Christmas

[gcguy]

Well it's nearly that time of the year again!!!
I was wondering what people will doing with collegues to celebrate the start of the holidays. I am going out for lunch tomorrow. Lunch will start at noon and finish at about 8pm and will probably overload my system with ethanol, various proteins and sucrose.

The train journey home could be a bit of a mystery tour!

GCguy

[skunked_once]

Our government research facility has a "Holiday Pot-Luck" each December. "Christmas" is not allowed in our politically correct environment but there is always more than enough great food with many culturally diverse dishes. Ethanol is strictly regulated to research purposes only!

[gcguy]

PC not allowing Christmas...bah humbug

[Bruce Hamilton]

Here, in NZ, because it's midsummer, many industries close from 24th Dec to 5th Jan, and sometimes much longer - to mid , late January as schools don't start their year until early Feb. It is the start of the annual holiday season.

Work events are muted this year - no fun celebrating when many people just down the road are being made redundant. Typically, a work celebration would involve an outdoor barbeque with sports ( cricket, football ) that starts about midday and lasts several hours. Staff are encouraged to bring young children, and suppliers and customers are often invited.

These events are seen as informal, friendly form of "thank you", rather than opportunities to guzzle and whine. Most people here drive to work, so alcohol consumption for many is moderate - younger, single people may decamp to a pub - if still around in the evening.

The site I'm on has ( correctly ) asked for none of the outdoor activities be obvious to passers by, as a large biscuit factory on one side is permanently closing, and 25 people have lost jobs from a manufacturing facility on the other side.

Christmas here is also a time of reflection about the past year and impending year, and thinking about those whose circumstances are not so favourable is an important part of the spirit of Christmas.

Please keep having fun,

Bruce Hamilton

[Spuzzin]

Bruce,

you're companys approach, being considerate to their neighbours is heartwarming to hear about. Glad to see at least one company can do things right on occasion.

Rich

[Jade.Barker]

The holiday spirit seems alive and well here in Minnesota. The area stores have plenty of business. They can hardly keep the shelves stocked. I went to 3 different stores trying to find gumdrops for a Gingerbread house...

Holidays are interesting in our lab because it is in a unique building. The building was set up as an "incubator" for start up science companies and is affiliated with the University of Minnesota. It is basically like a big apartment complex for labs. Since we are all in different industries there isn't any competition - It makes for a very neighborly building. The building Holiday party was the 15th. It was a pot luck I bet 20 different labs came. Some people brought some very nice homemade things, some people bought stuff. It was a good spread. The building management brought beer and wine too. The day before yesterday our lab went out to a holiday lunch with the neighboring lab closest to us. We have kind of a "borrow a cup of sugar" type relationship with them. I hope the new year is kind to them, and the same for all of you.

Happy Holidays and a Successful New Year Everyone!

[zokitano]

Here in Macedonia, Chrismas Day is at 7th of January, because majority of the population are Orthodox Christians. It is a very interesting fact (for those who may not know this) that many of the Orthodox countries (but not the most of the Orthodox population in the world) recently are celebrating Christmas at the same day with the Catholics (25th of December, Gregorian (new) calendar). Only in the states of the former Soviet Federation (including Russia), Macedonia, Serbia and Monte Negro Christmas is celebrated at 7th of January (according the Julian (old) calendar)

Well, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Wish you all best in 2009

[moino]

In Spain they seem to celebrate Christmas around Dec 25, but the gifts are on Jan 6, the three kings bring them to the people. Interesting, somehow makes sense!

Happy holidays and a healthy new year to everybody!