Does Anyone Here Not Like Christmas?

[Mai72]

Ah bah humbug!

It's commercialized garbage!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I hate Christmas and don't celebrate it at all. Makes this time of the year much more pleasant. My objections to the holiday are more quasi-religious than commercial though. I ignore the holiday just like I ignore all holidays devoted to invisible men in the sky. Being able to skip the buying frenzy is a just a happy bonus.

 

[BoomerD]

I'm not a fan.

It's much less about "the reason dor the season," and more about "The Great Merchant Holiday."

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I'm not a fan.

It's much less about "the reason dor the season," and more about "The Great Merchant Holiday."

This ought to be good. What exactly is the reason for the season in your estimation?

 

[gorcorps]

It is what you make of it. I'm all for having a solid week or so where I'm justified taking time from work to travel the 1000 miles to see my family once a year. If this season is nothing but presents then you're doing it wrong.

 

[sandorski]

The stress of shopping when everyone else is stressed out shopping is annoying. Putting "Christ back into Christmas" for a Holiday based upon numerous Pagan Traditions is also annoying. It's the ultimate Cultural Appropriation in history given that no Historian even thinks that Jesus was ever born near this time of year.

Giving gifts, dinner, gathering with family is nice though. So in the end it's all good.

 

[Rifter]

I used to love Christmas, but now that i have a job as a sameday courier dispatcher Christmas can freaking blow me! Im at about 9.99/10 on the about to go postal scale.

 

[lxskllr]

I love it. I consider jul a celebration of winter. Evergreens, alcohol, long nights, and cool air. It's my second favorite time of year after fall, though during a nice snow, it can overtake autumn.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I like Christmas, I tend to look past all the hustle and bustle and the commercialization, which makes it more enjoyable. I find all the Christmas lights and decorations make the constant darkness less depressing and the Christmas season as a whole is something to look forward to when summer is coming to an end. Also great to spend time with family and stuff.

This year will be different for me though, first time ever that I have to actually work it. I'll still be able to go show up for the family dinner but I'll have to leave for my night shift. Can't complain though since it's going to be good money. I used to be 2nd last on seniority list but the one who was last quit so it will probably be me working Christmas for a while now. Though sometimes it happens that two (day shift and night shift) people volunteer if they have no plans.

I just hope we don't get any winter storms. I want it to at least be quiet at work. Seems every year it ends up being ridiculously hectic at this time of year. Winter storms, massive power outages, having to coordinate generators everywhere, etc... Last year we actually had to call in someone extra just to handle all the calls and stuff.

 

[Sonikku]

I would like Christmas more if I could relax. Instead I'm more frantic and busy than ever. I also don't have much of anything left in the way of a family. It's basically a block of days pulling longer hours pandering to other peoples wishes and desires with no bonus or benefit for doing so.

 

[MrSquished]

I enjoy Christmas and the whole holiday seson much more when I've been with a significant other. Still Christmas Day is nice with the family and getting to see my nieces' eyes light up when they get their presents. Well just one niece, she is about 5. The 8 month old will have nary a clue as to what I got her this year.

But yeah in some ways Christmas feels lonelier being single. So fuck it, bah humbug!

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I like Christmas. I like putting up the lights and checking everyone else's out with my wife and daughter. Maybe it's a parent thing, but the kid just lights up this time of year. It's awesome to see her so excited and happy and innocent. OTOH, it's also a PITA. Have to get the house ready for all the in-laws on Christmas Eve, then get up early and drive 2.5 hours Christmas day to my side, then come home 24 hours later.

 

[BoomerD]

This ought to be good. What exactly is the reason for the season in your estimation?

Gee...what COULD Christmas, the celebration of (if not the actual birthday of) the birth of Jesus Christ, be about?

I'm not religious, was raised a Lutheran, but in my older years, have, not only doubts about "the story," but about the existance of a "creator sky fairy" that somehow, magically listens to the mundane "prayers" of humans all over this planet...(and what about beings on other planets in the universe?)

But, I digress...believe or not...Christmas is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Christ...NOT about WalMart selling more Chinese-made goods.

 

[shortylickens]

YOU dont have to participate in the commercialism if you dont like.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I used to love Christmas when I was younger - we had a large extended family with many years of fun gatherings, great food, and great spirit. However, most of my family is now dead and with my mother passing earlier this year and being the last of my "elder" relatives to die, it has been a very depressing season. On my side of the family, all I have left is two brothers and we live very different lives. We usually spend Christmas with my in-laws, but it is nowhere near as fun as my family gatherings were.

 

[waitman]

I hate it and don't celebrate it at all. I have to agree also with the fundie right that there is a war on xmas, but it's the fundies that are doing it. All you have to do to see it is go to any store and see how people act towards others. The spirit of xmas has to do with those people's damn, demon, xmas spirits. People suck worse this time of year more than average.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Gee...what COULD Christmas, the celebration of (if not the actual birthday of) the birth of Jesus Christ, be about?

I'm not religious, was raised a Lutheran, but in my older years, have, not only doubts about "the story," but about the existance of a "creator sky fairy" that somehow, magically listens to the mundane "prayers" of humans all over this planet...(and what about beings on other planets in the universe?)

But, I digress...believe or not...Christmas is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Christ...NOT about WalMart selling more Chinese-made goods.

No, it's NOT. Christmas has nothing to do with Christ, never did. That's just pure idiocy.

Christmas is the Roman winter equinox festival of Saturnalia. When Constantine spread christianity through Europe at swordpoint, convert or die he let the pagans keep their holidays so they'd be more tractable. So they kept celebrating Saturnalia and there were no Jesus holidays because nobody really believed in him or gave a damn. They were forced to pretend they did. That pissed off the church and they eventually shoehorned Jesus into the holiday hundreds of years later just so Jesus could have a holiday and since people were celebrating it anyway.

Jesus did not exist and if the biblical Jesus did exist he would have been born in March or April. The connection between Jesus and Christmas is completely, 100% fabricated.

 

[WelshBloke]

Gee...what COULD Christmas, the celebration of (if not the actual birthday of) the birth of Jesus Christ, be about?

I'm not religious, was raised a Lutheran, but in my older years, have, not only doubts about "the story," but about the existance of a "creator sky fairy" that somehow, magically listens to the mundane "prayers" of humans all over this planet...(and what about beings on other planets in the universe?)

But, I digress...believe or not...Christmas is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Christ...NOT about WalMart selling more Chinese-made goods.

Meh.

People have been celebrating the equinoxes and solstices for a hell of a lot longer than Christianity has been around.

You can make your "winter holiday" whatever the hell you want it and celebrate it however you like.

 

[Chaotic42]

I don't dislike it, I just generally ignore it. I do like Christmas trees, but I never put one up. It's just another day except that the stores are all closed.

 

[bbhaag]

I have mixed feelings about it. I enjoy seeing my wife and kids open up there presents on Christmas. Especially the ones I bought for her that she doesn't know about. When her face lights up because I found the perfect gift because I love her and know her is perfect. I also enjoy spending time with them throughout the day. I enjoy decorating the tree with them as music plays in the background. We share memories as they pull ornaments out of "the special" ornament box.
Unfortunately that's where it ends. I have severely overbearing in-laws. So overbearing that my family now spends their Christmas down in Florida. It makes me sad that my parents don't get too see their grandchildren on Christmas. I have no one to blame but myself though.

 

[IronWing]

I enjoy Christmas and the whole holiday seson much more when I've been with a significant other. Still Christmas Day is nice with the family and getting to see my nieces' eyes light up when they get their presents. Well just one niece, she is about 5. The 8 month old will have nary a clue as to what I got her this year.

But yeah in some ways Christmas feels lonelier being single. So fuck it, bah humbug!

Eight months is pretty young but someday she'll appreciate that Stihl saw.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I don't really give two shits about Christmas, but my family is important to me, and Christmas is important to them. To me it's just a good time to come together, have a good meal, down a few drinks and enjoy each other's company. The adults in our family have mutually agreed to greatly reduce the gift exchanging amongst ourselves -- a few years in a row of just swapping gift cards with everyone and the absurdity was pretty clear. That greatly simplifies things. That, and Amazon Prime.

 

[BoomerD]

No, it's NOT. Christmas has nothing to do with Christ, never did. That's just pure idiocy.

Christmas is the Roman winter equinox festival of Saturnalia. When Constantine spread christianity through Europe at swordpoint, convert or die he let the pagans keep their holidays so they'd be more tractable. So they kept celebrating Saturnalia and there were no Jesus holidays because nobody really believed in him or gave a damn. They were forced to pretend they did. That pissed off the church and they eventually shoehorned Jesus into the holiday hundreds of years later just so Jesus could have a holiday and since people were celebrating it anyway.

Jesus did not exist and if the biblical Jesus did exist he would have been born in March or April. The connection between Jesus and Christmas is completely, 100% fabricated.

Meh.

People have been celebrating the equinoxes and solstices for a hell of a lot longer than Christianity has been around.

You can make your "winter holiday" whatever the hell you want it and celebrate it however you like.

See, I already mentioned that "Christmas" is most likely NOT the actual birthday of the jeezus...All I'm saying, is that if you don't believe in the myth/story, why celebrate the holiday? Do you celebrate Kwanzaa, or Hannuka, or Ramadan?

My wife, despite my best attempts, continues to be a believer...a Christian, although admittedly not a "good" Christian...she's a "sinner."

As for the winter solstice argument...I don't disagree that it's most likely why this time of year is when Christmas is celebrated. Celebrate Saturnalia if that's your belief...leave Christmas for the Christians.

 

[WelshBloke]

See, I already mentioned that "Christmas" is most likely NOT the actual birthday of the jeezus...All I'm saying, is that if you don't believe in the myth/story, why celebrate the holiday? Do you celebrate Kwanzaa, or Hannuka, or Ramadan?

My wife, despite my best attempts, continues to be a believer...a Christian, although admittedly not a "good" Christian...she's a "sinner."

As for the winter solstice argument...I don't disagree that it's most likely why this time of year is when Christmas is celebrated. Celebrate Saturnalia if that's your belief...leave Christmas for the Christians.

Why celebrate Christmas?

Because I like Christmas trees, and tinsel, and brussel sprouts, and drinking and eating all day, and catching up with friends and relatives, and seeing the kids open their presents, and dressing up like Santa, and eating fried Christmas pudding doused in brandy.

Honestly there isn't much of a religious aspect to Christmas here. Its more about family, and Santa, food and drink, and friends.

 

[BoomerD]

Why celebrate Christmas?

Because I like Christmas trees, and tinsel, and brussel sprouts, and drinking and eating all day, and catching up with friends and relatives, and seeing the kids open their presents, and dressing up like Santa, and eating fried Christmas pudding doused in brandy.

Honestly there isn't much of a religious aspect to Christmas here. Its more about family, and Santa, food and drink, and friends.

But...Santa IS religious (Saint Nicholas/St. Nick, etc.)...(and here, Santa Claus is far more important to the kiddies than teh Jeezus)

Don't get me wrong or misunderstand my pedantic ramblings...I'm all in favor of celebrating what-the-fuck-ever you want...any time, any where...I just think it's funny as fuck that people who are non-religious, anti-religion, atheist, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, East African Jojoba Tree worshipers...what ever...celebrating Christmas.