Blogcritics Category: Culture: Holidays and Traditions

An t-ádh na nÉireannach: The Luck of the Irish

Sarah Gray — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:27:57 EST

Divided by a physical border, the Irish look to their language to remain unified.
The stark white charter bus pulled to a stop at another scenery outlook near the coast. Everyone piled out and scrambled to get their cameras from the depths of their purses or bags while searching for the picture perfect spot. I broke from the pack and quickly set out for an area that was more isolated. I ended up stumbling over sharp and uneven...

Make Your Own Holiday Compilation CDs

Kit O'Toole — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:01:22 EST

Looking for a meaningful yet inexpensive gift? Creating holiday compilation CDs give your friends and family an instant keepsake.
"A mix tape! He made a mix tape! He was thinking of me, which shows he cares!” sings Kate Monster in Avenue Q. While technology has changed since the irreverent musical debuted in the 1990s, homemade compilations still please gift recipients because of their highly personal nature. Since this Christmas has forced us to maintain...

Book Review: Nigella Christmas by Nigella Lawson

Maggie Ball — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:41:49 EST

The Manolo Blahnik of cookbooks: lavish and practical at the same time.
I must confess here that I’m one of those bah humbug types who is probably going to be visited by Jacob Marley in chains one of these day. Christmas to me is mega-fuss, greedy children (mine mainly), overwrought days of forced shopping, and too much of everything. Having said that, I’m inclined to do things like make my own pickles...

DVD Review: Shrek the Halls

Fitz — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:38:57 EST

How does an Ogre celebrate Christmas?
Shrek the Halls takes a bit of Scrooge and a lot of Shrek and tosses him into a warped version of the classic "The Night Before Christmas" poem (originally written in 1823). When the holidays hit the Swamp, Shrek seems to be the only one not gung-ho. And Donkey, in his usual annoying and exuberant way, makes it all too easy for Shrek to...

DVD Review: A Colbert Christmas - The Greatest Gift of All

Joshua Wiebe — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 11:09:49 EST

A surreal attempt at a traditional holiday special by Stephen Colbert.
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All is a suitably bewildering, self-referential holiday special from the prince of fake news television. Clad in an extra wholesome Christmas outfit, the titular Stephen Colbert spouts Christmas cheer with appearances by his good friend and former Daily Show associate, Jon Stewart, and musicians Toby...

Music DVD Review: Chris Isaak - Christmas

Stuart A Hamilton — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 17:08:57 EST

Christmas arrives early as Isaak and guests take on the classics.
You all think it's an easy life, being a music reviewer. Oh, I can hear you say, how cool, all those free CDs and DVDs, not to mention the concerts and whatnots. That's the life for me. Well, think again. Because, and I cannot stress this enough, over here in reviewer land, the Christmas releases start to arrive in October! Bloody...

Theater Review (NYC): Oh, Whistle...: Two Ghost Stories by M R James

Jon Sobel — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 06:57:57 EST

Immerse yourself in the macabre mind of M R James, the master of the English ghost story.
Starting this year, I'm adopting my Left Coast colleague Bob Machray's tradition of attending a Halloween-themed performance every Samhain season. I'm happy to report that my new custom has begun robustly, with a delightfully diverting evening spent in the company of Mr. R M Lloyd Parry. A marvelous reader and actor, this gentleman...

Celebrating Advent at Christmastime

Phillip Winn — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:35:35 EDT

Advent doesn't require giving gifts, and doesn't rely on any "things" other than a Bible, candles, and a wreath.
It is difficult to avoid worn-out clichés and stereotypes during the holidays. I’m sure I’m not even the first writer to say so! Phrases like “hustle and bustle,” “over-commercialization,” and “the real meaning of Christmas” leap into my mind, unbidden, crowding out any original...

A Brief History of Halloween

M. Scott Carter — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:22:44 EDT

A short, fun history of one of our country's weirdest holidays.
Once a year it happens.It happens when the autumnal equinox settles on the state, slowly, like an old woman shuffling down the street.The crisp October wind scatters crayon-colored leaves while the moon, looking like an oozing, ripe persimmon, hangs low and full in the sky. Under the leafless, barren trees, a small skeleton, a space creature, and a...

TV Review: Spain...on the Road Again - "Catalunya"

Lou Novacheck — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:42:18 EDT

Catalunya the jewel of Spain
Barcelona is the jewel of Catalunya, or Catalonia, province in Spain. Catalunya is in the northeast sector of Spain, flanked by the Mediterranean, Andorra, and France. The food from this episode is primarily the fruits of the Med and the best that the rich land has to offer.Barcelona has been given short shrift for many years, at least up until...