Keep the focus
Ah ’tis the season as they say.
But how best to be in a festive mood?
That is not as easy as it seems. We have created a world where holidays tend only to condense our work world, forcing us to work harder to prepare for the day off legislation required, and then harder still the first days back to make up for the loss one.
Add in the need to stretch a paycheque over a long list of gifts, turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, and finding the feeling of the season past ‘bah humbug’ can be difficult.
One way is to try and soak in the season through entertainment.
It was actually just the other day I made mention to the better half that I missed attending the now long-grown children’s Christmas concerts.
Yes they were generally corny, sung off key, and too long in a gym smelling of adolescent sweat, but they did capture the joy of the season in the smiling faces and general exuberance of the youngsters.
Those days behind me, there are other options.
So the weather cooperating, the Santa Claus Parade down Broadway Street in the city can be one option.
I’m also a fan of the seasonal film.
I’ll take in the new release Krampus should it come to Yorkton. Yes a dark film for the season, but probably a darkly funny one too.
On the tube It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street are good choices, and the black and white version of Alastair Sim’s A Christmas Carol is required viewing each Dec. 24 eve.
Add in the classic 1964 animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman from 1969 and my TV viewing is set with seasonal entertainment.
I found a book at Value Village a few weeks ago too, which included a section of short mysteries centred on the Christmas season. I’ve already started that journey, savouring tales until the 25th. A quiet diversion and entertainment just for me.
A night driving Yorkton’s street looking at decorated homes, and drinking hot chocolate with the better-half is another must.
I suppose it’s not so much the what, as the who with.
Find those things you can share with a better half, family, a good friend, hang a bit of tinsel on the moment, and relax, step aside from the hustle, and remember what the season is about, hope, peace and good will.
- Calvin Daniels
I have a Christmas routine for entertainment. I always watch The Sound of Music on Christmas Eve and Jesus Christ Superstar on Christmas Day.
Beyond that, there isn’t anything I am planning on watching. I’ve cut back a lot on my TV viewing recently. There’s always a chance I might catch one or two of the classics such as It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol if they are on at a convenient time.
There is one new movie I would not mind seeing. The Night Before is a Seth Rogan comedy about a trio of buddies doing their traditional New York City holiday send up for the last time.
Rogan’s flicks for me are kind of hit and miss. Sometimes I find them really smart and funny, other times really stupid and juvenile. The trailers for this one make it look like it might be former, but it’s hard to judge comedies by their trailers. Every comedy has few good gags and sometimes they put all of them in the preview.
In any event, the trailer makes this one look like it has just the right balance of story, gags and irreverence that I am intrigued. Being interested in a new holiday movie hasn’t happened for me in as long as I can remember.
I am going to a family Christmas party in Regina in December, so if I get the chance, I might just check it out. Otherwise, I will make it a plan to watch it on video next Christmas.
- Thom Barker
When it comes to Christmas entertainment there is but one thing that I enjoy.
No, it’s not the awful Christmas music blaring out of every possible speaker.
Nor is it the terrible Christmas movies that, just because it’s December, people swear are entertaining.
In fact my entertainment doesn’t even occur before Christmas day.
It begins the day after, on Boxing day.
For me, the most entertaining (and important) time of the holiday season is when Team Canada goes toe-to-toe with the rest of the world to see just how dominant they are at the World Junior Hockey Championships.
It hasn’t just been a source of entertainment for me; it’s also become a tradition.
I’ve woke up at all hours to watch Canada play teams like Russia, Sweden, Finland and the USA; however I’ve also gotten out of of bed to watch Latvia play Belarus, Norway take on Germany and Switzerland battle Austria.
Why? Because ‘tis the season for Junior hockey.
Oh, and Christmas. There’s that too, I guess.
- Randy Brenzen
