Lovely Christmas!

...and I had such great plans for it. Still abt a week ago. Ok, so much about my plans - I have a flu. :) Not the swine thing, luckily, just a regular one.  

Never mind. This will be just another kind of Christmas. And specially with no fuss. Not a bad thing at all. Think about it: reading, (sneezing), listening to my favourite music, (coughing), watching all my favourite films,  such as Lumiukko (The Snowman) - oh, you know the one? - eating whatever I like meaning Brie with a glass of good wine, some traditional Finnish Christmas food I already made in the freezer, specially lanttulaatikko, (sneezing some more) and getting better because it is Christmas. \o/

We have had strong Christmas traditions in our family. They give strength to us all and remain, even though they are changed sometimes. They form a basis on which we build today's Christmas.

But Christmas is not only about traditions. Christ the Saviour is born, you see. In Finnish we often call him Vapahtaja,  the one who sets us free. This is how he sets me free to live in the core of Christmas. Traditions are ok, but not necessary. Without Vapahtaja we'd not have any Christmas at all - but now we have it because of him.

Happy Christmas to you!


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Naisen käsilaukku

Olen lukenut  Ilmari Vesterisen artikkelia Esinepeli Pandoran lipas -teoksesta. Ihan pikainen merkintä käsilaukkukysymyksestä:

Tiesitte varmaan, että eri kulttuureissa naiset saavat omistaa erilaisia esineitä, mitä missäkin. Länsimaissa mm. hyväntuoksuiset esineet kuuluvat naisen reviirille.   "Viimeinen tutkimaton alue on naisen käsilaukku", Vesterinen sanoo ja pohtii pitkään käsilaukun mahdollista sisältöä, kaksitasoisuutta, intiimiyttä ja merkitystä. Oikeita oivalluksia ja välillä suurta ulkopuolisuutta.

Ajatelkaapa nyt: kuka meistä naisista antaisi kenen tahansa tutkia käsilaukkunsa? Ihan sitä pienintä vetoketjullista sivutaskua myöten?  Minä en ainakaan! Sitten voisimmekin palata laukun symboliikkaan. Hmm...

Esineet ovat kiinnostavia, esineellistämistäminen samoin. Miettikääs sitä! ;)



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Lost and found

A blog friend from South Africa disappeared for a week or two. "How sad", I thought. "She had such lovely pictures and stories from the other side of the world. Hopefully a lion hasn't eaten her or a rhino tramped over her -  good Lord!"

No no, nothing like that!  :)  She had reasons to have a break in blogging - but she is back! Great! Finland rejoices, Joan!   \o/



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