1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
  2. We've had very few donations over the year. I'm going to be short soon as some personal things are keeping me from putting up the money. If you have something small to contribute it's greatly appreciated. Please put your screen name as well so that I can give you credit. Click here: Donations
    Dismiss Notice
Cookies Donations 2021

The Christmas Season: What's the Deal?

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Baraka_Guru, Nov 4, 2012.

Page 2 of 2
  1. CinnamonGirl

    CinnamonGirl The Cheat is GROUNDED!

    Location:
    Central Republic of Where-In-The-Hell
    I really love Christmas. I really love holidays in general. But I don't want to celebrate (or be smacked in the face with) anything for two solid months. I'm kind of a grump about it all through November, to be honest.

    I feel like Thanksgiving gets the shaft, with everything going straight from Halloween to Christmas. Sure, it's not a big commercial holiday, and there are no presents, blah blah blah. You get to eat all day and watch football, though, and I'm pretty cool with that. Especially since, in my family at least, there were certain dishes that were either ONLY made on Thanksgiving, or made only for Thanksgiving and Christmas (caramel pie and sweet potato casserole come immediately to mind.)

    On December 1st, I transform from the Grinch to Little Miss Christmas Cheer. That's when the decorations go up at home (and this year, at the office), and when listening to Christmas music becomes acceptable. While I can't stand some pop Christmas songs (sorry, Paul, "Wonderful Christmastime" is just awful), I do like a lot, and yeah, I'll sing along when they're on the radio. My favorites tend to be the older traditional songs, though-- "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "I Saw Three Ships," "Carol of the Bells."
     
    CinnamonGirl, Nov 4, 2012
    #21
    • Like Like x 1
  2. Stan

    Stan Resident Dumbass

    Location:
    Colorado
    I used to service point of sale terminals. Mid Nov through mid Jan was simply hell. 7 day weeks, hostile customers, I couldn't take my family shopping anywhere without someone running out of a store and telling me their cash register woes. It also meant overtime checks that exceeded my salary ones.

    I try not to be a jerk; but I want nothing to do with Christmas, these days. My wife is into it enough for both of us.
     
    Stan, Nov 4, 2012
    #22
    • Like Like x 1
  3. Lindy

    Lindy Moderator Staff Member

    Location:
    Nebraska
    I find that as I'm getting older I'm becoming more of nominal Christian than a true an actual believer.
    But I still love Christmas traditions.
    I think that a lot of those talking about Remembrance Day are just using that as a smokescreen because early Christmas pisses them off personally.

    Well, me too. And all the uber early Black Friday is disgusting to me.

    But I love the food, and it is a real challenge for me to stick to my low carb regime with all the sweets, cookies, and what all, in such plentiful abundance. I'll probably do an intermittent "all or nothing" diet. I get on the scale every morning. If it's 112 lbs or less, I eat whatever I want, though not allowing pigouts. If the scale shows over 112, I fast for that day.:) It really works pretty well and keeps me from having to explain things to my generous friends and relatives.

    As far as decorating goes; if I do it at all, I do it when I get around to it. Sometime between Thanksgiving weekend and the week before Christmas.
    I love Handel's "Messiah" and the traditional carols, (except for Silent Night. which I loathe) and a few of the more modern, like "The Christmas Song" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas." And the music doesn't get any better than this:
    Amazon.com: A Festival Of Carols In Brass: Music

    View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzEXy-HuOkY&feature=relmfu
     
    Lindy, Nov 4, 2012
    #23
  4. ring

    ring ░

    i like to trudge through blizzards and take photos of christmas lights torn and dangling from their moorings.
    my sister sends me a package of exquisite scrumptious plum pudding she takes the time to make.

    i keep a bowl of ancient fragile tree ornaments on top of the bookshelf year-round.
     
    ring, Nov 4, 2012
    #24
  5. grumpyolddude

    grumpyolddude Very Tilted

    Location:
    Metro Detroit, Michigan, USA
    I grow less and less fond of Christmas every year. Last year was only tolerable because my son brought my infant granddaughter to town.
    My attitude is odd because my family always went all-out for Christmas. It was my father's favorite holiday... outdoor lights, indoor lights, handmade decorations, the biggest tree the living room could hold. I have no desire for a tree, lights or any of it. I'll wish you a merry one, and possibly even smile as I do it, though.

    I do reserve the right to change, though.
     
    grumpyolddude, Nov 4, 2012
    #25
    • Like Like x 1
  6. martian

    martian Server Monkey Staff Member

    Location:
    Mars
    This is my attitude. I'm not a Christian, it's not my holiday. My family and Magpie's family both celebrate, so I celebrate as well. But left to my own devices I wouldn't make it an event. When I was a bachelor I didn't bother with decorations; now that I co-habitate the tree goes up when Magpie tells me it goes up, and that's about the extent of it.
     
    martian, Nov 4, 2012
    #26
    • Like Like x 1
  7. Craven Morehead

    Craven Morehead Very Tilted

    Location:
    third rock from the sun
    I wish Christmas were simpler, much less commercial.
     
    Craven Morehead, Nov 4, 2012
    #27
    • Like Like x 1
  8. martian

    martian Server Monkey Staff Member

    Location:
    Mars
    An interesting point. Every year, our parents say they're not making a big deal out of Christmas. Every year, I tell my mother that I'm perfectly happy just to get the family together, and that she doesn't need to get me anything; or, as I know she'll insist on getting me something, something small is fine. And every year it ends up being a big to-do.

    I honestly think she prefers it this way, despite her protestations to the contrary.
     
    martian, Nov 4, 2012
    #28
    • Like Like x 2
  9. Charlatan

    Charlatan sous les pavés, la plage

    Location:
    Temasek
    Christmas in Singapore is an odd thing. Commercially, the stores go all out. The main shopping street is decorated, the stores play Christmas music. Much like you would expect in North America. While there are many Christians in Singapore, Christmas just isn't that big. The really big holiday here is Chinese New Year. Deepavali and Hari Raya both get their due, but the big deal is CNY.

    For us, Christmas here is a bit different. Most of our friends leave the country for Christmas -- either to travel or go home. Our family is thousands of kilometres away. We have the tree. We give the gifts. We make a nice dinner. Skype brings the family and friends closer but it's just not the same. Christmas has always been about family for us and it's the one thing that is missing.

    The big celebration for us is Thanksmas. We always miss the Canadian Thanksgiving. I am usually in away on business and it's usually school break, so our friends are away. With everyone away for Christmas we started holding Thanksmas to get a little Thanksgiving love and some Christmas cheer. This will be our 7th annual Thanksmas and this year it will have 60+ people attending. It just wouldn't be the Christmas season without Thanksmas.
     
    Charlatan, Nov 5, 2012
    #29
    • Like Like x 3
  10. snowy

    snowy so kawaii Staff Member

    My MIL is the same way. My folks, when they mean they won't get us much, mean it. My MIL gives us our gifts in private as they're usually large and expensive. I don't mind--she's very generous and I appreciate it. I also appreciate that she's learned to be tactful by doing it before the rest of the family comes over.
     
    snowy, Nov 5, 2012
    #30
  11. CHINESE CRESTED

    chinese crested Slightly Tilted

    At the local pet store, they had a halloween christmas tree with valentines and easter gifts for pets. Missed out the festival of light - for which they could have promoted flashing collars perhaps. Its all in the shops so early it all becomes boring. Used to be the two weeks before xmas the shop lights would go on and the displays and santas grotto. Far too commercial now. Drags on for too long.

    View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv5iRHDxNb0
     
    chinese crested, Nov 5, 2012
    #31
Page 2 of 2