Christmas Jollies and Humbugs

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Well, since no one else has done it so far this year, I will: come on, SP'ers, tell us how you REALLY feel about Christmas! Love it? Hate it? Take it or leave it? Don't bother with it?

I love it and hate it both. I love the lights - I'm even a sucker for the overdone tackiness that makes up most displays in this part of the country. I love some of the music, hate most of it (if I hear "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" one more time I will scream). I love the awakening of the impulse to generosity, hate that such awakening only happens for about three weeks out of every year. I love the candy, the fruit, the nuts, even the fruitcake, and hate what the scales tell me at the end of it all. I love the traditions and the stories and the legends and truly hate the retail put-all-your-eggs-in-the-Christmas-shopping-basket sell or go bust attitude. I love the mystery of it and hate the obviousness of it. I love the lengthening nights, here in my northern hemisphere home, and kind of hate to see them getting shorter just as I was getting to enjoy them. I love and hate the time with my family - oh, that's for another thread, isn't it?

Go on, share with us.

 

Bah humbug!

Well, I don't really hate Christmas. What I dislike is commercial Christmas. And bloody Christmas carols - bleh...

On the other hand, presents are nice, but, eh, that's about it. Christmas is not that big of a thing for me. Besides, not having snow sort of kills the mood.

 

I dislike the commercialising of holidays at the best of times and avoid most Christmas hype where possible.

I don't watch TV, listen to the radio or go out much, so this year hasn't been too bad.

 

If I really say what I think, you can expect a never-ending stream of cursing and obscenities which would probably mean Tal instabanning my ass.

I [censored] hate Xmas. I do not buy anybody presents and I clearly tell people they don't have to bother either.

As for the F'N Xmas carols... I have to suffer those at work, and trust me, I HATE IT! Well, maybe not as much as those douchebag hypocritic morons customers but that's another story.

On the 24th, I'll be spending some time with my buddy Chills and a bottle of Absinth. Screw Xmas.

 

Christmas makes me sad for reasons I really won't get into, but I try to hide it as much as possible for the sake of my kids. I do like to bake goodies and give them to people at this time of year though. Actually I don't mind doing that any time of the year. I've always liked giving people little gifts of appreciation. I have to admit I do like looking at the Christmas tree when the coloured lights are turned on and I also like some of the very special homemade ornaments that I have. Those things mean a lot to me.

 

I'm with DoTW here. I hate Christmas with a burning passion. I don't buy presents and I don't want any either. I only show up on Christmas eve briefly for dinner, mainly for the sake of my mom and my grandparents.

 

Well, like I've said on a few other places on BoM, Christmas here is at a different date and lacks all the hype with presents, tree and stuff. (That is related to the New Year celebration.) Therefore my feelings about it are rather irrelevant.

I do however like decorating the tree, arranging presents, watching the fireworks.
I hate holiday TV programme, though.

On Christmas: Death said it best in Terry Pratchett's Hogfather. I don't have the book here to quote, but believing in lies to make them true, or the sun won't rise, but instead, a burning globe of hot gass will illuminate the world.

 

I like Christmas since it tends to bring out at least some semblance of generosity in people. Also, there are few pleasures in life like seeing the reaction on someone's face when they receive a gift from you.

 

I always hated Christmas (had some really bad ones as a kid -- a violent alcoholic kind of ruins any good cheer). The first wife was incredibily selfish at the holidays and didn't help my feelings about it. But Mrs Bruno is turning things around for me; she's like a little kid from Thanksgiving on trying to find the best gift for everyone else (within a budget -- thank God) and is really fun to watch.

 

I'm not at all surprised a number of us hate Christmas. I've seen how many people have terrible experiences associated with the holiday, sadly too many of those from childhood. And the commercial and cultural takeover of the holiday here in the U.S. and much of the world is nauseating. I'm glad there are still some bits and pieces of the holiday some of us like, though.

 

I like christmas because it means I get a break from school and get some cool stuff in the process. I hate dressing up and sitting through family dinners when I could be doing things I feel are more important.

The rest of the stuff is neutral for me (although the commercialism pisses me off at points too).

 

I think it is nice, silly and overhyped but nice. The whining about the commercialisation is of Christmas bugs me almost as much as the commercialisation itself though. I like the traditions, the sitting down with the family eating dinner and see what kind of crap we have gotten to each other. I worked one Christmas and I really didn't like it. Didn't think I was big on it but apparently I am big enough on it for not enjoying spending it with a bunch of locked up mental patients and county food.

 

For me it's a love hate relationship.

I enjoy christmas shopping, the challenge of finding the right gift for everyone on my limited budget, Getting to see family and friends I usually only get to see once or twice a year, a few days where I don't have to work (well, before my back injury that is), the treats you only get once a year (or so it seems). I like the fact that for a month every year, the Christians openly remember Christ without fear of offending anyone.

But at the same time, I do find it stressfull as my parents are always the first ones there and the last ones to leave, meaning that we end up setting up chairs (when my back is already stiff from a long drive there) and taking them down at the end of the gathering.

That said, there is so many ways to overdo it. The occasional Christmas song is nice, but Christmas music 24-7 from November 1 to Dec 25 is a bit much. It's like Easy Rock becomes gimme an f-ing break rock. And why haven't there been any good Heavy Metal Christmas songs? Come on, Someone has to be able to come up with something...

The over commercialization is entertaining. Just keep your head and try to have a good laugh...

 

Christmas is really the only occation these days that I get to see the entire family so it's nice I suppose. I would say my relationship with Christmas is neutral bordering positive. I don't mind the commercialism either, if anything all the Christmas lights lighten up the city somewhat.

 

Actually in Denmark some super markets have refused to hang up Christmas decorations out of fear that it would "offend" some people (read: the Muslims). It's the silliest thing ever. First of all, as if they give a flying **** what we hang up in our store. Second, Denmark is a country founded on Christan traditions so that Danes should "fear" practicing our Christian traditions because they might offend a small minority is just retarded. I'm not a Christian myself so I could to some degree not care less (and I do hate all them Christmas decorations), but to be scared of celebrating Christmas because we might offend someone who willingly chose to move to a Christian country is just plain bullshit.

 

Pretty much sums up my feelings too.

I hate the shopping because I can never figure out what to get people - if they haven't given me a list, I'm lost. Of course, that's a problem with me (utter lack of imagination) than with the season.

 

And I solve that by giving everyone the same generic thing. If you live near me you get a loaf of homemade cinnamon swirl bread. If you don't live near me you get a Christmas charity CD. (I know, CDs are so 90s, or maybe 80s.)

Only exceptions are the nieces and nephews, whose parents get a check from me to do my shopping for me.

And lots of people get cards from me, which I do spend a lot of time picking out so that they reflect something I value about the season - usually order them in bulk in early November. Some people especially like the cards anyway, more than the gifts.

 

What's up with everyone. I love Christmas. It brings people together and it's really nice to spend time with family etc! You're a miserable lot.

I shall be drunk most of the time :-) bring it!

 

Just two free days. I try whit the tree and it gets going about halfway. Being alone does not help, but don't feel sad. I am happy every day. Christmas is a family thing and we are not a family family.

Take my dad, he will try to give me anything I want but he has never been longer in my house than minutes. Never stayed for tea, never stayed for a meal or to watch a movie. We, my sister and I are to report at his home were he ignores us completly. So that option is out, isn't it? Sister is whit her new friend, I lost count years ago, and I can go there. That day will be new years eve.

Don't be sad. 4 days of gaming making stories and eating all that i can. And that is a lot.

@ some of the others. It makes me sick to see the hype for a red fat man that has nothing to do whit the birth of Jesus.

We have a holiday on dec 5/6 whit a spanish bishop dressed in red, calles saint nicholaas, that gives present to kids. Coincidence?

 

Do you know, the closeness I have to my family is probably the biggest thing I'm thankful for in all the world. This is Barmy being serious now. We're a tightnit group, my family are the best people I know. We're always here for each other and are very close. I don't understand how some/other family's can't be.