Christmas

[Speicher]

i dont like it why do i have to buy things just because some man on a cross?
if i wish do buy some thing for a loved one i will. i think its all a load of cr*p

I agree with you Spandex.

Why do I send cards to people who I have not spoken to or seen for over a year?

The Christmas of 2004, and 2005, I was too unwell to think about, or even ask for help with cards. I thought people might notice, and send me a letter or phone me in the new year, especially January 2006. No they did not. So last year I sent a letter with each card to those I still wanted to stay in contact with. Have I heard from any of them this year? Just one, who replied with a lovely letter.

There are some people who I was in contact with throughout this time, but there is not many of them. Now my Christmas Card list is extremely short.

With the exception of a few close relatives, I will mostly be buying presents for complete strangers, through Oxfam, RNLI, Sightsavers etc, and a local shelter for the homeless in Worcester.

I must admit, however, to a personal campaign to carry out extensive taste tests on Mince Pies within a 20 mile radius. Can I extend that to virtual mince pies - tell me about your favourite ones. I also carry out extensive testing on Dark Chocolate Brazils, best so far is Divine, again from Oxfam. Paynes used to do good ones, but I cannot seem to find them locally, and yes, they absolutely must be dark choc. Please send me any quality testing results you have had on these two items.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Just do what I do. I never send Christmas cards and my family buy three presents each for a total of around fifteen quid. They all go in a big pile and we sit around and play dice for them - eg double six means "take one present from everyone in the circle", three means "lose all your presents", seven means "everyone pass all their presents one place to the left" and so on. It's lots of fun, no one bankrupts themselves and it brings us together as a family. And we can drink a lot of beer and pass a spliff or two around as well.

 

[Pete]

Could we have it once every four years, please? You know, like the World Cup, Olympics, that sort of thing? Might make it just about tolerable.

Remember, more people go down with stress-related illness, more marriages break up, at this time of year, than at any other...

 

[marinyork]

Could we have it once every four years, please? You know, like the World Cup, Olympics, that sort of thing? Might make it just about tolerable.

Remember, more people go down with stress-related illness, more marriages break up, at this time of year, than at any other...

Nice idea. If people aren't nice enough would it also mean that we didn't qualify for Christmas - like football competitions

 

[got-to-get-fit]

I love the build up......i like getting my three yr old excited about santa, i love the shops in full penny grabbing mode, i love the lights, i love drinking port and nipping into pubs in the middle of the afternoon under the pretence of a christmas drink, i love xmas parties, i love the way everyone in the pubs is in a good mood, i love the way people make an effort with their dress, i love buying pressies for peoplem, i love buying all the nice food and i love just the whole feeling of winding down.

Then christmas day strikes........you open a load of gifts you never wanted, smile politely a relatives that bore you stupid, eat a grossly over rated plate of food that took the best part of 3 days to prepare, eat a load of chocolates you dont really want, watch a shoot film you wouldnt normally watch and go to bed feeling sick, tired and bored.

Boxing day dawns and as far as im concerned christmas is over. i would take the decorations down throw the excess food away, pour the drink down the drain and get on with the rest of the year.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I just want to place on record that I love Christmas. Maybe I'm lucky with my family (we all get on well), and I like drinking and eating too much anyway.

 

[fossyant]

Like Rhythm Thief - we have two good families and all get on well, so it's not a chore, just time to chill. Determined to take it easy this year as the last few I worked my socks off until Christmas and then fell ill, so it slightly blunted it... new job and have two weeks off !! Bike and booze and food !

 

[Fab Foodie]

I think you should ask if it's becoming less spiritual and more commercial/tacky: Less about giving and more about recieving.

Amen to that...

 

[yenrod]

I actually prefer to give than receive (less guilt ) no, seriously - i do its just better..

 

[mr_hippo]

First of all, let's bring Christmas forward to October. People complain that the shops are always crowded in December but they are not crowded in October so you can do your shopping in peace!
Some supermarkets are open on Boxing Day, most on the day after - why do people need to fill three trolleys on Christmas Eve?
"Oh, look X & Y have sent us a Christmas card, we will have to send them on." Why? You haven't seen them for 10 years.
A friend of mine has four children under 10 spent £2000 on his eldest child last Christmas and so "I'll have to spend £2000 each on the others!" Now how can you spend £2000 on an 18 month old? £8000 on kid's toys!
A workmate does not speak to you in a civil manner for 12 months but wishes you 'Happy Christmas' - Why can't he be civil for the rest of the year?
What's Mrs Hippo buying me? The same as I am buying her - nothing. I can buy her a gift at any time of the year, why do I have to wait for Christmas?

 

[mondobongo]

I think it has developed in to a marketing materialistic event and not very excited about it this year. Much prefer the peacefulness of Christmas Eve sat with the missus having a quiet dram and look forward to the arrival of Boxing Day when I consider it all over .

 

[Aperitif]

I think it has developed in to a marketing materialistic event and not very excited about it this year. Much prefer the peacefulness of Christmas Eve sat with the missus having a quiet dram and look forward to the arrival of Boxing Day when I consider it all over .

+1

The thick fog of commerce swirling menacingly since September...

 

[Pete]

Don't get me wrong here - not all that bothered about the tat, the tackiness, the blatant commercialism, all that sort of thing I can just 'live and let live', go with the flow, no-one's forcing me to join in. If the shops are selling junk I don't have to stop and buy it. Presents can be agreed or negotiated, depends on family customs. And of course I have no problem with the tin-shaking Santas, in the shopping centre and door-to-door: if it is a time of year for digging deeper for charity, let it be so (I think charity-giving should be a year-round thing, but let that rest).

And the religious version? Only so long as I'm not dragooned into something which isn't mine. Quizzing people on whether they know the 'true' Xmas story FFS! (I reckon that's been discussed elsewhere, but no matter). OK provided it is made clear that to me this is just another work of fiction, as an atheist I don't believe any of the stories, period. They might as well stop me in the street and quiz me about my knowledge of the 'true' story of Hamlet or Wuthering Heights.

Intra-family stress certainly happens, I think you've got to be prepared for it, know there are going to be odd niggles over the congealing turkey or Xmas pud, get over it. It does bother me since I'm not very good at handling these things, but then that's just me I suppose.

No, what bugs me above all, about Xmas, is the pressure put on us by employers, trying to get a full month's output in half a month. Talk about stress! Do others suffer the same? Why not come to terms, the year in fact consists of 11½ months and don't you forget it!

 

[andyoxon]

This is just for you Pete...
The night sky as it appeared looking south from Jerusalem on Nov. 12, 7 BC, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...2.gif/800px-Sky_Jerusalem_South-7BC-11-12.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem_star

The Christmas 'season' has become the commercial bonanza of the year, which is sad when you thing about how little most of the world has to get by on. But you're right Pete - one doesn't have to give in to this side of things.

But Christmas does have a core meaning as the name suggests - and it's no surprise to find the Christian church putting in the odd mention or two or this... AFAIA many people, who wouldn't normally, do make it to church for Carol services or on Christmas day with family.

Christmas cards, though not my favourite pastime, are great for keeping contact with people you don't see very often...

 

[col]

Christmas is over commercialised now,no doubt.But the general feeling of it all is probably down to our childhood memories.Mine are great,it was christmas carols and plays,pantomime,presents,family,the feel good factor.Now all this is probably a spin off from the religious side of things,when we did the manger scene,angels watching shepherds,ect and the preaching of goodwill to all,and peace,and all that.But it didnt mean religion to me,it meant christmas and fun.It is just a theme ,for this time of year,just like when you go to a panto,its just a theme for fun,and enjoying yourself.Now if someone wants to look too deeply into it,thats their choice,mine is to enjoy and have fun with my family,and as many presents as can be afforded.Christmas or christs mass to some,is an excuse to have fun and give and recieve presents,eat and drink and have a merry christmas,and a happy new year.I cant wait,im looking forward to it.