Holiday Spirit...what the hell is it?

[ABSTRUSE]

I don't have it.
Can't remember the last time I did.

What is it for anyone else?
is it sense of tradition? of family? the sights and smells? the tree? the shopping?

As Charlie Brown asked so many years ago.......

"Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?"

 

[feeeriek]

I don't have it.
Can't remember the last time I did.

What is it for anyone else?
is it sense of tradition? of family? the sights and smells? the tree? the shopping?

As Charlie Brown asked so many years ago.......

"Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?"

last time i checked it was about crass commercialism... over indulgence...what it
is supposed to be about is entirely different and for me that spirit was lost long ago.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Going back into the northern fields and forests of our neolithic past: It was a combination of relief and contentment now that the granaries and meat lockers were full after the challenges of the harvest and hunt; a bit of punchiness from the unrelenting gloom of too-short days and the inability to do anything but hunker down and wait it out; and an awareness that the cycle would soon turn and the days start getting longer.

Tra-la!

 

[kiten69]

"Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?"

Christmas for me is...

~ living life through the eyes of my kids, they LOVE Christmas
~ watching them believe in the Big Man with the white beard...how they get all shy and giggley when they see him at the mall
~ having them wake me up at 3:00 Christmas morning because Santa came and they reeeeeeally have to open up their presents right now
~ making home made candy that only gets made this time of year and seeing the kids covered in powdered sugar with chocolate on their hands
~ watching them "steal" a piece while my back is turned (Yeah they think they are slick )
~ for me it is all about the kids

 

[English Lady]

Christmas Spirit is..

the child-like wonder at the bright coloured lights on peoples houses, over Christmas trees and in the shops.

It's the excitement in the pit of my stomach as I choose presents and wrap them, eage to see the smile on peoples faces hen they're opened on Christmas day.

It's the smell of mince pies cooking, gingerbread and Christmas cake being cut and the taste tickling my memory and making me smile.

FatherChristmas!The stories, the excitement of children, He's just so very comforting -and yes, I do believe in Santa still. Maybe not like a little kid does, but I do believe.


T|he nativity story and plays, christmas carols and air of festivity -the anticipation of he celebration of the coming of my Saviour Jesus Christ -Christmas is all about that for me.



It's in having a hart of a child. Forget the bad, the commercialism sucks. Concentrate on the joy of Christmas -good will to all and Peace, comforting Peace.

 

[neonlyte]

These days... it's pretty much time to appreciate that I made it through another year. An occassion to reflect on the year past and dream of the year to come. A time to remember the wonder at the first Christmas I spent with my wife, my first visit to Portugal, and how life smiled upon me. We'll ignore the shops and commerce, decorate the Christmas tree in our front garden planted when we first moved to that house eighteen years ago and now taller than the house. We'll hope for cold, dream for snow, visit friends, and go for long walks. Other than that - it's one part Gin and two parts Tonic (with a slice of lemon... and ice).

 

[Alessia Brio]

I don't have it.
Can't remember the last time I did.

What is it for anyone else?
is it sense of tradition? of family? the sights and smells? the tree? the shopping?

As Charlie Brown asked so many years ago.......

"Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?"

Maybe it's my innate rebelliousness, but I resent being told that NOW is the time to give gifts.

I love to give gifts, but on MY schedule -- when I am moved to do so -- when I see something special that I just know someone would appreciate. I hate having to struggle to find gift inspiration just because 'tis the season.

Similarly, I can't stand being asked what I want. I know I'm being asked because other people are struggling, too. And part of the reason they're struggling is because our customs dictate that Christmas is gift-giving time. That's just defeats the purpose to me.

As for the togetherness and family stuff ... well, my mother pretty much sucked the joy out of that.

 

[TheEarl]

Family, tradition and things that don't happen any other time of the year.

The Earl

 

[3113]

It's a Party!

"Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?"

The Christmas Spirit is a need to fight back. The days are super short, the nights long. Xmas comes out of a European tradition, which means the world is frozen and barren. It looks dead. (I rather suspect we wouldn't have Xmas if we'd come out of an Australian tradition--it's now summer there).

Anyway, at this point the world is bleak. It's going on three months since our harvest festival and the food that's been sustaining us is repetitive and bland--people are stuck inside and getting cabin fever, they're arguing, they're afraid, they're depressed. And, like Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol there's a very scary chance that they might not make it. Until we got better with the medicines, the winter was the most likley time that people would get sick and die. Food might run out, we might starve.

We need something to look forward to, to live for and get excited about. Because if we don't, all we have to look forward to is three more months of all this, including the fear, depression, etc.

So, what is the Xmas Spirit? The Xmas Spirit says, "Fuck you! I'm fighting back! Look! Fire to get through the longest night! HAH! Look, a goose and dired fruit and spices to actually enjoy! HAH! Look, I've found evergreens, color! HAH! Look, music, daning, games! HAH!" And gift giving. Family members make a secret presents for each other...everyone waits for that day when they'll get and give those secret presents. What excitment in all this dreariness. What an event! And you get something new! If you were stuck for weeks on end in a little house with your family, and you very rarely got something new and special, this would be a most marvelous treat.

In the end, the Christmas Spirit is about lifting everyone's spirit. About, well, having a party and celebrating that you're alive at a time when the rest of the world is dead. It's infusing flavor into a world of bland food, color into a world of white and brown and gray, fun into a world of dreary survivalism and camaraderie into a world of depression, fears and quarrels.

That, at least, is my humble opinion of what it's all about

 

[HeyNonnyNonny]

I thought that the christmas spirit was advocat?

There's certainly a lot of it about, it makes people feel better, and you'd never expect it for the rest of the year.

 

[rgraham666]

It's too early for me to worry about it.

 

[oggbashan]

Read the Holiday Contest entry in my signature...

Og

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

The Christmas Spirit is a need to fight back. The days are super short, the nights long. Xmas comes out of a European tradition, which means the world is frozen and barren. It looks dead. (I rather suspect we wouldn't have Xmas if we'd come out of an Australian tradition--it's now summer there).

Anyway, at this point the world is bleak. It's going on three months since our harvest festival and the food that's been sustaining us is repetitive and bland--people are stuck inside and getting cabin fever, they're arguing, they're afraid, they're depressed. And, like Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol there's a very scary chance that they might not make it. Until we got better with the medicines, the winter was the most likley time that people would get sick and die. Food might run out, we might starve.

We need something to look forward to, to live for and get excited about. Because if we don't, all we have to look forward to is three more months of all this, including the fear, depression, etc.

So, what is the Xmas Spirit? The Xmas Spirit says, "Fuck you! I'm fighting back! Look! Fire to get through the longest night! HAH! Look, a goose and dired fruit and spices to actually enjoy! HAH! Look, I've found evergreens, color! HAH! Look, music, daning, games! HAH!" And gift giving. Family members make a secret presents for each other...everyone waits for that day when they'll get and give those secret presents. What excitment in all this dreariness. What an event! And you get something new! If you were stuck for weeks on end in a little house with your family, and you very rarely got something new and special, this would be a most marvelous treat.

In the end, the Christmas Spirit is about lifting everyone's spirit. About, well, having a party and celebrating that you're alive at a time when the rest of the world is dead. It's infusing flavor into a world of bland food, color into a world of white and brown and gray, fun into a world of dreary survivalism and camaraderie into a world of depression, fears and quarrels.

That, at least, is my humble opinion of what it's all about

Yeppers, that's it for me too. Good one.

Edited to use more appropriate language:

That's it!

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I dread the holidays.

 

[Just-Legal]

Oops wrong place... got my windows confused...

 

[Just-Legal]

I thought that the christmas spirit was advocat?

There's certainly a lot of it about, it makes people feel better, and you'd never expect it for the rest of the year.

EWWWWW

Advocaat is horrid

 

[neonlyte]

I dread the holidays.

Just use plenty of sun-block and don't go with any strange gigolina's

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Just use plenty of sun-block and don't go with any strange gigolina's

Is that a pastry?

 

[neonlyte]

Is that a pastry?

Talking of pastry... I'm expecting a visitor shortly, from across the pond. A foody to boot. If she's not already gorged out on pastries, we'll spend a day in Lisbon sampling the finest. That is a Christmas treat I wasn't expecting!

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Talking of pastry... I'm expecting a visitor shortly, from across the pond. A foody to boot. If she's not already gorged out on pastries, we'll spend a day in Lisbon sampling the finest. That is a Christmas treat I wasn't expecting!

You lucky man. I still want to have coffee and pastry with you one day.

 

[oggbashan]

My local City Councillors were annoyed last year when the Christmas Lights contractor installed 'Season's Greetings' across the High Street instead of 'Merry Christmas'.

The contractor retorted that 'Season's Greetings' were inclusive, politically correct and preferred by most towns.

The City Councillors' response had to be edited for abusive language.

This year we have 'Season's Greetings' AND 'Merry Christmas'. If either sign becomes defective it will be replaced with 'Merry Christmas'.

Christmas LIVES!

Og

 

[English Lady]

I dread the holidays.

Why? Maybe if you can work that out you can work out what's blocking your Christmas Spirit.

I find a mince pie and a clemantine tends to unblock mine

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Why? Maybe if you can work that out you can work out what's blocking your Christmas Spirit.

I find a mince pie and a clemantine tends to unblock mine

Bad memories of holidays past are pushing up....and being poor doesn't help.

 

[Guest]

I dread the holidays.

Holiday spirit is

1. Cold weather
2. leaves that need to be raked
3. before the snow comes that need to be shoveled
4. darkness too early
5. short days when there is a lot to do
6. the pressure of buying the perfect gift
7. when finances are short
8. lights to be strung up in the cold
9. homes to be cleaned for no good reason
10. guilt over not getting cards out, or getting them out late
11. Compusion to be happy, dammitt.
12. Long lines when trying to do non-holiday things (buying a needed cable at Best Buy)
13. Heavier traffic all day
14. you're f*cked if you want to see a movie and your only theater is at a mall
15. anti-depressants don't work as well this time of year

Merry Christmas everybody.

 

[English Lady]

Bad memories of holidays past are pushing up....and being poor doesn't help.

We need to make some good memories now so you can look back and feel sentimental about them later


Poor can work well at Christmas. bits of old junk make great decorations and looking at other peoples lights is free (I'm always poor, so I know alot of cheap ways to get into the spirit And theres a ton of stuff online that's Christmassy