Would you cancel Christmas?

LameWolf

Yes, I'd cancel it. I'm not a Christian, and I don't have children, and to be honest, I have only miserable childhood memories of Christmas which I prefer not to relive.

To me it's just another 2-day Bank Holiday, at a time of year when I can't even make good use of DH being at home to get tasks done that I can't manage alone.

By the time the so-called "big day" arrives, I'm heartily sick of seeing shelves of overpriced tat every time I visit the supermarket, and having carols sung at me by Cl@ssic FM every morning, (DH has the radio on for news bulletins and the traffic news) and I just want it all to Go Away!

I think a lot of the problem is it's so in yer face all the time - the two occasions we've been in Belgium over the Christmas period, we didn't experience this - yes, it was there, but not rammed down your throat, iyswim, and it was a lot easier to cope with.

Luckily this year I once again have a canine guest coming to stay (we're a host family for a dog-sitting service) so at least I'll have something to keep my mind occupied.:o

Bah! Humbug!:D

Lequirk_2

No way would i cancel christmas. I will be in the fortunate position of having good company and good nourishment over the festive period, I therefore embrace the festivities.

dastep

"In the middle of the fourth century the bishop of Jerusalem wrote a letter to the bishop of Rome. And he said I would like for you to ascertain the date of the birth of Christ so that we could establish a date and have a celebration annually. The bishop of Rome sent word back to the bishop of Jerusalem that Christ was born on December 25.

And by the end of the fourth century this had become the accepted custom and since then every December 25 focuses on the birth of Christ.

Now Bible scholars know that there is absolutely no evidence at all that Christ was born on December 25. In fact, there is not only no evidence that He was but there is some evidence that He was not. Well why then did the bishop of Rome do this? Well, the conclusion is that he did it rather arbitrarily. And as we get back into history we find out why he did this. December was the major month of pagan celebrations. December was the month of festivals and feast things and orgies and all kinds of pageants put on by the pagans in honor of their gods as winter had reached its fullness and they were anticipating the thaw and the spring and the planting and the strength of the sun returning and the clouds rolling back. And so December became a time of high, boisterous, pagan revelry. Such activities, for example, are found in pagan histories in December as feasting, as adorning the homes with evergreens, as hanging trinkets on trees, as lighting candles, as involving mistletoe, as exchanging gifts and general merry making and feastings deteriorating into drunkenness and orgies in these traditional heathen celebrations. Now that is why the bishop chose December. And he focused on the 25th because that seemed to be the high point of these festivities. And his thought was this. The wild winter revelries of the pagans must be sanctified by Christianity therefore, we will impose our celebration of the birth of Christ on the pagan celebrations and sanctify them all. It was a nice thought.

But it was dead wrong. Because what happened was the heathen festivity went on and the church was unable to make them conform to the sanctification of the true Christian celebration. And so what you have now is a strange weird marriage of the pagan and the Christian that we call Christmas."

"Christmas cards began in 1846, they were printed in London by a very enterprising man named Sir Henry Cole who was the owner of an art shop and saw it as a way to make a lot of money. And all the first Christmas cards printed for him were printings of drinking scenes.

What a mess, frankly, Christmas is. No wonder so many people miss Christmas. With all the paraphernalia and the trappings around it the simplicity of the birth of Christ is literally drowned in a sea of paganism. You say, well I guess it's true that today people miss Christmas. And all you have to do is look around and you know it, don't you? Busy, doing all kinds of things, but missing Christ. You want to know something? If you think it's something that it happened today, I want you to know -- and we're going to go right back to the Bible -- that when Christmas happened in Bethlehem most people missed it then too."

http://www.gty.org.uk/resources/print/sermons/1275

wildthing01

I love Christmas. It does not have to be expensive or stressful (although I appreciate there are those in difficult circumstances for whom it is stressful). but for most of us, you can enjoy the lights for free, and you do not have to buy into the retail culture. teach your kids the true meaning of xmas (and no, i'm not religious) and spend quality time with them and they will not crave the material things.

if you can't afford the money or the time, then do not be guilt-tripped into cooking for zillions of people, or buying meaningless presents, or attending loads of work parties. focus on quality time spent with those you care about - I love just seeing my extended family at xmas and whether they bring presents with them is immaterial.

borninthefifties

torbrex wrote: »

I personally cancelled it over 30 years ago, nothing would make me ever want to celebrate the birthday of a person that was never born.

How can you say that He was never born? how do you know that?!
2000 years of Christianity seems to say otherwise....

geri1965_2

I hate pretty much everything about Christmas, apart from the fact that I get 6 bottles of wine from the bosses and two days off. I am not religious and have no kids, so I consider it a pointless waste of time.

I wouldn't cancel it though as most other people seem to like it for some strange reason.

borninthefifties

I totally love Christmas, I am a Catholic, and believe that it celebrates the birth of our Saviour into this world...so the religious bit is essential for me, otherwise, all else that surrounds Christmas is a bit hollow...the fact that it is a time for celebrating with ones family and friends is all to the good, but it should make us aware of those who are less fortunate too, and include some reaching out to them in some way. Gift giving comes in many forms, and you don't need to spend a fortune, especially if you can't afford it. Kids should be told that! Don't think one should feel guilty for not splurging on anyone...there are lots of ways to enjoy the season without spending loads.

MrSmartprice

borninthefifties wrote: »

How can you say that He was never born? how do you know that?!
2000 years of Christianity seems to say otherwise....

So how can you say when he was born, or if he was born at all?

I am willing to believe that this person may possibly have existed, but most of the stories about him are just myth and fable. It is rather like, say, Robin Hood, who may also have existed but became surrounded by all sorts of tall tales.

What you can be absolutely certain about is that nobody ever had a 'virgin birth', since IVF was not around 2000 years ago. Of all the reasons for her to have dropped a kid, that was the least likely. Whoever dreamt that one up really was out with the fairies.;)

BigMummaF

I like the atmosphere of Christmas with people being a little more considerate to each other so for that alone, I would keep the razzmatazz. Folk may dread having to visit Great Aunt Ethel & her lethal eggnog recipe, but at least you make the effort to visit the 'unique' rellies & that can only be a good thing. Ideally you'd visit during the rest of the year too, but we all know Life doesn't run a straight path.


I'm fortunate that The Offspring are grown but even as the little cherubs they once were, I refused to sign up to the mega-spendathon every December. I recall only too well, stood at the school gates this time of year, & unable to avoid overhearing other parents delight of only having to spend another £340 for one child's last gift, then she'd have spent £1500 on each of her prodigy Her eldest child was 7, the next 5 & a couple of toddlers... idle boasting maybe (how could you physically find stuff for that age group, that would cost that much!) but there were many who recited lists of gifts longer than a roll of wallpaper.


As soon as they could understand the concept, my lot were told the truth about money & how I could not afford to buy three bikes at once, but could do it one at a time for their birthday. My fondest memory is of when The Offspring were aged 8-11 & they'd been dispatched up to bed about three weeks before the Big Day. I'd settled to watch the news, about 9 then, & heard the drawers under my bed being slowly opened. I crept up the stairs & peeped through the bannisters to see Nos 1 & 2 looking in the drawers while No 3 held a bike lamp & was ordered to 'keep watch for Mum' while whispered conversations of 'look over there' & 'have you found anything' carried on.
I went back down a few steps then called out to ask what they were doing & 3 innocent but embarrassed faces met me at the top of the stairs. Now; other kids, normal kids, would be looking for prezzies but my lot? Nnnooooooo! "We know you get posh crisps & proper kytkats for Christmas & wanted to find them"


I managed to keep a straight face, told them to go back to bed & said Goodnight. Ever since that evening, I count my Blessings that my children are still looking forward to the little things & letting commercialism pass them by.

shop-to-drop

Once a year is way too much, I'd make it every other year or every four like the olympics.