the christmas is starting too early: the debate rages on. (1 Viewer)

[rettucs]

oh shut up scutter. outside the door.

ah, wheres your christmas spirit man?

 

[egg_]

Oh Holy Night

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Holly and the Ivy

Amazing tunes. Spooky!

I really sympathise with you jane, and with homeless people, it must be a shit time of year for all. That doesn't mean I think it should be done away with though - I like Christmas, and I think a midwinter festival is kinda necessary in the northern latitudes. Winter would be pretty fucking bleak without it

 

[Catwoman]

oh right, so the catholic church claim it as a religious festival. To everyone else its some paganistic thing (if thats a word)?

am I understanding it right now?

but wait, what about christmas carols and that? are they not about religious stuff?

this is confusing

Feasting on the 25th of December has been happening for thousands of years, I don't really think it matters why we do it.

I love Christmas carols! I am an atheist. Just because you're not a Christian doesn't mean you can't like or appreciate some aspects of Christianity - art, music etc.

 

[Catwoman]

I think a midwinter festival is kinda necessary in the northern latitudes. Winter would be pretty fucking bleak without it

I think you've hit the nail on the head there...

 

[Sufi]

Feasting on the 25th of December has been happening for thousands of years, I don't really think it matters why we do it.

I love Christmas carols! I am an atheist. Just because you're not a Christian doesn't mean you can't like or appreciate some aspects of Christianity - art, music etc.

I agree, Christmas for me is about hanging out with my family and friends. Also telling people that they are great and that you are happy to have them in your life. All the commercialism can be avoided if you want to.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

has anyone got an advent calendar this year?

 

[jane]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Holly and the Ivy

Amazing tunes. Spooky!

I really sympathise with you jane, and with homeless people, it must be a shit time of year for all. That doesn't mean I think it should be done away with though - I like Christmas, and I think a midwinter festival is kinda necessary in the northern latitudes. Winter would be pretty fucking bleak without it

I agree that it need not be done away with, I just wish the pressure to spend time with family and friends were toned down a bit. It might be fine and dandy for people who live near families who want anything to do with them, but when you don't have a 'home base' it's very lonely. what happens is, you've nowhere to go and no one to hang out with because you don't know anyone where your family is, and if you stay around where you live, the people you usually hang around with are busy with their families and other stuff.

It's great if people want to do that, it's just that it would be nice if it were toned down so that the rest of us don't spend most of it depressed. Last year was the only year I didn't spend most of Christmas day in tears, totally isolated. And it was because I baked me arse off and then just went for a quiet dinner at a friend's house, and then I had a huge party on the 27th, which was something to really look forward to. It was still pretty lonely on Christmas Eve and Day, though. But it was the first Christmas where I didn't end up hating life completely because no one tried to make me feel bad. I tried going back to the US twice in the last eight or nine years, but both times were a complete disaster. The first time, the family cancelled Christmas altogether, which they promised they wouldn't. And then they stuck me on a train to go stay with my ex-sister-in-law and her crazy racist family. They said they were gonna meet me down there, but as they put me on the train, they said, "By the way, we're not coming. BYEEEEE!" That was kinda mean.

Midwinter festival, yeah, but day where people are forced to face sometimes difficult family-related issues whether they like it or not -- that's going to suit some people fine, but it's really difficult for others. Seriously, spend ten years only being invited to people's houses out of guilt and it'll never really be the same.


And this year's gonna suck because I can't even buy any presents. Which means I can't even go to anyone's house if I'm invited because I can't afford to bring anything. Christmas is shit when you're expected to pay for things you can't afford.

Christmas is shit.

 

[MDR]

As a civil servant I think it's great that we mark the anniversary of the first census every year.

 

[snakybus]

my ex-sister-in-law

Do you have
(a) an ex-husband, or
(b) a brother who used to be married, or
(c) an ex-brother who is currently married?

Divulge this information that is none of my business, Jane!

 

[frona]

I agree that it need not be done away with, I just wish the pressure to spend time with family and friends were toned down a bit. It might be fine and dandy for people who live near families who want anything to do with them, but when you don't have a 'home base' it's very lonely. what happens is, you've nowhere to go and no one to hang out with because you don't know anyone where your family is, and if you stay around where you live, the people you usually hang around with are busy with their families and other stuff.

It's great if people want to do that, it's just that it would be nice if it were toned down so that the rest of us don't spend most of it depressed. Last year was the only year I didn't spend most of Christmas day in tears, totally isolated. And it was because I baked me arse off and then just went for a quiet dinner at a friend's house, and then I had a huge party on the 27th, which was something to really look forward to. It was still pretty lonely on Christmas Eve and Day, though. But it was the first Christmas where I didn't end up hating life completely because no one tried to make me feel bad. I tried going back to the US twice in the last eight or nine years, but both times were a complete disaster. The first time, the family cancelled Christmas altogether, which they promised they wouldn't. And then they stuck me on a train to go stay with my ex-sister-in-law and her crazy racist family. They said they were gonna meet me down there, but as they put me on the train, they said, "By the way, we're not coming. BYEEEEE!" That was kinda mean.

Midwinter festival, yeah, but day where people are forced to face sometimes difficult family-related issues whether they like it or not -- that's going to suit some people fine, but it's really difficult for others. Seriously, spend ten years only being invited to people's houses out of guilt and it'll never really be the same.


And this year's gonna suck because I can't even buy any presents. Which means I can't even go to anyone's house if I'm invited because I can't afford to bring anything. Christmas is shit when you're expected to pay for things you can't afford.

Christmas is shit.

Ahh, the traditional xmas racism. We have that at my house too courtesy of the axis of evil that is grandmother/grandmother/grand aunt. I'm usually to pissed and filled seasonal sarcasm to fight with them though. The actual day can suck but I like the lead up/pints/reunions/excuse to look at toys/time off work.

 

[rettucs]

Christmas is shit.

Amen to that

 

[Moods For Mallards]

Spare a thought for the remaining Presbyterian warriors of the Scottish highlands at this time of year, solemnly disapproving in largely austere and cold surroundings.
http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/12_15.html

 

[Thebeard]

Fuckin Scrooges, get over it. It's a bit of banter. Jeez

 

[coast to coast]

Here's what the ol' Loudo' thinks:


Suddenly it's Christmas,
Right after Hallowe'en.
Forget about Thanksgiving;
It's just a buffet in between.
There's lights and tinsel in the windows;
They're stocking up the shelves;
Santa's slaving at the North Pole
In his sweatshop full of elves.

There's got to be a build-up
To the day that Christ was born:
The halls are decked with pumpkins
And the ears of Indian corn.
Dragging through the falling leaves
In a one-horse open sleigh,
Suddenly it's Christmas,
Seven weeks before the day.

Suddenly it's Christmas,
The longest holiday.
When they say "Season's Greetings"
They mean just what they say:
It's a season, it's a marathon,
Retail eternity.
It's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree.

Outside it's positively balmy,
In the air nary a nip;
Suddenly it's Christmas,
Unbuttoned and unzipped.
Yes, they're working overtime,
Santa's little runts;
Christmas comes but once a year
And goes on for two months.

Christmas carols in December
And November, too;
It's no wonder we're depressed
When the whole thing is through.
Finally it's January;
Let's sing "Auld Lang Syne";
But here comes another heartache,
Shaped like a Valentine.

Suddenly it's Christmas,
The longest holiday.
The season is upon us;
A pox, it won't go away.
It's a season, it's a marathon,
Retail eternity.
It's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree.

No, it's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree;
It's still not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree.

It does start too early. And its not THAT a big deal.

 

[KokaneeCowgirl]

That's pretty crap alright Jane. But the possibility that my happiness will make others feel crap isn't going to stop me from enjoying myself.

I'm going to be home this year for xmas for the first time in 7 years and while we're not a religious family, it means something to me. I know I'm going to bawl my eyes out on xmas eve when we're all seven of us sitting around the table together (which we haven't done since I moved to Ireland).

Regardless of that though I do love the season and the lights and the pigging out and pressies and just being able to relax and take time off work and spend it with the people I love.

 

[Catwoman]

I just wish the pressure to spend time with family and friends were toned down a bit.

I hear that. I'm not actually spending it with my family (well, I'm married now so I suppose I am) - we're going to Fuertaventura for Xmas week. I'm getting a lot of 'You're not spending it with your parents? You're a bad daughter!' type comments. My parents actually don't mind, it's other people.

 

[therealjohnny]

In light of some of the revelations in this thread I think all holidays that make people feel bad should be banned

Mothers Day and Fathers day- those poor orphans

Valentines day- all the lonely people..

Halloween- the celebration of witchcraft is offensive to god fearing folk..(maybe)

Speak Like A Pirate day- just not funny

 

[Diddles]

Do you have
(a) an ex-husband, or
(b) a brother who used to be married, or
(c) an ex-brother who is currently married?

Divulge this information that is none of my business, Jane!

Ex-in laws can be hard to explain.

I still call my ex-sister-in-law my sister-in-law because I didn't divorce her, but then people get confused when I refer to my sister-in-law's husband, who's not my brother.

Anyway, Christmas is bollix. I went into town for lunch yesterday and looking at all the shop windows full of shite and people booting around buying kak made me feel ill.

 

[rettucs]

In light of some of the revelations in this thread I think all holidays that make people feel bad should be banned

Mothers Day and Fathers day- those poor orphans

Valentines day- all the lonely people..

Halloween- the celebration of witchcraft is offensive to god fearing folk..(maybe)

Speak Like A Pirate day- just not funny

the people at

aren't gonna be happy about this

 

[snakybus]

Ex-in laws can be hard to explain.

I still call my ex-sister-in-law my sister-in-law because I didn't divorce her, but then people get confused when I refer to my sister-in-law's husband, who's not my brother.

Now I'm completely confused.