Rick Steves Christmas Show
 

Last Thursday Channel 44 in Boston telecast Rick Steves Christmas show as part of it's fundraising. The program was a little hokey and certainly some parts were staged for television. Nonetheless, for me at least, it was enjoyable and reminded me of some special things to enjoy during the holidays..

I've never had the opportunity to attend an English church during the holidays but have been to Norwich Cathedral for evensong, Winchester Cathedral for an ordination and Westminster Abbey on Canada Day. The choirs at all three were magnificent. I'm sure a Christmas service must be even more so. I caution you that you may not hear the traditional Christmas carols before Christmas. The Episcopal Church in the US doesn't so maybe one of the English posters knows and will comment.

We have been in Paris in mid-November and a visit to Galeries Lafayette to see the Christmas windows should be on everyone's list. The trees along that stretch of Blvd Hausmann and around the Opera were beautiful. We never got to the Champs-Elysees but it looked awesome on the program.

As an aside, the classics department at Brown University during the 50s sponsored a Christmas carol concert in Latin that was standing room only. Does it still?

Oh my, my quick proofreading missed it's for its.

One thing that I love about Paris during the holidays is the nice decorations that the shops put up. Not only that but I find that even the hotels and restaurants do some nice decorating too. I remember last year on Ile St. Louis a couple of restaurants had huge bows attached to the front of their buildings.

I watched this program last night. I enjoyed the music - especially the choir's candlelight performance in Norway. I thought the show captured Christmas in Europe and how traditions and heritage are kept and treasured. I'm not a big fan of Rick Steves, but I did enjoy this program. However, I was glad that I could Tivo out his public TV schlepping segments.

It's a shame that the we (the U.S.) have let corporations as well as political correctness (i.e. the "Holiday Tree" in Boston)influence our Christmas traditions and heritage.

Calling it a "holiday tree" in no way lessens ts meaning for those citizens who share the coincidental religious beliefs; and for those citizens who don't, I personally think the "correctness" simply demontrates that there is NOT one 'established religion' or religious belief in this country and there are many of us who are very glad of it.

I missed it again, but they did rebroadcast it on my PBS last night.

I agree with Intrepid, religion is not national, nor our "heritage", nor is it a shame that public and govt sites do not push one particular religion on people as being the established one, nor the national "heritage". Private people can do whatever they want. Heavens know there are zillions of Christmas decorations around anyway.

Anyone who dislikes a public decorated fir tree being called a "holiday tree" (which it is) might question their own tolerance. Christmas is completely out of control in the US, and the idea that it is diminished is not true in my perspective. I think it should be diminished a whole lot more.

I need to question my tolerance? Get a grip.

Calling a Christmas tree a Holiday tree doesn't change its symbolism or meaning. (A rose is a rose...) Christmas trees trace their roots to paganism and aren't christian or tied to organized religion.

If your going to make the argument that we need to remove the word Christmas from the tree, then you better get rid of Santa Clause because you can trace his roots to a Hungarian Christian saint.

Peace, love, and joy.

Thank God I'm an atheist.

So why isn't it inclusive to just call the symbol what it is... how does that exclude?

So should we now call the menorah, a "holiday candle set"? Let's get a grip....

Christmas=Christ+mass. Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ. The purpose of the "holiday" is a rite (mass) to celebrate Christ. Even Mr. Webster says this.

"So why isn't it inclusive to just call the symbol what it is... how does that exclude?

So should we now call the menorah, a "holiday candle set"? Let's get a grip...."

Lisamarc, you don't understand Rule #1 of Political Correctness:

If it's Christian, it needs to be banned. All other religions are tolerated, but Christianity must be destroyed. All their traditions and beliefs are wrong. Only Christians start wars, famines, pestilence, etc.

I think we should just forget about the Xmas tree altogether, choose another shrub, and follow George Costanza father's lead by dubbing it a "festivus bush" and then everyone can dance pagan circles around it at some point in December.
Now, if they start messing with my family's tinsel toss and popcorn stringing traditions, there's going to be serious trouble!!!

What about St. Patrick's day, gang? Is that headed out, too? To paraphrase Freud, sometimes a tree is just a tree, and a Christmas tree is just a Christmas tree. I don't see why this should offend people and I am not a Christian. Move on.

I started this thread with the hopes that it would provide posters an opportunity to share their Christmas experiences in Europe. Alas, I seem to have underestimated the proclivity towards nastiness.

I loved the show. It aired here as a pledge drive and I copied it to DVD for stocking-stuffers. Left the breaks in (interviews with Rick in the studio) because they added a lot.

He said he usually takes his family to third-world countries for Christmas because it can be experienced in the simplest ways.

I agree that "The Holidays", as they are known in America, have become a frenzy to see who can out-do who. Too capitalistic for my tastes -- has been for a long time. I just want to chill with family and friends with some good eats/drinks/conversations/small pleasures.

The Christmas happenings he showed in this program portrayed just that.

I watched that show yesterday and it inspired me to plan a December trip to Europe (Bavaria? Austria?) next year. We will have to be home by the middle of the month as our children and grandchildren come home for Christmas.

We live in Georgia and I want to go somewhere to enjoy the snow. Does anyone have any ideas as to where to spend the first two weeks of December?

jsmith, thanks for posting and Nimrod thanks for getting us back on track.

I enjoyed the show as well and especially learning about the Christmas Tree tradition in Europe (in Switzerland the adults put it up on Christmas Eve for the kids).

Did you see the cartoon where the Mom is walking down the street with child in hand. She sees a sign "Xmas sale" and says how disgusting that is. The little boy says "yeah, everyone knows it's Xbox." :)

I enjoyed the show, and jsmith, I also loved hearing the choir in Norwich when I was studying abroad. It was November and the candles were the main lights in the sanctuary. Very memorable.

Oh, the Christmas tree tradition in Switzerland. Looks great on TV but it's a real struggle for Moms on that day. You have to get rid of the kids during the late afternoon for awhile in order to decorate the tree and put the gifts under. Then you watch the kids open the gifts. You also have to make a nice dinner. And you go to church in the evening too.

We've changed that tradition by decorating the tree the day before together as a family. Much less stress on Dec. 24th and the kids enjoy the idea.

By the way, St. Nick comes on Dec. 6th and brings nuts and oranges in a small canvas bag. And they have parades in towns at this time. Men in white shirts have yokes on their shoulders with huges bells hanging from them. Children make lanterns and parade around town with them. Men with bullwhips snap loudly in the middle of the street. And one St. Nick with his Schmutzli and a donkey are in the middle of it all.

Dec. 6th: today!

Christkindli (Christ's child or baby Jesus) brings gifts on Dec. 24th.

jsmith:

"I started this thread with the hopes that it would provide posters an opportunity to share their Christmas experiences in Europe. Alas, I seem to have underestimated the proclivity towards nastiness."

For myself, I truly apologize if you found my post nasty in any way. I was sort of speaking to the current "Holiday" replacing "Christmas" liguistic controversy currently working it's way through the news. In my house, we don't get into the commercial side of that season at all, so I was trying to make light of it. Sorry.

It wasn't the subject of your post. So here is a second try:
I did not watch the Rick Steves show, but you exppressed interest in Christmas Travel Experiences.
I visited Italy for the Christmas ("Natale") season in 2004, and spent the time around Naples and the Amalfi Coast. In Sorrento, there is a huge and beautiful tree in the middle of Piazza Tasso, which is covered with flowers in the day, and lit up at night, very lovely. In several places there and in Naples one can see the magnificent Presepios, or cribs. These extensive scenes depicted the traditional story of the adoration of the Magi are made of exquisitly hand carved figures that also include many folkloric figures in very lifelike scenarios. Naples is ffamous for creating these figures.
The Amalfi Coast also has some roadside niches that house these scenes but made of other materials, which are there year round, but take on a special charm in the Natale season. I also had the fortune of attending a local Christmas eve party where there was dancing and music using traditional instruments. Instead of St Nick coming down the chimney, there is the tradition of the "Befana" who is a witch that flies around and gives gifts (which might be filled with pieces of coal) to children later, on the Epiphany.
I also shared a traditional meal at home with friends there, but the details of that special experience are safely nested at the moment in a private diary.

Merry Christmas, (Buon Natale), Happy Kwansaa, Happy Channukah, and Season's Greetings to you and everyone else.
Let there be Peace Among All Men (and Women) in the World !

Thanks for sharing, schuler. It was very interesting to hear your personal experiences with Christkindli. TV shows sure make it look easy.

When European demographics cause several European nations to become majority Muslim, I wonder if Rick will have to rename his show Rick Steves' Ramadan. And will Rick be allowed to film the insides of Westminster Mosque or the Cathedral of Miriam?

Shane, have you not seen any of Rick's middle eastern shows? I haven't watched a lot of them but in the ones that I have, I found he is educated about, and very respectful of other religions.

Dear Ronda,
I no doubt think Rick Steves is respectful of other religions. I was only quipping that, when Muslims become a majority of a nation like France in fifty years (as demographic actuarial tabulations indicate), the Cathedral of Notre Dame may be forceably be made a mosque. Islam is not very respectful of other religions.

Shane, I think that depends mostly on the particular Islamic country in question. What you said is certainly true for Nigeria or Pakistan, but not true for Turkey.

We were in Rome last Christmas, staying at the same hotel at Rick Steves' crew. (They said Rich and fam were traveling in the Scandanavian area filming, etc. there.) The RS Rome crew had made extensive plans to tape Midnight Mass at a selected church since St. Peter's wouldn't give them permission to tape. (We had tickets for Midnight Mass at St. Peter's) Then on Dec 24, the Vatican decide RS crew could tape. They dropped previous plans, and we saw them in St. Peter's (The production staff was especially nice, the productor/director, well...just use your imagination.)

BUT, for obvious reasons I would like to see his show. Is/was it on PBS?
Appreciate any info although we are watching from Madison, WI

Uhhhh, Shane, check your history....Christianity isn't exactly "respectful of other religions" either...a notable example the huge cathedral in Seville where a mosque once sat.

Present day Christianity is very respectful of other religions. The late pope bent over backwards to others faiths, even Haitian voodoo "priests." Pope John Paul II treated Islam with a great deal of respect, more respect than the Mohammeds deserve.

This is for Judi. My wife and myself did a 19 day advent trip to Germany in early Dec.of 2004 returning home prior to Dec. 25. It began flying into Frankfurt and started with Bonn/Cologne area ending in Dresden but still flying out from Fra. I posted a trip report under Germany Advent trip. Do a search or click my name. Unless you are in the mountains in southern Bavaria you probably will not get or see snow. Too early in the season but you may. However we have plenty here in N. Wisc. in Dec. where I live. For more specific info please give me your e mail. It was so charming and unique to visit Germany that time of year but it's not warm if you are from Georgia but warm if you're from N. Wisc! Our flights were too low to pass up which prompted that vacation.

I hope Rick's show is on again, because I only caught the end.

Zues: You are (sadly) correct about Rule #1. Rule 2: Political correctness encourages freedom of speech, as long as your speech agrees with my speech.

Intrepid1: How far does this go? Isn't "holiday" derived from Holy day? Can we really have a suggestion that something is holy? Like political correctness, doesn't secularism ultimately become more intolerant while suggesting it is more inclusive?

Rick's show was shown on Sunday and is scheduled to air again on Friday in our area. Go to his web site and look for TV times; I'm sure it will be on again in your area. (At least I hope so!)

Thanks, hardwater, for your input. Yes, warm/cold is all relative! I do wish for snow, though.

My email is pj2592atmacdotcom. I would love to hear from you!

I loved this show, and will tape it- thanks!

But I must say that I would never be traveling and away from home on Christmas- that's how the traditions do continue.

And Christians are not the only ones fed up with the political correctness. I have Jewish friends who are as well. They want their religious observances not "sucked" into the holiday designation OR the bigger USA Christmas hullabaloo.

And Intrepid, it seems like the memory for precedent goes back eons, or at least centuries for some aspects (pick and choose) and for others the recent past (30 or 40 years) becomes "does not apply" in this supposedly "tolerance approved" language sensibility. By all standards Christians have been tolerant, much more tolerant than many other religions and sects.

We have to be home for Christmas and family as well, but we can be in Europe the first two weeks of December. My family will have to excuse me for not having the house decorated as usual.

Jesus Christ, it's all a metaphor!!!

Something I can't understand is posters who see the slightest sign of dissension, a bit of good-natured verbal biffo, as "nastiness".

I'm not a Christian either, but as far as I'm concerned it's a bloody Christmas tree. "Holiday tree"? Oh, no - please tell me that's a joke.