How much do you enjoy Christmas?

[Terxpahseyton]

So seemingly out of nowhere another Christmas season came again upon us and it isn't long 'til the grand finale.
Reason for me to ask: How much do enjoy this Christmas deal?
Perhaps you like the whole flair of it, the decorations, the lights when it is dark, the atmosphere of cinnamon and glühwein and coziness. Or the remembrance of the savior and the singing of Christian songs. Or to surprise close ones with presents and receive your own share of it.

I personally quit like it. Sure, when one isn't in the mood Christmas songs can be rather annoying and the whole affair may feel forced upon. But I like the decorations (though not so much the more cartoonish and intrusive American variant), the (German incense) smokers, the windows full of candle arches, the eveningly visits to Christmas markets and the hot Glühwein there and of course Christmas eve when my family gets together.
It is like a time of the year when I can feel a bit like a child at times for a while, in a snug world of comforts and innocent wonder and old traditions.
And last but not least, the internet made Christmas shopping SOO MUCH better! I never get stressed out about it anymore!

So, how about yall folks?

 

[James Stuart]

I'm agnostic, so 'irreligious/ atheist' on your poll, and I hate it. I don't necessarily mind the religious aspects; people are entitled to their religious beliefs, though I am a little annoyed that they are celebrated in a supposedly secular state. My primary issue is with Christmas's commercialisation.

I recall reading an article earlier in the year, describing that during Eid(sp?) in some Muslim-majority states in West Africa, a family might spend one-third of their yearly income on the festival. Many people would consider that ridiculous. Yet we spend, while not one-third of our yearly income, a ridiculous percentage of our income on Christmas.

Now, I am just as guilty as everyone else in this; I have children, and to not buy them Christmas presents would be to invite murder in my sleep. I also have the added burden of a wife who loves Christmas so much the very word practically causes her to ovulate. This forces me to pretend to like Christmas, at least while my kids are around.

But to spend so much time, money, and effort on an annual event that is only peripherally related to the holy day it is meant to celebrate, including such ridiculous accoutrements as plastic trees with fibreglass balls hanging from them, disgusting hard candy in the shape of a cripple's walking stick, at least two different kinds of meat, both of which more expensive at this time of year than any other, giving gifts to people we don't even like, as well as people we see every day and could comfortably give gifts to at any time... It all strikes me as entirely unnecessary. It is wasteful, expensive, and more irreligious than I am to boot.

I hate it. I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT!

 

[Cheetah]

I used to love it as a kid, of course.

But as I've gone into my twenties, with a job, living alone and still single, I find I really don't care much for it. Not that I dislike it or anything, I'm just having a hard time getting into the mood. The "Christmas spirit" just seems to have disappeared on me. However, I'm pretty sure that the enjoyment will return once I get a girlfriend and later family of my own. Not caring much about it is just a phase IMO.

As for the religious aspect (which the poll is centered around):

I don't think that really matters much. Christmas today is simply just another family holiday tradition. And being from Scandinavia, we still call it Yule and not Christmas (which more accurately is the church-thing on the 25th of December). It's a time for family get-togethers, good food, good drinks (the real Yule celebration is mostly about a twelve-day banquet with lots of good beer! ), and presents. Normal people just don't care about the Christian usurpation of the party anymore.

PS: If there is one thing I'm not so happy about, it's the huge shopping spree to find lots of mostly unneeded and unasked for gifts for people who usually have tons of stuff anyways...

PPS: The grand finale is the New Year's Eve IMO. It's all party and games for 12 days from the day of the Winter Solstice until just into the New Year!

PPPS: Christmas trees shall only be up for those 12 days!!!

 

[Borachio]

I don't like it. And with each passing year, I don't like it more and more.

I'm fine with celebrating the winter solstice, which is what it is for me. And I'm fine with the "bebbi" Jesus for those who like it.

What I don't like is the shopping frenzy (honestly, why are the supermarkets full of people frantically stocking up with food when the shops are only closed for one day?). I don't like spending time with people and enduring the bonhommie. I don't like the enforced exchange of meaningless tat which ends up with me giving people something I know they don't particularly like and with me getting stuff I wouldn't dream of buying for myself that I have to take down the charity shop later.

What else? I don't like having to endure other people's cooking, and the casual racism which seems to feature in all these things for me. Hopefully no one will insist I join them for Xmas or New Year's dinner.

I'm fine with other people putting up Xmas decorations on their houses.

And I'm fine with kids enjoying their presents, provided they do.

All in all, I don't enjoy Christmas. I shall be glad when it's 2 Jan and I can bask in the luxury of being the furthest from the next bout of "festivities".

 

[James Stuart]

I worked in a supermarket for most of my teenage life, and the idiots stocking up on food are absolutely ridiculous. I have seldom felt more contempt in my life for the people purchasing canned food and multiple cartons of everything the day before Christmas, New Year's Day, Good Friday, or any other day when the store is closed on the morrow.

It's like they think the stores are secretly shutting forever, and this is their last chance. Or maybe their preacher has announced the apocalypse for the next day, and they need 200 cans of condensed milk to survive it. I'm not kidding, I once had a guy buy 200 cans of condensed milk. I knew the guy; he was single, and his parents were dead. It's not like he was expecting 200 guests the next day, all of whom desired Cream of Mushroom soup.

I've heard the holidays described as "an orgy of shopping." Having been on the other end of this experience, I would say it's more of an orgy of stupidity. Just buy the crap you need for Christmas and Boxing Day, and maybe a bit extra, before the last second, you morons. And don't go stocking up on entirely unnecessary crap.

 

[Borachio]

I don't know whether to be alarmed or comforted by the fact that this phenomenon doesn't seem to be confined to the UK.

 

[James Stuart]

I don't know whether to be alarmed or comforted by the fact that this phenomenon doesn't seem to be confined to the UK.

Be alarmed. At least if it was confined to the UK, we could quarantine you limey bastards like we did in 28 Days Later.

 

[Borachio]

That... really wouldn't help me at all, would it?

 

[Gary Childress]

When I was a kid, yeah, it was magical. As an adult with no children of my own and being agnostic it doesn't mean quite as much to me. Although the decorations and general attitude of peace and good will are still nice.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

So seemingly out of nowhere another Christmas season came again upon us and it isn't long 'til the grand finale.
Reason for me to ask: How much do enjoy this Christmas deal?
Perhaps you like the whole flair of it, the decorations, the lights when it is dark, the atmosphere of cinnamon and glühwein and coziness. Or the remembrance of the savior and the singing of Christian songs. Or to surprise close ones with presents and receive your own share of it.

I personally quit like it. Sure, when one isn't in the mood Christmas songs can be rather annoying and the whole affair may feel forced upon. But I like the decorations (though not so much the more cartoonish and intrusive American variant), the (German incense) smokers, the windows full of candle arches, the eveningly visits to Christmas markets and the hot Glühwein there and of course Christmas eve when my family gets together.
It is like a time of the year when I can feel a bit like a child at times for a while, in a snug world of comforts and innocent wonder and old traditions.
And last but not least, the internet made Christmas shopping SOO MUCH better! I never get stressed out about it anymore!

So, how about yall folks?

What is "glühwein"?

Christmas used to be a very big deal for me, as I had two families to celebrate with (three, during the years when my dad and I were living with his girlfriend and her kids). Christmas Eve was, for me, Official Christmas with my paternal grandparents. There would be an assortment of immediate family, extended family (extra-special if my grandmother's sister and her family were visiting from B.C.), and lots of opportunities to "help" with the baking (yes, I did consider it helpful to lick the icing bowl after the cakes and cookies were iced; lots less to clean up that way ). We always had a real tree in those days, chopped down on our own acreage, and it smelled wonderful.

I don't know whose idea it was to get me a wind-up caterpillar tractor that shot sparks while it crawled around the floor. I do remember my 2-year-old self being scared up onto a chair, hollering that the thing was going to run over me. Nowadays I sometimes wonder if that thing would scare the cats, if I still had it, or if they would just sniff it and be bored.

Christmas Day was spent at a succession of grandparents' and great-grandparents' homes on my mom's side of the family, in different towns around Central Alberta. That was the day when we did Serious Turkey Eating, the adults played some Serious Rummoli, and my cousin and I got into Serious Trouble because we were usually bored unless taken out for a toboggan ride or sledding.

Boxing Day was more relaxing, since my grandparents' friends would come over for coffee and cards, and their granddaughter and I would have some play-time (when we were older, that included playing the organ or accordion for the older folks, too).

Nowadays, Christmas is pretty much just another day, but with the socially acceptable excuse to indulge in chocolate and egg nog. I haven't made any serious attempt at decorating anything since the year when one of my cats wreaked major destruction on the ornaments and tree.

I worked in a supermarket for most of my teenage life, and the idiots stocking up on food are absolutely ridiculous. I have seldom felt more contempt in my life for the people purchasing canned food and multiple cartons of everything the day before Christmas, New Year's Day, Good Friday, or any other day when the store is closed on the morrow.

It's like they think the stores are secretly shutting forever, and this is their last chance. Or maybe their preacher has announced the apocalypse for the next day, and they need 200 cans of condensed milk to survive it. I'm not kidding, I once had a guy buy 200 cans of condensed milk. I knew the guy; he was single, and his parents were dead. It's not like he was expecting 200 guests the next day, all of whom desired Cream of Mushroom soup.

I've heard the holidays described as "an orgy of shopping." Having been on the other end of this experience, I would say it's more of an orgy of stupidity. Just buy the crap you need for Christmas and Boxing Day, and maybe a bit extra, before the last second, you morons. And don't go stocking up on entirely unnecessary crap.

It's entirely possible those 200 cans of condensed milk were destined for some social agency or charity's Christmas function for poor or homeless people, y'know, or possibly a donation to a food bank (if you have one in your area).

 

[dusters]

I don't understand this Christmas thing at all.

People should spend some time with their loved ones all year long. And surprise them with gifts now and then, not in exact same time each year.

That said - i don't accept sweets if they are given, because it's Christmas. I'm not in this culture, i don't pray to Jesus, i don't feel like i have earned them.

 

[James Stuart]

It's entirely possible those 200 cans of condensed milk were destined for some social agency or charity's Christmas function for poor or homeless people, y'know, or possibly a donation to a food bank (if you have one in your area).

I come from a town of 3,000. Believe me, they were going nowhere but crazy guy's pantry. I helped clean out his house after he died. Including 150 cans of condensed milk, and at least 50 cans of Spam.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I can fully understand that without a family live Christmas is not very relevant. I haven't founded my own family or anything yet, but I am fairly often at home at the weekends and those are also the times when I start to get into the mood.

I also fully agree that the commercialization and everything isn't very appealing, but that is also not the stuff I personally associate with Christmas. It just is stuff that also exists but is not very relevant to me (asides from me buying presents - but as said I find that not an annoying task these days thanks to the internet). Same goes for religion. I just associate my own sentiments with it and they make it enjoyable to me.

What is "glühwein"?

That doesn't seem to exist in the Anglo-Saxon-sphere, so a translation is a bit tricky and my online dictionary suggested to just use the same German word.
Well it is some sort of hot sweet vine and it is a very major tradition in Germany to go to Christmas markets and consume them there during the month of December until Christmas. It is like the traditional German Christmas drink. A bit like egg noc in America, I suppose. Just different in use and meaning.

Christmas markets such as these

Oh and this is the kind of decoration I like (notice all the candle arches in the windows)

And this is the kind I hate with a passion

Fun fact:
In the far south of my home state of Saxony only the traditional decoration is even allowed to be used, the - as I call it - American variant is verboten.

 

[sophie]

What is "glühwein"?

A warm german christmas wine. It's very delicious. It's typically sold at Weihnachtsmärkte.

I guess I'm just a cliché american, but when I was young I loooooved Christmas because of all the presents. Now I like Christmas because I get to see family I almost never otherwise see and I like picking out presents for people I love.

 

[warpus]

Things I like about Christmas:

- The whole family gets together for a feast and a drinkening
- Good quality time spent with people I love
- Watching my niece open presents
- Seeing people I love be happy
- Having 1-2 weeks off work

Things I hate about Christmas:

- It's a cold part of the year
- Christmas music starts driving me up the wall after a while
- People's elaborate christmas decorations

 

[classical_hero]

Things I like about Christmas:

- The whole family gets together for a feast and a drinkening
- Good quality time spent with people I love
- Watching my niece open presents
- Seeing people I love be happy
- Having 1-2 weeks off work

Things I hate about Christmas:

- It's a cold part of the year
- Christmas music starts driving me up the wall after a while
- People's elaborate christmas decorations

It i not for us here. Our Christmas traditions are so much more different due to the different season.

 

[warpus]

Yeah, it was really weird seeing Christmas decorations in New Zealand in the middle of the summer.

See, I don't mind that it's cold, really. Well, I do, but if it's going to be cold and snowy for 1 day out of the year - I want that day to be Christmas. My problem is more with the fact that Christmas falls right in the middle of months of snow and cold. So when Christmas rolls around I am usually incredibly sick of snow.

I don't know if I'd like a 100% snow & cold free Christmas either. I just want something that's not possible.

 

[NickyJ]

As a Christian, I used tor really love Christmas, but each I've grown less and less fond of it. Every year for two solid months, I'm bombarded with images of these wonderful family moments all warm and cozy. Every year, I'm reminded more and more of how those times don't exist anymore, that I haven't felt that way in a long time, and probably never will. Seeing it for so long just grinds me down, and I just don't enjoy it anymore. I view it in its religious part as the birth of Christ, but I don't feel merry about it anymore.

 

[bhsup]

Man, you people just... snow and Christmas go together like America and apple pie! There's a reason Bing sings about it.


Link to video.

 

[downtown]

I love Christmas. I love it even more that I'm a father, even though my kid is going to be too young to enjoy it. For those who struggle to enjoy it, or don't have families, might I suggest using the season to engage in some service projects?