Young people are not interested in traditions

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Jun 26, 2007
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Exactly right, I have made Christmas about me, but to some people I can see why they haven't. To take another maybe more relevant example. Halloween. Means nothing to me but some people have made it their own regardless of the American origins.

All Hallows Eve isn't celebrated where i'm from, at all.

We do celebrate bonfire night though.
 
Jun 26, 2007
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No in America it's worse, in America they don't have they don't seem to be based on the actual origins of the holiday but rather they are stuck in Christian thinking.

That's worse.

What i have noticed from my time over there (which mostly consisted of getting to go off base and getting hammered) is that everyone has a stick up their arse on how fucking special it is and you wouldn't believe the fucking controversy and jealousy it creates over there too.

It's quite different in England, isn't it? I spent some time in Germany and it was awesome there too, just sit down and have a few sips of gluhwine before you get back out on the ice...
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
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I love Christmas and Thanksgiving. The other holidays don't mean so much to me anymore.

There are some traditions that I've followed since I was born and that I'll continue to follow for years to come, probably thanks to the way I was raised.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
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What i have noticed from my time over there (which mostly consisted of getting to go off base and getting hammered) is that everyone has a stick up their arse on how fucking special it is and you wouldn't believe the fucking controversy and jealousy it creates over there too.

It's quite different in England, isn't it? I spent some time in Germany and it was awesome there too, just sit down and have a few sips of gluhwine before you get back out on the ice...

Yeah I have noticed this aswell, but my point is, although they may "think" it's different it isn't actually, their reactions maybe different but the concept is the same if not worse?
 
Jun 26, 2007
11,925
2
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I love Christmas and Thanksgiving. The other holidays don't mean so much to me anymore.

There are some traditions that I've followed since I was born and that I'll continue to follow for years to come, probably thanks to the way I was raised.

We don't celebrate thanksgiving but from what i gather it's quite a nice holiday over there.

Besides, i fucking LOVE turkey, we have it on new years, i've insisted that everyone attending the party have to wait for that day, i only have it that day which might explain why i love it so much.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,165
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It REALLY isn't.
It depends on the season experienced in a place. Europe and other places with four distinct seasons tended to end up with a tradition of eight holidays, the equinoxes, solstices, and the four cross quarter holidays. Other places with different climates have different cycles. In the US, we screwed up the structure by declaring the beginning of seasons to start on the solstices and equinoxes which makes no sense at all. Our major holidays sort of follow the seasons but not as tightly as in Europe.

Winter Solstice => Christmas and New Years
Imbalc => Groundhog Day/Valentine's Day
Vernal Equinox => Easter
Beltane/Mayday => Memorial Day
Summer Solstice => Independence Day
Lammas => nothing, maybe Labor Day (early September)
Autumnal Equinox => nothing, maybe Labor Day
Samhain => Halloween
 

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
7,458
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I used to not care about holidays and stuff, until I was with my ex, and realized it's just an excuse to do something special with loved ones. But without someone to spend the holidays with, they are still pointless.

I kinda agree with this
 
Jun 26, 2007
11,925
2
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Yeah I have noticed this aswell, but my point is, although they may "think" it's different it isn't actually, their reactions maybe different but the concept is the same if not worse?

I love Christmas at home, the concept is the gathering of family and loved ones, how can you not like that?
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,165
28,814
136
What i have noticed from my time over there (which mostly consisted of getting to go off base and getting hammered) is that everyone has a stick up their arse on how fucking special it is and you wouldn't believe the fucking controversy and jealousy it creates over there too.
You have to understand that if every single Christmas isn't greeting card perfect then there is something wrong with you and your family. It's as deeply entrenched as girls/women with screwed up body images. "Here's the ideal. If you don't measure up, you're a failure."
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
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What i have noticed from my time over there (which mostly consisted of getting to go off base and getting hammered) is that everyone has a stick up their arse on how fucking special it is and you wouldn't believe the fucking controversy and jealousy it creates over there too.

It's quite different in England, isn't it? I spent some time in Germany and it was awesome there too, just sit down and have a few sips of gluhwine before you get back out on the ice...

It sounds like you were hanging out with the wrong people... anyone who let's Christmas create jealousy and controversy is doing it wrong. I can't speak for everyone of course, but at least in my family, Christmas is about seeing and spending time with the people and family that you normally don't get to see and sharing experiences and good times.

Of course, when I was little it was all about getting presents, but hey... time's have changed. ;)
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,908
2,141
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No in America it's worse, in America they don't have they don't seem to be based on the actual origins of the holiday but rather they are stuck in Christian thinking.

That's worse.

In what way? All I see is Santa posted everywhere. I'll see a nativity scene in front of a church once in a while, but that's hardly in your face. In America, all the media does is push shopping for Christmas. My point is, you should be out going on a sleigh ride, or cut down a fresh tree, or go see a light display, or attend some parties, or go see a production, or go on a trip...make the holiday special and you'll have something special to remember instead of "This sucks because of this, and that sucks because of that..."
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
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I love Christmas at home, the concept is the gathering of family and loved ones, how can you not like that?

Agreed. If your calling Christmas a family gathering then yeah no one can hate it (unless you have no soul [if humans have souls]) but the connotations that follow the concept of Christmas are often christian and that I don't like.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
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In what way? All I see is Santa posted everywhere. I'll see a nativity scene in front of a church once in a while, but that's hardly in your face. In America, all the media does is push shopping for Christmas. My point is, you should be out going on a sleigh ride, or cut down a fresh tree, or go see a light display, or attend some parties, or go see a production, or go on a trip...make the holiday special and you'll have something special to remember instead of "This sucks because of this, and that sucks because of that..."

I can understand that, and on the whole it's how I feel, but the comercialisation of christmas I don't like, and if you peel that away you find the origin, which in some countries is christian and that I don't like.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,908
2,141
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We don't celebrate thanksgiving but from what i gather it's quite a nice holiday over there.

Besides, i fucking LOVE turkey, we have it on new years, i've insisted that everyone attending the party have to wait for that day, i only have it that day which might explain why i love it so much.

See? That's a tradition. You do something you love once a year to mark a certain season. Now, what would happen if everyone there said "Screw it, a turkey is too much trouble. Why should I have to go through all that cleanup? We can eat a frozen turkey dinner."

Pretty depressing thought, huh. That's exactly how a lot of the younger generation is thinking today.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,165
28,814
136
No, son, i got my G3, my 870 and my P226 from Her Majesty's Royal Air Force supply unit.

I don't need a gun at home, i don't live in a war zone like Americans do.
If my posts make no sense, there are probably song lyrics in them somewhere.
 
Jun 26, 2007
11,925
2
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Agreed. If your calling Christmas a family gathering then yeah no one can hate it (unless you have no soul [if humans have souls]) but the connotations that follow the concept of Christmas are often christian and that I don't like.

Well that is what i told you, make it your tradition, take what you enjoy out of it and keep that, ignore what you don't like, it's not like you need to embrace Jesus as your saviour and king to celebrate Christmas or Yule if you so will.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,908
2,141
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I can understand that, and on the whole it's how I feel, but the comercialisation of christmas I don't like, and if you peel that away you find the origin, which in some countries is christian and that I don't like.

So you don't like Christmas because of Christian traditions in countries that you don't even live in? Wow...you have trans-border hate! That can't be healthy.
 
Jun 26, 2007
11,925
2
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See? That's a tradition. You do something you love once a year to mark a certain season. Now, what would happen if everyone there said "Screw it, a turkey is too much trouble. Why should I have to go through all that cleanup? We can eat a frozen turkey dinner."

Pretty depressing thought, huh. That's exactly how a lot of the younger generation is thinking today.

I would have to shoot someone if i didn't get my turkey on new years, i really would.

I get you point and yeah, but i do think that there are times in your life where traditions are less of a focus and that they will return once you realise you miss them.