It has already started whether you like it or not... ads of any kind with different Santas preening and prancing on tv, Christmas songs as a part of muzak's repertoite, tinsel-and-mistletoe decorations in shops...If you are preparing for this year's festivity, tell me why do you really celebrate Christmas? Is it the nice atmosphere and extra shopping? For your family and/or children? As a part of your religious tradition? For no reason at all, just because you feel like it and everybody around seems doing the same?
If you don't celebrate Christmas, but enjoy your winter holiday, how do you cope with the annual deluge of shopping crowds, tawdry shop windows and aggressive consumerism calls? Or maybe you actually like it? Why?
Finally why, in your opinion, is Christmas nowadays so widespread even in countries with no Christian traditions to speak of?
I would love to know your opinions!
As usual, here are some quotes, the food for thoughts, concerning the topic:
"Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip!"
Garry Allan
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” Norman Vincent Peale
“Christmas itself may be called into question, If carried so far it creates indigestion.” Ralph Bergengren
“I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.” Bernard Manning
“From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it.” Katherine Whitehorn
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Xmas from me is presents...hehe yes that is me, I am 5 year old again. Oh and the food, Christian customs...do we have any at all. I mean the tree is not, not santa, and the little santas we have, or the pagan symbols
ReplyDeleteI do not celebrate Christmas at all and presents...well, the best presents I buy myself on my own so no need for supernatural intervention or even my parents' intervention here. Polish people observe different customs but they are almost all pagan as well...
ReplyDeleteChristmas. I have a love hate relationshipnwith Christmas. For me it's a religious holiday, but it's become so commercialized.
ReplyDeleteI think Katherine Whithorn has it right. We were doomed when we surrendered control over our governments and anything else that matters to the vampires of finance. I think of Santa Claus as Woden. It makes him more bearable. I participate because I have kids.
ReplyDeleteI agree that any religious message Christmas was supposed to communicate to people has been swamped with commercialism long ago. Now it's almost entirely business with the capital B.
ReplyDeleteI think of Santa Claus as Woden. It makes him more bearable.
An interesting point of view!
The red coat and midnight ride belong properly to him. I should leave a bottle of beer out for him when he circles the earth on the Wild Hunt. Maybe he will bless me for the new year. :-)
ReplyDeleteIn my young, free and single days (a long time ago) I wasn't bothered about Christmas at all, I often used to work on Christmas Day, I much preferred celebrating New Year.
ReplyDeleteSince I've had children I enjoy Christmas, but it is hard work - writing all of those cards, buying the pressies, all of those parties and meals - I need a holiday afterwards!
I should leave a bottle of beer out for him when he circles the earth on the Wild Hunt. Maybe he will bless me for the new year. :-)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a sensible move!
Since I've had children I enjoy Christmas, but it is hard work - writing all of those cards, buying the pressies, all of those parties and meals - I need a holiday afterwards!
Oh it seems you simply enjoy hard work, dear Tracy! I've always wished to go away on Christmas to a remote (but luxurious) mountain hut and leave all this ridiculous hustle and bustle behind. Just sun, snow and skis...ok and a sauna afterwards. ;) I haven't been able to make my wish come true so far. I don't know if finding such a hut is possible (and affordable) for me.