Would you cancel Christmas?

Torry_Quine

MrSmartprice wrote: »

I do none of that, since I abhor Christmas and the hypocrisy and nonsense that surrounds it all. We shall not be eating to excess, and shall be spending very little.

I think you have totally misunderstood what I've said (as usual;)) about cash registers. I worship nothing, as there is nothing worth being worshipped. Some people just seem to throw money at this pointless celebration of consumerism, but I shall not be one of them. Hence, I would press that button and cancel the whole bloody lot!

My comment was literally tongue in cheek as you have said that you don't mark the day with excess. If you aren't overly consumeristic then why so bothered about cancelling it, couldn't be the Christ element now could it?

MrSmartprice

Torry_Quine wrote: »

My comment was literally tongue in cheek as you have said that you don't mark the day with excess. If you aren't overly consumeristic then why so bothered about cancelling it, couldn't be the Christ element now could it?

I would cancel it because I am sick to bloody death of it!:mad:

Every shop you go in is in Christmas mode, with annoying festive songs blaring out over the tannoy. Town centres are packed with dozy people wandering aimlessly, seeing how much money they can waste. Tasteless and tacky decorations abound.

You can't switch on the TV without it being wall-to-wall tacky specials or celebrity versions for 'charidee'. Every advert is for turkeys, festive booze or some other tat we don't need. Some of the ads are enough to make you scream.

The 'christ' bit is totally irrelevant, in reality few people bother with that. As long as they stick to their churches and don't come banging on my door singing for handouts I have no problem. The matters I have raised are nothing to do with religion, I'm sure even you would concede.

Torry_Quine

MrSmartprice wrote: »

I would cancel it because I am sick to bloody death of it!:mad:

Every shop you go in is in Christmas mode, with annoying festive songs blaring out over the tannoy. Town centres are packed with dozy people wandering aimlessly, seeing how much money they can waste. Tasteless and tacky decorations abound.

You can't switch on the TV without it being wall-to-wall tacky specials or celebrity versions for 'charidee'. Every advert is for turkeys, festive booze or some other tat we don't need. Some of the ads are enough to make you scream.

The 'christ' bit is totally irrelevant, in reality few people bother with that. As long as they stick to their churches and don't come banging on my door singing for handouts I have no problem. The matters I have raised are nothing to do with religion, I'm sure even you would concede.

I do agree that shops etc go into overdrive but they make the majority of their money at Christmas so although I dislike it I can see why they try to get as much money as possible. If more people didn't spend to excess then things would be very different so it's down to people as a whole.

I have to say that my church on Sunday evening was packed so can't say few people bother. I do think though that if Christmas were to go back to being a simple time with friends and or family it would not be such a stressful time.

MrSmartprice

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I do agree that shops etc go into overdrive but they make the majority of their money at Christmas so although I dislike it I can see why they try to get as much money as possible. If more people didn't spend to excess then things would be very different so it's down to people as a whole.

I have to say that my church on Sunday evening was packed so can't say few people bother. I do think though that if Christmas were to go back to being a simple time with friends and or family it would not be such a stressful time.

What annoys me is that many people are fooled into thinking they must have this stereotypical 'ideal' Christmas. There is no such thing, but this fantasy probably keeps businesses going, especially the likes of Wonga.

I wouldn't put too much on a church being packed in December. My local was packed on Friday, but I am not fooled into thinking that is significant in any way, it's just the once-a-year boozers. I am sure that many of the 'idealists' think they have to turn up at a church for a carol sing-song at this time of year. I have known people do that even though they have no religious interest whatsoever. Some even used to do it after the pubs chucked out on Christmas Eve. What's that all about?

Should Christmas be a time to get together with family? I don't see why. Other than my daughter who will arrive on 27th, I have no desire to see any relatives at all, and the thought of people turning up unannounced makes me shudder. I hate this idea of having to entertain people you never see any other time. That would be far more stressful than what we do at Christmas, which is as little as possible.

Torry_Quine

MrSmartprice wrote: »

What annoys me is that many people are fooled into thinking they must have this stereotypical 'ideal' Christmas. There is no such thing, but this fantasy probably keeps businesses going, especially the likes of Wonga.

I wouldn't put too much on a church being packed in December. My local was packed on Friday, but I am not fooled into thinking that is significant in any way, it's just the once-a-year boozers. I am sure that many of the 'idealists' think they have to turn up at a church for a carol sing-song at this time of year. I have known people do that even though they have no religious interest whatsoever. Some even used to do it after the pubs chucked out on Christmas Eve. What's that all about?

Should Christmas be a time to get together with family? I don't see why. Other than my daughter who will arrive on 27th, I have no desire to see any relatives at all, and the thought of people turning up unannounced makes me shudder. I hate this idea of having to entertain people you never see any other time. That would be far more stressful than what we do at Christmas, which is as little as possible.

You are just so cynical and can't accept that for some people church is an important part of their life and more so at Christmas.

I'm with you on unannounced visitors and it's not compulsory to see relatives at all. I think that it's because people have time off that they go to see people though as they have the time then but it can equally be done at any time.

Dunroamin

Retrogamer wrote: »

This is in no way intended to be offensive, but why do Christians put up a tree?

The "Christmas tree" is a Pagan symbol and tradition
Same a lot of other stuff
The evergreen was seen as a special tree as it didn't lose it's colour in winter.
Pagans used to take it indoors to decorate it with bells and other stuff.
They believed that if the tree spirit / god was happy it would jingle to let them know.

One of the 10 commandments is don't worship other gods and some Christians don't put it up due to this, but others do.

Christmas trees have only become popular in the UK since the mid 19th century when Prince Albert introduced the German tradition herm by bringing over a tree from Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree

The British tradition is more concerned with holly, ivy and mistletoe .

MrSmartprice

Torry_Quine wrote: »

You are just so cynical and can't accept that for some people church is an important part of their life and more so at Christmas.

I'm with you on unannounced visitors and it's not compulsory to see relatives at all. I think that it's because people have time off that they go to see people though as they have the time then but it can equally be done at any time.

I don't think it is cynical to regard religion as a pointless and simplistic pursuit. I regard those who indulge themselves in any sort of superstition as rather weak-willed and easily led individuals, and to some degree I have sympathy for them wasting so much of their lives.

But that certainly isn't cynical, just realistic. I am actually grateful that I am not enslaved to it all, just as I am grateful that I am not enslaved to, say, smoking. I see distinct parallels in the two pursuits.

gayleygoo

Is there a "Postpone Christmas" button...? I'm not ready yet!!

alittlemadam

I wouldnt cancel Christmas but i think that manufacturers really need a lesson as to what is needed and affordable and what is wanted and not affordable.

Yes on year christmas gets more and more expensive, children want top of the range phones, tablets clothes for fear of getting left behind and their friends taking the mickey out of the (the cruel little beggars that they can be)

Manufacturers bring out expensive gifts and gadgets which for most people after the first several weeks (maybe stretching for to the odd few...months) will be gathering dust, so why do we buy our children these gifts, because everyone else (in the majority of cases does)

this does little to help the ungrateful little so and so's who think that here on after that they will continued to be spoilt, that they turn out so ungrateful

bring back christmas in the true sense of family getting together to spend quality time,

chocaholicmanc

As someone who LOVES christmas, the thought of cancelling it makes me sad!

I absolutely love the day, getting to spend extra time with my family, opening presents, eating lots of food and drinking lots of booze without feeling guilty about it!

I freely admit I spend far too much money on things that people don't even necessarily need but I love watching people open presents.

Christmas is a time for family. I'm incredibly lucky that I see my family all the time anyway, but for some people it's guaranteed time off work where they can travel to see people they may not see otherwise.

I appreciate it is hard for people with no family or close friends to spend time with. I have a friend in a situation like this and I happily invited her to spend christmas day with us last year (she didn't in the end) and I would do the same for any other friends who I thought might spend it alone.

You don't have to spend alot, it is a time to be together and enjoy yourself. Personally I don't believe in religion, and the origins of christmas are in a pagan festival anyway so I don't go to church but for those who do; enjoy it.

So stop being bah humbugs and embrace the holidays! Watch Elf; if it doesn't raise a smile then there's something seriously wrong!