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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2016 8:44:01 GMT
Right now that the season is underway (like it or not) I thought it would be fun to ask what Music/TV/Film/Show it just isn't "Christmas" without to you. What's the song that really makes it feel festive? What's the film you watch every year? What TV programme old or new is the 'it isn't Christmas without'?
A few from me...
Music wise- Once I've had to belt out 'Carol of the Bells' 10 times in various concerts I feel like Christmas has hit me with a stick. Listening, Christmas Day always without fail brings out the Michael Ball Christmas CD.
Films: Mum and I watch 'The Holiday' together, which has for reasons unknown has become a holiday staple in our house.
TV: I wrap presents while watching The X Files Christmas episode (which I grant you is a bit weird)
Anyone else? I'm sure I have more... |
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423 posts
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Post by schuttep on Dec 12, 2016 12:04:26 GMT
My partner and I choose to do Christmas differently. We always spend a few days in a European city. My partner keeps hoping for snow on Christmas day but it's never happened yet. Otherwise we don't really have any must-do habits.
As far as the theatre is concerned, my partner hates seeing shows with a Christmas theme after Christmas!
Woohoo - my 100th post!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2016 12:22:44 GMT
I've done a few Christmases away (in New York and Canada) and highly recommend the holiday for the holidays model. In terms of the day itself, after a childhood spent running from one relative to another, I'm glad to say that I spend the day(s) in relative hibernation!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2016 13:19:54 GMT
Joining me for Xmas this year will be a three year old and a six week old - so hibernation sounds like a VERY appealing option!! ;-)
As for listening - I'm really bad, I don't have too many Christmas CDs. Having heard Melanie Marshall at the NT not that long ago, and having been blown away by her beautiful voice, I did download a couple of her Christmassy-themed songs and love listening to them.
Viewing - it's got to be Muppet Christmas Carol: "No cheeses for us meeses!"
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Post by viserys on Dec 12, 2016 14:51:28 GMT
I've done the "christmas away" thing myself, but since I'm a permanently freezing woman who hates the winter cold, I tend to choose warm destinations. Spent a fairly lonely Christmas Day in Melbourne once, wandering around the Botanical Gardens, where all the Aussie families were having barbecues and felt really blah about it all.
One of the best Christmas Days was getting drunk on ice-cold beer on a Brazilian beach some years later, but I wasn't alone then. I absolutely don't mind being alone on NYE when travelling, but I'd never want to do christmas alone again.
When I'm here at home with the family, I don't have anything "special" that I need to watch or listen to. I am quite partial to Josh Groban's christmas CD though, especially his beautiful version of Silent Night. That's probably the only christmas song I can't do without.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2016 15:18:40 GMT
Ooh how could I forget la Groban's Christmas CD? I've had that out already this year!
I much prefer a NYE alone...but I'm whatever a NYE Grinch is!
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 12, 2016 18:28:29 GMT
To misquote Burly slightly: Ban all Christmas telly.  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2016 21:45:53 GMT
TV wise, Only Fools and Horses and The Vicar of Dibley marathons. And also, what is Christmas and New Year without EastEnders?! Also, I have a sweet spot for those ITV2 pantomimes they air, which were basically my childhood Christmases.  |
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Post by d'James on Dec 13, 2016 2:01:36 GMT
Christmas Specials of: Jam and Jerusalem, Absolutely Fabulous and 2point4 Children. Might throw in Vicar of Dibley but I know them a bit too well.
Film-wise: just A Muppet Christmas Carol (which tends to take over my playlists around now too), I might whip out Belle's Enchanted Christmas (Beauty and the Beast midquel).
Music: Kate Bush (December Will Be Magic Again), Steps and Kylie Christmas albums and Christmas compilations, plus any Christmassy songs from musicals I like.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2016 8:33:57 GMT
TV wise, Only Fools and Horses and The Vicar of Dibley marathons. And also, what is Christmas and New Year without EastEnders?! Also, I have a sweet spot for those ITV2 pantomimes they air, which were basically my childhood Christmases. When I was a kid Christmas Day was the only time I saw Eastenders- as we'd go to my Aunt's in the evening and they watched it. It was even more brilliantly OTT when you have no idea who is who! |
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Post by vdcni on Dec 13, 2016 9:24:09 GMT
I'm not much of a Christmas person so prefer low-key. The bulk of my family live in Scotland and I can never be bothered with getting a train up there since with weather and engineering works it always seems to take forever.
That said it will be a very different Christmas for me this year since I'll be in Sydney with my finace and his family. Looking forward to the Christmas Day BBQ!
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Post by glossie on Dec 13, 2016 13:06:33 GMT
Filmwise - has to be Scrooge, the Alastair Sim one, preferably the original black & white, and Muppet Christmas Carol. which is just a joy and stays very true to the original story! I'd love a really good ghost story on Christmas Eve but that doesn't happen any more sadly.
Before hubby retired last year, my guilty pleasure was to watch all the cheesy Christmas movies on the Freeview channels on weekday afternoons...
Music wise - has to be Phil Spector's Christmas Album - Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Sleigh Ride, White Christmas...ah, bliss! Although my favourite Christmas songs are Greg Lake - I Believe in Father Christmas; Chris de Burgh - A Stranger Came Travelling; Pogues & Kirtsy McColl - Fairytale of New York.
And, although a non-believer, I love to sing along to all the Christmas carols. Carols from Kings - hubby always finds 'something else' to do......... :-)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2016 13:20:28 GMT
Filmwise - has to be Scrooge, the Alastair Sim one, preferably the original black & white, and Muppet Christmas Carol. which is just a joy and stays very true to the original story! A froggy Tiny Tim is somehow so much more heart-rending than even a cute, urchin-y type, child actor. Weird, isn't it?! |
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Post by Mr Snow on Dec 13, 2016 13:32:22 GMT
Don’t like commercial Christmas Music at all. There’s no escape it’s the same tunes everywhere and even if I did like it once I’m sick of it now. Bah Humbug? Fine.
However, I have to thank Robert Elms who every year plays this as Christmas approaches. Amazing music with an amazing story. This one does make me reflect.
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Post by anthony40 on Dec 14, 2016 17:07:01 GMT
Love Actually. Every Time. Love Actually is up there as one o my try favourite films and when it screens at this time of year I feel al Christmassy!
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Post by zsazsa on Dec 16, 2016 18:36:00 GMT
Film - White Christmas
Music - Barbra Streisand Doris Day Christmas albums.
T.V. - I like a period drama, I.e. Downton Abbey and Call The Midwife
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Post by musicalfloozie on Dec 16, 2016 19:22:53 GMT
Film wise it has to be It's a Wonderful Life and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, it's just not Christmas till I've seen them.
Music, Michael Buble and Seth McFarlane christmas CDS
Telly, not sure nothing much as can't think of anything which is guaranteed to be on. A sherlock christmas is always a good one!
It's also technically not Christmas till I've seen the crucible's christmas show.
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Post by maggiem on Dec 19, 2016 10:15:20 GMT
Viewing - it's got to be Muppet Christmas Carol: "No cheeses for us meeses!" Absolutely! It's by far my favourite version of this story, because they do it straight, without losing the usual Muppet fun. I have recently acquired an old 1993 VHS tape, which is full screen, but has the song "When Love is Gone" included. It always annoys me that it's cut from all the TV broadcasts! It has now been dubbed onto a DVd to preserve the recording. Something else I've dubbed from an old video recording is "The Nativity", part of the National Theatre version of "The Mysteries". I wish Channel 4 would broadcast them again. I'll be playing it again over the holiday. |
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Post by stefy69 on Dec 21, 2016 7:17:03 GMT
Film wise for me it has to be the Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol, sublime ! |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 23, 2016 4:46:33 GMT
I'm not at all Christmassy and still miss shift-working when I could keep busy until things returned to normal, while people who did wish to celebrate could do so. Plus I don't watch tv. However, one Christmas activity I do particularly enjoy and anticipate is re-reading a favourite childhood book, "Christmas With The Savages" by Mary Clive, which is the story of a small girl's Christmas with extended family in an Edwardian country house. It's hilarious and some passages still make me cry with laughter.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2016 11:41:28 GMT
T.V. - I like a period drama, I.e. Downton Abbey and Call The Midwife Is there ever any need to Call the Midwife in a period drama? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 24, 2016 20:22:15 GMT
Best Christmas comedy sketch EVER
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