I hate Christmas.

The local people enjoy this time of year and their antics are well worth the drudge of the other 11 months....stay tuned

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Originally posted by seagull:
Just remember it was a pagan festival hijacked by the church.

So eat drink and be merry don't let all the religious nonsense get in the way of a good time...

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Amazing, isn’t it how the Baby Jesus managed to hit all those historical land marks at exactly the same time as a corresponding Pagan Festival. Must be one of the biggest cosmic coincidences of all time.

Nothing wrong with eating, drinking and being merry – but don’t save it all for Yule. Try spreading the happiness, generosity and good will over the whole year.



Cheers

Harry

What I find most insidious about Christmas , and other "festivals" is the notion of "collective"enjoyment

As alluded to above I don`t need some famous bloke`s birthday as an excuse to enjoy myself

For me EVERY day is like Christmas

laurie S

[This message was edited by Laurie Saunders on Wed 17 November 2004 at 15:33.]

Christmas is everyday & so is Muvvers Day innit²


Fritz Von Giveittotheinlandrevinue

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Originally posted by Rasher:
Yeah, you're right. Let's just all slit our wrists now, eh?!

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I don't mind you celebrating christmas - just don't expect me to join in or criticise me for my stand. (Not you personally, you understand - the generic 'you')

Stephen

[This message was edited by Stephen Bennett on Wed 17 November 2004 at 16:36.]

Xmas for me is as thus:

Work = bank holiday = more cash = hifi upgrades.

Downside is perople don't seem to be able to behave over bank holidays in general (well what I see anyway) mainly due to excess alcohol!

This starts now, and steadily builds up and continues into the new year.

And the usual excuse is "AW c'mon its xmas..."

andy c!

Thanks for the interest and responses thus far guys. Nice to know I am not alone. As you say Stephen, I too am used to being branded as 'mean and miserable' for not sending cards/buying presents to make a stand against this hijacked pagan nonsense.

I resent being swept along on a wave of "Well you have to - it's Christmas". No I bloody well don't!

I'm sure that my friends and family do not regard me as 'mean and miserable'. In fact; I have persuaded my family around to my way of thinking, and we do not buy each other presents - shock horror!

We do of course get together, have a delightfully non-Christmas dinner and relax.

And as for those houses lit up like a Las Vegas brothel - tacky or what?

Oh and thanks to you Berlin Fritz for bringing some sanity to the thread (as ever).

Bah Humbug.

John.

I was ambivalent about Christmas until we had children. Once kids were in our lives we enjoyed a few years of wonderful Christmas days unlike any previously. I think Christmas is for parents of young children, and for the rest of you, bad luck and keep trying.

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Originally posted by J.N.:
Thanks for the interest and responses thus far guys. Nice to know I am not alone. As you say Stephen, I too am used to being branded as 'mean and miserable' for not sending cards/buying presents to make a stand against this hijacked pagan nonsense.
John.

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Are you saying that christian festivals are not 'hijacked' pre christian festivals? Sorry John, I can't quite make out where you're coming from.

We buy each other presents all the time. Making people wait for christmas is just mean. But then, so are christians - so that's all right.

Cheers

Harry

Season's greetings Harry;

I'm saying that December 25th has loosely evolved from the Winter Solstice date of December 21st - originally celebrated as a seasonal 'knees-up' long before the birth of the bloke that's causing all the controversy here.

I gather that some Christians will even accept that December 25th is somewhat arbitrary, and has almost certainly been confused down the years?

We do indeed buy each other presents all the time - me too. And I really enjoy celebrating birthdays, weddings etc (i.e. real tangible life events).

Christians are not mean in my experience. I have some committed christian friends who are lovely people - they are just (in my view) horribly deluded and unable to accept what happens when one dies.

I reckon that's the basis of religion - incomprehension and fear of death. Religion gives believers some nice tidy answers and maybe lessens the pain of losing loved ones.

It should be emphasised though that the thrust of my original whinge is the ghastly commercialisation that Christmas has evolved into. I do of course respect the right of anybody to celebrate whatever religious festivals they wish - let's just get rid of the 'tack' please.

Devil worshippers are OK as well, and just equally barmy in my view.

Live long and prosper.

T'Pau.

PS. And who is/was T'Pau?

No; not the bloody pop group - the person from whom they took their name.

[This message was edited by J.N. on Thu 18 November 2004 at 1:04.]

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Not to mention the mass slaughter of animals that have been bred in terrible conditions especially for the 'festival'.

Maybe I should become a Jew or Muslim? Hard for an atheist though - but at least I'd get more respect.

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Well, Stephen, when the Muslim Ramadan is over (actually last saturday or sunday this year, no one seems to be sure!) there is a big celebration with LOT'S of food. I don't know for sure, but my guess is there is animals specially bred for the occasion.

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I'll be coming to Sweden for the new year - christmas seems so much less tacky there

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I was forced by the girlfriend to go to Ikea in late october. The X-mas decoration was allready there...

But you are Welcome, of course!

JohanR

I love Christmas.

Although I am not religous, Maryse & Alex, my two little angels (?) thoroughly enjoy proceedings.

Maryse understands the religous concept of Christmas. Alex is still, perhaps, too young to fully understand.

We have already written our letters to Father Christmas.

Yes. Christmas is too commercialised.

For the week-end before Christmas I will have two very eager helpers putting up the Christmas decorations.

Both Maryse & Alex are looking forward to Santa's landing in Priory Park on Saturday week. Maryse will accompany me on a number of the Father Christmas collections. These alone are wonderful evenings - seeing the children and the grown ups standing at the doors/windows eagerly waiting for Santa and his caravan (yes, a caravan).

An opportunity to go out with friends. An opportunity for friends to come and visit or to go and visit. Yes it happens throughout the year but we make an additional point of all getting together.

Going to the circus and the pantomime.

Placing the glass of wine and the mince pies by the fire place on Christmas Eve.

Cooking the Christmas dinner.

Having the family over for Christmas - this is most welcome because we don't often get to see every one regularly during the year (Messenger excepted).

I could go on.

Clearly Christmas revolves around the children but, hey, it's great fun.

I even enjoyed Christmas before children.

Mike