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We're just over a month away from this religious holiday, a great time to discuss what it really means to you.
I'm not religious, so the whole Christs birthday angle means little to me, but there is much more than that to christmas.
When I was younger it was all about getting presents, seeing members of the family I usually don't get to see, eating lots of food, the snow. There was something genuinely magical about the whole thing. Children have all the good points of christmas, with virtually nil of the stress.
As I have gotten older some of these things still remain, but some have faded. There is still a magical coating on everything - it seems people genuinely are in higher spirits and nicer to each other. People are more pleasant simply because it is christmas, even if they haven't really thought about what that means. People have time off which means they can see a lot more of their friends, the pressure of the rat race (for most people) is temporarily lifted for the holiday season. Other pressures replace them, such as late christmas shopping, and the stresses that go with buying presents and adhering to tight schedules, all in preparation for that important week.
Despite this I still enjoy the whole christmas thing - walking around shopping centres with all the christmas trees and lights on show, the atmosphere of general good will.
Why can we not continue this good will throughout the year? Why does such an attitude appear amongst those who are none religious? Is christmas solely designed to empty our pockets? Do you hate christmas, and if so why? What does christmas REALLY mean to you?
I'm not religious, so the whole Christs birthday angle means little to me, but there is much more than that to christmas.
When I was younger it was all about getting presents, seeing members of the family I usually don't get to see, eating lots of food, the snow. There was something genuinely magical about the whole thing. Children have all the good points of christmas, with virtually nil of the stress.
As I have gotten older some of these things still remain, but some have faded. There is still a magical coating on everything - it seems people genuinely are in higher spirits and nicer to each other. People are more pleasant simply because it is christmas, even if they haven't really thought about what that means. People have time off which means they can see a lot more of their friends, the pressure of the rat race (for most people) is temporarily lifted for the holiday season. Other pressures replace them, such as late christmas shopping, and the stresses that go with buying presents and adhering to tight schedules, all in preparation for that important week.
Despite this I still enjoy the whole christmas thing - walking around shopping centres with all the christmas trees and lights on show, the atmosphere of general good will.
Why can we not continue this good will throughout the year? Why does such an attitude appear amongst those who are none religious? Is christmas solely designed to empty our pockets? Do you hate christmas, and if so why? What does christmas REALLY mean to you?
christmas is a time for getting up early, eating tonnes of food, watching James Bond, drinking wine, and playing new computer games.
and snow if you're lucky enough to see any.
and snow if you're lucky enough to see any.
Christmas is a magical time; it also empties your wallet like a spellbinding pickpocket. This year I'm going buy me some paper and a fine black pen, and draw everybody I know a personal cartoon: this way I spend next to nothing yet at the same time give everyone something unique. I will be Scrooge meets Santa - the spirit of Christmas personified.
It's funny. As a child, Christmas is about chocolate and presents. As an adult, Christmas is more about the giving than the receiving. You get to run about and buy things for family and friends that they've been saying that they want for the last 12 months, knowing that what you get them will make them happy, or even make their life better for it. That alone is reward in itself, but (Shock! Horror!) these people will also get you something in return, doing the same for you!
It's not about religion, especially not about Christianity. Even all the nativity plays and displays in shop windows seem outdated and unecessary now. It's more about a (inter)national holiday where people get to share and enjoy the whole day as a family. It's about dressing up as Santa to surprise my neice and nephew, because my dad did it the year before, and they twigged it was him, so to throw them off, I turn up as Santa with my dad sat with the kids. It's about the look on their face because Santa has come to see them in person.
Ah...
But damn is Christmas an expensive time of year! Mumble...grumble... humbug...
It's not about religion, especially not about Christianity. Even all the nativity plays and displays in shop windows seem outdated and unecessary now. It's more about a (inter)national holiday where people get to share and enjoy the whole day as a family. It's about dressing up as Santa to surprise my neice and nephew, because my dad did it the year before, and they twigged it was him, so to throw them off, I turn up as Santa with my dad sat with the kids. It's about the look on their face because Santa has come to see them in person.
Ah...
But damn is Christmas an expensive time of year! Mumble...grumble... humbug...
As I said to the fat guy at the bus stop, I am just happy that Christmas is a chance to spend time with my family. I couldn't really ask for more than my loving family and my middle-class, Western lifestyle.
But some Gamecube games would, of course, be appreciated.
But some Gamecube games would, of course, be appreciated.
yeah, these days the only flakes to be found on christmas day are those on your pillow ...
Presents
It's such a world wide large holiday now, filled with happiness from Christians, which is passed onto others, who generally feel happier at this time of year.
What makes Christmas really good: SNOW.
It's such a world wide large holiday now, filled with happiness from Christians, which is passed onto others, who generally feel happier at this time of year.
What makes Christmas really good: SNOW.
We're just over a month away from this religious holiday, a great time to discuss what it really means to you.
I'm not religious, so the whole Christs birthday angle means little to me, but there is much more than that to christmas.
When I was younger it was all about getting presents, seeing members of the family I usually don't get to see, eating lots of food, the snow. There was something genuinely magical about the whole thing. Children have all the good points of christmas, with virtually nil of the stress.
As I have gotten older some of these things still remain, but some have faded. There is still a magical coating on everything - it seems people genuinely are in higher spirits and nicer to each other. People are more pleasant simply because it is christmas, even if they haven't really thought about what that means. People have time off which means they can see a lot more of their friends, the pressure of the rat race (for most people) is temporarily lifted for the holiday season. Other pressures replace them, such as late christmas shopping, and the stresses that go with buying presents and adhering to tight schedules, all in preparation for that important week.
Despite this I still enjoy the whole christmas thing - walking around shopping centres with all the christmas trees and lights on show, the atmosphere of general good will.
Why can we not continue this good will throughout the year? Why does such an attitude appear amongst those who are none religious? Is christmas solely designed to empty our pockets? Do you hate christmas, and if so why? What does christmas REALLY mean to you?
I'm not religious, so the whole Christs birthday angle means little to me, but there is much more than that to christmas.
When I was younger it was all about getting presents, seeing members of the family I usually don't get to see, eating lots of food, the snow. There was something genuinely magical about the whole thing. Children have all the good points of christmas, with virtually nil of the stress.
As I have gotten older some of these things still remain, but some have faded. There is still a magical coating on everything - it seems people genuinely are in higher spirits and nicer to each other. People are more pleasant simply because it is christmas, even if they haven't really thought about what that means. People have time off which means they can see a lot more of their friends, the pressure of the rat race (for most people) is temporarily lifted for the holiday season. Other pressures replace them, such as late christmas shopping, and the stresses that go with buying presents and adhering to tight schedules, all in preparation for that important week.
Despite this I still enjoy the whole christmas thing - walking around shopping centres with all the christmas trees and lights on show, the atmosphere of general good will.
Why can we not continue this good will throughout the year? Why does such an attitude appear amongst those who are none religious? Is christmas solely designed to empty our pockets? Do you hate christmas, and if so why? What does christmas REALLY mean to you?