Anything you're looking forward to under the tree this year?

[Graffiti62]

Christmas is upon us again in a couple of days. Is there anything anyone is looking forward to getting or hoping that they're going to get under the tree this year, whether it be musically related or not?

Also, if anyone is of Jewish faith, I know Hanukkah was earlier this month, but please feel more than free to share anything cool you received as a gift as well.

 

[Jusatele]

I am a pagan, you know where the entire Xmas tree thing came from
and yes, I am looking forward to something under the tree, all my prayers fulfilled, WORLD PEACE and social equality for all races.
that is my dream

 

[B3Guy]

I really have no idea what I'm getting. My dad took one look at my list (all Hammond Organ stuff, all over $100), and said, "I cna't afford to get you any of this." So, I said "Get me an iTunes giftcard."

But looking at some of the stuff he bought for my siblings, and the price range of such items, who knows . . .

 

[jackthehack]

Santa's helper?

 

[Panthur]

I am a pagan, you know where the entire Xmas tree thing came from

The Xmas tree came Christians.
There is some misinterpretation of Jeremiah 10 that made people think Christmas trees are pagan, but it's really a reference to false idols, totems and the like. The Christmas tree comes from an old Christian tradition of the feast of Adam and Eve (Which was December 24th). The christmas tree was a representation of the tree of temptation where Adam and Eve at the apple.

Thats not to say pagans didn't bring evergreens into their home in celebration of continued life at the winter solstace (the ancient egyptians did it with palm trees too), it's just that the similarity between the two events is coincidental.

 

[swarfrat]

M-audio 25 key midi controller. First non guitar piece in 20 years.  Wanting to start messing with horn parts and writing for horns.

 

[AutoBat]

does it count if i'm going to buy myself something with bday/xmas cash?

I'll be getting a boogierail chrome bridge & graph tech string saver saddles.
If anyone is interested in a naturally semi-relicked bridge w/saddles, I'll have one. (52mm E-e string spacing & trem screw spacing)

 

[Jusatele]

Actually, being half German and studying Tuetonic traditions, seems the Xmas tree is Pagan

 

[Firebird211]

Under the Christmas tree is looking a little thin this year, even more than last.  My girlfriend and I will exchange a few small gifts, but we both have to buy ourselves new tires for her car and my truck.  BTW Everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ccasion14:
Oh, and who has two thumbs and likes Santa's Helper?...This guy!

 

[B3Guy]

Actually, being half German and studying Tuetonic traditions, seems the Xmas tree is Pagan

that's it . . . TO WIKIPEDIA!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree

I really just skimmed this, but the origins seem to be muddled. There were lots of different people erecting trees and doing stuff to them, both Christians and non-christians.

For me, anyway, The christmas tree simply represents a little piece of the winter wonderland outside my house, and family coming together to enjoy the beauty of God's creation. There's something special about cutting a tree on your own property, even if White Pines tend to be a little "Charlie Brown" (Another Minnesotan like myself).

 

[B3Guy]

oh, here's a question for those of you who don't get snow for Christmas:

HOW DO YOU SURVIVE?!?!?

 

[hannaugh]

My fingers are crossed for a Celestion Greenback and a new tube set for my almost 20 year old Fender Blues Deluxe that's never had any mods or tube swaps or anything done to it.  And maybe some cash I can put away towards a new acoustic I will buy somewhere down the line.  

I got my nerdy steampunk husband a top hat.  He's gonna be so happy!  It's hard to find XXL top hats.  

 

[m4rk0]

Just gifts for the little guy this year, just like last year..

my wife's b-day is the day after Christmas, so I have given up shopping for both Christmas and her b-day at the same time years ago..

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

It seems every year at this time most people get it all wrong.  Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Santa Claus.

And most people don't even know the true story of Santa.  For one thing, Santa Claus is a woman.  World geography is the proof.  We have Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica etc.  The male equivalent is San, as in San Salvadore, San Diego, San Ramon, San Francisco, San Jose.

San Claus probably stays home and drinks while his wife Santa is out doing all the work.  Or maybe San Claus is the guy who dresses up in all the malls while his wife is hard at work making the toys back in the workshop.  I don't have it all figured out yet, but I'm hoping there will be a wikileak that confirms my suspicions.  :icon_jokercolor:

Whatever your belief, happy holidays to everyone and lets hope the New Year brings all the joy that everyone deserves.

 

[m4rk0]

funny you mentioned that, we still celebrate St Nicholas every year for our kid, which is on December 5th.  so he gets half his christmas presents then, and the other half on christmas day.
In holland, St Nicholas is still the most important event of the year for giving gifts, which is nice, because Christmas becomes  a less commercial event.

 

[m4rk0]

of course, when St Nicholas was commercialized in the US, they got a lot of the facts wrong:

he is not from the north pole, but really a bishop from Mira (now part of Turkey.) he spends his summers in Spain
he does arrive per Steamboat every year in November
he does not ride reindeers, but a while horse, which he also uses to ride on the roofs to bring around presents
His helpers are not elves, but the black pete's.. this is also the most controversial issue about the whole event! because the black petes have to go down the chimneys to drop presents int he kid's shoes (not socks, silly) his face has turned black because of all the chimney dust. some people say it is offensive since he looks like he is painted as a black man.

 

[Rickgrxbass]

Despite my beliefs (or, well, lack of), my wife treated me very well this, um, "winter holiday season": she let me get a MIM Strat (I know, I know, but it's a really cool metallic sunburst and it'll be a good starting point for future meddling) and she totally surprised me with a cast iron tetsubin, which I've always wanted but never enough to justify buying one.  I'm still angling to get a ram-air intake kit for my Pontiac G8, though...

 

[lafromla1]

I was looking forward to a set of Warmoth nut files, but I got a nice Martin & Co. guitar stool instead (which I really needed as the hard cut-down bar stool is taking its toll  :sad1. 

That and my sweet Thinline (which was a combo birthday and xmas present).  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Velcro]

I really couldn't care less about the origins of Christmas trees and Father Christmas.

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

I'm not a big fan of christmas... I'm forced to be happy all the time - and when I'm forced to be happy, I get mad.

Well.. I have used alot of money on presents this year, but I couldn't care less about what people have bought for me.
Don't get me wrong. I really appreciate the presents people buy me - but I don't get upset if I don't get what I want.