Happy Holidays!

[The Tall Luthier]

I disagree

Sadly the real meaning of Christmas is often lost these days and seems to have been taken over as a “retail” festival, with people often spending more than they can afford. For me Christmas is a time to be with family and friends. Sadly I lost my mum last Christmas and my mother in law died last week, so the last two Christmas’s have been subdued in my household. But now looking forward to 2025 and getting out and about in the Cali, having received a few van related gifts from Father Christmas. I hope you all had a good day and celebrated Christmas in the way you and your families wanted to, best wishes to all club members and thank you for letting me be part of it, in my three years of membership it has been invaluable in helping me get the most out of my Cali.

i disagree with you, I genuinely believe that the true spirit of this time of year is absolutely blooming.
I was born a scientist, I like facts. The stories of a bearded white fella climbing down chimneys or indeed sitting on clouds and making planets, are both equally magical, enthralling and vulnerable to scientific methods of proof.
Ever since humans clocked the year had seasons we’ve celebrated the Winter Solstice, the Re-naissance or rebirth of the year.

The Romans tried to mark the solstice when they created our calendar, except they got the maths wrong and ended up ten days too late for New Year’s Day.

The Christians, riding on the coat tails of the solstice decided to mark it as their naissance, the birth of Christ. They were at least seven days closer to the solstice.

Culturally we’ve always celebrated the solstice by coming together, sharing food and drink and time and gifts with those who are most significant to us. Reaffirming friendships in the hope that our rebirth into the next year is prosperous.

Every office party, night out with friends, Christmas lunch, gathering for the early dawn, New Year’s Eve, cracker pulling, belly filling, present swapping, champagne drinking event is testament to the fact, we love bringing in our own renaissance. The true spirit is alive and well.