Comments on: Christmas Vacation Destinations

By: Amber

Amber — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:20:16 +0000

just to comment on ryan’s comment. i think what is wrong with america is that we lack in tradition because we are so worried about offending other people/traditions/religions and don’t just enjoy what has worked. i think it is a shame i cant say merry christmas in public without hurting people. i am all for equality, but christmas is something completely different from hanukkah and kwanza, neither of these other holidays “revolve” around presents and the hallmark image christmas has become. To call it a holiday market would be useless just because it makes no sense. I have traveled to europe many times and have definitely and have found because people dont tip toe around trying not to offend people they seem to be much happier and at the same time still are immersed in different cultures.

By: Hans Ericsson

Hans Ericsson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:38:01 +0000

All this time I was referring to the Tim Allen movie.

By: ryan

ryan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:22:03 +0000

Hans, I certainly appreciate your candor on the subject, however, to excuse the vital participation that Santa Clause has in these ‘Christmas Markets’, is not only a vast understatement but also defies the very reason for the season itself. These ‘Christmas Markets’ are devoid of the wherewithal to even construct an event such as the aforementioned were it not for the pomp and circumstance of he whose role lies in question. Every Christmas season brings forth unto the people a myriad of superfluous design intended to entrap those whom are less the weary to suspicion, and by doing so, leading them to embrace pleasure through certain tangible allurements such as Adrianne described, being; wine that has been thoroughly mulled over; trinkets that are given as gifts to one another in order to measure the esteem in which one is held; chocolate that provides no health benefit save a transient surge of dopamine to the brain; and an iconic figure known not for his unsung recognized merits, but for his fabricated celebrity and mythology; Santa Clause. Santa Clause has exploited his once glorious image and adopted a systematic paradigm that perpetuates the whole facade of holiday materialism, and he has done this solely operating from his snowy hamlet in the northern most pole. Please allow me this moment to avow that I have no personal grievances toward the Mr.Clause himself. I also enjoy brisk walks through candy cane enshrouded streets, lights that shine in various attractive colors, songs that put the mind at peace, and many other details synonomous with Christmas. Nonetheless, all these distractions steal the focus of the meaning of Christmas altogether; the birth of Santa Claus himself; but not the Santa Clause that is enshrined as the familiar harbinger of wooden toys and spiced egg-nog; but as the historically relevant saint who was born on Christmas day, the same Santa Clause who has, in these modern times, turned his red clothed back away from all of us. Hans, I respectfully disagree with your lacadiscal outlook on what I would suggest is a trivial homage to what Christmas and Santa Clause should embody, however, in the spirit of goodwill and fortune, which is so veneered during this season, I believe that whatever brings people together is a noble enough endeavor.

By: Hans Ericsson

Hans Ericsson — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:59:16 +0000

I think what makes all these markets special is the fact that for the most part, they are non-commercialized. The Christmas markets don’t really have anything at all to do with Santa Claus.

By: Adrianne

Adrianne — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:56:51 +0000

Ryan, I’m not surprised in the least. What’s not to cling to? Petting zoos, ice skating, candlelit vending, chocolate chocolate chocolate and mulled wine? This Christmas market thing sounds pretty cling-worthy to me! A large part of contemporary holiday traditions are actually pagan in origin, anyhow, but to the credit of the medieval Christians, they were quite happy to bring forth the noise, the funk and the figgy pudding. Now here’s the really great part: In these modern times of freely exchanged ideas and traditions, we have even more reasons for excellent celebrations than ever before! I bet that in the coming months, Hans can tell us about many other great festivals, secular and spiritual alike.

By: ryan

ryan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:39:27 +0000

And quite frankly I am a bit intrigued by the fact that these secular nations of the European Union cling so feverously to certain monastic traditions of yore which serve no other purpose than a gross irreverence toward a hallowed person, namely, Santa Claus.

By: ryan

ryan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:44:58 +0000

I am surprised that these European nations still call them ‘Christmas Markets’, rather than something more politically correct, and inclusive of all people and religions. Many religions have significant holidays during the month of December including Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and others. Hans, are we to believe that the population of Europe is too homogenised to acknowledge that the holidays of minorities are equally important? I think they should rename these ‘Holiday Markets’ as to not appear insensitive others.