The Winter Feasts
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16676)
Boston, Massachusetts
November 27, 2015 6:33am CST
Yesterday, we celebrated the second of the four Winter feasts.
The first, of course, is the Great Chocolate Feast, also known as "Halloween". It's not a big feast, because the weather isn't that cold yet. But the sun is setting earlier, and well.. we're afraid of the dark. So, we perform courage exercises by dressing up as scary goblins and such, while rewarding ourselves for our bravery with bags of chocolate.
Thanksgiving is the second Winter feast. This one is a preparation, since we are not yet into the depths of winter. Still, it's important to start packing on that extra layer of insulation fat before winter gets here. Thanksgiving is the only one of the four Winter feasts that actually was a celebration of not starving or freezing to death. The Pilgrims thanked God for the harvest and the help of the natives and being able to survive,. This feast is carried on because we are all still thankful for food and afraid of the deep freeze ahead.
Christmas is another excuse for a feast. It's not the central theme of the holiday, but instead the food adjusts itself to the theme. Winter is upon us and will last a long time. We start eating early. This is why every workplace fills with Christmas cookies and cakes and chocolates for weeks leading up to December 25th. Those protective layers of subcutaneous fat are well established by now.
New Year's Eve is the last of the Winter feasts. It's known for drunken revelry, mainly because it's mid-winter and people are fat enough, but find it difficult to face another two months of winter while completely sober.
Valentine's Day is not a major Winter Feast. By February 14th, the days are getting longer and everyone is either feeling hopeful or is on vacation in Florida. A few chocolates are exchanged, that's all.
We are having a second Thanksgiving family meal tonight. I can feel those protective fat layers growing. But I must be committed to it. That's why I made brownies.
Are you enjoying your Winter Feasts? How's the fat coming?
15 people like this
15 responses
@glenniah (1197)
• Mandurah, Australia
27 Nov 15
My fat and I would pass as a regular Winter Feast enjoyer, if I was close enough to join in. The winter feast is an interesting article.
I remember once I met an American girl here and did an interview with her and also joined her on our local beach to celebrate summer solstice.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
27 Nov 15
lol I think the fat is coming along quite well. I didn't eat much yesterday but did enjoy what I did eat.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
28 Nov 15
@Rollo1 I didn't cook the meal so I don't have the leftovers
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
28 Nov 15
@BelleStarr I wish it had only been leftovers. We had a second Thanksgiving tonight!
1 person likes this
@ThankyouLord (698)
• St. Petersburg, Florida
28 Nov 15
No winter feasts here. I have only my son and his small family here, and he had other plans. So, I went and got a free meal at the hospital where I work. Spartan, for sure. You'd think with all the money they make, they could do better than they did. But that's not very thankful, is it? I repent. Thank you, Lord.
2 people like this
@ThankyouLord (698)
• St. Petersburg, Florida
30 Nov 15
@Rollo1 I work in the home health section, in another location. So when I go over, if it's not during the week, it is unlikely I will see anyone I know. The hospital on weekends and holidays is like a ghost town. But it's OK. If I wanted company, I'd go to a church, or go volunteer somewhere. Knowing me, I'd probably be bringing turkey to the dogs and cats at the SPCA, complete with all the trimmings.
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
27 Nov 15
Well, you skip the Thanksgiving completely, and for Christmas you're eating things like fish and such. We go for beef, ham, and turkey with lots of bready stuffing and potatoes and sweet potatoes and pumpkin and squash - as much starch as we can get. The menus are quite different in warmer climes, I think.
2 people like this
@glenniah (1197)
• Mandurah, Australia
27 Nov 15
@Rollo1
In times gone by when it was 100 degrees F or more at Christmas we always had our baked dinner, with ham and chicken, not so much turkey. But we had it all stuffing, vegies, plum pudding. Imagine how hot our kitchens were with ovens on and scorching sun outside. Now menus have changed a lot.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381960)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 15
@Rollo1 Anyone near the beach often takes a picnic lunch and chills out by the sea, particularly if they're forecasting a hot day. As Glen says in days gone by we stuck with the traditional English Christmas dinner. Later logic took over and most now have a cold meal.
@Juliaacv (56185)
• Canada
28 Nov 15
We can't wait for the colder season for our Thanksgiving here in Canada, so we get that one out of the way when its still warm. I think that our big one is Christmas. It is not just a day, not just a weekend, but an entire season crammed into about 2 or 3 weeks. And we try to sample each and everything that we can over that span of time. And if that isn't enough, the sweets of Valentines day will be just around the corner 6 weeks later. Oh yum, who needs the summer now?
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Nov 15
I never head it put that way, but too funny!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Nov 15
@Rollo1 premedicate the food with some digestive meds? LOL
@garymarsh6 (23998)
• United Kingdom
28 Nov 15
Yes you are not wrong there., We seem to put on weight during the winter months but then lose it as the summer comes around!
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
27 Nov 15
My fat is awesome, thanks for asking. We're getting into swimming weather now so too much feasting isn't a smart idea.
1 person likes this
