Christmas 2003

One of the earlier events on Gaia, Christmas in 2003 featured Rina running a charity tree in the center of  Barton Town, as well as festive new looks for the shopkeepers and the maps. The charity tree required a gift of 500g value or more, and could give you back all manner of valuable items - but it usually didn't. Needless to say, the market was flooded with cheap holiday items as the charity tree spat out all manner of trash to hopeful donators with less-than-altruistic motives.

*"For Christmas the Donation Tree was added in the center of Barton town. The point of it was to give a giftwrapped item to the needy, and in return you'd recieve a box of **jolly slippers**. The slippers were indeed cute, until some lucky users recieved fairy wings and other wonderful items from the tree.. and all hell broke loose. Users began to get greedy and continuously give items to the tree in order to recieve a lovely gift like those other lucky users, but instead were given many boxes of jolly slippers. Many users had continued to give and give until they realized, at last, that they were not going to get anything fabulous.. and wound up having tons of those slippers instead. Since there were so many members that had continued to donate in order to find some fairy wings (or something else almost as good) there ended up being thousands of jolly slippers flooding Gaia. The selfishness of many users brought pain to many others.. and we are still left drowning in those slippers.*

***Xanilus**, sometime later, wrote this hilarious little parody on the subjec*t*"*:

```
'Twas the night before Christmas, and across this great land
Not a creature was stirring, save those in dreamland.
The presents were wrapped, all ready to go,
And all across Barton, it started to snow.

The Gaians were resting all snug in their beds,
As visions of Christmas events danced in their heads.
And Rina in her 'kerchief, and Leon, his cap,
Had just finished planning their Christmas Day trap.

When out by the tree, I heard such a shout,
I sprang to my feet to see who had called out.
With haste to the window I soon made my way,
And out it I leaned in a curious way.

The Tree posed so brightly, set out in Barton Square,
Filled my heart with great spirit to see it was there.
When, what should my wandering eyes on land,
But the two Gaian Greeters, and a donation stand.

With thousands of boxes, stacked all 'round the Tree,
I suddenly wondered what gifts they could be.
More rapid than lightning, to the tree I soon came,
Where Rina then greeted me, calling my name:

"Now Xanilus! I remember you!
Now come to the tree!
And donate, yes DONATE!
To help the needy!
For a gift of 500,
I'll give you a treat!
Here're some Jolly new Slippers,
To warm up your feet!"

So donate I did, and so happy was I,
Straight back to my home with my gift I did fly.
Then back to my room, to try and sleep late,
Knowing well in my heart, this Christmas was great.

Yet then, in the morning, I heard on the news,
The moaning and crying of each Gaian's blues.
As I drew back the covers, I heard of all things,
Some Gaians had been blessed with new Fairy Wings!

I dressed as I ran, from my home to the store,
To purchase some items and donate some more.
A bundle of gifts was soon slung on my back,
And I ran to the Tree to join in the pack.

Those Wings--how they sparkled! How special, how merry!
And all for donating, a nose like a cherry!
My sly little mouth was drawn up in a smirk,
To recieve such a gift with so little of work?
The Tree seemed so generous, this brisk Christmas morn,
Not once had I realized we should have been warned...
When at last to the tree another gift I did send,
I shook when I laughed... Jolly Slippers again.

I was angry and cold at my 'Jolly' gift box,
I laughed like a madman! (Despite being a fox...)
A wink from her eye and a nod from her friend,
Made Rina look innocent. So I donated again.

I spoke not a word as she gave me that smirk,
Then threw down more slippers, and turned with a jerk.
Then raising one finger from out my balled fist,
I displayed that bird proud, so she knew I was pissed.

I sprang to my exit, to the crowd gave a shout,
And away I did fly from the gifts given out.
But I heard her exclaim, as I tore out of sight,

"Merry Christmas to all... SUCKERS!!"

```

1. ↑ https://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/memorable-threads/gaia-s-first-year-memory-timeline-happy-birthday-gaia/t.877808\_4/#4
2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20040627070543/https://www.davidbowie.com/users/Mizuiro/twasthenight.txt