this year. Maybe next year.


Cat

We had more on Friday and Saturday. Apparently elsewhere in town someone has been letting off fireworks around one in the morning
Around midnight was the latest round here.


Today is Veterans' Day. We used to go to Applebee's for my free meal. We then discovered the local school put on a spaghetti dinner for vets & their families. We went to that and it was very enjoyable. We were going to go back but that never happened. I didn't have anyone to go with this year. Maybe next year.


Cat
This morning I was close to the Cenotaph in Whitheall, but circumstances stopped me from going to the Armistise Day Rememberance service.

Around midnight was the latest round here.
This morning I was close to the Cenotaph in Whitheall, but circumstances stopped me from going to the Armistise Day Rememberance service.


There is a town only a few miles from here called Whitheall so I had to do a double take.


Cat

Today is Veterans' Day. We used to go to Applebee's for my free meal. We then discovered the local school put on a spaghetti dinner for vets & their families. We went to that and it was very enjoyable. We were going to go back but that never happened. I didn't have anyone to go with this year. Maybe next year.

Cat


Thanks for serving, Cat!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone. I am having a dinner delivered from the local Eagles' Club. Tomorrow, I am going to have dinner with the kids.


Cat

Happy Thanksgiving! http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/thanksgiving/smiley.gif

When I was growing up, we never hosted Thanksgiving dinner until I was 11; instead we went to my grandparents house (either on my mom’s side or my dad’s side). In fact, on my first Thanksgiving we went to my great-grandmother’s place (this I know from our family pictures). Each year that we hosted it, all of my grandparents would come over, as would my uncles (all of whom were single) and maybe a few other extended family members. They would usually bring something to contribute to the meal.

Also.. ten years ago we decided to go on a cruise for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend (set sail Wednesday; returned to port on Sunday). It was a nice experience, being able to dine with hundreds of other people while at sea. (That year was the first year without my grandma; she had died earlier in the year.)

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone. I am having a dinner delivered from the local Eagles' Club. Tomorrow, I am going to have dinner with the kids.


Cat

Happy Thanksgiving. I'm going to my Uncle's house for dinner tonight.

And this year, for the fourth straight year, we are having Thanksgiving dinner at the home of a cousin who owns a B&B.

Happy Thanksgiving all from Ohio!

Happy Thanksgiving all from Ohio!

Happy Thanksgiving to you too.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving all from Ohio!

So you and I each traveled for the holiday! Nice. O0

Yesterday was Friday the 13th. On that day I treat the day as, not to do anything new or out of the ordinary.

Does anyone have any Christmas Eve traditions they would like to share?

When I was a kid, my maternal grandmother would often host a family gathering at her place, and my mom’s cousins would attend, and we all had a great time. Before that, my great-grandma would do that sorta thing (and then after she passed, in 1988, my grandma started carrying the tradition). However, as my grandma and her sisters got older, they didn’t really have the energy or willpower.

Today is Christmas Day! http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/santa/smiley.gif

Does anyone have any Christmas Eve traditions they would like to share?

When I was a kid, my maternal grandmother would often host a family gathering at her place, and my mom’s cousins would attend, and we all had a great time. Before that, my great-grandma would do that sorta thing (and then after she passed, in 1988, my grandma started carrying the tradition). However, as my grandma and her sisters got older, they didn’t really have the energy or willpower.


We usually go to the carol singing in the town park on Christmas Eve. In the evening Elizabeth would play the piano and we would have more carols, followed by reading A Visit from St Nicholas.

Merry Christmas, friends!  Have a fantastic Christmas.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas!!!  :) :) :)

Merry Christmas, friends!  Have a fantastic Christmas.

You Too AG.  :)

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah, Everyone!



Cat

For a lotta years, my parents would need to be at church for various services - on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - because they were church musicians. This would often include the Midnight Mass; anytime they had to be involved with that, they’d need to drive back home, get some rest, and then go back out to the church for a daytime service. It was tiring for them. Since 2021 they haven’t had to do that because they retired from their church jobs in June of that year.

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah, Everyone!



Cat

Thank You, you too. :)

For a lotta years, my parents would need to be at church for various services - on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - because they were church musicians. This would often include the Midnight Mass; anytime they had to be involved with that, they’d need to drive back home, get some rest, and then go back out to the church for a daytime service. It was tiring for them. Since 2021 they haven’t had to do that because they retired from their church jobs in June of that year.


Hubby's dad was a minister, thus hubby has some similar type memories from childhood, although he said the only time it felt overstressed for him is when Christmas fell on a Sunday.

Hubby's dad was a minister, thus hubby has some similar type memories from childhood, although he said the only time it felt overstressed for him is when Christmas fell on a Sunday.

Interesting!

My mom would often feel overstressed when Christmas fell on a Saturday or Monday (IOW, when it was adjacent to a Sunday) because in those scenarios, she would need to prepare music for services on consecutive days. Even more challenging in the Christmas-on-Monday scenario because the Fourth Sunday of Advent coincides with Christmas Eve (which was the case in 1989, 1995, 2000, 2006, and 2017), and when the Sunday masses were over with, my parents would immediately need to focus on the Christmas Eve and Day material.

Happy New Year’s Eve!!

Happy New Year (almost) friends!  Wishing each of you a wonderful 2025.

Happy New Year (almost) friends!  Wishing each of you a wonderful 2025.

Happy New Year to you too. :)

My New Year’s Eve traditions include playing some games with my family, such as Yahtzee, bingo, and various card games. We always stay up til midnight to ring in the new year. Then sleep in on New Year’s morning.

For many years in my teens and early twenties we spent New Year at the sports and social club my dad belonged to. There was a buffet meal, quizzes, games, skits and a disco.

Then we (Dai and I) were invited to join a walking group that met in North Wales for new year. We had three or four day very busy days walking on the hills. In the evenings there was a table tennis competition, handbell ringing, a pantomime, carols, various games, a jigsaw and a meal on New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day we organised (and sometimes participated) in a fell race (hill race).

More recently we have done a nice meal at home and played some games, maybe a little charades and then had the television on to watch a bit of the concert (this year Sophie Ellis-Bexter) and the Big Ben bongs and firework display on the Thames in London.

My traditions involve my journal. At the beginning of the year, I will start a new file. I will write down a lot of info-my weight/measurements, my stocks, my resolutions on what I want to accomplish and if I have any, my predictions. (Haven't had any predictions for a while. My E.S.P. has been asleep.)

Then at the end of the year (that I did a couple of days ago), I copy all of the above info and then post the new ones to see how much things have changed and if I had reached all my resolutions-some years I did better than others. Then I reflect on the year, good things that happened, bad things that happen and who we lost. And when I finish the entry/file, I save it to a PDF only to start a new file for the new year.

I often go back to the old files to see how far I have come over the years.

I used to create a Year In Review video(s). They included the photos/videos that I took throughout the year. Some years there were more than one video depending on what we did because I try not to make the videos too long. 2018 topped it off with 6 videos because it included 2 trips-one to Texas and one to Oklahoma for two of my nieces weddings. I didn't do one for 2023 nor am I going to do one for 2024. Not sure if I will do one again.


Cat

Now we can finally discuss Valentine’s Day on this thread!! :D

I have a particular Valentine’s Day tradition that I will discuss in detail later.

In the U.K. traditionally a Valentines card would be sent to someone you secretly fancied. You wouldn’t sign it, but might give a cryptic clue if you thought they might feel the same way.

That said I do get Dai a card, but generally sign it with a question mark or something. He bought me chocolates this year

The American tradition of sending cards to all and sundry for every occasion seems to be creeping in here. I spotted Valentine cards “from your dog” in the shop the other week.  ::)

The American tradition of sending cards to all and sundry for every occasion seems to be creeping in here. I spotted Valentine cards “from your dog” in the shop the other week.  ::)
Signed with it's paw print?

In the U.K. traditionally a Valentines card would be sent to someone you secretly fancied. You wouldn’t sign it, but might give a cryptic clue if you thought they might feel the same way.

That said I do get Dai a card, but generally sign it with a question mark or something. He bought me chocolates this year

The American tradition of sending cards to all and sundry for every occasion seems to be creeping in here. I spotted Valentine cards “from your dog” in the shop the other week.  ::)


I once got a birthday card and a Mothers' Day card from my cats. Their signatures looked a lot like my mother's. I was stationed in Greece and my mother was catsitting for me.


Cat

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!  Enjoy!  :)

I once got a birthday card and a Mothers' Day card from my cats. Their signatures looked a lot like my mother's. I was stationed in Greece and my mother was catsitting for me.


Cat

On a similar note, I once received a birthday card from the dog. It contained a paw print from Chloe.

On Valentine’s Day in 1996, my parents gave me a little bag of chocolate hearts from See’s Candies; and I decided to take them with me to school and hand them out to the girls that I was friends with. And each of them appreciated it greatly. So, in subsequent years, it became a tradition for me on Valentine’s Day, as I enjoyed doing it. When I got into college, I would start giving two hearts to each girl (rather than just one each, as I was doing in my high school years).
If Valentines Day fell on a weekend day, I would start handing them out before the 14th.
It is still a tradition for me today; since the early 2010s I have handed them out to my lady friends at church, and at other places where I’ve known such people.

Carlos & I took a small excursion to Lake George, NY. It is not too far from here-about 45 minutes. There are many outlet stores. He wanted to buy new Sketchers. Next to the Sketchers outlet was the Lindt outlet. So naturally we went in the Lindt store. They had a two-for special of 75 pieces. We decided to go for it. We each took a bag and filled them with  the flavors we wanted.

We then went to lunch. That chocolate was calling Carlos because when we got out of the restaurant he ate about 3 pieces before we even got home.

He had his stroke about a week later.

With less then 10 pieces out of each bag-that was about 140 for me. I keep forgetting they are in the cupboard. So here it is almost 2 years later and I am eating the very last one on this Valentine's Day.

He usually bought me some Lindt for Valentine's so I thought it was appropriate.


Cat

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!  Enjoy!  :)

Thank You Happy Valentine's Day to you too.  :)

A tradition at school is for fake roses to be delivered. You can send a white or red rose, and pay a little extra to have a message attached. This has been organised by a Year 12 class to raise money for Amnesty International for the past few years. This year I had four or five roses.