Christmas is for Children

[Eddi]

"Christmas" can mean two separate things:

1) The celebration of the birth of Christ
2) A winter feast, of pagan origins

The first of these is a genuine religious festival and is something I very much approve of.

However, "Christmas" as a winter feast has I think long since degenerated into commercialism and an opportunity to make money...

Perhaps before it did this it was more pure?



Look at all the Christmas adverts that come out each year - it's big business!

And it is in the interests of business to promote it!

Seriously, it is for children

The magic of Father Christmas, etc.

To most people who celebrate it, it has zero religious significance - it's just eating, drinking, and buying stuff

Yes, it is nice to get together with family and friends. But you can do that anyway, you shouldn't need a specific festival to do so!



When adults celebrate it they are regressing to a child-like state

Look at the lockdown measures being suspended for Christmas (in the UK) - it has taken priority over public health!

((check out my website/blog))​

 

[Secret Chief]

True.

 

[Salty Booger]

Christmas is about family, friends, and the spirit of love, imo.

 

[SomeRandom]

The commercialism is a bit awful, I’ll readily say that is true. But life is busy. Sometimes you just don’t always have to the time to meet up with friends and family. Sometimes the appointment is “next time.” And then next time never happens due to conflicting schedules.
It’s good to have a couple days out of the year to in effect force people outside of capitalism and instead focus on ourselves and loved ones.
Work, study, life commands most of our attentions just by default. I think people are entitled to a guaranteed breather every once in a while. To recharge and reconnect.

 

[Secret Chief]

What if my family is Christian? And we get together as a celebration of Christ’s message of hope, love and peace?
(Yes we also all get drunk too. But in fairness, our lord and saviour turned water into wine. )

The OP said:

" 1) The celebration of the birth of Christ
......

The first of these is a genuine religious festival and is something I very much approve of."

As to putting a toxin into the body, that's between you and whoever.

 

[SomeRandom]

The OP said:

" 1) The celebration of the birth of Christ
......

The first of these is a genuine religious festival and is something I very much approve of."

As to putting a toxin into the body, that's between you and whoever.

Yes sorry, I was being a bit snarky after work which was awful. I have since edited my post to actually engage instead of being a ********* like I usually am.

 

[McBell]

"Christmas" can mean two separate things:​

It can mean a lot more than those two things.
For some people Christmas time is the most depressing time of the year.
For some it is so depressing they commit suicide.

For yet others it has to do with family.

so no, not every one thinks religion (or lack of) for Christmas

 

[Eddi]

Christmas is about family, friends, and the spirit of love, imo.

Yes, it should be...

That's what it should be about

I just don't like how it's become a business opportunity

 

[McBell]

I just don't like how it's become a business opportunity

Let those who will perpetuate it a commercial enterprise do as they wish.
For so long as they are leaving me and mine alone...

 

[Eddi]

The commercialism is a bit awful, I’ll readily say that is true. But life is busy. Sometimes you just don’t always have to the time to meet up with friends and family. Sometimes the appointment is “next time.” And then next time never happens due to conflicting schedules.
It’s good to have a couple days out of the year to in effect force people outside of capitalism and instead focus on ourselves and loved ones.
Work, study, life commands most of our attentions just by default. I think people are entitled to a guaranteed breather every once in a while. To recharge and reconnect.

Yes, you're right, it's nice having an official winter holiday, a bit of a break for people to spend with loved ones

 

[SomeRandom]

Yes, you're right, it's nice having an official winter holiday, a bit of a break for people to spend with loved ones

Alas I’m in the upside down world of Australia, so it’s as hot as hades here. Oh how I long for an actually “white Christmas” that media has fed me all my life.

 

[Eddi]

Alas I’m in the upside down world of Australia, so it’s as hot as hades here. Oh how I long for an actually “white Christmas” that media has fed me all my life.

I've had one white Christmas

In 2004

Made the day feel extra festive

But I was in hospital that day so couldn't go out in it as I'd have liked to

 

[stvdv]

Look at the lockdown measures being suspended for Christmas (in the UK) - it has taken priority over public health!

In Holland they start a full lock down for the first time, starting with Christmas
That is also quite insane IMO. The whole thing is quite insane; no consistency at all

By the way, I just enjoy Christmas, but don't spend extra on it
All are free to enjoy it in their own way; not all people are the same

 

[Salty Booger]

I just don't like how it's become a business opportunity

Well, certainly it brings joy to capitalists everywhere, but that doesn't mean it can't bring you happiness. When my extended family meet on Christmas Eve, we have a White Elephant gift giving where you bring one gift and everyone takes turns picking another's gift. If you don't like yours, you can exchange it with that of another who has opened a gift. I believe that a gift can be exchanged three times max. Also, people often participate in Secret Santa exchanges, where you select a name from a box of names and buy a gift for that person. There is no reason why Christmas needs break the bank.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Just another example of how culture is destroyed for profit. I'd rather get a handwritten card, letter or a handmade gift at Yule than more junk I can buy myself (since no one buys me anything, really) any time of the year.

 

[metis]

However, "Christmas" as a winter feast has I think long since degenerated into commercialism and an opportunity to make money...

That depends on the family as the above is not true for all. In most Catholic countries, Christmas is not as commercialized. My wife is from Italy, and it's much less commercialized there than here in the States.