The Reason For The Season

[Robbobrob]

As we head into the Christmas season, I always find myself annoyed at the joy I recieve from the season. The Grinch will be on TV, as will A Christmas Story. My son, who is almost 6, gets to be showered by multiple grandparents, for not only Christmas, but Chanakuh as well. This is one materialistically lucky kid. Need to clean out his closet of all the old toys and clothes he is too old for/too big for....becuase he will be refilling his shelves.

 

I am less anti-religious this year than years in the past. I am actually looking forward to seeing family I don't get to see except at special occasions. And I don't feel like I will be bothered as much if the media pulls out the old chestnut "WAR ON CHRISTMAS" that has waged, unnoticed by most, for the last few years.

 

I think I just want to enjoy the shorter days, and my boy, and my family, and NOT get caught up in what other people feel is important public issues. Rather everyone could focus more on their private beliefs, and not their public, political stances.

 

Maybe this should have gone into the rants section. But I am feeling to mellow to take this as a serious rant. Got too much to be happy about. The reason for the season, live happy....like every other season.

[Ouroboros]

It would be better if this was the season for reason, but fat chance that will happen.

[Rhia]

I happen to love the X-Mas season, regardless of the religious nutjobs making a big deal about War on Christmas the like. I've always loved getting together with my family, gift-giving, feasting, and just generally remembering how much I love my family and friends, even if I rant and rave about them sometimes.

 

I do get annoyed by the religious music, but that's beside the point. I'm excited to put up a tree (maybe with a hand-puppet in the likeness of Einstein or some other great figure of reason on top instead of an angel), buy gifts for my family, and cook a huge dinner so I can have an excuse to spoil everyone I love.

 

I guess I'm just not a huge Scrooge, regardless of whether or not I'm a Christian or an Atheist.

[R. S. Martin]

Rob, love you for starting this thread. I cringed when I saw the title. But when I saw who started it I thought it had to had a different twist--possibly a POSSITIVE twist. Or a lovable twist. So I opened it and I was RIGHT!

 

I don't want to have to hate Christmas just because the most recent version of it happens to be religious. Or because it has been religious in some version or other since time immemorial. To be human has meant to be religious since ancient times. It's just the way humans used to be. And I maintain that depending what is meant by god then all of us accept god. If god simply equals reality, then all of us know that god exists because reality exists. Some philosopher theologians such as Paul Tillich and Friedrich Schleiermacher a few centuries before him saw God as the Ground of all Being. What else is that than reality or existence?

 

Only the insane would deny that there is such a thing as reality. On the other hand, maybe one has to be insane to talk about such an abstract concept as reality. Who knows and who cares. Excommunicating and ostracizing people for being unable to believe in an objective Being outside the universe who led the Israelites out of Egypt and who takes interest in the minute details of every creature's life on this tiny planet is rather silly and small minded in my opinion. But then, small things amuse small minds. Baby Jesus was small, I'm sure, and so was the town of Bethlehem, we're told.

[SWIM]

Just imagine how joyous the holiday would be if it was about the burger king... Whoppers decorating the tree, burning efigies of ronald mcdonald on the lawn... Large drink paper cups hung from the chimney with care...

 

Ahh..

 

One can only dream...

[Robbobrob]

Just imagine how joyous the holiday would be if it was about the burger king... Whoppers decorating the tree, burning efigies of ronald mcdonald on the lawn... Large drink paper cups hung from the chimney with care...

 

Ahh..

 

One can only dream...

But in that universe, groups like Weight Watchers would be the one's "waging a war on BurgerKingMas", trying to get people to put carrot sticks and skim milk under the tree.

[par4dcourse]

Okay, I'm gonna be the scrooge here. I hated xmas even before my de-conversion. Nasty tempers, people fretting over meaningless gifts, cold short days, loads of extra traffic, and those damned tv commercials: every stupid bastardization of a traditional carol makes me cringe anew. My immediate family are nearby and I lost touch with the others many years ago. Socialization isn't my forte anyway.

So there. Bah, humbug, and hello New Years!

[Robbobrob]

Okay, I'm gonna be the scrooge here. I hated xmas even before my de-conversion. Nasty tempers, people fretting over meaningless gifts, cold short days, loads of extra traffic, and those damned tv commercials: every stupid bastardization of a traditional carol makes me cringe anew. My immediate family are nearby and I lost touch with the others many years ago. Socialization isn't my forte anyway.

So there. Bah, humbug, and hello New Years!

I do agree with much of what you are saying. There is much, even if you are an Uber-ChristmasPhile, to be annoyed with.

 

I know I have to visit at least three, sorry, four sets of grandparents, of the 6 my son has, in a 3 day period. It can be very tiring, for him and me. And these are all people I want to see. Let alone those "other" relatives who you "have" to see. And for me, most are Catholic....except the non-religious and the gays. LOL

 

If I could, I'd love to bah, humbug some of it, and keep only the parts I want. Oh, wait, for the most part, I have. But it has taken years to accomplish it....and it still means I have to put up with the "Twelve PAINS of Christmas" played ad nauseum on the radio.

[SWIM]

If I see Linus of the peanuts take the stage one more time...

 

lol

[R. S. Martin]

Anybody got the barf bucket handy? I sense it's going to be needed.

[R. S. Martin]

I know I have to visit at least three, sorry, four sets of grandparents, of the 6 my son has, in a 3 day period. It can be very tiring, for him and me. And these are all people I want to see. Let alone those "other" relatives who you "have" to see.

 

This is when I thank all the gods that don't exist that nobody wanted to marry me and that I'm single and childless and a hermit with social obligations to no one but my own beloved Self.

[godlessgrrl]

I'm seriously considering being out of the country for Xmas.

 

I hate Xmas. I've hated the hellidays since my dad's parents died 10 years ago. It just hasn't been the same since.

 

I can live with New Year's though. I actually like New Year's. Fireworks and booze. Woo!

[upstarter]

This is when I thank all the gods that don't exist that nobody wanted to marry me and that I'm single and childless and a hermit with social obligations to no one but my own beloved Self.

 

Okay I just have to start by saying this made me laugh out loud. I lose faith in all humanity when I hear that no one wanted to marry someone as intelligent, caring and totally cool as RubySera. WTF?!

 

But that being said, on to the dreaded topic at hand... XMAS! Blah. I have little kids, so I try try try to like xmas. All of our family: grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins etc. are 3000 miles away. All our friends have families nearby. Xmas is a day to be endured. We open presents in a half hour frenzy at 7am and then spend the rest of the day wondering what the hell we can do to fill the empty hours. I spend money I don't have on presents that no on needs. It's so pointless.

 

As to the singing of carols to the baby Jesus... this is a real struggle for me. I love music, I love xmas music, I love to sing carols. But sometimes the words catch in my throat and threaten to gag me. It's a major dilemma. My husband is a secular choir director, but let's face it at xmas you have to do some songs that talk about the baby Jesus (no believe me, you really do). So, I have learned to think of it this way... if I can sing Puff the Magic Dragon and I can sing The Unicorn Song then it's okay if I sing xmas carols.

 

Okay, I'm rationalizing, I know it. But I cannot give up xmas carols. Sue me!

 

Heather

[Ouroboros]

I do get annoyed by the religious music, but that's beside the point. I'm excited to put up a tree (maybe with a hand-puppet in the likeness of Einstein or some other great figure of reason on top instead of an angel), buy gifts for my family, and cook a huge dinner so I can have an excuse to spoil everyone I love.

I love Yule too, but only because it gives a good feeling to the family. Last year I announced to my family that we'll call it Saturnalia. I'm considering finding out more of how we can decorate in a non-Christian way, and from now on I call it Yule or Saturnalia, the word X-mas is out the door. I hate the religious music too. It feels fine to hear the secular songs, but some of the Christian songs... just get rid of it.

[SWIM]

I do get annoyed by the religious music, but that's beside the point. I'm excited to put up a tree (maybe with a hand-puppet in the likeness of Einstein or some other great figure of reason on top instead of an angel), buy gifts for my family, and cook a huge dinner so I can have an excuse to spoil everyone I love.

I love Yule too, but only because it gives a good feeling to the family. Last year I announced to my family that we'll call it Saturnalia. I'm considering finding out more of how we can decorate in a non-Christian way, and from now on I call it Yule or Saturnalia, the word X-mas is out the door. I hate the religious music too. It feels fine to hear the secular songs, but some of the Christian songs... just get rid of it.

 

 

Oh come all ye hungry, joyfull with big bellies;

Oh come ye oh come ye

to bur-urrrrger kiinng!

[Ouroboros]

Oh come all ye hungry, joyfull with big bellies;

Oh come ye oh come ye

to bur-urrrrger kiinng!

Do you get commission or something?

 

 

 

 

[SWIM]

Oh come all ye hungry, joyfull with big bellies;

Oh come ye oh come ye

to bur-urrrrger kiinng!

Do you get commission or something?

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, just hoping not to get left behind in the "Great Supersizing" which we all KNOW is coming...!! GRAVY! Braise Beef!

[R. S. Martin]

This is when I thank all the gods that don't exist that nobody wanted to marry me and that I'm single and childless and a hermit with social obligations to no one but my own beloved Self.

 

Okay I just have to start by saying this made me laugh out loud. I lose faith in all humanity when I hear that no one wanted to marry someone as intelligent, caring and totally cool as RubySera. WTF?!

 

Great! that is what it was meant to do--make someone laugh.

 

Seriously, I am very glad that I am single and childless. I like my life the way it is and can't imagine it any other way.

 

But that being said, on to the dreaded topic at hand... XMAS! Blah. I have little kids, so I try try try to like xmas. All of our family: grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins etc. are 3000 miles away. All our friends have families nearby. Xmas is a day to be endured. We open presents in a half hour frenzy at 7am and then spend the rest of the day wondering what the hell we can do to fill the empty hours. I spend money I don't have on presents that no on needs. It's so pointless.

 

As for the gifts you can't afford and hours with nothing to do...I didn't grow up with gifts for Christmas but we did play a lot of games in our family. Mostly board games. Or even hide and seek in the house if you have a large enough house and don't have very close neighbours who mind the noise. In the classic story book Little Women, and other books about "hard times," I read how people would make home made gifts for each other. Half the fun was keeping the gifts a secret from the person they were for. They were simple things like embroidering a hanky or knitting socks. I don't have the skills to make those specific items but all of us know how to make something as a token of love.

 

Another idea my mother used some years was to prepare a plate of goodies for each child. She might bring these plates out mid-afternoon on Christmas Day or whenever you have your Big Day. That would break up the monotony. Other extended families exchange cookies. For example, your family bakes or buys a batch of cookies, and so does the family of all your sibs. Then when you get together you somehow mix and match them so everyone gets some of all the different kinds. I'm not quite sure how it works. This could also be done with other kinds of food, such as nuts or fruits, if cookies aren't your thing.

 

As to the singing of carols to the baby Jesus... this is a real struggle for me. I love music, I love xmas music, I love to sing carols. But sometimes the words catch in my throat and threaten to gag me. It's a major dilemma. My husband is a secular choir director, but let's face it at xmas you have to do some songs that talk about the baby Jesus (no believe me, you really do). So, I have learned to think of it this way... if I can sing Puff the Magic Dragon and I can sing The Unicorn Song then it's okay if I sing xmas carols.

 

Okay, I'm rationalizing, I know it. But I cannot give up xmas carols. Sue me!

 

Heather

 

Way to go, Heather! You're getting it! I was still identifying as a Christian when I first started thinking this way. There are "real" Christians who think this way today. Have you ever read Tom Harpur's Pagan Christ? Orthodox Christians hate his book because he proves that the Jesus story is a myth out of Egyptian mythology. My professors swear that his scholarship and research stinks. When they have to resort to that kind of weaponry you can be sure they're fighting a losing battle. That's what one person told me and I take consolation from it. I see too many scholars coming out with work proving that Jesus is not a historical figure. I think it's just a matter of time. Tom Harpur may have been the first but he's not the last. Google Acharya S's site. She is not a Christian, by the way, but Harpur is.

[R. S. Martin]

I do get annoyed by the religious music, but that's beside the point. I'm excited to put up a tree (maybe with a hand-puppet in the likeness of Einstein or some other great figure of reason on top instead of an angel), buy gifts for my family, and cook a huge dinner so I can have an excuse to spoil everyone I love.

I love Yule too, but only because it gives a good feeling to the family. Last year I announced to my family that we'll call it Saturnalia. I'm considering finding out more of how we can decorate in a non-Christian way, and from now on I call it Yule or Saturnalia, the word X-mas is out the door. I hate the religious music too. It feels fine to hear the secular songs, but some of the Christian songs... just get rid of it.

 

For what it's worth, here's a site of carols, secular as well as religious. I found it when I googled for "Deck the Hall," which is the most traditional secular carol that I know. According to Wikipedia:

 

"Deck the Halls"

is a traditional Yuletide and New Years' carol. The "fa-la-la" parts are just nonsense from traditional

Welsh

folk songs to make them sound better. In the eighteenth century

Mozart

used the tune to "Deck the Halls" for a violin and piano duet.

 

The English words generally sung today are American in origin and date from the

19th century

, but the original lyrics are

Welsh

.

 

EDIT: Changed link for Deck the Hall. Somehow, by accident, I had linked to a rather obscure carol. Nov. 15, 2007

[Dhampir]

I happen to despise x-mas. Too much pressure: gotta make preparations, when I was younger, I had to put up decorations and such, I gotta help make food and all that shit. I have to... show up places. I have to be around people I don't care for, and what's more, I have to deal with the fact that they either like me or pretend to in order to keep the peace, in order to keep the peace.

 

And I work for Filipinos, who according to my boss, celebrate christmas during any month that ends in 'ber', with all their takes on mostly American Yule tide corniness that I know all too well, listening to it or watching it on their satellite connection to TFC. No end of excitement there

 

There's also the number of christmases, wherein I was punished for something like bad grades or such with nothing but clothes and pencils, pencils bearing my name mind you, but pencils nonetheless, while everyone else got at least something of what they wanted, or was at least remotely entertaining. And they wonder at my aloofness... disappointment and resentment plays a lot into it.

 

Not to mention I'm not a christian, and I am practically begging someone to confront me about it, even though I'd rather not show my ass right then, 'cause I'm sure someone will disown someone after that.

 

Pretty much any holiday that comes with more than a day off of work sucks AFAIC.

[mwc]

Used to like xmas now, after the shitstorm that was my life a couple years back (and events that happened through December and on xmas) I want nothing to do with it. I barely tolerate it and I actually have an unopened gift still sitting around from last year. I just don't care. This is a particularly painful time of year for me and if I could just shut my eyes and roll up into a little ball until is was over I would but I'd rather it would just dry up and blow away.

 

mwc

[R. S. Martin]

No offense, anyone, but why stick to families and spouses who take the joy of life out of you and dictate how you live or don't live your life?

[I Broke Free]

I have my family well trained. Christmas in our family is Thanksgiving II.

 

Ten years ago I got the nerve to tell my family that I hated Christmas shopping. I hate trying to figure out what people want, I hate the expense, and I typically loath every present I get. I was surprised to find out the feeling was nearly unanimous.

 

The only people who get presents are the kids, and then only from their parents. (I never got presents as a kid from anyone else.) My Christmas list is now at ZERO and I now thoroughly enjoy the holiday.

 

My partner was the hardest person to convince, but after nine years of only getting gifts we agree on first, he has learned to appreciate just how reasonable this approach is.

 

IBF