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I'd like to come accross all cynical and non plussed about the Christmas season but I can't. I love it. I love the dark cold evenings, the Christmas songs, the tinsel and decorations and of course, the Christmas tress which just has to be as gaudy as possible. Taste goes out of the window for me at Christmas. Oh, and the food and drink. You know, the food that you're still habitually picking at into the new year. 'Turkey sandwich anyone?' The anticipation of good Christmas TV and then the annual let down. The look of the unopened presents even though you're pretty sure that the contents wont be as exciting.

The only thing that gets me a bit peeved is how early it all starts, they're already mentioning it in my local supermarket along with the Hallowe'en stuff.

I can't wait, I suppose I'm just a big kid at heart...

What do you feel about the festive season? Does it make you want to race out and yell 'Ho-ho-ho' or sneer 'bah humbug!'

Katy:yh_party

I'm definitely a "Bah Humbug!" type of person!

If you're not a Christian, it's not a very interesting time of year. In fact, it can be downright unpleasant when stores, radio/tv stations and the press want to shove it into your face (and your pocketbook.)

Katy1 wrote: The only thing that gets me a bit peeved is how early it all starts, they're already mentioning it in my local supermarket along with the Hallowe'en stuff.

I can't wait, I suppose I'm just a big kid at heart...

What do you feel about the festive season? Does it make you want to race out and yell 'Ho-ho-ho' or sneer 'bah humbug!'

Katyyh_party


I love it, too, but very much share your sentiments about the early start. I'd

rather see nothing overt in the shops 'till December.

Also, for me, Christmas, including decorations, starts on Christmas Eve, and

ends on 12th. night. Most people, it seems to me, start in mid-December, and

finish on the 27th.!

I'm mostly a bah humbug person.

I'm very anti-consumer and it is pretty sickening how much Christmas has become a commercial event. I tend to spread out my gifts to people instead of waiting to be told it's time to appreciate family.

It's nice that people get time off work (not everyone) but then it becomes another commercial boon because everyone skyrockets travel prices and hotel lodging prices.

Lulu2 wrote: If you're not a Christian, it's not a very interesting time of year. In fact, it can be downright unpleasant when stores, radio/tv stations and the press want to shove it into your face (and your pocketbook.)


Here in the UK the religious aspect is kind of brushed away IYKWIM? Weird I know but you'd be hard pressed to find a religious programme on TV or whatever. I celebrate it from a 'winter festival' kind of view. maybe it's the pagan in me:wah:. The Christians hijacked the whole affair lol.

Lulu2 wrote: If you're not a Christian, it's not a very interesting time of year. In fact, it can be downright unpleasant when stores, radio/tv stations and the press want to shove it into your face (and your pocketbook.)


I am not a Christian. But I love the Christmas season now that I am an adult -- mainly because it's something to celebrate and feel good about. I try to get caught up in the joy of the season. Why not?

When I was a child, I wanted the calendar to go directly from the 24th of December to the 26th of December. For my family, Chanukah was not a big celebratory event with a gift on each of the eight nights. My birthday is in December and I am a twin, so everything got 'mashed' together. I usually only got a couple of gifts for both my birthday and Chanukah combined.

I know it's *not* supposed to be about the presents, but when all your friends have big beautiful trees with lots and lots of presents, it can be difficult. In my family, we used to joke about "Sam Sam the Chanukah Man"! I mean, *how* do you compete with Santa Claus?

But now that I am an adult, I choose to celebrate any happy occasion, large or small. Why not? Life is full of a lot of crap, so I 'ride the wave' of the good things :-6

Rapunzel wrote: I'm definitely a "Bah Humbug!" type of person!


as the kids get older chrimbo is just 2 weeks stuck in the house going crazy honestly I'd rather go to work honest



a couple of years ago after being dragged round the shops (i hate shopping )for days on end sue panicking oh we have not some one this oh that could be OK for them i could standzs it no more ,and told her in no uncertain terms i had enough

she really annoyed screamed at well Jim what does Christmas really mean to you then eh Jim ?

i said well lets sum it up like this shall i sue lets see

its spending money i ain't got

on people i don't like

on things they don't need



for some reason she did not talk to me for the rest of the day

jimbo wrote: its spending money i ain't got

on people i don't like

on things they don't need


Yeah, that part of the holiday season does stink, doesn't it?

I hate getting and giving 'stuff' that is kinda useless.

I'd rather give $$ to a charity.

cherandbuster wrote: Yeah, that part of the holiday season does stink, doesn't it?

I hate getting and giving 'stuff' that is kinda useless.

I'd rather give $$ to a charity.


The present giving should be for kids only IMO , and then it shouldn't be hugely extravagant. If I never received another gift again it wouldn't be a loss. Funnily enough I actually feel uncomfortable getting presents, especially if i have to open them in front of the gift giver.

My sister in law recently split from her partner of many years. She is mainly on benefits and works part time as a cleaner so money is always tight but when we were talking about Christmas she said 'well, at least I don't have to spend £500 on him this year'!!! £500?? I wouldn't spend that on every one's presents all told! My husband and I have an agreement that we don't buy gifts for each other. You don't need a gift to 'prove' how much someone means to you do you?

Hello Cher, Charity here.

Katy1 wrote: The present giving should be for kids only IMO , and then it shouldn't be hugely extravagant. If I never received another gift again it wouldn't be a loss. Funnily enough I actually feel uncomfortable getting presents, especially if i have to open them in front of the gift giver.

My sister in law recently split from her partner of many years. She is mainly on benefits and works part time as a cleaner so money is always tight but when we were talking about Christmas she said 'well, at least I don't have to spend £500 on him this year'!!! £500?? I wouldn't spend that on every one's presents all told! My husband and I have an agreement that we don't buy gifts for each other. You don't need a gift to 'prove' how much someone means to you do you?


I hear you, Katy :-6

In my family, we *only* give gifts to the children. But in my hubby's family, Christmas and Chanukah are big gift-giving occasions. So we play by the rules of each family and just go with it.

I always tell my husband to *not* get me a birthday or Chanukah present. But I DO tell him he has to get me a serious (read: very wordy and loving ) birthday card. Since he is not verbose, I like getting a card that is.

It helps to let people know your expectations of them. That way, you won't be disappointed :-6

YZGI wrote: Hello Cher, Charity here.


:D YZGI

I think there should be a "Take back Christmas" rebellion, wherein, anyone who wishes to give gifts must make the gifts themself.

koan wrote: I think there should be a "Take back Christmas" rebellion, wherein, anyone who wishes to give gifts must make the gifts themself.


Well, no-one would want anything from me then :-5

...now, there's an idea :sneaky:

Perhaps we can start the rebellion right now. We should list things that can be made with feeling.

Tinfoil hats are easy enough.

I'm going to go craft hunting and report back

One year I made all of my Christmas cards, being the arty type that I am. Would you believe that one person I gave them to said 'oh, you didn't get me a proper card then?'. With a serious face!:mad:

Katy1 wrote: Would you believe that one person I gave them to said 'oh, you didn't get me a proper card then?'. With a serious face!:mad:


Oh I'd believe it, Katy

Some people just suck

cherandbuster wrote: Oh I'd believe it, Katy

Some people just suck
:yh_giggle

that's why the Christmas list gets edited every year...:yh_devil

sunny104 wrote: :yh_giggle

that's why the Christmas list gets edited every year...:yh_devil


as well it should!

I'm actually thinking of starting a web page promoting this Take Back Christmas campaign

I FEAR christmas!!!

minks wrote: I FEAR christmas!!!
The guy in the big red suit with the toothy grin is a bit scary

koan wrote: The guy in the big red suit with the toothy grin is a bit scary


makes me want to run away, cause I know when I was a kid and sat on his lap he really did..........................................

minks wrote: makes me want to run away, cause I know when I was a kid and sat on his lap he really did..........................................


have a big smile? and stinky breath?

I shudder to think of it

koan wrote: have a big smile? and stinky breath?

I shudder to think of it


He did not promise me.......................................

minks wrote: He did not promise me.......................................


It's hurting my brain. Stop.

DOWN WITH SANTA!!!

koan wrote: It's hurting my brain. Stop.



DOWN WITH SANTA!!!


Oh Koan the Secret Santa is gonna be so pi**ed at you.

Hey guppy would you like a candy cane?:sneaky:

YZGI wrote: Oh Koan the Secret Santa is gonna be so pi**ed at you.
I've been avoiding him like the plague

cherandbuster wrote: I am not a Christian. But I love the Christmas season now that I am an adult -- mainly because it's something to celebrate and feel good about. I try to get caught up in the joy of the season. Why not?



When I was a child, I wanted the calendar to go directly from the 24th of December to the 26th of December. For my family, Chanukah was not a big celebratory event with a gift on each of the eight nights. My birthday is in December and I am a twin, so everything got 'mashed' together. I usually only got a couple of gifts for both my birthday and Chanukah combined.



I know it's *not* supposed to be about the presents, but when all your friends have big beautiful trees with lots and lots of presents, it can be difficult. In my family, we used to joke about "Sam Sam the Chanukah Man"! I mean, *how* do you compete with Santa Claus?



But now that I am an adult, I choose to celebrate any happy occasion, large or small. Why not? Life is full of a lot of crap, so I 'ride the wave' of the good things :-6


I just love the way you think & your take on things cher, you're a GEM! :yh_flower :yh_clap



Oh Yeah, & I love Christmas when the little kiddies get their presents!

cars wrote: I just love the way you think & your take on things cher, you're a GEM! :yh_flower :yh_clap


We like to refer to her as Dr. Feelgood. She loves that.:sneaky:

cars wrote: I just love the way you think & your take on things cher, you're a GEM! :yh_flower :yh_clap


Cars

I thank you for your kind words

my friend :-4

YZGI wrote: We like to refer to her as Dr. Feelgood. She loves that.:sneaky:


If the truth be told

I do kinda like it

It's a heck of a lot better

than Dr. Asswipe

:yh_whistl

koan wrote: It's hurting my brain. Stop.

DOWN WITH SANTA!!!


everybody join in

Down with Satan

Down with Satan.... no???:-3

minks wrote: everybody join in

Down with Satan

Down with Satan.... no???:-3


Does Satan know Santa?:p















Down with Satan!!!

Down with Satan!!!

cars wrote: Does Satan know Santa?:p















Down with Satan!!!

Down with Satan!!!


ooooo let's hope not....

My younger brother gets his household sucked into it too. And they are Muslim. They did a bit of headshaking last year. I'm interested to see if they get out of it this time round.

Tell you what I find weird; and that's in Australia they have Christmas in the middle of summer! Now that's just not right.....

Katy1 wrote: Tell you what I find weird; and that's in Australia they have Christmas in the middle of summer! Now that's just not right.....


i know how you meant to throw snow balls in the summertime

This is a good thread.

This Cmas is going to be hard on my family as we just lost my wonderful mom in June. But that said, the regular way I feel about it is that it is a time for celebrating family and Nature in the wintertime. The sleeping earth. I am not christian and for a long time I hated the way it felt forced down my throat. I also hated the way some idiot people would tell me if I wasn't christian I had no right to celebrate since I wasn't celebrating for the "real" reason. But for the last five years or so, I have changed my outlook. I celebrate Cmas the way I want to and for what it means to me. I don't care if people wish me a merry christmas or a happy holiday or a season's greetings. I don't stumble over semantics when the good intent is there.



I do still loathe the fakeness of store clerks who wish me happy holidays or merry christmas because I know they're told to say it and it's not genuine.



I don't watch cmas tv specials because I think they're hokey but last year I did buy a few special cmas cds that I enjoyed.



I finally enjoy giving gifts because I finally got over that attempt to find the Perfect Gift for everyone. You know, the commercial pressure. I used to find myself standing in the middle of the mall, crying because I couldn't find "the perfect gift" for somebody. One year I just decided that it was silly to try because no material gift could possibly show the depth of my love for someone. I still don't like fake gift giving such as "secret santas" or office gift exchanges. Yucck!!



I keep things on a small scale and I avoid stores as much as possible (Online shopping! Yay!) and I do cmas my way. So far it's worked.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS :-4 :-4 I love everything about Christmas, i make sure the front of the house and indoors is decorated totally OTT. I always do Christmas day at my house for all the family. I love making decorations with the children and going to mass and hearing the school choir sing the carols, but without doubt the best thing is about being together as a famiily to celebrate the time we have had and will have together. I will post pic's of decorations when they go up early Dec

What I hate is the radio stations here that play only Christmas music and nothing but Christmas music starting the day after Thanksgiving. I mean I like Christmas music well enough, but not 24/7 for a month. Especially when we usually have this particular station on at work.

Marie5656 wrote: What I hate is the radio stations here that play only Christmas music and nothing but Christmas music starting the day after Thanksgiving. I mean I like Christmas music well enough, but not 24/7 for a month. Especially when we usually have this particular station on at work.


They always seem to play George Michael song Last Christmas I really hate that song, whenever I hear it I walk around singing it for 2 days after

I love Christmas but not the glitsy mounds of presents and stuff and trimmings. I love the Christ was born on Christmas day and I wish Christmas Day was like every day which I wish was as joyful as Christmas day.

Elvis Presley sings a song that I wish I could put here for you to listen to. It is ..... I wish I could give the tune....it is beautiful

If Every Day was like Christmas

I hear the bells

Saying christmas is near

They ring out to tell the world

That this is the season of cheer

I hear a choir

Singing sweetly somewhere

And a glow fills my heart

Im at peace with the world

As the sound of their singing fills the air

Oh why cant every day be like christmas

Why cant that feeling go on endlessly

For if everyday could be just like christmas

What a wonderful world this would be

I hear a child

Telling santa what to bring

And the smile upon his tiny face

Is worth more to me than anything

RedGlitter wrote: This is a good thread.

This Cmas is going to be hard on my family as we just lost my wonderful mom in June. But that said, the regular way I feel about it is that it is a time for celebrating family and Nature in the wintertime. The sleeping earth. I am not christian and for a long time I hated the way it felt forced down my throat. I also hated the way some idiot people would tell me if I wasn't christian I had no right to celebrate since I wasn't celebrating for the "real" reason. But for the last five years or so, I have changed my outlook. I celebrate Cmas the way I want to and for what it means to me. I don't care if people wish me a merry christmas or a happy holiday or a season's greetings. I don't stumble over semantics when the good intent is there.



I do still loathe the fakeness of store clerks who wish me happy holidays or merry christmas because I know they're told to say it and it's not genuine.



I don't watch cmas tv specials because I think they're hokey but last year I did buy a few special cmas cds that I enjoyed.



I finally enjoy giving gifts because I finally got over that attempt to find the Perfect Gift for everyone. You know, the commercial pressure. I used to find myself standing in the middle of the mall, crying because I couldn't find "the perfect gift" for somebody. One year I just decided that it was silly to try because no material gift could possibly show the depth of my love for someone. I still don't like fake gift giving such as "secret santas" or office gift exchanges. Yucck!!



I keep things on a small scale and I avoid stores as much as possible (Online shopping! Yay!) and I do cmas my way. So far it's worked.


Red

I really like the way you think. I look at Christmas very similarly. :-6