TOLUNA
IRELAND EDITION
Christmas at Toluna
What's On?
Christmas Songs - Then and Now
DECEMBER
editor's note
Welcome to the December Edition You can also hear about
of the Toluna Magazine! This Christmas Markets and some
Edition is really Christmas-filled as Toluna News!
I am a huge Christmas fan, I can't
help it! I hope that you love this edition!
Make sure to let me know what
I have some fun 'Blast from the you think in the Community!
Past' music again, but this time
Christmas themed, as well as some Enjoy!
modern Christmas songs that you
might not have heard. Abbie
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04 What is Toluna?
05 Classic Christmas Films
06 Merry Christmas
07 Christmas Songs - Then
and Now
DECEMBER
12 What's on?
H E L L O
I S S U E
14 CMs' Xmas Traditions
16 #MyChristmasStory
18 #CCM
20 #TolunaWins
22 Toluna Millionaire
23 Toluna News
3
24 New Game
What is
Toluna?
4
HOME ALONE
This one is truly a classic, and the first one is
definitely the best. I don't think that I know
anyone who hasn't seen this film as it is
always necessary to watch at Christmas.
If you didn't already know, it involves a young
boy who is left by himself on the lead up to
Christmas, which causes hilarity! Watch the
SOME CLASSIC trailer here.
CHRISTMAS FILMS
ELF
This one isn't a classic like Home Alone,
but it has grown very popular in recent
years. It is hilarious and has a very
Christmassy feel to it as well.
You will recognise the Elf, Will Ferrell, from
his other famous films, it definitely is a
feel good film so I recommend it! Watch
the trailer here.
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Merry
Christmas!
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CHRISTMAS
SONGS
-
THEN
AND
NOW
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BLAST FROM
D o y o u k n o w a l l o f t h e s e
I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS
EVERYDAY -
WIZZARD
(DECEMBER 1973)
I d o n ' t t h i n k t h a t a n y o n e c a n s a y t h a t
t h e y h a v e n ' t h e a r d t h i s s o n g b e f o r e - i t ' s
a n i c o n i c C h r i s t m a s s o n g ! W h e n e v e r I
h e a r t h i s s o n g , C h r i s t m a s h a s d e f i n i t e l y
s t a r t e d f o r m e , d e s p i t e i t b e i n g y e a r s
b e f o r e I w a s b o r n !
MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY -
SLADE
(7TH DECEMBER 1973)
Y o u c a n ' t g o t o a C h r i s t m a s p a r t y
w i t h o u t h e a r i n g t h i s s o n g !
T h i s s o n g w a s f i g h t i n g f o r t h e t o p s p o t
a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s W i z z a r d , g e t t i n g
t o N u m b e r 1 w h e n W i z z a r d o n l y
r e a c h e d N u m b e r 4 , b u t t h e y a r e b o t h
e q u a l l y g o o d .
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THE PAST
c l a s s i c C h r i s t m a s S o n g s ?
HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) -
JOHN LENNON & YOKO ONO
(24TH NOVEMBER 1972)
T h i s s o n g d o e s n ' t h a v e a s m u c h
o f a j o l l y f e e l a s t h e o t h e r s , d u e t o
i t b e i n g a p r o t e s t s o n g a g a i n s t
t h e V i e t n a m W a r .
T h e s o n g r e a c h e d N u m b e r 4 a t
t h e t i m e o f r e l e a s e b u t t h e n
m a n a g e d t o p e a k a t N u m b e r 2 i n
D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 0 a f t e r J o h n
L e n n o n ' s d e a t h .
DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS -
BAND AID
(3RD DECEMBER 1984)
T h i s c h a r i t y s i n g l e p a v e d t h e w a y
f o r o t h e r s i m i l a r t r a c k s . I t w a s r e -
r e c o r d e d i n 1 9 8 9 , 2 0 0 4 a n d 2 0 1 4 .
T h e f i r s t r e l e a s e m a n a g e d t o
r a i s e £ 8 m i l l i o n i n j u s t o n e y e a r ,
m a k i n g i t a m a s s i v e s u c c e s s .
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MODERN
H e r e a r e s o m e o f m y f a v o u r i t e m o d e r n C h r i s t m a s s o n g s .
UNDERNEATH THE TREE -
KELLY CLARKSON
(NOVEMBER 5TH 2013)
T h e m o d e r n s o n g s w i l l n e v e r b e
a s w e l l k n o w n a s t h e c l a s s i c s , b u t
t h e y a r e s t i l l g o o d t o l i s t e n t o a t
C h r i s t m a s t i m e .
I p a r t i c u l a r l y l i k e t h i s s o n g b y
K e l l y C l a r k s o n a n d I f e e l a s
t h o u g h i t h a s a v e r y h a p p y f e e l t o
i t a n d p u t s a m o d e r n s p i n o n
C h r i s t m a s s o n g s .
ONE MORE SLEEP -
LEONA LEWIS
(NOVEMBER 5TH 2013)
T h e X F a c t o r w i n n e r r e l e a s e d t h i s
s o n g a s p a r t o f h e r C h r i s t m a s a l b u m .
Y o u w i l l h a v e h e a r d o f h e r o t h e r
s o n g s s u c h a s B l e e d i n g L o v e .
I t h i n k t h a t i t i s o n e o f t h e b e s t
r e c e n t C h r i s t m a s s o n g s .
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FAVOURITES
L e t m e k n o w w h a t y o u t h i n k o n t h e C o m m u n i t y .
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS -
COLDPLAY
(1ST DECEMBER 2010)
C o l d p l a y h a v e r e l e a s e d s o m e v e r y
f a m o u s s o n g s , b u t t h i s i s n ' t o n e
o f t h e m . H o w e v e r , I d o e n j o y
l i s t e n i n g t o i t a s i t i s v e r y c a l m i n g
b u t a l s o h a s a C h r i s t m a s f e e l t o i t .
T h i s i s t h e k i n d o f s o n g t h a t I
i m a g i n e w o u l d b e p e r f e c t t o
l i s t e n t o b y t h e f i r e w i t h a h o t
c h o c o l a t e !
CHRISTMAS TIME (DON'T LET THE BELLS
END) -
THE DARKNESS
T h e B r i t i s h H a r d R o c k b a n d
r e l e a s e d t h i s s o n g i n 2 0 0 3 , w h i c h
j u s t m i s s e d o u t o n b e i n g
C h r i s t m a s n u m b e r o n e .
T h i s i s n ' t a s n e w a s o t h e r s o n g s
b u t i t d e f i n i t e l y i s i n t h e m o d e r n
c a t e g o r y .
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What's
On?
C H R I S T M A S M A R K E T S
N o w t h a t w e a r e i n H o w e v e r , i f y o u C h r i s t m a s M a r k e t .
D e c e m b e r , i t i s d o n ' t m i n d T h i s M a r k e t h a s a
t i m e t o r e a l l y t r a v e l l i n g , t h e n l o t o f d i f f e r e n t f o o d
e m b r a c e t h e t h e r e a r e s o m e s t a l l s w h i c h h a v e
C h r i s t m a s s p i r i t . I a m a z i n g o n e s o n t h e l i k e s o f F r e n c h
f i n d t h a t o n e o f t h e o f f e r . T h e G a l w a y c h e e s e a n d G e r m a n
b e s t w a y s t o d o t h i s C o n t i n e n t a l b e e r - D o n ' t m i s s
i s t o g o t o a C h r i s t m a s M a r k e t i s o u t i f t h i s s o u n d s
C h r i s t m a s M a r k e t . I f p o s s i b l y t h e l o n g e s t l i k e y o u r k i n d o f
y o u a r e a f a n o f h o t r u n n i n g C h r i s t m a s t h i n g !
c h o c o l a t e o r m u l l e d M a r k e t i n I r e l a n d a s
w i n e , t h e y a r e i t i s n o w g o i n g i n t o I f y o u a r e g o i n g t o
p e r f e c t f o r y o u ! i t ' s n i n t h y e a r . I t h a s a n y C h r i s t m a s
T h e r e a r e p l e n t y l o t s o f f a i r g r o u n d M a r k e t s , m a k e s u r e
a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y a c t i v i t i e s a n d g o o d t o s h a r e p h o t o s o n
t o v i s i t . f o o d . H o w e v e r , i f t h e C o m m u n i t y ! I
T h e r e w i l l m o s t y o u a r e a r e a l w o u l d l o v e t o s e e
l i k e l y b e o n e i n a f o o d i e t h e n y o u t h e m a n d m a k e t h e
c i t y n e a r y o u , s o m u s t d e f i n i t e l y g o C o m m u n i t y f e e l
y o u d o n ' t h a v e t o t o t h e B e l f a s t f e s t i v e ! 12
t r a v e l f a r ! C o n t i n e n t a l
We visited the Christmas Markets!
Last week, some CM's visited the The food was amazing, that's for
famous Christmas Markets at La sure! If you want churros or a crepe,
Défense in Paris. We had a great this is your place!
time! It is also great to buy some cute
The atmosphere was amazing and Christmas gifts - I would definitely
there was lots to look around! recommend a visit!
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TOLUNA
AT
CHRISTMAS
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Our CMs describe their Christmas traditions!
GREEK COMMUNITY MANAGER -
YIANNIS
Greece has a long navy history
"As far as Greece is concerned, Kourabies with almonds or covered
heading back to Odysseus times,
since most of the country’s citizens in chocolate are two modern
are orthodox, Christmas is but this tradition has been versions of this sweet. As far as the
around for only a few hundred
celebrated widely. However, melomacarona, this pastry goes
years. Seamen’s wives started this
habits differ in this part of Europe. really viral these days in Greek
habit to welcome back their
For instance, Santa Claus doesn’t social media with hundreds of
bring the presents to children on beloved husbands who had been funny memes being made since its
away for months. They decorated a
Christmas Eve, but with a 6-day name literally means macaroni
small wooden boat as proof of their
delay on New Year’s Eve! There’s (pasta) with honey. Of course, this
happiness that they're back.
an explanation about it; the tasty pastry has nothing to do with
equivalent Santa Claus in Greece is Nowadays, if you ever visit a Greek pasta, however honey is the main
house you will probably find a
actually Saint Basil the Great ingredient of this cookie. You can
decorated boat along with a tree.
who's celebration is on the 1st of find both of them in every bakery
Melomacarona and kourabies are
January. and patisserie in Greece during this
What is more, it’s a popular tradition the two traditional pastries that are period, however it’s considered
made exclusively around the
to decorate a boat in your home quite shameful for a housewife not
Christmas period! Kourabies are a
instead of a tree. Yes, you read that to cook her own pastries; especially
kind of a shortbread covered with
right! if she has visitors at her home!"
powdered sugar.
PORTUGESE COMMUNITY MANAGER -
TIAGO
"Christmas in Portugal is a unique Make sure to head towards Serra da
experience. In many countries, the Estrela if you want to enjoy fun times
main celebration of Christmas takes in the snow or even skiing! After
place on December 25th, however in Christmas, groups of people will go
Portugal you start the celebration from house to house to sing
earlier by having a family dinner on Christmas songs often accompanied
the 24th followed by the exchange of with small instruments. They usually
gifts and deliveries from Santa/Jesus start with an opening song asking
at midnight. As well as the beautiful the owner of the house for food and
street decorations that you can find drink! The owner of the house should
throughout the country, the families invite them in to warm up and help
also decorate their homes with the themselves to a spread of
traditional nativity scenes (presépios) snacks. Sweet snacks like dry figs
with the curiosity of having the Baby with walnuts inside them or savoury
Jesus placed on it only after the 25th snacks like cheese, chorizo and wine
of December. Even though you won’t or brandy. One thing is for sure, if you
necessarily have a white Christmas, spend your Christmas in Portugal,
in some parts of Portugal, it even you won't be hungry! Feliz Natal!"
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snows.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST CHRISTMAS
STORY?
I asked you all to tell me your best Christmas story with #MyChristmasStory. Find
my favourite ones below!
"This is a story about a cooking disaster. "This one comes from my life in
My mother works as a carer and I was Ireland. We all know that (most) Irish
left with the cooking of the dinner on people cook turkey for Christmas :).
Christmas Day. I can cook but I'm no And I discovered, that many of them
pro at it. Unfortunately I didn't time the cook that turkey in advance (which I
turkey correctly and took it out too would never do) and then heat it for
early. When my mother got home she the Christmas dinner. So, our
started to cut it. And discovered it was landlord and his wife had a tradition
well undercooked. As you can imagine to host Christmas dinner for their
we were all starving so we ended up extended family. One year they
eating our Christmas dinner without the cooked a big turkey (in advance) and
turkey. Ironic I know seeing that turkey because the bird was huge and
was the most important ingredient to wouldn't fit anywhere, they left in in
have. My mother put in the turkey into the garage (covered of course, with
the oven. After eating our vegetables tinfoil) to wait for the time to be
for dinner we took out a few beers while reheated. When they went to take it,
we were waiting for the turkey. When they notice that somebody has
the turkey was cooked no one was in already sampled it. Could it be a
the form for it as we occupied with our squirrel? a mouse? or a rat??? We will
few drinks. We had turkey sandwiches never know, but just imagine their
late that night and we all loved it. shock before the big Christmas
Christmas Day didn't end in complete dinner!!! The family still had to be fed!
disaster. But from that year on I have
not been allowed to go near the There was a Christmas turkey for that
cooking of the turkey. What my family dinner. Can you guess where it came
don't know is that I'm pretty happy from? "
about that lol. Too much stress involved ruta64
in that."
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tvmaniac
"My mum often had to work on Christmas Day because she was a nurse, she would be
going on duty at 7.30am which meant leaving the house at 7am missing all the fun of
Santa with us children.
Well Christmas when I was 7 years old, good old Santa made sure she wasn’t going to
miss out. The whole family went to 9pm mass on Christmas Eve and gave our neighbour a
quick visit on the way home, then when we went in to our house Santa had been and had
all our gifts waiting for us, my parents said he must have thought we were all in bed early,
the excitement was fantastic we opened everything, and played with our toys until 3am.
When Mum was leaving to go to work on Christmas Day we were all fast asleep in bed
and she had shared our excitement. "
Bernimcy
"This particular Christmas I was so excited
I was getting some clothes and furniture
for my Barbie dolls. That Christmas
morning I couldn't believe I got a beautiful
dining table and chairs set with all the little
delph. I was so busy putting it all together
and it looked fantastic when I had it all laid
out!
Then, as I looked at my other presents, I
also got a basketball from Santa Claus and
I was mad into the basketball at the time. I
then proceeded to bounce the basketball
in the sitting room while my parents were
busy preparing the Christmas dinner. I
lost control of the ball and guess what ? ,
it smashed on top of my beautiful Barbie
dining table set and broke two of its legs!!!
The devastation!! I quickly got the
cellotape to try and repair the damage
and to this day I've never told anyone this
story!! Until now!! Yikes!! "
weno
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C O N T E N T C R E A T O R O F T H E M O N T H
To be a CCM, you must create quality content consistently. If you
are CCM for 3 months in a row, you will receive 5000 points. If you
are CCM for 5 months in a row, you will receive 10000 points.
For more information, see the 18
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#TolunaWins?
Watch our video here to find out more!
F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N A B O U T
# T O L U N A W I N S , S E E T H E T O P I C H E R E 20
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O R T H E C O M M U N I T Y 21
T O L U N A M I L L I O N A I R E
W h a t i s i t ? T a k e s u r v e y s
0 1
Winners must have answered at least 1
This month, we had a Toluna Millionaire from
survey in the 30 days preceding the
Ireland. Many congratulations to
draw.
karen_kavanagh!
B e a c t i v e o n t h e c o m m u n i t y
0 2
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Toluna Millionaire - Who knows? It could be Winners must be active in the community
you next! and have created content in the last 30
days.
I hope to see another Irish Member here next
month!
P u r c h a s e a t i c k e t
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22
Toluna News
Our new look!
We now have a new look! I hope
that you like our new colourful
'Start Survey' buttons! Check
them out for yourself here.
New Game
Alert!
Yes, that is right! We
have a fun new game
for you all to play!
Check it out from now until the 21st of
December!
See what you can find
behind today's door here!
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