Seeing as everybody here seems to hate it

[TheEarl]

I thought I'd pontificate about Christmas.

I've been on the last couple of days and most of the new threads appear to be thoroughly annoyed at Christmas. The holidays, the crowds, the consumerism, the commercialisation. I've heard one person annoyed about having to spend time with their family.

Obviously as a Wicca, the religious significance of Christmas means very little to me, but you'd be amazed by how many people have asked me if I'm allowed to celebrate it now that I've converted.

To my mind, Christmas is about happiness. It's about doing something special for one time in a year, that you never can replicate any other time. I love giving presents, I love buying presents, because getting just the perfect thing for my friends and family makes me happier than anything. I love going home (and have in fact blown a large proportion of my annual leave on going home this year), because I get to play kid again in my family and we get to follow the same routines that we have since as long as I can remember, even to the extent of putting up pillowcases for our presents. I love the idea of one day where you eat gorgeous food and drink wine and you talk to your friends and family and have one day at peace.

So ignore the rampant consumerism and the adverts and the shops trying to lure you and try and take simple pleasure in a time of unity, when a staggering proportion of people, all over the world, makes an effort to be happy. Just for one day.

There was no real point to this post. Just thought I'd speak.

The Earl

 

[English Lady]

*hugs* Earl, good to see you!

I love Christmas, adore it even, I'm just not a fan of it all starting so damn early *L*

But then I celebrate at Christmas, Celebrate one of the miracles central to my faith and that makes every single year special to me, because I remember that ultimate gift.

Christmas present shopping etc is fine, but I'm not going to be in every thread discussing Christmas as it's not even December yet! *laughs*

 

[elsol]

Who hates Christmas?!?

It's an awesome holiday

a) I get presents.
b) I get to give presents (earn points).
c) Everyone at work goes on vacation.
d) The Sig-Other visits home leaving me alone for a couple of weeks.

The list just go on and on as to the joy christmas brings to my life.

Sincerely,
ElSol

ps. Did I mention I get presents? X-Box 360 BABY!!!

 

[Guest]

 

[mack_the_knife]

It's a good excuse to drag out the Mannheim Steamroller CD's.

I get to buy people things I think they should have

It finally drops below 80 degrees here and stays down.

There's a tree in the house, very cool.

My girls act good for about a month, trying to get on Santa's good side.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the animated 'real' version).

My rollover date for vacation at work is Dec 13th, so I got new days to burn.

Eggnog and rum.

Mistletoe and my pretty aunt Kay.

I get to see who in the family got married and who got divorced, or both.

Somebody comes out of the closet, someone else jumps back in.

And THIS IS FRIGGIN AWSOME!

 

[cloudy]

I used to love Christmas, but since my father died, and my mother remarried, it's almost like it's not my family anymore. When I go there, it's not home, and I'm just visiting. Don't get me wrong, I like my stepfather very much, and he adores my mom, but he's not my dad.

Add to that the additional tension because my husband feels he SHOULD go up there with me and the kids Christmas day, and he spends the day miserable because he's so uncomfortable around my family. We barely have time to open a couple of presents, eat, and then he's harping about leaving.

I wish I still had my family around. I think my attitude would be greatly improved, I believe, if MY family was here - my mother only lives about an hour away, but one sister lives in Los Angeles, as does my grown daughter, one sister lives in Utah, there's a brother in Washington state, and another brother in Oregon. Due to the distance, I rarely get to see them all at once.

*sigh*

 

[Pure]

No objection to theearl's emphasis on happiness or bringing it.

But I don't see, for most over 15, the happiness of getting what's bought, nor do I see why "buying" something for someone--a new scarf for mom from her adult 'child'; NOT a doll for a kid--is the preferred "Christmas" expression of love.

I have most of what I want that can be bought, except for the Jaguar, and would much prefer--from adults-- a phone call, a visit, or an evening 'out' with someone to the usual results of shopping.

My sister-in-law goes and works in a soup kitchen, near Xmas. That, to me, is giving.

 

[Stella_Omega]

...

Obviously as a Wicca, the religious significance of Christmas means very little to me, but you'd be amazed by how many people have asked me if I'm allowed to celebrate it now that I've converted....

The Earl

That cracks me up "Are you allowed?"

 

[yui]

My sister-in-law goes and works in a soup kitchen, near Xmas. That, to me, is giving.

I like to do Heifer Project International gifts for Christmas. Last year I gave my father a water buffalo and my mother a goat and a sheep and a flock of honeybees.

I want to work for Heifer Project when I grow up.


Peace, Earl. Be happy; enjoy your family and your friends, and your time with them.

 

[minsue]

To my mind, Christmas is about happiness. It's about doing something special for one time in a year, that you never can replicate any other time. I love giving presents, I love buying presents, because getting just the perfect thing for my friends and family makes me happier than anything. I love going home (and have in fact blown a large proportion of my annual leave on going home this year), because I get to play kid again in my family and we get to follow the same routines that we have since as long as I can remember, even to the extent of putting up pillowcases for our presents. I love the idea of one day where you eat gorgeous food and drink wine and you talk to your friends and family and have one day at peace.

Beautifully stated, Earl. As an athiest constantly having to explain why I celebrate Christmas, I couldn't agree more.