Ok, I've been biting my tongue...

[Fredelas]

For everyone's reading pleasure:


A series of very short articles
on the official game lore
that served as part of the inspiration
for the in-game Yule Festival:

Yule
Yuletide
Yuledays

[Ouef]

In respect with the ongoing "gray" controversy. I think Freud said it best.

"Sometimes a cigar, is just a cigar".

[RoseIvy]

Yikes! I'm glad I checked back here!

The absolute LAST thing I had in mind was something homophobic when I used the word "graaaaay"!!!!!!! I extended the spelling for emphasis because that's how the entire landscape struck me -as in the color! How about "greeeeeey"? I can't believe someone actually leaped (catapulted themselves) to that conclusion. That was a ridiculous stretch and not remotely what my intention was. In fact, I'm offended someone would try to lable me as a homophobe. Thanks for that and Merry Yule to you, too! Just for the record, I don't make judgements about people or remark about people on the basis of their race, creed, skin color, ethnicity, gender preferences, etc. I certainly wouldn't post something as nasty as that on a public forum.

To the rest of you who responded, thanks for your very interesting opinions on the subject. I appreciate your time and thoughtfulnesss. I was also interested to hear that there are actually Xmas trees and wreaths available somewhere. Unfortunately, I am too young to have a house yet, so again, maybe next year? As for the alternative locations for festival, I will look into that. Maybe that is what I am pining for. Anyway, thanks for the responses and the information. I really appreciate it.


Rosie :-)

[tkdyoo]

It's not being politically correct to say everyone doesn't celebrate Christmas. It's a fact. I do celebrate Christmas personally. I do not however think that only the symbols of christmas belong in a game based on LOTRO. The shared (in many places) candles, holly, yew leaves, mistletoe, etc.) bring the holidays together for all of us.

I dress one of my hobbits in green/red Santa's elf gear every year. However that does not mean that I expect Christmas and only Christmas in my Yule celebration, and it puzzles me why that would be considered politically correct.

Just because its a fact doesnt mean it isnt politically correct. Saying everyone doesnt celebrate christmas is indeed a fact, but using it as a defense for why there shouldnt be more festive things in game is being politically correct...and thats what I was arguing against.

edit: To Lair...come on, with tolkien's heavy catholic background you dont think Yule was at that time of year specifically because it allowed for a smooth transition to modern christmas? And weather you believe that to be true or not, it wasnt my main point, my main point is they could make it more festive looking and still call it yule so no one has to feel "oh its christmas, this isnt for me"

[brandonedb]

Rose.... there a lot a morons on this game who get offended extremely easily, over nothing, and over things that have no connection to one another that they seem to make up in their heads, like in your case. Very nice people over all, but they remind me of religious people. Kind and gentle, but oppose anything and everything that they don't like or believe in.

People spell the word gray differently. As you can see, I spell it as gray. In many or most cases, Americans spell it as gray, Europeans spell it as grey. They are actually two different colors, or "shades" of gray, or is it grey? Exactly. They're different and the same, much like color / colour, armor / armour, center / centre, etc.


As far as the festival and comparing them to other game(s), even the one I'm sure you're mentioning... I try not to. I've seen all the festivals or holiday events and such that other MMOs I've played put in, and some of them to me are actually worth doing or participating in them to a point, but personally, they aren't for me. The Yule festival didn't catch my attention either. The theatre (or is it theater? See, another example) thingy or play, was fun to participate in. I liked throwing apples at people and performing in it was fun too, but I left shortly after that.

[Kyrra_T]

8 Long Street, Highdore, Breeland Homesteads, Landroval
2 Pleasant Street, Ewefields, Shire Homesteads, Landroval

Go look at either of those places(they are open to the public). My kinhouse and personal house and you will see two houses decorated to the gills in a festive Yule manner. And those decorations are from the Yule festivities.

It is quite possible to celebrate a festive Yule in LOTRO with what is presented in the Yule festival. Yeah I'd love snow too but since The Shire is timelocked to spring that isn't very feasible and I understand that.

Note: type /mood_calm after you leave the kinhouse to lose the scary face you get from the two turtle heads in there.

[tkdyoo]

Fair enough, I didnt intend for my post to come off as a christian crusade (myself being more along the lines of deist). Just the plainness of the festivities like the OP talked about really did annoy me. I absolutely love this time of year and attempts to make it seem plain just get to me. I shall attempt to find your home and see it, gotta make a character on landrovel first

[Fredelas]

edit: To Lair...come on, with tolkien's heavy catholic background you dont think Yule was at that time of year specifically because it allowed for a smooth transition to modern christmas? And weather you believe that to be true or not, it wasnt my main point, my main point is they could make it more festive looking and still call it yule so no one has to feel "oh its christmas, this isnt for me"

To be fair, the Catholic church only put Christmas in December because it coincided with the winter solstice. The lore surrounding the hobbits' celebration of Yule as special extra-calendar days has to do with falling on the winter solstice.

So it's really a chicken-vs-egg argument. Is Yule in December because Christmas is in December because the winter solstice is in December?

There are plenty of Christmas-y traditions in the Yule Festival, and plenty of Yule-y traditions in Christmas. Players who confine their festival activities to Winter-home will largely see those traditions limited to "the darkest days of the year."

[tkdyoo]

To be fair, the Catholic church only put Christmas in December because it coincided with the winter solstice. The lore surrounding the hobbits' celebration of Yule as special extra-calendar days has to do with falling on the winter solstice.

So it's really a chicken-vs-egg argument. Is Yule in December because Christmas is in December because the winter solstice is in December?

There are plenty of Christmas-y traditions in the Yule Festival, and plenty of Yule-y traditions in Christmas. Players who confine their festival activities to Winter-home will largely see those traditions limited to "the darkest days of the year."

Yes, this is true, Im just not sure if Tolkien knew this fact. I dont think it was as widely known a fact back then as it is now. Regardless, yes, winter home is very dark...but the thing is, it is a town that is suppose to be putting all of its effort in to this celebration and the only obvious decorations are a few strands of lights around the dancing area....doesnt seem right at all. I think it would have even given a stronger emotional response had it been more cheery with the negative treatment of the homeless.

[Fringe]

What I want to know is when are they finally going to represent Festivus? I'm mean, come on already: a Festivus for the rest of us!

Where's the pole?

[Fredelas]

What I want to know is when are they finally going to represent Festivus? I'm mean, come on already: a Festivus for the rest of us!

Where's the pole?

You should come to our annual Popul Festivus on Brandywine! We have invented many fun games, such as throwing level 19 + 99% players off cliffs for captains to resurrect for their class deeds. ("Undying? I DON'T THINK SO!")

[thinkingbear]

a Festivus for the rest of us!

Where's the pole?

And the Feats of Strength! Easy to make quests out of that.

[Fringe]

And we already have the Airing of Grievances on the boards and in chat all year round. It all just needs to be tied together into one big event. Please.

[RJFerret]

I'm SO glad there aren't Yule decorations in other places.

Did you ever notice the foliage around Bree is mostly green?

Did you ever notice it's Autumnal in Trollshaws and leaves are falling?

Did you ever notice the date given when, later, you enter a certain someone's room in Rivendell?

The different areas are temporally set to the time of the story in those places, it's brilliant!

PS: I'm glad someone else was aware Yule traditions and decorations existed before xmas was invented and Christians joined in.



"Sometimes survival comes down to not being hit. Actually, most times." -the chicken skill, Bob and Weave

[Aerentitus]

You must understand that not only did they NOT have Christmas in Middle-earth - not everyone who plays LotRO celebrates Christmas - If they were to make specific references to Christmas - then wouldn't they also have to include references to Hanukkah, Ramadan, Ashura , Kwanzaa? Where do they draw the line? In this global world with so many cultures and beliefs - you have to walk a fine line and either include everyone - not included anyone - or make a generic reference that can cover everyone with out being specific - so happy holidays - and welcome to the Yule Festival.

But, since you so freely equate your disappointment with such slanderous intent towards a persons sexuality - I dare say that your are not to concerned about the rights, choices and beliefs of others...

And yeah - BTW - in 3.5 years of playing - I have never did more than take a brief look-see at all the festivals over the years - just not my cup of tea - but i dint let that stop me from enjoying the game...

D

As a Jew - its nice to see that some folks are considerate of others.

That being said - LOTRO certainly isn't obligated in any way to present these festival events. They do their best to give us something fun and entertaining to do (outside of the normal game, which is already quite a lot of fun). There's a whole new questline to mess around with, and the rewards are more than sufficient; should you have the stamina to see it through.

[Talfryn]

I found Winter-home nicely done, but still dreary and depressing. Everything about it, including the quests. That's the complete opposite of what I expected. I was really craving warmth, color, festivity, and joy, and Winter-home was none of the above. The Theatre was somewhat the exception.

There's not a thing wrong, IMO, with color around festivities, especially Yule, but color has been conspicuous by its absence, beginning with the Yule Tree you get from the quest in the Shire. Just a plain tiny tree pulled from one of the wintry landscapes in this game, lacking color or decoration of any kind. I got that tree the first time the quest was available, and I felt it was kind of a stingy offering. I later sold it and never bothered to get another.

So much of the game is drab, even ruined, landscape. Everything we deal deal with involves meanness and corruption. How about making a region that's a refuge from that a month out of the year?

[CountHossula]

It is ok, they just cant go OTT like in other games because it is tolkiens world.

[nikito]

In respect with the ongoing "gray" controversy. I think Freud said it best.

"Sometimes a cigar, is just a cigar".

Is it a cuban? If so... depending on where you are that might be illegal!

[Celestrata]

Going to close this thread, as it appears we have strayed very, very far away from the original topic.

If anyone has any comment on Winter-home, then I direct you to this post: http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.p...-Yule-Festival