Bah humbug

We got our first Xmas card a week ago! (it also had one of those bloody awful round robin "Tarquin got a double first from Oxford and he's only 12" things in it.)

Christmas is all well and good, but best grown out of after the age of perhaps 14, I would think.

Some of the annual rituals are pleasant, such as the Nine Lessons and Carols from Cambridge, but mostly the feast is horrible in my opinion ...

I have not seen the Queen's speech since the famous "Annus Horribilis" drone quite a few years ago now.

ATB from George

I can't stand any of it - ever since 1992 (the Queen's 'oribilis thingy) it's been an excuse for rows and hassle - usually caused by my sister.

It's even worse this year as it's the first since my dad died (he died 1h5m into New Year's Day this year).

So definitely humbug!

I'd rather put money for presents into a big family party fund than buy useless tat no-one else wants to receive same, thanks.

Money and retailing is the reason for the season. No wonder it brings out the cynicism in so many people.

Miss S (7 and a half) is auditioning for the school Christmas show for a part as ...
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an alien

p.s. it's a church school!

Thst'll be C of E then.

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
Money and retailing is the reason for the season.

Season of 'Winterval' may be, but not Christmas!

Ok then forumees, if Christmas has become such a commercial affair, what IS your idea of the perfect Christmas? What should Christmas be like for you? I’m tempted to start this as a new thread, but at least this follows on from this thread….

quote:

Originally posted by Jagster:
Ok then forumees, if Christmas has become such a commercial affair, what IS your idea of the perfect Christmas? What should Christmas be like for you? I’m tempted to start this as a new thread, but at least this follows on from this thread….

We abandoned Cristmas many years ago. We have no kids, my family is miles distant and my wife is Jewish so not greatly interested in the Xmas festival! Our perfect Christmas is to view the whole thing as just a bonus weekend. We have some nice food together, go out and spend some time in the (empty) countryside and then we go back to work. No decorations, turkey or hassle. We buy the house a present sometimes but not each other, and we ask our family to donate to charity on our behalf rather than buying us a gift.

A spontaenous gift for your loved is more fun than a pile of glittery boxes at Xmas.

Real humbug eh! However we have a peaceful few days together-and that is good enough for us.

Bruce

Our extended family (11 at the moment) have great difficulty in finding a suitable date for xmas day dinner. Chelsea and Arsenal season ticket holders shift workers, last years dinner was in January, this year Dec 23rd.We have decided to do secret santa this year so everyone receives just 1 gift out of a couple of self suggestions.
It does mean we have had the last few years with just the 4 of us. So a slow day slowly consuming a few good(ish) bottles of wine a great meal and NO BLOODY TV.
Ideal I'm not sure. Daughter did Xmas day on an Oz beach a couple of years ago sounded good.

Howard

Best Xmas I had was in Brittany for the millenium. Locals celebrate with a family meal on Xmas Eve, Xmas day is just quiet. On Xmas night Brittany was hit by a hurricane, For the next few days we had no power. We cooked by propane, lit by candle light and heated by a wood burning stove. It was fantastic.

My neighbour, who is aware of my hifi hobby, once sarcastically informed me after a thunderstorm that I should leave my system switched off, as switching it all back on again would result in a contribution to more global warming.
I took great delight in pointing out to him yesterday as he climbed down his ladder that his house, decorated with an array of flashing seasonal lights, glowing reindeers and santas, would in all probability use more electricity in the next month than my system does all year.
I don't really know if that's true but the expression on his face was priceless.
Regards,
Steve O.

quote:

Season of 'Winterval' may be, but not Christmas!

Who is going to be the first to scream "political correctness gone mad"? Oh, I just have.

Struck me as strange too, that everyone is bandying around unPC terms such as Chrismas and Xmas with gay abandon. The impression I have from my reluctant PC friends is that it is "happy holidays" or a disciplinary hearing.

Can't help feeling better off over here. Guaranteed white chrismas, no 'in your face' PC correctness to cope with, and that Lucia thing they do with 18 yo virgins in long white dresses ;-)

/dl

quote:

Originally posted by Malky:

quote:

Season of 'Winterval' may be, but not Christmas!

Who is going to be the first to scream "political correctness gone mad"? Oh, I just have.

No, no, you missed my point. I have no problem with Christmas, but I do with the Winterval fest of consumption and excess, which has nothing to do with Christmas.

I have no problem with Yule, but I do with the Christmas fest of fake religion and goodwill to all, which has nothing to do with Yule.

Why ruin a perfectly good excuse for a few beers and loads of food by bringing imaginary friends into it?


p.s. Miss S got a part as a fairy (aka an angel).

Why are angels always played by girls? Surely, according to the fables, Gabriel was a boy?

Don't worry Seagull, you won't get any fake goodwill from me.

I detest the whole thing. Call me miserable if you feel you must, but I loathe every aspect of it. I never really did see the point, but since I gave up drinking I see even less point than I used to.

A deplorable nonsense, but hopefully it will irritate the PC brigade who no doubt spend the whole season worrying our celebrations might be offensive to muslims.

EW

What really gets me is the sheer REPETITION of it. How many times can you watch the queen's speech for example? How many times can we hear that bloody Slade song in shops - who the hell is enjoying it still? Once you've seen a fur tree in your house 37 times, the interest really isn't there anymore.
Simon

quote:

Originally posted by Simon Perry:
...Once you've seen a fur tree in your house 37 times...

Pussy Willow?

Detest it doubles my workload and it gets worse every year we don't even bother putting a tree up in work anymore as the Christmas spirit drops with each year passing.

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
No, no, you missed my point. I have no problem with Christmas, but I do with the Winterval fest of consumption and excess, which has nothing to do with Christmas.

No, no JWM. You missed my point. I was waiting for someone to start screaming about how pinko, single mother, lesbian teddy bears were destroying Xmas.

ok

quote:

Originally posted by Malky:
I was waiting for someone to start screaming about how pinko, single mother, lesbian teddy bears were destroying Xmas.

Pinko lovvies probably are destroying Christmas - about the only thing I forgive them for!