Where Have I Been all my Life?
Ξ December 26th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Chat |
I am glad Christmas has passed but I am looking forward to the 28th when Celt and I will do our own little celebration. I hope he will be happy with the gifts I got him and I can’t wait to see what he bought for me!
I was thinking about my family yesterday and today. I never realized how different they were until I met Celt. In my family there isn’t really any traditions during the Holidays. I remember just getting together with our uncles and aunts for dinner on my father’s side and on my mom’s side they would play music, dance, smoke and drink a lot. On my dad’s side they would watch sports on TV, usually a hockey game. On my mom’s side they would watch the funny TV show for the end of the year just before midnight on New Year’s eve.
Being raised in a French environment also didn’t help. If I watched some sort of Christmas movie on my own, it was translated to French so I didn’t learn any of the references in English. I think we mostly watched other TV shows anyway (probably hockey) because I don’t remember ever watching any of the classic Christmas movies.
So this brings me to now. Celt and his family are always amazed at how little I know of the things most people consider common knowledge. For example, I never heard of Ebenezer Scrooge from the movie “A Christmas Carol” which I had never heard of either. Well we watched that movie while Celt’s parents were here because it is a tradition in his family. And all of the sudden I am getting a whole bunch of new references like “Bah, humbug”! I was watching Family Guy and they mentioned Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim and I got the reference! Then one of my members sent me an email which had “Bah, humbug” in it! I got it again! Even the new Shrek Christmas movie has a song with “Bah, humbug” in it. And now I know who Charles Dickens is too.
It is amazing isn’t? I wonder how many people in Quebec actually know these things. Have I led such a sheltered life when I was growing up? It appears so!
We also watched “White Christmas“, so now I know who Bing Crosby is. My classic movie education didn’t stop there… I also saw “It’s a Wonderful Life” in black and white! I am not sure what kind of references might come of it though. And finally, I also watched “Miracle on 34th Street“. Well I never knew that Santa Claus’ name is Kris Kringle! Can you believe that?
Truly amazing! I have so much to learn don’t I? Yes I guess my family is different. Not only in the things I didn’t learn but also in traditions and celebrations. We haven’t exchanged gifts in probably 10-15 years, not even cards and no one from my family even called me to wish me Merry Christmas this year. Well I am hoping to change all of that one day. I am starting small this year by sending them cards. Late mind you but still it is better than none. And next year, watch out. Cards and gifts for everyone hopefully!