[Video]

[peaceful_shadows]

 You know, I hate sounding like a broken record but...

[Nikola sighs as he pulls his phone further away to show off an apartment decorated for a holiday he knows nothing about. All around his kitchen table are books that range from children's Christmas books to books discussing Christmas to even the King Jame's bible which he found somewhere.  He's been trying to do a little research and really, he's just gotten himself more confused.]

What I don't understand is why is there a holiday celebrating some baby's birth in the desert that somehow translates to the fact that for one night some jolly fat man in a red suit is allowed to break into people's homes through their fireplace and leave questionable presents for those that live in the home. 

Or why people try to appease this man with milk and cookies and what makes it okay for him to determine what child is nice or naughty.  Isn't something like that supposed to be the parent's job? Or why this holiday requires lights and a dead tree covered in trinkets. 

[...There is a LOT Nikola doesn't understand about this. ]

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but, I really could use a civilized explanation..

[He pauses for a moment.]

And Rose, unless you're being serious, please don't try and tell me one of your ridiculous holiday tales about candy and monsters and one of my coworkers. 

Comments

[video]

[bigbadrose]

[DYING OF GIGGLES.] But it's true!

The Romans used to have holidays around this time of year, and then the Christians -- they're the ones that believe the baby was God -- stole holiday traditions from the Celts and others.

Did you know reindeer is a traditional Norwiegan Christmas dinner? But in America, flying reindeer are synonymous with Christmas, so they'd be pretty traumatized I think.

Humans are savage. [Waggles fingers.] And all the lights are because it's right around the darkest time of the year.

But there's a planet that is ALWAYS Christmas! So it's a little more universal than just baby Jesus. Which makes sense, since I know for a fact Romans and Celts had alien influences all the time.

And the Doctor REALLY IS Santa! You'll see for yourself!!

Also speaking of, do you and Jenny wanna come caroling with us?

Re: [video]

[peaceful_shadows]

Then apparently the message of 'Christmas' never reached my world as it has others. This is the first I've heard of it.

[He motions to the various books and raises an eyebrow slightly. Some of that had been confirmed by his reading though, he still didn't trust Rose's word.]

I doubt someone as skinny as The Doctor could be compared to this fat man in a red suit I keep seeing referenced in the books and in the stores.

And exactly, what is 'caroling'...?

Re: [video]

[bigbadrose]

There's different kinds.

Caroling is singing! You go to different doors, and sing for strangers. It's fun!

Re: [video]

[peaceful_shadows]

...Why?

Video

[youfool]

[Rats, he's tempted to tease and antagonize too. Alas, his good nature bids him be mostly serious about matters of religious import. Mostly.]

The aforementioned baby is responsible for anyone living instead of dying in eternal condemnation. The fat man is a noteworthy saint so related. The desserts are simply good manners, as a thank you for gifts anonymously given. The anonymity is the saint's generous style, hence the subversive entrance.

Righteous judgment is always okay, as is rewarding those on the better side thereof. Again, he's a saint, so he's qualified. The tree and things are holdovers from the pagan tradition better religion repurposed, otherwise known as "conversion."

May that do for a civlized upshot.

[Ted hopes he appreciates the sheer restraint that took.]

Re: Video

[peaceful_shadows]

[Trust him, he appreciates the restraint. Try not to overwhelm Nikola when he's genuinely trying to understand.]

Exactly, how is a baby supposed to protect those from being damned? And if you don't mind, what IS a saint? I am not familiar with that word nor am I quite drawing the conclusion as to why that allows him to give gifts and judge children.

What qualifies this saint? Why is such judgement always okay pray tell? Ideas like that are dependent on what one considers 'right' and 'just'. If said person does not have the similar ideals of those he's judging then what is to say he is doing so wisely?

[Nikola has a ton of questions. This might take awhile.]

Re: Video

[youfool]

[Ted is honor bound to answer each and every one. He just has to keep his more clownish desires in check.]

By taking damning punishment instead.

[First no Shakespeare, then no saints? Nikola's world must be so hellish it's a wonder Nikola came out of it with even half so much civility.]

A saint, especially ones popular enough to permeate into common culture, is one especially holy and virtuous. Thus, they have all that's needed to judge, well, everything, children included.

[His face is a little screwed up trying to untangle the notion of subjectivity.]

Righteous judgment is always fine because righteous anything is always fine. That's what righteousness means. As such things necessarily involve the transcendent and absolute, particular ideals don't come into it.

[phoenixstrut]

[Look, Dove is there to hear him out but...

It doesn't stop her grin from getting wider and wider with every questioning statement. He'll have to excuse the bout of giggles she's trying to hold back before she an answer him properly.]

It sounds like you've got the basics down pat.

[peaceful_shadows]

...Those were the basics?

[phoenixstrut]

[She shrugs.] Well, you covered the Nativity, Santa Claus, and Christmas trees. All you need now is Frosty the Snowman, a ton of consumer marketing and a dash of holiday cheer.

If you're not busy, I'd be happy to show you around town and explain it more in depth. It looks like a lot of places have really started decorating. [Including wherever he currently is.]

[greatestgood]

You must learn to separate non-religious celebrations - or commercial celebrations - with religious ones. There might be a correlation, but it's more about the spirit and less about the exacts. [Christmas was never a happy time for him, so he might be ill-equipped to handle this conversation. However the holiday is big in Scotland, England, Germany, Bulgaria and France.]

Relax and enjoy the festivities if it gives you a headache.

[peaceful_shadows]

I agree, but, that is where I am having the issue. Nothing like this exists in my world so to comprehend the facets of such a strange holiday of saints, gift giving and baby worship are a little difficult for me to sort through.

[This is hardly the first time he's encountered this issue since arriving but, this seems to be even more complicated than what Halloween was. At least there, he had a holiday from his world to somewhat relate to.

Right now? Not so much.]

I still would like to know what the festivities are for. The only thing I've been able to really get any handle on is the intention of giving gifts to others. However, I cannot tell you why such thing happens.

[greatestgood]

It's about good will and selfless acts. It's about giving and sharing and being your best self. It's about not taking your family and friends for granted. [The core seems to be similar no matter the acts surrounding it.] Winter is cold and lonely; without kindness, it can even prove deadly to some.

[Video]

[nevercruel]

[Oh, someone is asking about Christmas? The Doctor loves Christmas! And simultaneously hates it because nothing good ever happens to them on Christmas, but that doesn't mean she doesn't just start babbling on about it like it's the greatest thing in the world, gesticulating and bouncing on her feet in a ball of manic energy.]

Basically humans are like social magpies an' take everything they come across when they meet new people, so over time, all these different beliefs and superstitions and religions and practices got together an' decided they were gonna be one big super holiday, which got distilled down into what it is; a celebration of life, of family, of happiness, and of love. You don't even have to believe in the baby in the desert, or the fat, jolly old man to participate. It's just a time to come together and spend a few evenings with those you love and show them how much you care about them. That's why no child is ever really on Santa's naughty list. Sure, they use it a little as a teachin' tool, but Santa is all about givin' to the people you love, an' lettin' 'em feel like there's a little magic in the world. Every child should get to believe in a little magic.

Re: [Video]

[peaceful_shadows]

[He's listening and contemplating what she's saying as he picks up one of the many books scattered across his kitchen table.]

I see.

So in essence, it's more about showing those you care about how much you care with gifts. I will admit, no such holiday exists within my world.

Re: [Video]

[bigbadrose]

Oh! That reminds me, I gotta talk to you and others about a project I wanna do!

Nikola, this is another one of the Doctors. Doctor, Nikola works at Torchwood and hired Jenny to keep Fluffy and Ches and Koishi out of his hair while he's working, so don't go into his lab, okay?

Re: [Video]

[peaceful_shadows]

...Hold on, as in one of Jenny's fathers?

[But, he was clearly talking to a woman..Cue in his confusion?]

Just how many of them are there?

video;

[brbgettingwrench]

Honestly... I didn't actually know any of that about the holiday. I just remember it as a time I got to spend with everyone I care about. That's the only reason I do personally.

[Though this year it would be vastly different with vastly different people, but they were still people she cared about.]

Though I do remember on Christmas you got a present from home from Santa. I have no idea how that worked.

Re: video;

[peaceful_shadows]

I see. The spending time with people you care about does seem to be a common theme with everything I've read so far.

[He sighs softly as he shoves a few of the books away.]

Though, I'm not sure what good buying a gift does to show affection. Couldn't the person simply go buy it for themselves?

video;

[brbgettingwrench]

I see it this way. Sure, the person can go buy it themselves, but the person who did for them has shown to put a lot of thought into what you might like. It shows that they know you and care.

[Like last year a lot of her friends got her things she found useful and helped her. She didn't know she needed a toolbox with wheels, but it actually was something she used daily now.]

Video

[ubiquitously]

As much as I love to be cynical... Why not do all of those things? My daughters certainly enjoyed an excuse to get presents. The threat of Santa Claus and the mystery of him got them to behave too. Traditions of any sort rarely make perfect sense anyway.

Re: Video

[peaceful_shadows]

I am beginning to realize that when it comes to the traditions presented in this world. None of this makes that much sense to me, though with the various explanations I am at least getting a decent picture of this particular Holiday as mixed up and confusing as it is.

[Video]

[borntolove]

Human beings are the most spectacular specifics don't you think? To create a holiday that derives from the Celtics and Christianity. Mixed in with Kris Kingle and a few other creative ideas humans came up with this meshed holiday.

Which- despite it being a meshed holiday - still comes down to a single basic thing.

Togetherness.

Re: [Video]

[peaceful_shadows]

So I've been told and so I am beginning to understand.

However, the meshed creation of this holiday does make it confusing to understand for someone coming from a world where a holiday such as this does not exist.

Re: [Video]

[borntolove]

Humans! So clever!

[A pause]

Which one would you like me to elaborate on first?