Christmas is a crock...

[cynatnite]

Call me a scrooge, but I think this holiday is pure bullshit. Walking around, there is decorations galore, people are filling those lists with nothing more meaningful than crap that'll either wind up in a landfill by next year or it'll get shoved in a closet somewhere. It's the notion that you really can't celebrate some guy's birthday unless you put up trees with lights on 'em and stuff garbage under it.

During this time of the year so many people are loading up on booze, food, parties and spreading the idea that it's peace on earth, good will to men and all that. The last part isn't garbage, but the only day of the year that it means a thing is on the 25th of December. The other 364 days a year are just days that people grind through with little thought of anyone else except themselves.

Yeah, I'm jaded and even with the good reasons I've got to be that way, I decided we're not going to fall for the scheme that society deems is acceptable. No decorations and no tree. If the extra money should come up, which I doubt, it'll go to charities that need it. Putting food on the table, clothes on people's backs and helping provide shelter are things that mean something.

It's not some stupid toy that a kid will play with for a week before moving on to the next gift that's just as stupid.

What we give should have tangible value that goes to the care of those who need it and to help insure they have a future that doesn't require charity.

Disclaimer: This is not to say everyone is like this...just most of society.

[Az]

1. Its one of my favorite holidays

And I am an atheist.

Yeah, its taken a lot of damage from our consumer soceity and marketters pushing more consumerism on us. But if you turn away from the blare the real reason for the holiday is still there. And I don't mean Jesus. I mean community, connection, friends, and family.

Don't let the advertisers and marketting reps spoil this time of the year for you. You really don't have to listen to them.

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. I agree and I am an atheist, married to a bah hum bug kinda guy.

I don't go all out for christmas. A few small presents for family/friends. A tip for the mail person and garbage collectors. A nice meal, a small tree, and that's about it. But it does bring a small amount of joy. Growing up, my mom would always call the local base and invite a military member to spend the day with us and they were very happy to be included.

[Az]

14. We live next door to an Eastern Orhtodox preist

And for 3 years running we shocked the living daylights out of them (he and his wife) by giving them fresh baked pies. It was only on the fourth year that they caught on that these crazy atheists would be giving them things on Dec 25 that they finally retalliated by giving us a gift back.

People get so serious about Christmas. I say yuck it up. The weather outside is frightful. Its times like this in which we are at our best when we come together in community.

[knitter4democracy]

47. He didn't give a gift back?

He doesn't sound like any priest we've ever had. That's really odd and bad. I'm sorry they were so rude. Of all Christians, we Orthodox should be the most understanding and open-hearted to all who aren't mainstream.

[Az]

51. Not rude

Just not neighborly. For the longest time I thought they were Opus Dei or some other cloistered sect due to the lack of presense in our neighborhood. Eventually as I said they got the idea that these crazy atheists were going to keep showing up on Christmas with gifts in hand and they reciprocated. I got the sense of shock from them rather than anything rude or confronational.

[knitter4democracy]

54. True. It's still odd.

Gifts, especially food, are a good-sized part of our faith. Well, the day-to-day part, anyway. I am a bit suprised they didn't have you come in so they could feed you. We're big into that. :D

No, we're quite different from Opus Dei. Those people flat-out scare me.

[Bluebear]

20. I'm with you on every word. nt

[xchrom]

2. i LOVE christmas!

i'm poor as a church mouse.

but i drag out my decorations -- and put up a real tree.
love carols.

eggnog.

christmas cookies.

i just really love it.

i used to be a scrooge -- but it was hiding a christmas lover -- that finally i let out.

[blondeatlast]

3. May I be the first to salute your superiority?

:eyes:

Sorry, I'm not worthy of your esteem but I happen to enjoy the holdiays.

Oh, and pass the :popcorn:. Anyone have dental floss so we can string it up and make a festive treat for the birds?

[cynatnite]

9. So, I think christmas is a crock of shit...

and you say I'm being superior. :eyes:

I view it as a bogus holiday many people use to feel better about themselves by giving Walmart specials for gifts, spreading peace on earth and all that one day out of the year. It helps relieve a lot of guilt for them. They did their good deed and then go back to not giving a rat's ass about a war that's killed hundreds of thousands, the poor, the hungry and so on for the rest of the year.

I'm not telling anyone to not enjoy the holidays. Go for it. Have loads of fun. I just said what I think of it. Nobody has to agree.

[blondeatlast]

15. Have a nice winter... nt

:eyes:

[JuniperLea]

28. I do believe you are correct

http://www.novareinna.com/festive/xmas.html

I was raised in an uber fundie household... I love Christmas, but I do believe it's a crock and has very, very little, if anything, to do with the birth of a Deity.

[JuniperLea]

40. It was against the law for many years

Corporations win again.

[JuniperLea]

27. A very wise person posted this earlier today...

http://www.novareinna.com/festive/xmas.html

[blondeatlast]

38. Gosh, I wasn't aware of all of that. thanks.

:sarcasm:

[JuniperLea]

39. You sure didn't sound like you did

Pardon the hells bells out of me!


Wake up on the wrong side of the Clarol bottle, did we?

[blondeatlast]

42. So you didn't get the whole "have a nice winter" bit at all, didja?

I think I'll hang around with people who have a semblance of a sense of humor and whimsy.

thanks anyway.

[Radio_Lady]

52. Happy Holidays... I'm Jewish and it's easy to get around without a fuss!

I do like this link:

[eridani]

69. The reindeer section left out the fact that Santa's reindeer are probably female

Males drop their antlers in late fall and early winter, but females keep theirs until giving birth in the spring. So if they're pulling a sleigh on 12/24, they're female. Which is a good thing, as they are much more likely to stop and ask for directions when necessary.

[JuniperLea]

96. LOL!! Nice catch! eom

[soothsayer]

4. Time for the war on grinchitude for you, my friend! We'll save you!

Christmas is swell!

[mainegreen]

5. It's an excuse to make my home smell like tree and sit around drinking cocoa.

Which suits me just fine.

[senseandsensibility]

7. This thread reminds me of liberals who won't fly a flag

because they think it shows support for chimp. The flag has nothing to do with chimp, and Christmas has nothing to do with the corporations that control the chimp and the media. Listen to your own heart, and decide for yourself what these symbols mean to YOU.

[cynatnite]

11. Already done...

I don't fly the flag and won't until the boy king is gone and will give the holiday the official heave-ho. Don't need it to remind me to give to those who need it...not just one day out of the year, but also the other 364 days.

[Redstone]

8. So you don't like it? Dont' participate.

Sorry for sounding harsh, but there it is.

Redstone

[cynatnite]

12. Don't plan to...

I didn't think you sounded harsh at all, Red.

[Quantess]

90. Is there something we grinches can do about Christmas music polluting public spaces for 6 weeks?

Christmas music makes me extremely grumpy. I enjoy listening to the radio while I drive, but it gets difficult this time of year, because I have to turn the dial fast when a Christmas tune comes on. Christmas songs are all overplayed and tedious, and they are EVERYWHERE. It's hard to escape.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

10. HUMBUG....

I suppose you think that the holiday is more or less a blatant attempt at commercialism, and getting people to buy stuff. Kind of like Valentine's Day is a windfall for candy companies and flower shops.

Well....you probably would be right. But I'm sure you will hear a lot of flack from people who "love" the holiday season, for various reasons. Few of which have to actually do with the holiday or the sentiment behind it.

But how many people really are into it for that reason alone? You know....the holiday and it's meaning. Because after you take away all the decorations, eliminate the vacation days, toss the cartons of egg nog, and discard the tree....you're still left with Christmas. A religious holiday for those who wish to celebrate the birth of Christ.

But the retailers wouldn't like that too much, so go out and SPEND, SPEND, SPEND. Whether it's for a tree, holiday cards, lights, presents, travel tickets, etc.....the economy needs you to SPEND. It wouldn't be Xmas without that.

[Ron Green]

13. I've done it both ways, Scrooge and happy celebrant, and I believe

the "happy celebrant" mode is better. It's still hard for me to get up the energy to do it right (obviously I have a bunch of unhappy baggage from Christmases 50 years ago), but I find that it's worth the effort.

[TommyO]

16. You do Ebeneezer proud!

"I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry"

[cynatnite]

19. Convenient that you missed this part:

What we give should have tangible value that goes to the care of those who need it and to help insure they have a future that doesn't require charity.

Basically, I'm saying our time, money and effort should go to more important things (helping those who need it and so on) other than filling a wishlist of crap and that it should happen more than one damn day out of the year.

Makes more sense to take the money that would've gone to a playstation game and instead give it to a food cabinet or something like that.

[TommyO]

44. I didn't miss it at all

I can assure you that there will be no Playstations under the O-family Christmas tree, and that there have been plenty of donations both in money and non-perishables to local food banks, along with sponsoring several families at a woman and children's shelter and teaching/mentoring some of those children.

My point is that your message reeks of a loathing for Christmas that puts you squarely in Ebeneezer's shoes as far as the bah-humbug factor goes.

[cynatnite]

50. Yeah, I'll take the bah-humbug...

I do loathe the holiday because it reeks of hypocrisy to the max. If you also notice I did write that it's society overall I was bitching about because I know not everyone is as I described. Fortunately, there are some good souls out there such as you and other DUer's who do their best year around which is as it should be.

[uppityperson]

17. Thanks for helping people who need food, clothing, shelter.

Thank you for being a good community member, and for not just 1 day a year. Happy Holidays to you.

[stillcool]

18. I tend to become a little

sensitive this time of the year. I do not celebrate the holidays. I barely do life. The responses on this board, not only to your post, but to many, leave me feeling very alone. Guilty of being a lapsed subscriber to the American Dream, and the entire spectacle.

[senseandsensibility]

21. Don't feel that way

Only you know if "celebrating" holidays or anything else is meaningful to you. That was my point upthread as well. I feel that most people, even on DU, seem to worry about either what others think of them, or what others want them to do. I fall victim to that as well. But I am much happier when I don't.:)

[stillcool]

30. I must have not been clear...

as.. what others think is not relevant. I feel deeply, and those feelings are mine alone to own. The hypocrisy, the lack of empathy...there is so much about the holiday season and our society at this time which drips with irony. And it's sad. And it's sadder yet, that so many choose to not see.

[cynatnite]

22. It's surprising...

as much bitching that goes on here about corporate greed, sheeple, consumerism and all that, there would be more saying 'yeah, we should be more mindful of the poor, the hungry and the suffering'.

Instead I get accused of being superior and one post that insinuates I don't give a damn about those who do without on a daily basis.

Guess I'm a lousy American. :sarcasm:

More jaded now than I was when I started this thread.

[Quantess]

84. I really liked your OP.

People who have never had trouble mustering up holiday spirit just don't understand that some people resent being obligated to be joyous and merry.

YAYYYY it's the holidays! Sing along with Burl Ives about Jack Frost nipping at your nose, and that dumb song about having the snowman asking the couple if they're married, (the one that goes "perspire as we sit by the fire".)

[physioex]

24. Dont worry about everyone else does.....

I don't celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense, such as trees, ornamets etc...But I do take time to help charities like Toys for Tots. Do something nice for yourself and help out another person if only in a small way if you are able.....

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. There's room for us all stillcool.

:toast:

[stillcool]

48. thank you...I do believe..

in the good that is in us all...sometimes it's just so hard to see.:toast:

[MichiganVote]

23. you're right, you're a scrooge

[KoKo]

25. Welcome Back..TIME WARP....Late 60's and Early 70's when what

you say would have been "THE NORM." All of us who gave "homemade presents" wrapped in paper that was from our kids drawings or newspaper with colorful bows of "hand dyed wool" would have applauded what you are saying..what maybe 40 years later?

We tried giving our kids real wood toys (from local American producers) and real food and real homemade games based on what Early American kids found fun...and when the Kids Grew Up they rejected this for "Dot Com Mania" and now the "Housing Boom."

Things go in phases. What's sad is that what we tried to do to "Minimalize Christmas" and bring it back to what Jesus might have been okay with...sort of got trashed by the "Go Get Em CONSUMERISM of the Late 80's and through 90's until now.

Some of us have "been there and done that." We understand what Al Gore is saying because he BUILDS on what Jimmy Carter was SAYING in the late 70's.

But..having watched it all we wonder...is this just the latest phase of "Never heard this before...it must be NEW!" from our Media cautioning us to be careful...when we WERE and NO ONE..Even OUR KIDS...seemed to listen then...and will anyone sustain it and LISTEN NOW?

Will Anyone? :shrug:

[hedgehog]

26. You know, Jesus himself was criticized for partying too much.

It's up to each one of us to determine for ourselves the balance between enjoying life and helping others to enjoy life. I know people who celebrate Christmas but not the birth of Christ, and their Christmas is pretty empty. Of course celebrating Christ's birthday with a tree covered with lights is absurd. Is it any more absurd or wonderful than the notion that Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us? I know that the atheists among us don't believe in that title, but sucks to be them.That's their choice.

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. Your post is offensive.

[blondeatlast]

43. Agreed. nt

[blondeatlast]

41. I'm a devoted follower of Christ and I've known Christians whose celebration of Christmas are empty.

Church every Sunday, but they have never challenged their faith and felt the glory of His answer.

I know pagans. atheists, and Wiccans who enjoy the holiday with family, friends, and me, a devoted follower of Jesus and we all experience the spirit in the season better than most of the Christians I know.

They don't feel the Spirit (big S intentional) like I do with people who love, enjoy, and respect each other.

Christ enriches my life, He isn't the whole of it, and I suspect He prefers it that way.

[sarcasmo]

29. I agree, nothing more than a Corporate mega Holiday. This thing you

call Christmas makes or breaks a retail stores year. I think it's a JOKE what this holiday has become.

[seabeyond]

31. is this the way it is for your personally?

[sarcasmo]

32. Coming from an Atheist stand point. YES.

[seabeyond]

33. coming from an atheist, you swing both ways, first stating it is a joke

of course you could feel that being an atheist, and i am suppose to take that???? for what? yet.... you allow it to be about buying things, and none of the tradition, love joy laughter family..... admitting it. so this is what it is for you

that is your choice

how you chose to live this holiday

i wouldnt want it either

that isnt how so many exprience it though. so our experience is not the same as yours,.... even close. and being a christian, or not being a christian, really doesnt have everything to do with this holiday

i would say enjoy your way, but i feel you will make real sure you dont,.... so will just wish you a good new year,.... unless all the boozin the night before is one big joke too. i personally would agree with you on that. not being a big drinker myself.

[sarcasmo]

70. The word CHRIST is in the Holiday? How can it have nothing to do with Christmas?

I don't drink so "boozin" isn't a joke to me it's a disease. On edit: I said it's a JOKE what this holiday has become. If that offends you, put me on ignore.

[seabeyond]

77. you dont drink ergo drinking booze is a disease. you arent christian ergo christmas

is a joke.

offends me not. i can not be something, or not do something and still be fine, even embrace differing belief or thought. wonderful thing about loving our individual diversity

[Quantess]

91. Absolutely!

Why else would Christmas officially begin the day after Thanksgiving? It's to encourage people to shop.

As scrooge-y as I seem, I actually enjoy the celebration that occurs on the 24th and 25th. I would enjoy it even more if I weren't already sick of the 6 weeks of pre-Christmas hype, and the pressure to exchange gifts.

[Dick Diver]

34. So don't celebrate it. (n/t)

[FooFootheSnoo]

35. I love Christmas!!

And it's not about shopping to me. I do give presents, but I don't spend tons of money. I just love the decorations, the lights, getting together with family and friends, and carols. I love going to mass on Christmas Eve. I didn't have a great childhood and we didn't have much money, but my mom always did Christmas right, so I have a lot of good childhood memories of Christmas. I don't think it's bogus at all. The whole season is great. It's wonderful to have a time of year when we celebrate life.

[VOX]

36. Christmas has been turned into a vulgarity, but you can make it meaningful...

I agree with you about the big forced march as dictated by money and greed.

But you can carve out a few days at this time of year to do something that will resonate with you -- you could help out at a shelter, visit some very lonely folks at a convalescent home, volunteer with a youth organization, etc. You can even go into retreat, if you make the time worthwhile by reading and contemplating things other than the crass commercialization going on.

Whatever has meaning for you, whatever gives you **life** -- do that!

And yes, Merry Christmas! :thumbsup:

[ScreamingMeemie]

45. Me? I'm hanging out with my family and baking cookies.

And giving gifts and relaxing. Nothing wrong with that. It's not about the stores and the charge cards.

[bobbolink]

49. Wadda GRINCH!

:hi: :evilgrin: :hi:

[VenusRising]

53. It sounds like you could do with a healthy dose of

Festivus.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

55. "I got a lot of problems with you people!"

:rofl:

[VenusRising]

58. A Festivus Tradition:

:rofl: :rofl:

[knitter4democracy]

56. Come sit by our fire. Do you need a hat? I'm making a few.

We're scaling back this year, but I'm still planning on doing some baking, and Hubby's planning a lovely dinner. I make good cookies. :)

I listened to a wonderful podcast for my faith the other day on how we should really celebrate Christmas. It's given me some ideas on how to do it right. You're right--we are in the midst of a fast and should be acting like it, not like drunks wandering from store to store to get our fix.

[THUNDER HANDS]

57. wow, i'd hate to be your kid

christmas is for children, and people who want to act like children and give and get presents. Materialism isn't always a bad thing.

[cynatnite]

59. Materialism in the extreme is...

When people are killing each other over a PS3, spending hundred and thousands of dollars on gifts, boozing it up and all the while there is poverty, hunger and suffering going on in the world...to me that sounds like society has got some fucked up priorities.

on edit: Since you feel the need to comment on my attitude in regards to my kids I'll say this. I have three great kids who think of others first. They understand what it means to give and to help those who can't help themselves. Teenage daughter started a food drive after Katrina hit at her high school. We had three pickup loads of food and other necessities.

That's what I taught my kids and that's what you and everyone else should be teaching their kids.

[THUNDER HANDS]

62. good for you

i'm glad your kids show such a fine, moral sensitivity. You taught them well.

I don't see any reason why you can't toss them a gift or two during the holidays though. Reward them for their goodness. Even if it's something practical and not necessarily mindless entertainment gifts.

[mondo joe]

75. There's no reason you can't have parties, alcohol and gifts and still

care about - and work on - those important issues.

[mentalsolstice]

60. I'm Christian but...

...for those who don't believe, I say think of it as a nice winter solstice (which actually is part of the origin of the holiday). I don't care for the consumerism of the holiday. On the other hand, I get pissed at those who insist on pushing their brand of Christianity down others' throats.

But I do love the parties and seeing people I haven't seen in awhile.

I respect that there are many who do not share my religious beliefs...and I don't want them to feel "put upon"...but I would say go with the flow and enjoy the opportunity to get together with those you care for...cherish the good times regardless of the holiday on the calendar.

[Jcrowley]

61. Pretty much so

I still like the tree part.

[Radical Activist]

63. Jesus wasn't even born in this time of year.

Assuming their was a Jesus, the traditional celebration date of his birth was changed by the Catholic Church.

[kineneb]

64. just tired this year

I am in a Christmas production and I am getting plenty of seasonal music, etc. But I am just tired, and poor. I don't feel like decorating the house, so we will bring our little live tree and put some ornaments and candles on it. (Yes, I use Real Candles on my tree, just the way my German ancestors did.) And on the evening of the 24th we will light the candles.

I did not buy anything this year except a rock hammer and geology book for Hubby. Everything else is handmade.

[Seeking Serenity]

65. Thanks for the buzzkill, Scrgoogie, ol' sock.

I'm sorry you have such a dour view of the holiday season, but that is your choice.

But did you mean for, or did you know in advance that, your rant would be a depressant for those of us who do and want to enjoy the holiday season?

And your comment up above about (paraphrasing) "celebrating the while there is poverty, hunger and suffering going on in the world" is a little cliche, don'cha think? Yes, we should all give more, but donning sackcloth and ashes and eternally lamenting the plight of the less fortunate gets a bit tiresome after a while, IMO. Will my being as dour and "humbugish" as you make the suffering go away?

Frankly, I prefer to have some joy in my life. Seeing my children's faces on Christmas morning brings me an immense feeling of joy. Gathering with friends around a fire and a warm drink during the holiday season brings me joy. Seeing the lights illuminated as darkness falls ever earlier and earlier this time of year brings me joy.

Sure there are some negative aspects to the direction the holiday has taken, but I choose not to dwell and ruminate on those things. It's a buzzkill.

Y'know, it was the Puritans in New England who first banned Christmas here.

Froeliche Weinachten zu alles!

(edit to correct typo)

[cynatnite]

66. Yeah, I'm a buzzkill for thinking of others...

I put my thoughts out there and it's up to you and others on what you do with them. If you allow my negativity towards the holiday to drag you down, there is nothing I can do about that. You're more than welcome to reject my opinion and stick to your own.

Maybe what I said was cliche, but it's true to. And no, I'm not expecting people to sell their houses and give away all their worldly goods to those who they think deserve it. My point was that all this good wishing for peace on earth and giving should be celebrated throughout the year and not only the one day. Too often we see the donation drives and whatnot spike around the holidays and at times of great travesty. Too few people think about the rest of the year when there wasn't a Katrina or tsunami.

And I'm not sure where you got the idea I have no joy in my life. Got tons. I just get pissed off and jaded when I see so damn much wasted on commercialism and society drinking it down like koolaid. So many are doing without while those who have it get into the holiday spirit to the degree that they forget the people with practically nothing.

Call me a buzzkill or whatever. I've already gotten the grinch and scrooge labels so what's one more.

Rather than ignore, why not try giving. When you have your friends and family over send around the empty egg nog container and tell them we have much to be thankful for, but there are those doing without. Let's give a little. Doing it more than once a year would be nice, too.

[RiverStone]

67. I completely share your rant, but...

I've evolved to not raining on other peoples Christmas parade. Try to keep it to myself. To each his own eh?

My kids & I do Solstice on the 21st. Very simply. No lights or tinsel. Hand crafted gifts and a living tree.

On the Christain holiday, I'll be far away from it all; soaking in some mountain hotsprings with my girlfriend. The jingle bells will be buried deep under the snow drifts, and I won't even know what day it is...

[GreenZoneLT]

68. You're a scrooge.

And a wet blanket. Bet you're fun at parties. Merry Christmas, and lighten up, Francis.

[onenote]

71. Yes, indeedy.

[mondo joe]

72. I'm a pro-pleasure progressive. I think toys are cool.

I have no religion, so no religious aspect to any holiday.

But I do like to have parties and give gifts.

[liberalhistorian]

73. I'm sorry you feel that way, but you need to separate

the true holiday from the way SOME people are and the crass commercialism. If Christmas has become far too commercialized, which, indeed, it has, then it's our fault for sitting back and letting it happen. Yes, there are plenty of people who only care about themselves and what they'll get, but fortunately there are many, many more who think of others and try to selflessly help. Don't focus on the negative, focus on the TRUE meaning of the holiday and then go out and see how you can help others experience that true meaning. THAT is what it's all about. If you let the negative overtake you, you will just end up angry and bitter and there's no point in that.

[phusion]

74. I agree. n/t

[Jennicut]

76. I was agnostic until I met my husband

He is a church organist for a Lutheran church. My parents always left it up to me and my older brother about going to church and I wanted to believe in Jesus and God but just had to many questions. I once went to a CAtholic church with a friend from high school and was so turned off, too formal and cold. My husband started taking me to his church when we first met in college and its a real laid back church. The pastor is really young and open to lots of ideas. It is definately not pushed in your face. I got baptised five years ago at age 25 and started to take communion. I believe Jesus was a good man who tried to spread love and good will to all people and especially the poor. Not too fond of some stuff in the bible but I attend church because I believe in Jesus's teachings. Not even sure some of the bible is even true and I am convinced alot of it is metaphor/symbolism. I think Christmas is a holiday for me to focus on doing/giving to other people. I give simple gifts like pictures of my two girls (ages 1 and 2) to my family. I think it has become overly commercialized but I love what Christmas was originally supposed to represent. I love watching all the 60's and 70's Rankin/Bass cartoons with my girls (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,etc.) because they all have good morals/lessons about kindness and accepting differences. I think any person, even atheist and agnostic can take something out of those lessons.

[chaska]

78. Christmas, as currently practiced, should be offensive to Christians....

I'm an atheist, but I respect Jesus. I think the crass commercialization of this holiday would be highly offensive to the one it supposedly celebrates. Jesus would give to the poor, and not to one's rather too comfortable fellows.

I feel shut out of Christmas. At a certain point it just becomes too digusting, and your only option is to not participate.

It's tough being an idealist.

[bleedingheart]

79. I really don't fall into the buying stuff part...I like the decorations

the food, the family, the friends...the parties and the cooking and the fun we have together...

I can do entirely without the gift giving shit though.

[BluePatriot]

80. Best the masses think of world peace one day a year than never at all (nt)

[earth mom]

81. I understand where you're coming from...there is much of the Holiday Season

that I just can't stand either. The ugly and crass commercialization of being sold to at every turn the latest and greatest toy, video game system or gadget is what I hate the most. So much of the Holiday Season is fake and being the idealist I am I want the promise of the Holiday Season to be REAL. Alas, in the real world we live in it's NOT, so I try and make it real and make it happen in my small little world by focusing on what's most meaningful to me-my family, my home, my pets, a few extended family members, getting in touch with a few old friends, enjoying nature at this time of year and giving to others less fortunate when/where I can. I would love to downsize the family gift giving and instead give mostly to those less fortunate and only exchange a single handmade gift apiece to my husband and child, but they would never go for that, so I am forced to participate in the consumer aspect of the holidays. However, I do it on my terms, like using coupons, or shopping when there are few crowds or shopping on-line. I work hard to avoid the b.s. of it all as much as possible.

I think you were right to post this thread and remind us all that the Holiday Spirit should be REAL and should be practiced all year long, not just once a year. :thumbsup:

[Quantess]

82. I'm sick of all December holidays.

I don't mind people saying Merry Christmas, as long as they ONLY say it on the 24th and the 25th. If someone tells me to have a Merry Christmas on the 15th, I feel like saying, "it's not Christmas!"
Why must "the holidays" last 6 weeks!?!
Why must we be subjected to Christmas music ad nauseum for 6 whole stinkin' weeks!?!

Where's my holiday spirit, you say? Here's what I feel like doing: I'm going to buy a can of spray-on-snow, and write on my living room window: "GO APE SHIT ON CHRISTMAS"
There's my holiday spirit.

x( :thumbsdown:

[Midlodemocrat]

83. I'm going all out this year.

My husband survived devastating heart surgery, we lost his dad and we plan to make it the biggest, baddest Midlo Christmas ever.

I'm sorry that makes me bad in your eyes, but in actuality, I don't really care. I donate a TON to charity, not just during the holidays, but all year long.

I don't feel a whit guilty about the tree, the decor, or the expensive gifts under the tree this year. Not one bit.

[ComerPerro]

85. the terribly unfortunate thing about Christmas is that

its the only time of year when most people aren't complete assholes all the fucking time. And they want credit for it, for "having Christmas cheer" and "helping their fellow man". Yeah, that's all well and good, but the fact that they only act that way one month of the year is just sickening.

[CrispyQ]

86. We "adopted" a family this year.

A local charity has an "Adopt-a-Family" program. The giving family/group gets a list from the receiving family (via the organization) & you shop for them. We asked for a family of four. There were two adults, a teenage girl & a 2 year old boy in 'our family.' Their list consisted of new tennis shoes for everyone, jeans for everyone, coats for the kids & mom & a watch for the dad. No requests for toys, although we bought a few books & a stuffed animal for the toddler. We spent about $400 & it was the most gratifying holiday shopping I've ever done!

My mother, who lives on a fixed income, absolutely refuses to give up Christmas. Last year she was in tears when I suggested she save her money & not buy us anything. "Oh please, just let me have Christmas!" :eyes: She will spend money she doesn't have, on crap I don't want or need, & it will end up at the local humane society thrift shop. :crazy:

Ba! Humbug!

[ComerPerro]

87. Christmas is that magical time of year when people get together and worship money

[SmokingJacket]

88. YOUR Christmas may well be a crock of shit.

Mine's all right! I don't spend too much, I enjoy the music, the traditions.

We're humans, we need holidays to mark the passing of time. You know!

[slackmaster]

89. OK, you're a Scrooge

No lump of coal for you this year.

[shayes51]

92. I'm with you.

[trekbiker]

93. worst time of the year for me.... and my liver..

just got to get thru the next few weeks till I can come up for air in January. the crowds, the decorations, the crappy music drives me nuts. I cant even begin to face a shopping mall so I just give my sister a few hundred bucks to do it for me. And watching my incredibly spoiled niece and nephew chew thru a mountain of Xmas gifts is nauseating. there's no real value in it, nothing earned, nothing truly appreciated. America sleepwalks thru the malls buying crap while our empire ravages the world.. disgusting. but our whole commercial retail economy depends on this phoney made up holiday. (I do like thanksgiving however)

[dogday]

94. Ba Humbug nt

[Johnny Appleseed]

95. I prefer Halloween (nt)

[Toots]

97. By the 25th we can realize the sun is going to come back

I think that is worth celebrating. I like the sun...