Day: December 30, 2020
Terry Pratchett: Hogfather (Annual Holiday Read)
24 Festive Tasks: Door 24 – Hogswatch, Book: Read any Terry Pratchett book or a book with a pig on the cover. So, I listened to Hogfather today … and that’s my Festive Task reads done and dusted! (I may do another couple of non-book tasks tomorrow, though.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Other Hogfather-related Posts: 16 […]
Read MoreSt. Martin’s Day Procession: Germany’s November Bonfire Tradition
24 Festive Tasks: Door 2 – Guy Fawkes Night, Bonus Task #1: Post pictures of past or present bonfires, fireworks (IF THEY’RE LEGAL) or sparklers. As a kid, one of my favorite holiday traditions used to be the St. Martin’s Day processions: The holiday celebrates St. Martin of Tours (France), a 4th century Roman military […]
Read MoreBook Editions and Licensing: A Matter of Regional Profit Centers
24 Festive Tasks: Door 2 – Guy Fawkes Night, Task 1: Start a (publishing) revolution! What would you change / reform / get rid of in the book world? One thing that is increasingly getting on my nerves are regionally restricted licenses, particularly when it comes to audiobooks (and movie / DVD formats). Surely in […]
Read MoreAn Untraditional Christmas Tradition: A Nighttime Stroll Through My Neighborhood
24 Festive Tasks: Door 21 – Christmas, Bonus Task #1: Christine PNW’s untraditional family tradition for Christmas dinner is to gather around the fondue pot with her husband and children after spending the entire day in her pajamas and watching movies, playing video games or reading. Do you have any “untraditional” traditions for the day? […]
Read MoreTreasured Christmas Decorations
24 Festive Tasks: Door 21 – Christmas, Task 1: Post a picture of a holiday decoration that is unique to your Christmas celebration and tell us about it. My mom and I have two sets of Christmas decorations with a special meaning: My set of Mexican and Native American (-styled) decorations, which I brought from […]
Read MoreFestivus Scale of Strength: Weighty Books
24 Festive Tasks: Door 20 – Festivus, Task 2: The Scale of Strength: Pick 3 of your weightiest tomes and place them on a scale. Tell us the total weight. I used Shakespeare’s Complete Works, my copy of the illustrated guide to Houses of the National Trust, and Eye to Eye, a collection of […]
Read MoreWomen’s Carnival: Sacrificial Neckties
24 Festive Tasks: Door 10 – First Day of Carnival, Bonus Task #2: Any man unwise enough to be found wearing a necktie during Women’s Carnival will have his tie cut off, as a symbolic curtailment of male rule. Obviously, men who don’t want to play along don’t wear a tie on that day in […]
Read MoreA Retro Playlist for a First Day of Carnival Party: 1970s-80s Disco & Dance Music
24 Festive Tasks: Door 10 – First Day of Carnival, Task 2: Burn a few calories from the meal above [in Task 1: your First Day of Carnival meal] and have a dance party. Tell us what songs / artists get your toes taping. Let’s build a playlist! Let’s go full on retro and make […]
Read MoreStaying Zen in Stressful Times
24 Festive Tasks: Door 12 – World Philosophy Day, Task 2: How do you stay zen / sane over the holidays or in other stressful periods? And / Or: How did you manage to stay (more or less) zen throughout 2020 … if you did? This, too (like my favorite rainy day reads can easily […]
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