The Christmas Thread

**bassybill** · #1 12-03-2011, 09:03 AM

Too early? It will be Christmas Eve three weeks today.

What are your thoughts on Christmas in general? Are you one of those people for whom it's "the most magical time of the year" or a total Scrooge? I have very mixed feelings about Christmas and love some aspects of it whilst disliking others quite strongly.

So - what's good or bad about Christmas?

knucklehead G · #2 12-03-2011, 09:09 AM

If not for family making this into an obligation instead of a choice, I'd completely abstain from holidays. I enjoy getting a paid day off of work, sure, but all of this pepper spraying people at Walmart and expecting me to buy you gifts just because you bought me an unsolicited whatever takes away from any meaning it might actually have for me.

IotaNet · #3 12-03-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

...So - what's good or bad about Christmas?

I know that this will sound corny but at 50 years old, I've come to understand that Christmas is what you make it.

If you think it's too commercial, ignore the commercialism. It you think it comes too early, don't engage until you think it's time. I you think it's too secular, focus on the religious aspects. If you don't believe in spending a lot of money, don't buy gifts.

I happen to love the holidays -- I think I get this from my Grandparents. Until the time they passed away (over 20 years ago), there was always a Christmas tree for the holidays, there was always eggnog and the Christmas music was always playing. I've got a whole iPod playlist of Christmas music from Motown to Angela Lansbury and the tree will go up tonight. I make it a point to go to at least one holiday concert and my wife makes Christmas cookies just because.

Interestingly enough, my family exchanges very few gifts (If any. Primarily its toys for the kids. And there really isn't even a lot of that.) The holidays are about hanging out with each other instead of spending money and we like it that way.

But yes, I like the holidays a lot.

Gard · #4 12-03-2011, 09:23 AM

Bill, as you're aware, we have very similar perspectives on a number of issues, some directly related to this topic.

My enjoyment of time with family is not diminished by the "reason" the holiday exists, despite my very clear position on that reason.

I despise the commercialism that has sprung up around the holiday, but as Iota said, I just do my best to ignore it (although I do find myself sarcastically commenting on all of the media blizzard that begins in OCTOBER now, must to the frustration of my poor wife

).

I am a bit of a Scrooge on those parts, but the family part, that I enjoy.

**bassybill** · #5 12-03-2011, 09:30 AM

Gard, I agree with you and also IotaNet about lots of the stuff you've both said - Christmas is indeed what you make it. I dislike the commercial aspects (my family don't do Christmas gifts at all - spontaneous gifts throughout the year bought through inspiration rather than necessity are always better). I resent any pressure to spend time with people I don't really want to see at other points during the year. I also dislike being expected to make commitments about how I'm going to spend my time during a well-earned break. But I do enjoy the break itself and some of the more sentimental aspects. There won't be a tree up here, but our house will be full of Christmas music on the 25th and I'll enjoy a lot of the conviviality and general goodwill, as well as the chance to relax and just be spoilt for a day or two.

ADbassman · #6 12-03-2011, 09:31 AM

I used to hate Christmas and holidays because it was just a time for my family to get to together and bicker. Now that I'm married and have my own family, I do things my way and it's been so much better. I'm in the Navy, and the Navy tries it's damnest to get their people home for the holidays, so I usually take some time off around Christmas to be with family and friends I haven't seen in a while.

The other advantage there is that the Navy takes me around the world, so I've celebrated holidays all over the place. Last year I spent Thanksgiving on a train in Napa Valley. I asked my wife to marry me on Christmas eve at the Steinberg ice skating rink in Saint Louis, a place we used to go together all the time. It snowed that night just enough to cover the ground, then it stopped, so that was at least a little magical for the both of us. Christmas is indeed what you make of it, and when you ignore the commercialism and other dis tractors, you can focus on what really matters to you.

IotaNet · #7 12-03-2011, 09:36 AM

For what it's worth, this is what I said about this last year. I made this post here on TB on December 23, 2010 ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by IotaNet

I've seen a few "Bah Humbug" threads pop up and if that's where you are, that's cool. In MY house, we are really into the Christmas spirit and like always, we're enjoying the season. It's only my wife and I and we aren't exchanging expensive gifts. We have however, been to a bunch of concerts and have hung out with some good friends.

We've been listening to Christmas music every chance we get and we've been watching all of the TV specials. We also decorated the house for the holidays -- check out the pics below. Additionally, my son will be with us all next week and that will be great. We'll definitely be going to Church together on Christmas day.

I happen to believe that "The Christmas Spirit" is inside of all of us and like everything else, you get out of it what you put into it and we always decide to give it our all.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

shadowtippy · #8 12-03-2011, 09:44 AM

While I don't celebrate Christmas (I'm Pagan), I still do the gift thing. I don't give gifts because I want or got something, I do it because it is something I enjoy doing. My giving is not limited to this time of the year, but it is a little more prevalant about now. My new bride of 5 weeks loves this season, though. She goes all out on the decorating, music, and gifts and also believes in what it is all supposed to be about.

Gard · #9 12-03-2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowtippy

While I don't celebrate Christmas (I'm Pagan), I still do the gift thing. I don't give gifts because I want or got something, I do it because it is something I enjoy doing. My giving is not limited to this time of the year, but it is a little more prevalant about now. My new bride of 5 weeks loves this season, though. She goes all out on the decorating, music, and gifts and also believes in what it is all supposed to be about.

An avowed pagan, in southwest Louisiana?

Dude, you got STONES!

jimmydean · #10 12-03-2011, 09:50 AM

i DON'T MEAN TO COME OFF AS THE OLD GUY WHO TELLS THE KIDS TO GET OFF HIS LAWN,BUT CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS BEFORE HALLOWEEN REALLY SUCKS! HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF ALL OF IT. TRYING TO TALK WIFE OUT OF PUTTING UP CHRISTMAS CRAP THIS YEAR,WHAT'S THE POINT. EVERYONE TELLS YOU WHAT THEY WANT AS A GIFT(S) .I HAVE BEGGED PEOPLE TO NOT GIVE ME GIFTS THIS YEAR, I HAVE THINGS AND STUFF AND UNLESS YOU PLAN TO PRESENT ME WITH A SADOWSKY METRO, I'LL PASS ! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

rojo412 · #11 12-03-2011, 10:27 AM

I hate what Christmas has become.
Personally, I'd like it to take up a smaller chunk of the year and focus more on togetherness and less on materialism.

While I consider myself an Atheist, I have no problem with the people who want to celebrate the birth of their lord and savior. And to people who like all that family togetherness crap, by all means, it's your time to shine...

But what I REALLY despise... is the accusation from a lot of morons... that there's a constant "WAR ON CHRISTMAS."
To those people: SHUT UP.
What you perceive as war is simply people trying to be considerate to everyone.
It's people tired of 3 months of advertising.
It's people who like THANKSGIVING and HALLOWEEN and want them to get their respect before the barrage of "Jingle Bells" drills into their skulls.
It's people who are sickened by the thought of being maced in a WalMart over an Xbox at 4:30am.

The Christmas season has started a war on sanity... and it's winning!

/rant

Joe Gress · #12 12-03-2011, 10:31 AM

Christmas day is the day where I get to go home and see my whole family at once. (happens maybe once or twice a year these days) Also my aunt uncle and cousins, grandma, friends and others. Other than that we eat drink and be merry.

carlos840 · #13 12-03-2011, 10:35 AM

I dont really do Xmas...

Used to when i was a kid, but then my parent separated, me and my brother moved to different countries, etc

Now i usually spend Xmas working or with friends.

No tree, no presents, dont really see my family much... For me its not a big deal!

I do hate the way everybody gets over enthusiast about xmas though! Nowadays it feels like your a creep if you dont love everything about xmas and spend all your money on presents!

hrodbert696 · #14 12-03-2011, 10:43 AM

I love Christmas. It's a chance to make some magic for my kids and the family.

However, I think it gets overdone. What it should be is a chance to get together with family, celebrate, take a break, and yes, exchange gifts. The overhyped advertising - starting before Halloween even, this year! - and commercialism kills a lot of the joy, though. And it's not just that; things like the competitive house decorating or the insane tradition of writing hundreds of Christmas cards to people you otherwise don't talk to all year, all that comes together to generate more stress than joy.

I'll buy gifts - a few, reasonably priced. I'll decorate - moderately. We'll even have a Christmas feast - but the table doesn't need to groan under the products of hours of sweating in the kitchen, most of which just become leftovers anyway. If it produces more stress than joy, it's not worth it.

shadowtippy · #15 12-03-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

An avowed pagan, in southwest Louisiana?

Dude, you got STONES!

Yes, I think there are anout 8 of us. Not even enough for a proper coven...but let me stop before I turn this into a religous discussion, Can't have that in a Christmas thread.

Tituscrow · #16 12-03-2011, 11:03 AM

We have been going away every year since my daughter was born. Been to Finnish Lapland twice and it was just amazing. We do it to get away from the rampant commercialism, the 'whose house do we visit without upsetting anyone' syndrome, and the enormous supermarket queues full of people stocking their trolleys to the roof with food they'll never eat, as if a nuclear war was imminent. The shops close for a WHOLE 12 hours...

Being a parent certainly forces me to put my innate cynicism on the back burner

sandmangeck · #17 12-03-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowtippy

While I don't celebrate Christmas (I'm Pagan)

So do you celebrate Yule, which Christmas was derived from?
I love the solstice, as it's my birthday, and it being the darkest day of the year and all!

EBodious · #18 12-03-2011, 11:35 AM

i separate christmas into two holidays: the religious celebration (for those who believe) and what i call 'american secular christmas' (there are lots of different traditions in europe, distinct from the american way). most issues with the holiday, i find, stem from the secular tradition. i did not grow up in the christian tradition, but i was a part of the general christmas culture. due to the memories, i enjoy the time of the year and all that. i do not like killing a tree, but i will do it until my kids are older cause my daughter likes celebrating holidays.

honestly, as a retailer, xmas takes on a different meaning. i am not a fan of commercialism or excessive consumerism, but my little do-gooder store would not make it thru the year without this period between thanksgiving and xmas. it is my busy time and both surrounding holidays are, for me, a well deserved day off.

my only grudge is the dichotomy suggested by the idea that you are either a lover of xmas or a scrooge. i am not a lover of xmas and would probly not celebrate it if it were not for my kids (and their mom), but that does not mean that i must be a scrooge (at least, not in my opinion). there are billions of people who don't celebrate christmas. you can love it, or hate it, OR be somewhat indifferent to it. i think its important for that third category to be in the mix. i get that in the western world xmas is a big deal, but that does not mean that if you do not totally embrace it that you are a hater. some of us just celebrate other things. how shocking can that really be?

shadowtippy · #19 12-03-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandmangeck

So do you celebrate Yule, which Christmas was derived from?
I love the solstice, as it's my birthday, and it being the darkest day of the year and all!

Right about Yule. Just like most other traditions from the other holidays, except Thanksgiving, Pagan practices were incorporated to get more people involved.

skychief · #20 12-03-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Too early? It will be Christmas Eve three weeks today.

What are your thoughts on Christmas in general? Are you one of those people for whom it's "the most magical time of the year" or a total Scrooge? I have very mixed feelings about Christmas and love some aspects of it whilst disliking others quite strongly.

So - what's good or bad about Christmas?

I think most folks probably fall somewhere in between these extremes. You know...the bell-shaped curve thing.