Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

[mike24forever]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Apparently the YouTube version was the full one, unless I missed something?

I haven't seen it yet, just checked it for a few seconds to see what it's like. I did see them interviewing people a fair amount of time, hopefully they did focus on the actual parade and the audio ends up being good too.

It was the full parade with some interviews and commentary, but it wasn't edited down. So it was the entire parade and you can see parts they may want to edit into the final show. It was nice to watch it in this form.

[Majingir]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

It was the full parade with some interviews and commentary, but it wasn't edited down. So it was the entire parade and you can see parts they may want to edit into the final show. It was nice to watch it in this form.

That's what I mean though, I think that YouTube one was the entire thing. Don't think it's being edited down (unless they edit down the live stream to cut out dead air time). Doesn't sound like any tv network picked it up. It's a shame the shape of Canadian tv or really anything. Billion dollar companies claiming they don't have money to air stuff but also can't sponsor a parade (they struggled this year getting funding for the parade and looks like at least a few big companies didnt sponsor the parade this year), but have record profits and spent millions on tv ads.

[SmashMan]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I've hated the CTV coverage of the parade for years. It's almost unwatchable nowadays with most of the parade coverage just feeling like an episode of one of their morning talk shows (since the people hosting it are from one of their morning talk shows) combined with some random reporter asking camera shy kids questions on the streets, and the parade is mixed in somewhere in the broadcast too.

Isn't this how all local parade broadcasts go? At least this is how it's always been for Chicago parades.

I'm a little curious to see if anything changes about the presentation for our Thanksgiving parade. It isn't airing on TV this year but instead will be streaming on Pluto.

[Majingir]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Isn't this how all local parade broadcasts go? At least this is how it's always been for Chicago parades.



I'm a little curious to see if anything changes about the presentation for our Thanksgiving parade. It isn't airing on TV this year but instead will be streaming on Pluto.

The way they used to do the ones here, the commentators understood they were just talking, the show was the actual parade. It's not about their on camera shots, them bringing in guests to interview, having a reporter in the crowd, it was a much different/better experience than the typical ones you see.

Once they changed to a new network here, that all changed. It'd be like watching a parade in the US if the hosts of the view were all hosting it and they just brought on people to talk to throughout the parade.

[mike24forever]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

28 days!!!

The holidays are quickly approaching. To all our American members, safe travels and I hope you spend Thanksgiving with those you love and care about.

[EUBlink]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

When I lost my mother, my Christmas spirit was basically thrown up in the air and hit with buckshot because of how important this time of year was to her. Dealing with what I have had to over the last two years with my kids has basically killed any remainder of it. But THIS THREAD always warms my heart every year and I look forward to it so much.


I still set up a nativity scene in my front yard every year and we have now for about 35 years. I may take pictures soon. It isn't much.



This time next year, things will be different. Everything is coming to a close in the next month, officially beginning Monday, December 9th. Life is going to come full circle. Thank you for kicking this thread off each year, Mike. You have no idea what it means to some of us. I intend to repay a handful of people in this community in ways you won't understand until they occur.

[SmashMan]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I still set up a nativity scene in my front yard every year and we have now for about 35 years. I may take pictures soon. It isn't much.

It doesn't have to be much as long as you like it, right?

I wrap the railings and put the same net lights up at my parents' house every year for them. They don't, wouldn't, and have yet to stop me from adding anything I would want to (never anything big, just a small inflatable or piece I come across on Amazon or Target), but at the same time they're perfectly happy with even that little bit of decoration.

[mike24forever]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

When I lost my mother, my Christmas spirit was basically thrown up in the air and hit with buckshot because of how important this time of year was to her. Dealing with what I have had to over the last two years with my kids has basically killed any remainder of it. But THIS THREAD always warms my heart every year and I look forward to it so much.


I still set up a nativity scene in my front yard every year and we have now for about 35 years. I may take pictures soon. It isn't much.



This time next year, things will be different. Everything is coming to a close in the next month, officially beginning Monday, December 9th. Life is going to come full circle. Thank you for kicking this thread off each year, Mike. You have no idea what it means to some of us. I intend to repay a handful of people in this community in ways you won't understand until they occur.

There are times when I think, maybe this year I won't start the thread as I've seen a decline in activity over the years. This post by you means the world to me. I can't say it any better than that.

I can't imagine what the last 2 years have put you through, but always hold on to your Mom's love for Christmas. I truly believe for many people, that most of the warm memories we have of Christmas and the holidays started with our Mom's. They seem to be the foundation and starting point for many of our Christmas memories and traditions. Stuff like the smell of cookies baking or the decorations they would put up before we came home from school (for example) that we hold on to and share or hope to one day pass on to our kids. I happy that this thread and the OS members have provided you with some warmth over the years. We all share a bit of our lives with each other and hopefully it can help others with whatever they are going through at the time. Life can be hard and the world we live in today can be very decisive, so it is nice when we can leave our baggage at the door and just share the holidays with one another. Thank you kind sir.

As for your Nativity set that you put out every year. First, it's the reason for the season. Secondly, it is my favourite Christmas decoration. When my wife and I went to Italy and Greece for our honeymoon, we bought as many Nativity decorations from each stop as we could. My favourite one is a small set for an end table made out of olive tree wood. I'll get a picture of it and post it later. We also got a few for hanging on our trees. It's not the size of your Nativity set or how grand it is for that matter, it is what it means to you. I look forward to your picture.

Well gentlemen, 25 days until Christmas. I hope you have started your Christmas shopping. I am almost done my wife's, I just need to get her a Peterborough Pete's (local OHL hockey team) hoodies that she put on her list and I done.

I'm off to watch some college football, have an awesome day.

[Majingir]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Now that we're in December, only 3 weeks until "Christmas week".

[EUBlink]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

My grandfather introduced me to carpentry, among my countless other interests. This led to me getting into the hobby of jigsaw holiday decorations. I had stopped doing them for the past couple years. I intend to hand-design and cut a full Santa's sleigh and reindeer for next Christmas. I want to go all-out to the point of almost being obnoxious, because why not. My mind can create anything out of wood and last autumn I went through classes for welding as well. I am interested to see how I can combine these two interests in the coming year.


As I build and finish projects, I may post them here or I could start a new thread. If anyone sees my designs and would like some for their own yard, I only ask that you compensate me for the cost of supplies and shipping; that's it. We will cross that bridge when it gets here. I have done similar approaches before and it worked out good for everyone involved. Giving to others fuels and heals my soul.



This is something I am ONLY going to do for this community, and will ship as many as I can while I can if it takes off. I do not seek to make any kind of profit. I have what I need in life. I am perfectly content with spoiling my children and girlfriend as much as possible and leaving it at that.

[mike24forever]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Thanks very kind of you to offer your work to the OS community. Please post some pictures for everyone to see.

Anyone else finding the days are flying by. For a guy who doesn't work, I'm finding that I am crazy busy.

Hope you all are enjoying the Season!!!

21 more days!

[SmashMan]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Where are we on Christmas music, guys? Just listening to the classics? Modern versions of the classics? Any new stuff or hidden gems out there worth sharing?

[NoleFan]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I go to “Motown” Christmas every year. The classics don’t have enough soul for me. Always smile when I hear The Temptations version of “Silent Night” because my Dad and I used to lead that with the men’s group at church before I moved away. I wanted to try to have a little reunion but he passed away in 2022.

[Majingir]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Where are we on Christmas music, guys? Just listening to the classics? Modern versions of the classics? Any new stuff or hidden gems out there worth sharing?

I mainly just listen to the classics. Not much else people can do to have "new classics" which is how I feel about Christmas as a whole.

You're not creating the next Rudolph or Frosty or any of that either.

On that note, I just heard about the "origins of the modern santa" and its crazy how that origin didn't even go back 100 years! The Santa depiction we know today was popularized by Coke in the 1930s. Obviously the red and white was done to go along with the Coke branding.

[Majingir]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Went to a local Santa claus parade and it felt underwhelming.

Maybe I just remember it differently because as a kid, parades seem larger than life and cool, but as an adult you just see sponsors and politicians and so on riding in it.

Could also be a combination of both. Gets more expensive to run parades and floats so with less money they just have more "floats" just being trucks with company sponsors on them blasting Christmas music from their speakers.


Speaking of things that feel different now, watching Christmas movies definitely feel different as time goes on and people from those movies pass away. Watching Elf this year, James Caan already passed away in 2022 (can't believe he was 62 when he filmed Elf, figured he was in his early 50s), and a few months ago Bob Newhart died too.