K&R this if you actually like Christmas & the holidays, no matter how you spend it

[LynneSin]

Sorry, I for one will not be a predictable liberal and start bashing on the holidays. The holidays have always been tough for me - it was throughout Christmas season that my father suffered thru the late stages of lung cancer.

But despite Wal-Mart shoppers stampeding and greedy businesses that via for what dollars I have left, I do love the holidays because it does seem like a joyous time with both family and giving.

Because what few dollars I have I'll give some money to my nephews so they can fill up their gas tanks. And I'll find some bargains at Wal-mart with toys that I can donate to "Toys for Tots"

Whatever Holiday you celebrate if you celebrate, somehow we find the way to remember what is dear to us. And this holiday is more joyous than ever even if I'm broke and uncertain about my job - because we have a new president coming.

So please, let me see the hope here at DU that we're not just a bunch of grinches trying to hijack the DU homepage with anti-holiday spirit and living up to those who portray us liberals as 'Anti-Christmas/Hanukkah,Kwanzaa,Festivus,Holidays,<Fill-in-the-blank>. I know that's not the DU I've come to spend 7 holiday seasons with.

[madmom]

1. I have 3 granddaughters ages 2,4,&5 therfore I LOVE Christmas! : )

[emilyg]

3. I have 2 grandsons - 5 and 16 - I love Christmas.

[roguevalley]

164. I love Christmas. I love the music, food and good natured feeling

that comes, the hopefulness that permeates things for me. I don't believe in bashing other people's sacred days, especially this one. Jesus came to the world to help us learn to love one another. Even
if its not the exact day, it honors one of the heroes of my life, Jesus.

[JI7]

2. i do, it's my favorite time of year

mostly because i like the colder weather.

[mamameow]

113. me too!!!

i like christmas because it herald's the cooler weather but it brings the lights, the smells of christmas. my favorite memories of christmas are the tree, lights(bubble lights) and old glass ornaments. i loved sleeping under the tree. my parents would leave enough space for me. i would wake up very early, go downstairs and look at the wrapped gifts. i never unwrapped the presents because i had snooped days earlier and knew what everyone was getting. i would just crawl under the tree and go back to sleep looking up into the tree and the lights. today i live away from my kids and am single and alone. not unhappy but a little lonesome for those earlier christmas times. now i get joy in giving to my grandkids.

[Number23]

169. I'm in Australia so Christmas will be hotter than Hades this year

And it's still a time of year that I love. :) If for no other reason than my entire little family can come together for two whole weeks without anyone having to rush off to work.

There are way too many folks on DU that live up (down??) to every nasty stereotype of liberals. Every single one of them. So thanks to LynneSin for this thread. Happy to rec.

[JDPriestly]

4. Kick and recommend.

We don't make a lot over the material aspects. We just enjoy being together and just being together . . . . We exchange small gifts and lots of love. It's the way you love your family that blesses your Christmas.

[Forkboy]

5. I'm not anti-Christmas, I just have no use for it.

My family isn't that close (we get along fine, but live in different areas, and we aren't very sentimental), no kids (who the holiday is really for anyways, to me at least), and no significant other. I don't have any problem with others celebrating it, but I do wish it was less commercial than it is.

Three of the last four Decembers have brought shitty things to my life, so I'm just hoping to get through the month without coming down with Ebola or something. :)

I love the Heat Mizer though!!!!

[verges]

122. I liked Snow Mizer better myself!

Dick Shawn was a true comic genius!

btw: I saw in the paper today that there is a new sequel this year. Mickey Rooney(Santa) and George Irving(Heat Mizer) are reprising their roles. Dick Shawn is, alas, no longer with us.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

184. The Heat Miser reminds me of McCain.

Obama is totally the Snow Miser.

[sandnsea]

6. It's hard to be broke with kids

been there and I feel for anybody who is in that boat. But since I'm not now, I am just grateful for any little thing that we do have. It is funny to me that some people who are posting about their trimmed down holiday are actually having a holiday bigger than we ever have. The adults trade names, and then we each get one gift for each of the kids. That's it. Nobody feels deprived. Sometimes we play one of those gag gift games or something. But mostly we're just glad we can all be together.

[LynneSin]

18. I told my family they need not get gifts for me

Sure, my mother will give me a few items (which I already picked out) but I know my step-sister & her family are struggling and told them to not worry about me.

I have a ton of points with my credit cards so I plan on giving the nieces & nephews all gift cards (well except one niece - I was shopping with her and bought her a pair of jeans she really wanted). I know the gift card thing seems kinda cheap but it allows me to give them what I've given in past years without emptying what little savings I have left.

[InvisibleTouch]

7. I enjoy the holiday trappings.

I'm not a Christian, but I love the decorations and colored lights, Christmas trees, candles, cards and gift-giving, etc. I have family members who are staunch atheists and can't bring themselves to enjoy even that - though I try to explain to them that they can enjoy the decor and the season without having to give it a religious significance. It's either/or with some people, I guess.

[Nay]

79. I also love the trees and lights, despite being an atheist. I also like buying

a few gifts for Sonny Nay and Grandson Nay. We actually open presents on the winter solstice, so as to miss the whole religious thing on the 25th. Mr Nay and I agreed not to get gifts for each other this year -- we have everything we want or need. We did donate money to the local food bank and are helping a family that's had its home burn down. Imagine THAT little gift for the holidays -- everything you own goes up in flames. Yikes.

I have always found the holidays very restful because we don't run around like crazy people, its often cold and a great time for hot chocolate and soups, walking the neighborhood is cheery, and we NEVER shop -- esp around the holidays. It's a good homebody time of year.

[Liberal_in_LA]

107. Me too. I love the holidays in a secular way

[Mind_your_head]

8. I can 'give' and love my family and friends ANYTIME of the year!

Maybe it's even 'better' that way...."totally unexpected" by them. It's just me seeing their wants/needs at that time and saying/doing for them what they cannot do/get/have for themselves.

It requires PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS, no matter what time of year it is.

As much as I used to love Christmas time, I'm 'down to the bone' tired of the insincerity that it has become. That is all....I'm 'done' with christmas, as I have been 'living/doing' it the past 20-25 years. No more.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear LynneSin!

I LOVE the holidays!

It's a time to be giving and making sure everyone has a great time...

I'm no Grinch!

K&R

[Norrin Radd]

10. Love the fall and midwinter festivals, except for New Year's parties.

[grace0418]

11. It'll be a weird holiday this year, but I enjoy them nonetheless. My M-I-L was taken to the ER

the day before Thanksgiving and now it's been determined that she has Leukemia. So she'll be getting chemo over the next month at least because they want to get started on treatment right away. Don't know what that's going to do to Christmas but we'll just have to see.

My sister just had a double mastectomy in September and will probably starting chemo soon as well. So lots of worry going on in the two sides of my family this year.

It's also quite possible that I may be getting laid off next week. My boss was making very cryptic comments that left me really wondering (and who isn't running scared right now in this economy?).

So, like I said, this year is going to be a little weird. But we'll do our best. With everything going on, I won't have time to do the one thing I enjoy the most: make tons of homemade Christmas gifts. Last year I silkscreened reusable grocery totes with one of my own illustrations, then filled them with various eco-friendly goodies depending on the tastes of the recipient. They were a HUGE hit and really fun to make, and I didn't have to do any wrapping because the bags functioned as gift bags! But this year, I just don't have the time. That's bumming me out a lot. I am determined at least to make my cards and then we'll make a donation to the American Cancer Society in lieu of buying gifts.

[illuminaughty]

15. I'm so sorry you're going through all that.

Can I throw a ray of hope your family's way? The father of one of my student's(she is like a daughter to me) was diagnosed with leukemia about five years ago the week of Thanksgiving. He was never expected to make it. He was one of the first people in the country to live through some of the procedures they did. (kidney transplant being one of them). He's almost 60 and doing great...is back to fishing in Canada, playing poker at the casino boats..it's amazing.

Tonight I went to my doctor's surprise 50th birthday party. His son was diagnosed with leukemia in 1996. He was there tonight...a senior in high school and he's doing great. And I have two other friends who are leukemia survivors. It used to be such a death sentence but they have made amazing progress with all cancer treatment.

Hope your job works out ok. Hang in there!

[grace0418]

65. Thanks illuminaughty. I feel pretty calm right now, like everything is going to work

out for the best. Maybe not "the best" as I have envisioned it in the past, but the best in the overall scheme of things. I've heard a lot of good things about leukemia treatment in recent years, and thank you for adding your stories.

If the job goes, then I guess I'll have time to make Christmas gifts, right? :) Plus I'll be able to help my m-i-l. The money is going to be a big problem because we've been working on our house a lot and spending a lot of our savings to do it. But we have no debt other than our mortgage, our cars our paid off and (knock on wood) in good shape, we always pay our credit cards, and my husband has a good job. So we'll be okay. Not great, but better than many people.

Anyway, thanks for your love and encouragement.

:hug:

[Bette Noir]

61. Good luck to you.

I hope your job works out.

Your MIL and sister will need chemo caps, in case the chemo causes them to lose their hair. Make them some festive ones, in Christmas colors. Fleece caps only take a few minutes to make. If you have the time and skills, knit or crochet ones are even nicer. Be sure the fabric or fiber involved is soft, since it'll be worn next to skin.

Happy all holidays.

[grace0418]

66. Great idea on the hats! I have a lot of fleece and even old sweaters that I recycle

into other things. Thanks for your kind words. :hug:

Happy Holidays to you as well.

[blondeatlast]

154. I've just rediscovered my teenage love for crochet and there are lots of free

patterns on the web for these; all very quick and inexpensive.

[Kajsa]

85. I'm so sorry you are dealing with

so much this season.

:hug:

[grace0418]

145. Thank you Kajsa.

It will all turn out for the best I think. Thanks for the hugs! :hug: back atcha.

[Not Sure]

112. That's terrible. My MIL went to ICU on Wed with a heart attack.

Now my wife is sick with the flu after hanging around in the ER and ICU. It's been an interesting holiday, especially since the Old Man (me) had to cook the Thanksgiving dinner for the girls. They get points for eating my cooking.

[grace0418]

144. How is your MIL doing now?

That was good of you to take over the cooking. Thanks for the well wishes and I hope your MIL and wife recover soon. :hug:

[Not Sure]

200. She's recovering slowly, but the overall pronosis is not good.

She has lost half her heart to chf and she already has a mitral valve prolapse, so it's difficult to say how long she has. I don't know how long she'll survive out of the hospital when she's finally released, to be honest.

I sure hope things turn out okay for you and yours the rest of this holiday season. As for me and the cooking, well my peanut butter cookies were a hit tonight, so I might have redeemed myself for leaving the giblets in the pouch inside the turkey. Doh!

[grace0418]

201. I'm sorry to hear that. I hope that the rest of her life is as comfortable as possible

and that she gets to be surrounded by loved ones. You're family is in my thoughts. Christmas is a hard time to lose a loved one. My grandmother (the only grandparent I even knew) died on Christmas morning when I was 10. She had a good death, very quick and while she was doing her favorite thing: baking. It was a rough Christmas for us though.

Thanks again for your kind words. We got some good news today. Her cancer is the most treatable form of leukemia. She's also in overall good heath aside from the cancer so she has an excellent chance of staying strong throughout the chemotherapy. I may not agree with her and my FIL on much (they're hyper-uber-Catholic and very conservative), but they are loving people and I know my husband, his siblings and my nieces would be devastated if they lost her any time soon.

Yeah, you gotta take that bag out of the turkey. LOL! But don't worry, LOTS of people do that. :)

[emilyg]

183. I am sorry. hugs to you and yours.

[grace0418]

198. Thank you emilyg!

I just found out that the kind of leukemia my MIL has is the most treatable, so that's great news.

I was also able to get into the office today and back up all my personal files. So at least if I get fired tomorrow I won't have to fight them to get my personal stuff. I didn't have time to start quietly packing my stuff, but maybe I'll go in early tomorrow.

Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good tonight with a little accomplishment and some good news.

:hug:

[Breeze54]

12. I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!!

I love it! I love the lights, the cheer in the air,

the decorations, the people, the LOVE ALL AROUND ME...

YES!! I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!! :hug:

[Crunchy Frog]

13. K&R.

[murielm99]

14. I love the holidays.

I love everything about them. I don't care if they are my holidays, or if they are Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any of the others. I love what they represent to families.

We have some traditions in our family that have nothing to do with shopping or receiving gifts. We like to get together, to share our time and enjoy ourselves, even if we have to wait until a few days before or after the actual holiday. It doesn't matter if we are all together on the same day, or if we meet where and when we can.

When I was a fourth-grader, one of my friends was very poor. She was not going to have a Christmas. Some people got together and made a Christmas for her and her family. She told me about it later. She really thought that Santa had come to her house, even though her mom told her that there would be no Santa that year. She told me that she would always believe, because she chose to believe.

I have loved Christmas ever since. And every year, I try to find a way to make Christmas good for someone, just like it was all those years ago for my friend who will always believe in Santa.

[Pushed To The Left]

16. K&R! I love the holidays. n/t

[Kind of Blue]

17. I've been a bah-humbugger for so long but I woke up

at 2:00 a.m. full of vigor and vim, and turned on the television to the Songs of the Seasons music station playing Xmas carols. I went into a mad cleaning frenzy, preparing for Xmas (luckily my husband works overnights). It hit me that I've not been in the mood for 8 YEARS! Don't have much money but just now found out about the DU stores with so many affordable items from one link, and I'm ordering gifts of Peace signs on t-shirts, buttons, anything I can find. Now, if I can just find a Peace sign to top my tree I'll be set. HOORAH for XMAS!

[Breeze54]

20. (((( tcdq))))

:hug: to you and yours!!

May you find renewed LOVE for all!!

:grouphug:

[Kind of Blue]

23. Thank you! Got goosebumps reading your response.

That's what it's really all about isn't it? I am sending the Love and Light right back atacha! O8) :fistbump:

[Breeze54]

27. I needed that and I just dropped my phone...

:grr:

:hug:

:loveya:

[Breeze54]

19. I LOVE YOU, LynneSin, even if we've disagreed in the past... I love you.

I think I always have but I digress and getting back to your OP point?

YES!

I love the holidays and the showing of LOVE is just so... warm and tender

and ... makes me have a tear in my eye... :cry:

I love the Holidays!!

It allows me the venue to express my love, for all, that I care about.

:hug:

I mean that... genuinely.

:loveya:

[LynneSin]

22. hey no problem with those who disagree with me

those are the ones that make this place fun!

:pals:

[SeattleGirl]

21. I love the holidays!

And yes, I recognize the sad underbelly of them, and the commercialization of them, but that's not what it's about for me. It's about my family and my friends; it's about finding the perfect gift for someone (regardless of cost; just something that they will really appreciate and love); it's about telling stories of childhood, and laughing until we cry. It's about remembering (and acting on) the child within.

I know a lot of people don't feel that way, and that's fine. I do, though, and I won't let others try to tell me how I should feel (and I won't tell them how to feel either).

I love the holidays.

[Breeze54]

28. ((( SeattleGirl )))

That was just beautiful!!

:loveya:

:hug:

[Berry Cool]

36. Same here.

I discard the aspects I don't like, and celebrate the ones I do. That simple.

[Adsos Letter]

24. K & R!!!

...ho, ho, ho...

[Breeze54]

29. Lo, Lo, LO...LOL!!!

:D

[slay]

25. Personally I don't need a socially dictated christian holiday to tell me when to enjoy my family

But that's just who I am - and I don't see anything wrong with it. I like to think I'm not a too much of a dick about it though. If someone actually enjoys this "holiday" then go for it and have a great time! :) :evilgrin:

[Breeze54]

31. I'm not a "socially dictated christian" but I LOVE parties!!!

:D

:toast:



MEANS .... PEACE!




:hi:

:hug:

[Toasterlad]

81. It's Not Exactly a Christian Holiday

People have been celebrating around this time of the year pretty much since there have been people. Like most of our modern holidays, Christmas was adapted from pagan traditions.

"God bless those pagans" - Homer Simpson

P.S. I LOVE Christmas time - not just because I love tradition, but because I've always looked upon it as a huge social experiment: we're told that people are nicer around this time of year, so people actually try to be nicer, inspiring other people to be nicer...

[tosh]

138. It is the pagan traditions that I love.

I like coming home at night and relaxing with a glass of wine or some other spirit in front of a decorated tree.

I like giving special care to the planning & preparation of food during this time.

I like gathering up a few surpises for my cats, and edible treats for my dogs.

I like, in years when time permits, gathering as many friends as possible together to celebrate...ANYTHING.

I like to see the anticipation & wonder in the faces of children.

[clyrc]

26. I love Christmas! I also love Thanksgiving, Easter, Halloween,

and even the 4th of July. I just love holidays. I love making special holiday food, buying presents for family and friends, and listening to holiday music. I also love every birthday but my own. I figure it's part of my personality.

[JVS]

30. K&R. How could I not love the year's best opportunity to see my family?

[Donnachaidh]

32. my son was born on Christmas Eve

And while it's a HORRIBLE time to have a birthday (you try to have a birthday party on Christmas Eve -- doesn't happen with ease) I love the HOLIDAY.

What I HATE is the stores putting out Christmas stuff in AUGUST. I HATE seeing Christmas trees being put up on THANKSGIVING. I HATE blowup plastic CRAP like a snowman in a rowboat. I HATE seeing Christmas lights turned on on Thanksgiving.

There used to be a breathing spell between Thanksgiving and Christmas. People didn't start getting frantic about the Holidays in October. Yes, we had shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but people weren't acting like animals because stores set up early time frames for sales.

We weren't DRIVEN to blindly consume for weeks on end. And families made unhurried plans to see each other, and there was no competition about who bought the best (usually the most expensive) gift.

[H2O Man]

33. Nominated.

I like to sit with my best friend/wife, and watch the lights on the tree.

[Martin Eden]

34. I like the holidays because my wife and step daughter LOVE Christmas

It's very special to them. It makes them happy, so it makes me happy.

If you let the Bill O'Reilly's and Walmarts of the world ruin it for you, you've let them win.

Sorry, but I REFUSE to let them win.


K&R

[knitter4democracy]

35. As hard as the holidays are for me, I still love them.

My parents made the holidays hellish for me as a kid, constantly fighting over them, and now my husband's leaving me (just found out last Friday, just in time for Thanksgiving). That said, I love the holidays for my kids. I love the decorating, the baking, and all of the fun stuff. They've helped me find the spirit of the season again. Add in our Christmas Eve service, and I finally feel at peace with the season.

[blondeatlast]

37. Love them; this one especially. Husband wasn't here for T-day andwe are moving to the Czech Republic

possibly as soon as the New Year(as I mentioned to you regarding the inauguration.

I'm appreciating the chance for my family to get together and the fact that we are very close all the more. Not to mention that my house is dripping with seasonal decorations--my favorite preeping activity (I even decorated the yard outside for DAYTIME as well as night!).

[sufrommich]

38. I love Christmas,everything about it. The visits with

family and friends,the decorating,the opening of gifts,the cooking,etc. The only thing I don't like is the shopping,but I do most of that online now.

[taterguy]

39. K & R with no snark

For once

[gratefultobelib]

40. Absolutely--my favorite holiday!

[nashville_brook]

41. when i was a kid, there were years when there were no christmas presents...

we had some real rough times, and predictably my mother would get depressed, making things all the more difficult. it's completely dysfunctional, but as a kid I took it on myself to decorate and make cookies and try to pull the load best I could.

later, my marriage would break up fairly spectacularly days before christmas which was also our anniversary.

i guess i should be a bah-humbug kinda person, but i'm not. when i look inside for the feeling that i most connect with this time of year, i find hope. christmas marks the turning of the year thru its last notch into the new year. christmas is about what's to come. it's about family and friends, and having a little extra time away from work. i might dislike the way some people "do" christmas, but i can't not like christmas. it's not in my nature.

[ananda]

42. I love Christmas!

It's my favorite season of the year.

I just love it. Always have.

It's everything about it, all of it...
the spirituality of the Christ story,
the Dickens stories, the lights, the
spirit of giving and receiving presents,
the songs, the weather... just all of it.

And of course the movies, like White
Christmas and others.

Sue

[crispini]

43. Me

:hi:

[norepubsin08]

44. I am the one who put out the "if you can't stand Christmas" post

yesterday...I wanted to how many respond...my reaction to Christmas is from life circumstance. At seven my father died a week before Christmas, (from wounds sustained in the Vietnam War) with his funeral two days before Christmas. At fourteen my mother was given 6 months to live on December 16 of that year (She died February 3rd) When I was 31 my wife miscarried a child (6 months along) on December 31st. (We have two great children)

None of that really dampened my Christmas spirit. What did it was first as a foster child, I lived with a Lutheran ministers family. Christmas was nuts. I have sung all over the world as a soloist. One year (at 17) I wound up singing 78 times in 25 days. I now work for the Church, although I personally don't solo as often, it's worse...I am responsible for every service and event that takes place. None of that dampened my spirits...

What did it....the retailers...the greed, the emptiness of the secular aspect of the holiday...the culture war over Christmas and the expectation of buying a million presents of most of the stuff of which nobody really needs.

[goclark]

50. See my post below

I am not letting retailers control my passion for the season.

[LynneSin]

64. There's alot of bad stuff out there about the holidays but that doesn't make it bad

That just means we aren't buying into the commercialization of the holidays. But somehow, someway we still find a way to celebrate what the true spirit of the holidays is.

I saw you thread and guess what - it disgusted me. Sorry but that's the truth. It disgusted me because it was so predictable. Here we are waging our 'War against Christmas' with putting a thread on the home page that made it prominent that "Oh we're democrats and we hate Christmas".

But you know what - that isn't DU and that whole "War on Christmas" is a bogus idea created by conservatives to make it seem like we're trying to steal the holidays away and turn it into something cold. I just wanted to put out there and put one the DU homepage that we DUers are not like that. It's one thing to start a "I hate Xmas" thread - hell I would have chimed into all the stuff I hated about it. But to purposively put in on the DU homepage with one of those cheesy 'K&R this so I can get attention' threads is just wrong. Sorry but that's how I feel about it. I rarely do these kind of threads but I just wanted non-DUers who glance at the DU home page to see what we consider 'important' (what's made it to the DU home page) that anti-holiday spirit is not one of them.

[Toasterlad]

86. I'm Confused

If you didn't let any of the things that personally affected you and your family dampen your Christmas spirit, why would you the let the efforts of people you don't even know do so?

You can make Christmas whatever you want; it doesn't have to be about what's "expected" of you at all.

[Buzz Clik]

45. Christmas is a great holiday season. k&r

[Mad_Dem_X]

46. K&R - I love Christmas!

Despite the commercialism and the crowds, I love what the holiday stands for - "Peace on Earth, good will toward men." Spending time with loved ones, looking at all the decorations on everybody's house...I just love it.

[barbtries]

58. that's what it is to me

peace on earth good will toward men. every day should be.

[helderheid]

47. K&R I love the holidays

[Irishonly]

48. No Grinch Here

I love the feeling of Christmas although I am talking about my friends (online and person) and my family. We don't spend tons of money at Christmas and never have. The important part of Christmas to me is Advent. We know Jesus wasn't born on December 25th and why Christmas is celebrated the day it is.

I also love the secular part of Christmas. I have my Irish santas and my Hallmark singing snowmen. The Santa Claus Dog comes to my house. I don't bake or make nearly as much candy as I used to and I enjoy the holidays more than I ever did since I don't let them control me.

We each chose a charity and the money that would be spent on one gift is given to the charity of choice in that person's name. Small gifts are opened on Christmas morning and Christmas dinner with the family is the high point of the day. We attend a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Most evenings are spent with the candles lit.

I hate the phony war on Christmas. It has done so much harm. Not everyone celebrates Christmas and it shouldn't be forced on the whole country. I don't go to stores around Christmas. For some it brings out the worst and I get tired of my wheelchair being rammed and dirty looks because I take up too much room. A pack of Christmas cards lasts me for several years and are only sent to out of state family.

My daughter is grown up but watching the dogs see what goodies the Santa Claus Dog brought them is almost as good.

[goclark]

49. Love Christmas but my "gifts" will be good deeds

I have discussed this with 6 of my family/friends and we have happily agreed to not exchange gifts.

We will do something nice for each other.

One example is a family that is dear to us. The father is now dying with maybe 2 months to live.

I am going to sit with him for 3 hours or more so that they can be free to do what ever they want to do.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

51. I love Christmas - Out comes the ornaments & memories of my mother &

my sons' first Christmas, & their Kindergarten years - and right about then my eyes tear up (not me - just my eyes). In the background plays David Grisman's Acoustic Christmas (more memories of my youngest, the mandolin player) & a few more tears - darn those eyes. The family comes around, they bring people with them, we go to local craft sales and Christmas plays and musicals. New memories are created.

It is a sentimental time of year, because my mother's birthday and the day she passed were both in late December. So I shed a few tears, but also a few laughs - because as the family reminisces, we get to laughing about those less then perfect Christmases.

Christmas is the time of year when I try to thank people who have helped me during the year. I give simple gifts and cards expressing my gratitude for the things they've done.



Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[AwakeAtLast]

52. My daughter's Daisy Scout troop has adopted a mother and young child

It has been amazing watching these girls learn how to give to others. They are so excited! Ever since they started doing things for them, my daughter has become concerned about different things every day.

"Mommy, it's cold outside. Do you think they have enough blankets? We need to look in our closet."

"Mommy, do they have enough food? Let's make more sweet potato bread."

"Mommy, I like those socks. Let's get an extra pair for her."

It's already been a great holiday season and we haven't bought a thing. :)

Thanks for a great post, Lynne!

[AnotherMother4Peace]

59. These are wonderful lessons she is learning, & endearing memories being created.

Thanks for sharing - makes me love the holidays even more. My sons used to be Tiger Cubs and we used to go caroling at a home for elderly people, and then we shared hot chocolate, cookies, and stories with them.

[barbtries]

53. it's family time!

and since my youngest son and i are living thousands of miles away from our home and our family, even if there isn't a present under the tree WE WILL BE THERE and that makes my heart overflow with joy. we shared a turkey feast on thanksgiving just the two of us and took pictures to post immediately for our loved ones who are so far away. my oldest son and his family were at the home of my brother in morro bay, my middle son was eating spaghetti in eureka, and rory and i were in raleigh getting fat. and on christmas eve 2008, we will all be together in los angeles, CA, where we all come from and together where we all belong. i can HARDLY wait, hardly WAIT! so what if i blew all their gifts on getting there and staying there for 9 days and 8 nights?! we will be together. hardly wait.

eta: i'm sorry about your dad. my father died 11-23-68; we buried him the day before thanksgiving. twelve years later to the day, my mom followed. their anniversary sometimes falls on thanksgiving. we remember them now with much more fondness than sadness.

[Fading Captain]

54. Love the holidays

Even if I don't believe "Jesus is the reason for the season."

[Beartracks]

55. K&R!

---------------------------------------------------------------

[Octafish]

56. Proud to K&R

And I like Channukah.
And I like Kwanzaa.
And I like Ramadan.

I even like those people who don't believe.

What I don't like are people who intentionally denigrate those who do or don't.

[redqueen]

57. Count me in.

:yourock:

[Bette Noir]

60. I LOVE Christmas!

I love eggnog, and cookies. I love evergreen trees full of colored lights. I love driving through decorated neighborhoods. I love being able to give presents to everyone I know, even if they are small and sentimental. I love wearing red sweaters with green pants. I love telling my friends that I'm going to make a satirical creche, with plastic lawn flamingos standing in for Mary and Joseph, and an ostrich egg in the manger, even though I lack the courage to actually do it-- I live on a block with four Christian churches, and am afraid of their members vandalizing the house. I love going to parties, and cooking for friends, and borrowing their families, since I don't have one of my own.

Not fond of Christmas movies, but I have plenty of comedies and SF movies on DVD to keep me entertained.

Go Santa! He's my kind of guy.

[pacalo]

62. K&R for what you said. I love Christmas!

[Desertrose]

63. Love it in my own non-religious rather pagan-y way.....

Love the winter solstice and the promise of the return of the light....

....so many good things this time of year that have NOTHING to do with shopping.....

....people coming together to enjoy each other's company....helping others....

....kids & hopefully one day some grandkids.....

....the angle of the sun in the day and the brilliant stars at night....


So much to be thankful for and take joy in....

[grace0418]

68. I've completely taken over Christmas in my own mind. Well, actually, I guess I've

taken it back in a way, since it started out as a pagan tradition. To me it's all about love, togetherness, good food, telling people how you feel, and best of all, crafty things!

[Desertrose]

82. How could I forget the creative aspect of it!!?

As a fulltime artist, Xmas was once my busiest & best time...these past few years have been a bit bleak...this year. Well...just trying to stay balanced. It would be nice to get back to the tradition of making things for gifts or buying handmade gifts for family & friends.....

I think I do love the pagan feel of this time of year as the best part of the holidays...and yes, it certainly was originally a pagan holiday...and thats how I keep it in my heart..not the religious commercial materialistic mess it has become.

[scarletwoman]

92. DR!!!!! Woot! How wonderful to see you again!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

Seems like it's been AGES since I've seen a post from you! Are you that scarce a poster these days, or do I just miss all the threads that you do post in?

I'm with you about holding the true pagan roots of this holiday in my heart. Celebrating the return of light...

Wishing you all blessings and a Merry Solstice!

Love,
sw

[Desertrose]

94. HEEYY!!!! SW!! Great to see you too!!!!!!

:hi: :hug:

I am actually pretty scarce here since the election...just pop in from time to time...so great to see you, dear friend!!!!!!

Yeah, to me this is a pagan celebration...all the good things...twinkling lights, fragrant greens, good friends, too much food (hee)...sharing life & joy...and yes, return of the light!!! (Altho its a different feel here in the desert...its still just as magical!!)

Wishing you all the best and many many blessings....Happy Solstice!

:grouphug::loveya::hi:
DR

[scarletwoman]

103. Perfect thread to connect with you again -- ANOTHER wonderful thing about the Holidays!

:D

I'd love to see the changing angle of the light in desert -- maybe someday...

Here in the North it really IS a big deal as the light returns -- for now there are many weeks of driving to work before sunrise and driving back home after sunset. The light doesn't really come back full on until Imbolc, so I celebrate that, too.

Wishing you all abundance and joyful days and nights, dear friend. I will raise a toast for you with my Christmas glass of wine.

:loveya:
sw

[scarletwoman]

96. Beautiful post!

For me it's also about keeping family traditions -- I think it's important as human beings to honor certain rituals that keep us connected to our ancestors. In my family we still have a few very special ornaments and handmade decorations that onced graced our great-grandparents' homes over Yuletide. It's a wonderful thing to be able to pass on to my own children, and it has nothing to do with religion. :)

Love,
sw

[DeepModem Mom]

67. Thank you, LynneSin! K&R! Sometimes the negativity around here --

about almost anything -- gets ridiculous. I've heard the term "knee-jerk liberal" many times, but "knee-jerk negativity" is maybe more appropriate. And it seems like a contest sometimes -- who can be more negative, more cleverly negative, more colorfully profanely negative?

I doubt this positive thread will overcome the negative thread that is leading our homepage this morning. But, thank you. And, as you say, this, in the first holiday season in which we can joyously celebrate, at long last, "change coming to America."

My family, different ages, is this weekend enjoying the familiar lead-up to the holidays. We, too, have had major illnesses around past holidays. (Oddly, some of those holidays were the most meaningful to us.) But this year, thankfully, all are healthy.

We're implementing ways to limit spending this year, and also a way to include the less fortunate as a major part of any spending. And, most of what's involved with our own holiday tradition has little to do with spending money at all. (The current issue is how high a ladder one of the family can safely be allowed to perch on to hang some cast-off solar-powered holiday lights on which available tree.)

I haven't been in a Wal-Mart in years. And I wasn't shopping on Black Friday -- although we checked out some sales yesterday, and made a few purchases.

[LynneSin]

70. I was shopping on Black Friday but going to Bass Pro in Harrisburg is a family tradition

My stepfather is a deerhunter and it's the best time to stock up on supplies. And they actually have some nice clothes in there which the nieces & nephews like. I wasn't really keen on it but my niece was going this year and wanted me to come along - how do I say no to a 13 year old (I ended up taking her to Macy's and buying her present).

But even though I did something pretty 'anti-liberal' shopping at a store that is definitely'not liberal' (Sarah Palin did campaign stops at Bass Pro because their shoppers tend to be republican) I still had a good time and even picked out a few things that my mom could get me for Xmas including a set of thermal underwear I plan on using for the inauguration day parade.

[DeepModem Mom]

71. I can't think of a BETTER present this year than --

thermal underwear for the Inaugural parade!!!

[LynneSin]

75. It's going to be fricking cold and I'll be out all day

I need something to keep my ass warm.

[Number23]

172. But it did!

I doubt this positive thread will overcome the negative thread that is leading our homepage this morning.

It blew it away in terms of recs. And I personally believe that's a good thing. :)

[DeepModem Mom]

197. I am so pleased to have been wrong!

I posted before I had my coffee this a.m., and was in a less than sanguine mood. Happily, we have many, many nonGrinchy DUers!

[madamesilverspurs]

69. I confess.

I'm one of those who completely immerses in the season. For me and mine, we don't do anything that isn't done throughout the year; but those activities, for this one month, are much more colorful and maybe a wee bit louder. And Christmas provides a marvelous excuse for doing the things we know we're s'posed to do anyway, right?

This year I'll be hosting my 20th Christmas open house. I post fliers in places where friends will see them and hand out simple, home-printed invitations to folks newly met. I let people know that the party is alternative in nature, meaning that it's an alcohol-free zone, so BYOB is either soda or Martinelli's. Best part of that is the number of little ones who attend, and I am a total sucker for little eyes taking in all the bright and shiny stuff. For a couple of years I've put out a box for food bank donations, and my guests have been very generous indeed; last year I emptied the contents into bags for easier transport to the food bank, and at the bottom of the box there were some cash donations as well.

One of my favorite attendees is a curmudgeon who purports to hate Christmas. The first party he came to he spent most of the evening in the kitchen where he consumed most of my salmon cheese ball. Ever since, he asks if the salmon will be there; he claims it's the only reason he shows up. But last year he actually fixed himself a plate and joined us in the living room, and when he left he gave me a smile and a kiss on the cheek as he wished me "Merry Christmas" on his way out the door.

Goopy, sappy, sentimental. Can't get enough.

[man4allcats]

72. I am with you on this.

Certainly the holidays can be tense and the spirit of the season is too often lost in commercialism, but still underneath it all I remember the beauty of Christmas from my childhood now so many years distant. Christmas Eve rather than Christmas itself is really my favorite day. On that evening I like to have my house quiet with maybe some candles burning and the Alistair Sim version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" playing on the VCR. I haven't put up a big tree in some years, but I think I might this year. Thank you for your post.

[Kjaereste]

73. Happy Yule, y'all!

[willing dwarf]

74. Hope and joy in dark days

That's the theme of each of the mid winter holidays that I know about. I think its wonderful that we have feasts, gift giving and celebrations to mark our connectedness at the time of year where -- in the northern hemisphere anyway, our spirits are low and everything seems on the downswing.

If my politics ever made me cease finding joy in life, then my politics would be warped and not life sustaining.

[erinlough]

76. Surprisingly I still love the holidays

Four years ago my sister died on the 29th of December, one year ago my father died on the 15th, just six months after my mother died and my mother in law died on the 20th. We even got together last Christmas, although it was difficult it was part of the healing process. Christmas was my moms favorite time of the year so in her honor we all feel it should be observed. Life goes on and It is what it is.

[JFN1]

77. No longer a fan

It's all about the money now...

[Vektor]

78. I love the decorating - any excuse...

to cover my property in pretty shiny things and tiny shimmering lights. It's hard to get away with that other times of the year (the neighbors start to think you're a little weird) but during the holidays, it's ON! I turn my house into a winter wonderland.

[blondeatlast]

156. I so agree--I' ve decorated for daytime the past few years as well and

my new neighbors (we moved here 2 years ago) have joined me; out whole block sparkles in the afternoon sun as people are coming home from work!

[relayerbob]

80. We need more holidays!!!

[chimpymustgo]

83. I love Christmas! The decorating, the parties, the giving, the sharing of self and home with others

It's such a spirit of joy and reflection. To me, the season begins with Thanksgiving, carries into Christmas and New Year's - and this year - to the MLK holiday and the Inauguration. Enjoy, everyone!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

84. I can't wait

to put an egg poacher in one of my best friend's hands for Christmas. He loves eggs, but always eats them fried or scrambled. Won't he be in for a treat?

Yaaaaay for good friends and family at this time of year.

[Dukkha]

87. I hated it until I got married and got 2 step children

an instant family rekindled my love for Christmas and making the children happy, and especially my new wife who was married to a total loser before who never did one thing for her ever on Christmas. So I make it very special for her too.

[RobertDevereaux]

88. As the author of...

...SANTA STEPS OUT and SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE HOMOPHOBES, how could I *not* love Christmas? :^)

[Kajsa]

89. I love the holidays!

It really isn't about spending yourself into debt.

It's a time I reconnect with a lot of old friends and
family members.

I love the traditions, the songs, the tree and everything
that makes up Christmas without the commercialism.

Sure, I get sad and miss family and friends who have
passed on. But I am grateful for those who are here.

This is a great thread, LynneSin!
Thanks.

:)

[jeff30997]

90. I love it.

K&R. :)

[NEOhiodemocrat]

91. I love Christmas

It is absolutely my favorite time of the year. I love the making of gifts, accompanied by playing of Christmas music, even if it is June when I am working on them! I love hunting for that "just right gift" year round at garage sales, clearance sales, and anywhere else. I love making candy and goodies for all the family and neighbors and friends. And I always tell EVERYONE that Santa is my favorite guy! I can remember years ago when my two oldest were very young and I was quite poor one year, Christmas came anyway, so who wouldn't believe in Santa? Christmas was always my father's favorite time of the year also, so I feel like I am carrying on the family tradition. We always hit all the stores for marked down ornaments and candy on Christmas eve, and opened our gifts at 6 PM (old German custom). He has been gone now since 1992 but every Christmas I celebrate brings him back to me in memory. I hope my five kids and the grandkids all enjoy Christmas as much as I do.

[Lex]

93. LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!

I love:

getting time off work to spend with family
the pretty decorations
the excitement of the children
the smell of a tree in the house
seeing family members from out of town
the corny tv movies
the corny animated movies, like Rudolph, etc.
baking stuff I wouldn't normally bake
generally celebrating togetherness

and a lot of other things too numerous to mention

[OhioChick]

95. K&R

:kick:

[Midlodemocrat]

97. I love all holidays. K & R

[Lucian]

98. Ah, nothing like loving a holiday where you can buy useless shit for people...

and then made out to be like a jerk if you didn't buy useless shit for people.

[Quantess]

119. The trick is to find friends who feel the same way you do.

For dealing with family members: just give them ample warning you don't give presents, you don't want any, and be consistent every year.

[onager]

99. This Fundamentalist Atheist loves the holiday season.

I've spent the last 3 Xmases now in Egypt. Have a plane ticket to see my Mom and other relatives!!! I can't wait. Even though many of my relatives are Repub Fundies who like to wind me up, since I'm the Family Liberal. Or the white sheep of the family, as I like to put it.

The last Xmas I was in the U.S., I stayed home in Los Angeles. (The relatives are in SC. Keeping them 3000 miles away most of the time is a good idea.)

On Xmas Eve it was 80 degrees and I was driving around with the top down--wearing a big red Santa hat.

When little kids yelled at me, I told them I was a Very Large Elf.

I've noticed that the Limbaughs and O'Reillys of the world always seem to edit out this part of Dickens...

"This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it." cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city...

"Have they no refuge or resource?" cried Scrooge.

"Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. 'Are there no workhouses?"

Happy Holidays!

[bumblebee1]

204. THat sounds like a Christmas I had while living in Southern California.

I didn't drive around with the top down while donning a Santa hat. That sounds like fun.

I remember calling my family back east and wishing them a Merry Christmas. I told them it was 75 degrees F here. We also had the sliding glass door to our backyard open. For all my trouble, I hear my niece in the background calling me a jerk. So I ask my sister to put her on the phone. I then proceed to tell dear niece, "That's Aunt Jerk to you. Yes, I heard you."

[Duppers]

100. well, despite all the hassle

I get NO help shopping for gifts, wrapping packages, writing C'mas cards, cleaning, decorating, cooking and I end up so behind, so tense, and so exhausted that I usually end up crying (seriously)....

Yet, I still like the holidays. Yep. :shrug:

[IndianaJohn]

101. k & r

yes I like it.

[defendandprotect]

102. You're confusing natural seasonal excitement with a one-male god ...

It's about WINTER SOLSTICE ...always has been --!!!

The Christian Church took it over because they couldn't fight it ---

[acmavm]

104. Thank you for this thread.

[JDwho]

105. LynneSin, THANK YOU SO MUCH

I love my family and love the holidays. There is joy in this holiday. I know the news hasn't been good lately, but I continue to believe that the odd "friendliness of people that literally flowers and blooms during the holidays is their best selves shining through.
I don't understand the bah-humbug spirit, and our family is not well off, but we do love each other and it's incredible to see the young ones spirit of excitement this time of year.
So, thank you for restoring my faith in joy here at DU and I hope you have a beautiful Christmas (and a happy January 20th!!!!) K&R on this MUCH NEEDED thread.

:applause:

[Faygo Kid]

106. My single Mom worked hard to make Christmas special each year.

For my brother and me. And she succeeded. To bash it would be to disrespect her memory, and the memories of family members now gone who also made it special. I miss them, and won't do that.

Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays. Whatever. Actually, let's make it God Jul.)

[rockedthevoteinMA]

108. kick... i even work in retail, but i do love the holidays... n/t

[a la izquierda]

109. Always my favorite time of year, but especially...

this year. I'm flying back to the US to see my honey-bunny for the first time in months! I bought my own Christmas present (the money to change my flight) and I don't care if I get a single thing, because I'll be with my husband, my dogs and my friends for the holidays.

I'm tired of grinchy people. We've had enough shit for 8 years, and this year hasn't been a picnic despite our glorious November victory. The holidays should be a time to celebrate with family, friends, pets, strangers, whomever!

[1776Forever]

110. To me it is all about Family and Memories - It is what you make it - Love is the key not greed!

[valerief]

111. It's a day off, so I like it. Of course, I'm looking forward to many days off pretty soon.

Left Behind in America.

[Waiting For Everyman]

114. I love Christmas and the holidays

even though the world has changed, and my world has changed, so much that I can't keep it the way I used to anymore, but have to keep it to myself, in my own thoughts. I've always been able to separate the excessive commercialism from Christmas as merely marketing - that's not my idea of what the season is, but the problem is that people have changed so much socially, including my family.

I won't decorate again this year because I might be foreclosed and it would be just too difficult to pack all that up, and too depressing, but I do enjoy seeing the decorations of those who do it. My Mom died in 2005 and she was the "spirit of Christmas" if anyone ever was. My husband died four days before last Christmas and this year has been just a struggle to hang on ever since. My two adult and single kids hate each other, so there's no being with them at the same time. Of my own family, there's only my one brother I was really close to, and no one knows where he is - his cell phone went dead and he just sort of "disappeared" without a word, and none of his friends know where he is. I'd spend it with my one sister but she's always glued to my BIL who's an insufferable dick. I don't know how she puts up with him, but I can't.

The rest of my immediate family has always hated me for doing very well in my early life, and they never got over it, even though most of my life has been very bleak. I've never understood how they could continue being hatefully jealous of someone who is so unsuccessful and poor but they are. After my Mom's death, they really showed who they are, and that's who they are so it won't change. Every one of them found a way to stick a knife in my back for insisting that my Mom's wishes be kept at the end of her life (she begged me many times not to ever let her be put in a nursing home), and by God my one brother and I insisted on what she wanted and I took care of her myself until she died.

My friends drifted away during my husband's many years of illness because he was impossible to be around, and there was no money to go out - it was better for them to just let it go. Same thing pretty much for my extended family, who are all preoccupied with their traditions with their own branches of the family anyway. I have a lot of family, only I don't, and I'm sure a lot of people are the same way. So that just leaves me, with my memories of great Christmases past, keeping the season in my thoughts in my own way.

But it's a wondrous, special time of year, when occasionally even cynical people are sometimes moved to snap out of it and remember what life's all about. And this Christmas, incredibly, we have a new start to look forward to with a President who cares, and I'm very grateful for that.

My wishes to all for a very, very happy holiday!!! Enjoy it all you can. It's those moments, stored up, that get us through the tough ones.

[diane in sf]

115. I like Christmas, friends, food, music, etc.

[Stand and Fight]

116. My first son is about to have his first real Christmas...

He'll be 15 months old on Christmas day, so I am definitely looking forward to this Christmas and many more.

[Stinky The Clown]

117. I love the holidays, too.

I'm right there with ya, Lynne!



Our house will be ablaze with cheerful SNOOPY LIGHTS (running joke between Sparkly and me)

[quickesst]

118. My son, daughter-in-law.....

...and two grandchildren left an hour ago for home in Texas. Due to working for us, and duty for my Air Force son, we would not have had these last three days together without the holiday. When Christmas arrives, we'll have even more time with them that we wouldn't have had due to the same reasons stated above. Paid holidays are the reason we can do this without having to work day and night in order to afford the time off. Point being, just how egotistically, and ideologically fucked up does one have to be to sacrifice precious time with loved ones for the sake of selfishness in the guise of "ideological purity"? Certainly with exceptions, the first word that comes to mind when reading the words of most here concerning the "evil" of the holidays is "PHONY". Most do it in the hope that fellow phoneys see them as "enlightened", but it's just a big, steaming pile of horse-shit, and the more they protest, piss, moan, and groan about it, the higher the pile becomes. And those few exceptions I alluded to? They're the ones who live their convictions without the need to inflate their egos with anti-holiday rants as far and wide as possible. Bottom line for the grinch? They are accomplishing nothing preaching to the choir here, and for others, it's just a window into a part of their lives that reveals what drives them. Over-inflated egos that probably influence much of their lives, leading to a diminishing of respect they might once have had. I feel no compassion for them, but do feel sympathy for the family members who's holidays with family must suffer because of it, and from what I've read on here lately, I am sure that they do. Shame. Thanks.
quickesst

[mt13]

120. no need to be sorry...

i LOVE Christmas. i love the season, the weather, the music, the smells, the lights (the simple ones are the best!)!

i HATE the commercialization. this year, i am returning to my old ways: i am only shopping Main Street, supporting those wonderful little mom & pop shops that i have always found to be so much more pleasant than the big box stores or the internet. all gifts will be thoughtful and meaningful to those on my list, a list that has dwindled to only those few that i really care about.

my mother died on Christmas Eve 7 years ago and Christmas was always her favorite. it makes me sad that she isn't here to see my boys growing up into the fine young men she envisioned them becoming, but i still love it. up until my eldest son was 3, we would alternate between grandparents yearly but i put a stop to that. we stay at home and in our pajamas all day! we open our gifts and watch movies and eat lasagna. it has become a lovely tradition that i hope my sons will carry on when they have children.

christmas is the celebration of family and love and remembering those gone.

merry christmas to all and to all, a good night!

[trickyguy]

121. Love the music and lights of Christmas even though I'm a non-believer.

But I try to limit my spending to around $100. Ever heard of the $100 Christmas movement?

I'm a musician so I try to spread good cheer through my music. Something that's non-consumer oriented.

And I get my shopping done - like now- to stay out of the stores so I don't sucume to buying something. Especially something I don't need.

My heart goes out to the family of the young man who was trampled to death by shoppers at a WalMart. What a terrible statement about our culture.

Thinking about next year since I spent so much time and money on the Obama/Biden campaign. And I'm getting real nervous about Obama's nominations.

So maybe this year it's time to go out and help people who really need it. The homeless. The poor. The hungry.

Just got to find a direct way to look in their eyes and know that I'm helping. That's really it.:donut:

[MasonJar]

123. I love CHRISTMAS because of the midnight,glorious mass at my

Episcopal church, the lovely afternoon service with the kiddoes being angels and such, the wonderful time I have purchasing for my family and friends and wrapping the gifts and writing my Christmas cards, the joy of being together and the message of hope and love represented by the baby Jesus.

[blondeatlast]

158. Midnight mass and homemade tamales after; another treasure

saved just for this time of year!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

124. I hope you get more k&Rs for this thread than the naysayer thread got!

[Festivito]

125. Good./nt

[Lydia Leftcoast]

126. The older I get, the more meaningful Advent and

the religious aspects of Christmas become.

My family always made a big deal out of Advent, so I have a long-lasting attachment to the special music for that season, as well as to the nightly candle lighting.

Since I'm a single adult with no children, I buy gifts for my nieces and nephews, although as they grow older, they seem to prefer gift certificates and money to anything else. :-)

However, for the past several years, the choir marathon of showing up at church at 10:30PM Christmas Eve, singing till after midnight, and then getting up again to sing for the 10:00AM service, then taking a nap and going off to join the extended family's celebrations, has been my usual pattern.

We sing the normal carols in choir, but a lot of other seasonal music, too, ranging from the Renaissance to the present day, so it's an exciting time.

[old mark]

127. I love chrtistmas, I don't care who knows it.

The fall and winter was my favorite time of the year when I was a kid. Pre-Halloween through the President's holidays in February. I still love this time, and now also celebrate the Jewish holidays because of my Jewish wife.

I believe wa can never have too many resons to feel happy, to celebrate, to take off from work,eat and drink too much, all that good stuff.

There are certainly enough unhappy occasions in life - enjoy all the good stuff you can while you are able, and if yoy think different, at least shut up till the holidays are over.

mark

[EFerrari]

128. I love Christmas especially because I get to see my family more.

The whole, huge, messy, friendly cannibal family. They're the best part of the whole deal. Plus, any time when people try to be a little better and nicer to each other is also cool.

When the kids were little, my female relatives and I used to craft up a storm and in a way, that was our Christmas present because none of us could really afford to do it year round. But Christmas gave us a lovely excuse.

I also remember my first MIL, Lady, this time of year because she literally glowed the whole season. She had a job and clubs and things, but she loved Christmas and made each season fun and special in so many ways -- we could barely keep up with her. We used to fight over her smashed potatoes and apple pie. To Lady: :toast:

[mrs_p]

129. this is my favorite time of year

growing up poor, this time wasn't about presents and me, me, me... it was about what we give from our hearts - generosity and love.

thanks for this thread.

[azmouse]

130. I'm the Christmas Mouse. Yes this is my favorite time of year!!

Merry Christmas!

[Captain Hilts]

131. I buy the 20 bulb strings of colored lights and plug 'em in wherever I go.

They're a big hit when riding Amtrak. Conductors, kids, etc. love 'em. I often end up giving them away to a kid.

[complain jane]

179. :)

I love it! You must bring a lot of happiness to a lot of places. I love Christmas lights so much I have them up in my apartment year round. Little white lights all over the living room :)

I love your idea so much I want to do it too now...

[Captain Hilts]

192. You can buy 'em for a buck after the holiday. I, too, have them up all year round...

in the bathroom they're great if you don't want to do nudity in full light and are a great night-light for the bathroom when you have guests staying over that don't know their way around in the dark.

[NM Independent]

132. K & R

I love Christmas.

Why some liberals believe there are not Christians among them is beyond me.

That is the one thing that really ticks me off about liberalism, and as a Christian I often don't even feel welcome here because of some highly vocal anti-religion assholes.

Look, I don't try to prosletyze to you, and I'm tolerant of your lack of religion. Show me the same respect.

[Peggesis1]

218. I love Christmas!

For me, it's not about spending much--a toy each for the children in the family. I do Heifer Project donations and such as presents, too, sometimes.

As for liberals with a strong anti-Christian (or anti-all religion) bias, many are coming out of a bad experience of religion and just haven't been able to get past it. That they feel the need to insult anyone who disagrees with them is, well, unfortunate.

I'll be there in church Christmas eve, helping to costume the little angels and shepherds--and handing out the shepherds' crooks and staffs right before they go on stage. (Hand those things out too soon and...yikes!)

[Serge A Storms]

133. it is what we make it

[SleeplessinSoCal]

134. Kick!

[StClone]

135. God Damn I LOVE X-Mas

I don't spend much but do love to give the unexpected!

I love lights, the smell of real real trees, snow and Christmas Carols. The thought of unity when there is so little reason to think of love, Family and serenity other then to just allow yourself open to the season.

[Blue Belle]

136. I like Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Thanksgiving...

I don't like all the importance put on buying the "right" gift, but I like the Christmas songs and the old Christmas movies. We spend most of our Christmas break watching Christmas movies, making cookies and playing Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit. The gifts are just an added bonus, but most of us just make presents for one another - especially with money being so tight now.

[sandsavage]

137. We love the holidays

Old retired and as the song says. Not much money oh but Honey ain't we got fun.
I haven't heard that song in years. But hum it on and off. Think the name of it
was Ain't we got fun. The song seems to go with the times now. In a very good way.
Thank you for this thread.

[theFrankFactor]

139. I'm In

[RedCappedBandit]

140. I'm an atheist and I love the idea of christmas

in reality, i'm usually depressed as hell during that time of the year.. but there you have it.

[Joe Fields]

141. I share your sentiments. Have a good Christmas season.

Peace

[mondo joe]

142. Here's my gay atheist K&R. I love Christmas. NT

[VPStoltz]

143. I'm with you on that.

I grew up Catholic and loved the pomp and flash.
I love the idea of who Jesus was but I don't see him as God or a god.
And call me sappy but I can't get enough of Tschaikowsky's "Nutcracker" music.
In fact, we are STILL in the process of putting up the tree.

[jennied]

146. I'm a very optimistic and I try to be happy. I refuse to let myself see the worst

especially during the holidays. Just like EVERYTHING else, things are best in moderation. If you overdo anything it's very bad aka stampeding the Wal-mart worker to death. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't shop at all or enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.

[Stump]

147. I love Christmas...

It's the most bestest time of the year!!!

[Gman]

148. K&R just to get it higher than that other thread

[JeanGrey]

149. I love Christmas! We always have lights, tree, outside and in.

We do as many gifts for everyone including those we don't know.

Christmas is always precious to me because of the true meaning.....the birth of Jesus.

[Coexist]

150. I love Christmas!

[bobd0]

151. K&R nt

[OKNancy]

152. I love it. You can be gaudy and kitschy

and act a fool. It's fun.
I make handmade stuff when I'm on a budget and save for giving something special to my daughters. I'm not religious, but I love the season.

[mwooldri]

153. Sod this political correctness crap. Happy Christmas everyone!

Yes, I'm a conservative liberal Christian with libertarian leanings.

If you wish me a Happy Hanukkah, excellent!

A Happy Ramadan or whatever the Islamic festivals are (sorry a bit ignorant of them here) - great!

Diwali? I'm all in!

Solstice? Fine by me.

Fact is, a significant number of the population here in the USA identify themselves somewhat with the Christian faith, and even those who don't do celebrate something at the same time as the Christian holidays.

So at work, we can be particularly "PC" and wish everyone a Happy Holiday... but in my private life, tough luck. You're going to have a Happy Christmas wish from me, you can opt out of the celebration if you like but my good wishes to you are erm... obligatory, but you don't need to return them (though I'd be delighted if you did).

But if you want to celebrate Happy Crochet Knitting Day and let the world about it, I want to share in your joy too.

Mark.

[kath]

155. Soooo - a "predictable liberal" bashes on the holidays???

WHAT. THE. FUCK.
:wtf:

[LynneSin]

162. that's because we're doing exact what the right wing screeds expect us to do

but the thing is, and clearly since my post has far surpassed K&R than that other thread - I just want to point out the obvious - that it's a small minority that play that game.

[Deb]

157. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, LynneSin

I can't wait for the New Year, the best IS yet to come. :party:

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

159. Kick

:kick: :toast:

[PatrynXX]

160. vote 1 :)

more christmas lights in my room. Thankfully looks like there are less scrooges around on this site :) Probably should pull out my Elf Bowling set. Offensive yes, but hilarious.

[Deja Q]

161. THANK YOU!

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!


:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

[blondeatlast]

163. From diwali (since Mr. B is Punjab) right up until the Feast of the Epiphany

I'll enjoy all of the spirit and glitz and niceness of people as much as possible.

Stores be damned; we always choose a needy child to shop for (usually needing clothes; then we delight in choosing a great toy to boot!). It's more fun than trying to please each other and it makes us feel like we have another family member!

[Dark]

165. k and r nt

[NC_Nurse]

166. I like the holidays too. I get tired of some of the relentless commercialism, but

I enjoy most of it. :hi:

[CaptJasHook]

167. Oh, how sweet a counter thread.

:puke:

Can't let truth blacken everyone's favorite holiday.

Can't upset the Corporate Christian declared apple cart.

BTW, I don't hate the idea of a celebration of light, I just hate what Christmas has become. This pollyanna, oh that's okay, lighten up bullshit will always be present. And kids will grow up with the same tragic stories of a Fat Man and the need to consume, consume, consume.

[dana_b]

168. my favorite holiday is Christmas

I've had wonderful and yes, painful memories but the good outweighs the bad.

I can defintiely respect people's feelings who don't like Christmas and/or the othr Holidays though. It's different for everyone.

[camera obscura]

170. I love it all... except the godawful snow

[sakabatou]

171. Oh I know the best gift for Mia, my SO, this year

If you want to know what is is, ask and I'll PM you.

[John Q. Citizen]

173. Have a sweet sweet Solstice!

[HopeFor2006]

174. I love Christmas

I love Christmas music
I love decorating the tree
I love putting up the lights
I love Christmas baking
I love Christmas shopping and wrapping gifts
I love Christmas specials
I love it all!

[Number23]

175. I'm the biggest cynic in the world and I'm crying reading some of these responses

From folks who've lost jobs, family members, homes and everything else but because they remember that Christmas/New Year's/whatever holiday was their mom's/favorite aunt's/grandfather's favorite time of year are putting aside their pain to try to remember what the PURPOSE of this holiday season is about and to not be discouraged by the idiotic commercialism and materialism that has taken over.

The folks who are saying "we ain't got much money, but we're going to do this anyway" because they have children or there are children that they love and they want to do something for them so that those kids can grow up and have good memories of the holidays as well. You guys are so beautiful. I'm really not trying to be mushy but I am so moved by your responses.

In your honor, I present another who was bogged down by the commercialism of Christmas until someone had to actually remind him of what the season was all about.

Video - What Christmas is All About

[emilyg]

185. I wish you love and peace.

[blondeatlast]

221. And brings me right back to the kid I was the first time it ever aired...

That pic alone makes me sob a little (happily!).

[klook]

176. It's a lovely time

and I enjoy it every year. I'm going to look for some volunteer opportunities this year to help out people who have less than I do, and I look forward to exchanging gifts with family -- especially wacky presents! Fortunately my family members have agreed to draw names and limit spending so we can focus on just being together and sharing the season.

FWIW, I'm an atheist, but I enjoy Christmas. My only real gripe about it is the stores and malls that play non-stop Christmas music starting in October (or earlier!). Yeesh.

[complain jane]

177. I love Christmas.

I think it's what we make of it.

[RB TexLa]

178. K and R

My mother passed two years ago this comming Tuesday, she loved Christmas and it was tough thinking about her the last two Christmases but my wife and brother have helped. It's part of life, no matter what time it could have happened I would think of her at Christmas. Actually I think about her every day.

[jillan]

180. I love the holidays. We celebrate Hannukah and Christmas in my house.

There's always music playing, good food, good laughs.

[MessiahRp]

181. I love Christmas

Not the whole Jesus fiction but rather the Santa fiction. I know it's commercialism but I enjoy the Christmas specials and movies, the lights and decorations, the music.... All of that I enjoy greatly.

And even though I consider myself non-religious I do find some Christmas songs related to the Jesus story to be beautiful (Silent Night, What Child is This?, The Little Drummer Boy, etc) even if the story itself is BS used by the church as propaganda.

Rp

[Divine Discontent]

206. good grief, if I found a story "BS" and used as propaganda

I couldn't even begin to stomach them, regardless what they sound like.

Fortunately, I believe in the Jesus story and love the inspiration that comes out of those songs & others like Do You Hear What I Hear? and O Holy Night, and yes, Virginia, there is a real Santa Claus! ha no really, there is!

[MessiahRp]

210. Well actually the Santa story is propaganda when it comes down to it as well

Santa's a front for the commercial aspect of Christmas. And though I know it's BS I enjoy it because it does make the season more fun.

Most of what we tell kids about is propaganda to get them to behave... from the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny right on down to Santa Claus...

Churches use the story of Jesus the same way.. as a control mechanism.

It doesn't mean that there isn't some fun in the fiction sometimes. It is what it is.

Rp

[trayfoot]

182. I LOVE Christmas and ALL that it represents!!!!!!

It's the MOST important part of the year to me and my family!

[MazeRat7]

186. Happy to K&R. n/t

[bananas]

187. k&r nt.

[Skittles]

188. I enjoy Christmas lights and sending out Christmas cards

that's about it

[Triana]

189. I like the time off work...

...the rest of it, the commercialism, the hype, the damn decorations being put out on store shelves even BEFORE THANKSGIVING, the damn rude (now DEADLY) crowds in the stores, the damn religious stuff - not so much.

I'm spiritual, but not religious, so I got no use for Christmas per se.

I'd rather kiss a Moose and let the reindeer run over Sarah Palin.

Speaking of Palin, she IS about to be a grandmother so the song Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (my FAVORITE!) will work nicely then.

It TRUELY is my favorite Christmas song. Heh.

I hear Hoofmark Hoochie underwear are all the rage this season. Maybe Palin and her Alaskan trash family can line up outside Mal-Wart and kill someone on the way in the door to get some CHEAP. Pfft.

Egh. Yea. Well. I like the time off, as I said.

[Fire1]

190. Christmas has become 'spiritual' for me now that I'm older and

most of my relatives and parents are gone. I still enjoy the season with lots of food and fond memories but it'll never be the same. I do miss shopping for 'those that have everything,' even though it gave me a headache and seeing the pretty packages under the tree.

[bertman]

191. One more secular humanist pagan who loves Christmas.

[tomreedtoon]

193. It's the one time I give gifts to friends.

I rarely if ever give birthday presents. I never remember birthdays. Heck, most of us want to forget birthdays. But Christmas I always remember.

I stopped getting Christmas presents, because my family stopped exchanging them. (They think it's a waste of money. Sadly, for most of my family, any emotional support or exchange is a waste of energy. My family legacy.)

And my current friends are too poor, unemployed, or screwed over by life to get me anything.

But I do my best to get them something.

This year, I'm trying to make presents for many of my friends. Some will need outright gifts of cash or things they need. The most I can expect from them is a "thank you," and I'm never certain whether that's just a custom for them or an automatic response. But I know I feel better when they are given gifts that I've thought about.

If I'm off work on Christmas Eve, I stand outside Wal-Mart to watch the cars leave. It's the one time they ever close. One year I was inside, and as they ushered us out, they handed out the deli sandwiches left over (that they wouldn't be able to sell Christmas Day) and I could eat for free that night.

And driving on Christmas Eve, when almost all the stores are closed, is precious.

When I was in my senior year of high school, I went to midnight Mass with my younger brother. It was the last year I'd be anything more than a visitor at my parents' house. We tromped through the snow on silent streets (very silent because University City, Missouri was mostly Jewish and had no lights or anything going). It was dead silent, with heavy snow falling, and only the occasional car driving by with its tire chains clinking to interrupt that silence.

It's still the one moment I remember every Christmas. I stopped going to Mass a long time ago, but that silence was God's gift to the world, and I try to honor it every year.

[Shakespeare]

194. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

Decorating my tree at this very moment, in fact. :hi:

[jakefrep]

195. K&R'd - happily.

[RiverStone]

196. Far, far, away we go....

To sacred natural hotsprings bubbling from the earth --- where we share fellowship with like minded folks, laughs, vegi food, and not one gift. No TV, no phone, no noise. Just a starry night, rustic cabin in candlelight, and lots of fluffy snow to roll in after coming out of the hottest pool ***steaming**** Or to ski out on...

Secular. Easy. And my girlfriend and I only know it's the holidays because we are always there during them. We celebrate the beauty of the <<<moment>>> up there.

So yes, I love how we celebrate during holiday time!

peace:) to you --- may you find joy in how ever and what ever you celebrate too!

K&R

[Kool Kitty]

199. K & R.

I love the holidays.

[Lyric]

202. Kicking for Christmas.

I'm not religious, and I rarely have much money to spend, but I still love Christmas time. Some of the happiest memories of my life were made at Christmases past, and the sight of our Christmas tree never fails to increase my level of personal contentment and inner peace. In fact, I love ALL of the holidays of the season!

So...HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone! And Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it!

[sledgehammer]

203. Give me a day off, and I'm happy!

I have no religious involvement with Christmas, but it's an American (and largely global) tradition, and I value its traditional worth (which trumps its religious worth - just like with Sundays, Thanksgiving, etc.)

Even though I don't celebrate it in any special way, I enjoy seeing people preparing for Christmas and celebrating it. And I am ok with most of the decor and celebrations etc. Not a fan of Christmas music on radio though!

[aquart]

205. In the cold death of winter, we celebrate the birth of a child.

I don't know how it could be unappealing.

[LynneSin]

207. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

It was just heartwarming to see so many people proving the point we are not a bunch of Xmas-haters.

Sure, there are things about the holidays that we do not like but seriously this is not a reason to go hating. And I'm sorry, I refuse to buy into the concept that we liberals are waging some 'War on Christmas'. I think it's a fallacy created by the republicans to try and paint us into a bad light. Probably in a few hours both of these threads (both the pro and anti) will disappear from the front page. I'm just glad that some Xmas bashing thread didn't stand alone on that home page - that our voices not only were seen but even stronger.

[humbled_opinion]

208. This Thread Made Me Happy

Love

Santa

[rosesaylavee]

209. K & R

Thank you for this post.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

211. Ho ho ho ho ho :)

:hi: LynneSin! Merry Christmas :loveya:

[Gorobei]

212. Too late to rec

But add my voice to the Pro Christmas.

My Christmas is a bit different. More solemn than merry usually, kind of German style I think. Candles on the tree and children's choir and church bells ringing through the streets at midnight. Oranges stuck with cloves, and a nice dinner (something pork) and a few cookies and a song or two with family. It does make the night feel a bit holy. And I'm not a religious guy but there's something about it that just feels very deep. Whether Jesus was just a really cool guy or if he never existed doesn't matter much. The ideas of peace and goodwill, fellowship and caring for each other are what makes it special.

The Xmas songs on the radio and shopping and associated nonsense I could do without.

[DinahMoeHum]

213. I love the holiday season because I get to see my extended family

and it's always a wonderful time when we're together. We do an annual family photo portrait before we dig in on our buffet dinner.

Last year, I was at my cousin's house in the upper Hudson Valley (NY), and I stayed overnight at the adjoining farmhouse on the property. As an addition, I got to take home and enjoy a jar of their homemade honey. It seems there was/is a hive nearby, and during the summer, they managed to extract a huge quantity of golden treasure from it. Pure raw solid stuff, not processed. Delicious!

:bounce:

[Unca Jim]

214. Indeed!

The Holidays are some of the best days of the year.

I really enjoy New Year's; thinking back on the past year and hoping and planning for the new one are fun.


And this year we have a new Winter Holiday: Buh Bye Chimpy Day!

[DrDan]

215. I LOVE CHRISTMAS - always have, always will

contrary to many of the scrooges here on DU who prefer to be liberal-PC rather than enjoying a bit of life.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

216. Christmas is what you make of it

The people who say it's all about the money and corporations have let them win.

My family barely buys each other anything except practical things we need (new tires for winter, contact lenses, pay for the person's next doctor visit when it's not a covered appointment) and we still love it.

[guitar man]

217. K&R

When ya got a little one, ya gotta love Christmas! Here she is from last year :D

[bdamomma]

219. kick and rec.

[ItNerd4life]

220. Greedy businesses? What about greedy consumers wanting everything?

I agree with you that Christmas is a wonderful time, but why throw in that 'greedy businesses' crap?