# Have You Ever Actually DONE Anything in a Christmas Song (Like Gone on a Sleigh Ride)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365 "2011-12-07T12:56:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/1 "2011-12-07T12:56:24Z")
Ten years ago I asked [this question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=143549&highlight=traditions+christmas): Have you ever done/eaten any of those things that are lauded in our favorite Christmas songs? Like, have you ever gone on a sleigh ride, or eaten chestnuts roasted on an open fire, or donned gay apparel? So here we are, ten years later, with the SDMB having grown and a decade almost passed. I ask again: Have you ever done/eaten any of those things that are lauded in our favorite Christmas songs, like gone on a sleigh ride, or eaten chestnuts roasted on an open fire, or donned gay apparel? As for me, I _have_ eaten chestnuts, but they were baked in an oven and not roasted on an open fire. They were delicious, but a lot of work; kind of like crab legs - a lot of work, for very little payoff. Anyone else? NOTE: I’ve discussed this with a moderator and gotten permission for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/2 "2011-12-07T13:05:58Z")
A couple of years ago, I gave Pepper Mill the Tweklve Gifts of Christmas. On the first day I gave her a {printer) Cartridge in a Pear Tree On the second day I gave her two novels by Harry Turtledove On the third day I gave her a calendar with three chickens on it. I drew in striped shirts, cigarettes hanging from their beaks, and berets. On the fourth day I gave her four plastic birds to which I had glued miniature telephones On the fifth day I gave her – well – five gold rings. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/3 "2011-12-07T13:30:33Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > A couple of years ago, I gave Pepper Mill the Tweklve Gifts of Christmas. > > On the first day I gave her a {printer) Cartridge in a Pear Tree > > On the second day I gave her two novels by Harry Turtledove > > On the third day I gave her a calendar with three chickens on it. I drew in striped shirts, cigarettes hanging from their beaks, and berets. > > On the fourth day I gave her four plastic birds to which I had glued miniature telephones > > On the fifth day I gave her – well – five gold rings. And what of the other seven? ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/4 "2011-12-07T13:53:51Z")
Well, I wore some really tight jean shorts and a fabulous purple T-shirt once, but that was in summer. That’s the closest I’ve gone to wearing gay apparel. I have also ridden on sleigh rides several times. Then there was the time I was bragging about how awesome I am at chess in a hotel lobby, until the management came out and said they forbid chess nuts boasting in an open foyer. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/5 "2011-12-07T13:58:00Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > And what of the other seven? Didn’t seem to be any point in going on after that. Besides, it was both harder to come up with clever things and they were likely to be repetitive. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/6 "2011-12-07T13:59:47Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Then there was the time I was bragging about how awesome I am at chess in a hotel lobby, until the management came out and said they forbid chess nuts boasting in an open foyer. You win the thread. I needed that chuckle this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/7 "2011-12-07T13:59:48Z")
> [@eviltoj](#): > > then there was the time i was bragging about how awesome i am at chess in a hotel lobby, until the management came out and said they forbid chess nuts boasting in an open foyer. groan As far as Christmas songs go, I suppose only the Floridians among us haven’t gone walking in a winter wonderland. I mean, go to the mailbox in the snow, and bam, you’re walking in a winter wonderland. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/8 "2011-12-07T14:01:45Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Well, I wore some really tight jean shorts and a fabulous purple T-shirt once, but that was in summer. That’s the closest I’ve gone to wearing gay apparel. I have also ridden on sleigh rides several times. Then there was the time I was bragging about how awesome I am at chess in a hotel lobby, until the management came out and said they forbid chess nuts boasting in an open foyer. For thatr, Jack Frost should nip off your nose. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/9 "2011-12-07T14:11:50Z")
I tried making figgy pudding once. It came out pretty bad, but I flambe’d the shit out of it. Chestnuts on an open fire? Yep. They were kind of meh. No sleighride, but a couple of years ago I went on a carriage ride. It was basically a tour of holiday trees, but so freezing! ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/10 "2011-12-07T14:49:18Z")
I have nestled my children all snug in their beds, and I have also settled down for a long winter’s nap. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/11 "2011-12-07T14:59:48Z")
I’ve gone over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/12 "2011-12-07T15:06:47Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > I have nestled my children all snug in their beds, and I have also settled down for a long winter’s nap. One time I heard a noise so I dragged myself from my bed to see what was the matter. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/13 "2011-12-07T15:07:52Z")
My grandmother was trampled to death by a deer, you insensitive clod! ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/14 "2011-12-07T15:10:17Z")
Some years back in December I was in the main entrance hall to a big hotel in London, waiting to check-in. It was one of these big modern hotels with a large glass atrium by the reception desk, great big echoey space. The hotel happened to be hosting a visit by Gary Kasparov to talk about the highlights and lowlights of his long career. He has quite a devoted (some would say obsessive) following in the UK, and a couple of guys turned up with copies of Kasparov’s autobiography clutched under their arms (presumably for signing). As they waited in the queue for reception I overheard these two lads trying to out-do each other with their knowledge of Kasparov’s playing style, with each one claiming they knew more detail than the other about all the various gambits and defences etc. This was obviously an argument they’d had many times before, and their claims got louder and louder until the sound of their voices was echoing around the hotel atrium and drowing out the other guests. So yes, I guess you could say I’ve experienced chess nuts boasting in an open foyer. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/15 "2011-12-07T15:10:59Z")
Sleighride - check Nipped nose - check Children nestled - check - unlikely they were dreaming of sugar plums though Silent Night - check - Actually one of the few times I like winter, when it’s cold and clear and quiet Walking in a winter wonderland - check - the whining about the cold probably disqualifies this one though I have never seen: - Mommy kissing Santa Claus - Grandma run over by a reindeer (Oops, sorry **steronz** didn’t mean to be insensitive) - Herald Angels singing. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/16 "2011-12-07T15:37:26Z")
Made the yuletide gay. You don’t wanna know the details. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/17 "2011-12-07T15:46:24Z")
I usually hang a .223 round from a denuded branch at Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/18 "2011-12-07T15:54:03Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/19 "2011-12-07T16:20:37Z")
I have nipped a few noses. I’m gay, so anything article of clothin’ I wear would be donning gay apparel, I guess. I’ve jingled a few bells and settled down for a long winter’s nap on many occasions. I have parumpapumpummed on a drum. I’ve decked the halls with boughs of holly a few times. I have rocked around a Christmas tree. I suppose I have also had a few holly, jolly Christmases. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365/20 "2011-12-07T16:28:22Z")
I’ve built a snowman in the meadow, but never pretended it was Parson Brown. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-actually-done-anything-in-a-christmas-song-like-gone-on-a-sleigh-ride/605365.md?page=2)