Is it Just Me, or Does Anyone Else Hate Christmas !


Recommended Posts

Don't worry, the sales start on Boxing Day.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 year later...
  • Replies 181
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

I like Christmas time, but we don't go overboard on decorations, presents or extra food.  I like it because of the carols by candlelight and the Nativity play at church, also the excitement of our you

Boxing Day lunch always has been Bubble and Squeak day for us, usually served around twoish for a few family regulars who join us every year. B@S, all cold meat and stuffing, fried egg and baked beans

Christmas was always dreaded in my family because there was inevitably some disaster. Usually, it was the death of a family member or friend and a sense of apprehension built up as the festive season

Cliff's completely red head representing the headache for Christmas Music in October is fair enough for Jingle Bells etc.  However....... I think I'd probably need an exploding red head to represent the effect that bloody awful Slade song has on me...:angry:

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

I try and let Christmas pass me by without giving it a thought. I know that is impossible but at least I try.

 

I was in the UK last Christmas - won't be doing that again!

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

There is a lot of agreement among theolgians, for lot of reasons I won't bore you with, that Christ may well have been born around September.

 

Christmas as we know it is mostly based on the Roman Catholic practice of "Christianizing" a pre existant pagan feast day. Another example is Halloween.  The locals all celebrated it as  a pagan feast when the veil between the living and the dead was thin.  Christianize it by calling the next day "All Saints day"

 

As soon as the Christmas decorations are put away it will be time for Valentines day and the Easter bunny.  I avoid the commercialism of all of it.  :mellow:

  • Like 1
  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Talking of Halloween, here is it called La Toussaint. It is a public holiday commemorating All Saints on the 1st of November (and All Souls on the 2nd).

I find it sad that, even here, a serious religious holiday is being taken over by Disney-style Americanisation where children are being actively encouraged to terrify the unsuspecting and wantonly beg for gifts and treats under the threat of some punishment if the victim doesn't comply.

 

!!!!That is NOT what it's about!!!!!

  • Like 1
  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Never had Halloween when I was younger, if we had my dad would not have let us go out, said it was begging like penny for the guy and Christmas caroling. This is my first Halloween here, where I was before if I got sweets nobody came, if I didn’t they would come in swarms. Sod’s law I guess. 

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Halloween here and in Canada is made obnoxious by loud banging on the door and not just by little kids.  We put the lights out and sit in our back rooms.  Some will still bang on the door of a dark house.  Makes the dogs mad.  Vandalism is not uncommon in larger towns.  One year a grain elevator in Canada was sot on fire.  Thousands of dollars in replacement.  Some trick!

 

If you are a person that takes your kids out you need to check the candy before they eat it.  There are some real sicko's out there.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Dave, there's so many clues as to when Christ was born, both in the Bible and Roman law. The Romans had "tax time" the same time of year each year, and a quick search will reveal that date, Bible says shepherds watched their flocks by night, so certainly wouldn't be as late as December, gets cold then, even in the Middle East at night., and their small flocks would have been under cover in the rooms under the house.

 

One Theologian/historian worked out from all the clues the true date, given a day or two either way, and that was in September.

Besides that, I always look forward to Christmas, could never get used to it being mid summer when I lived "down under", usually 100F plus in the afternoon, certainly not a day to roast turkey in the oven!!

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

First taste of Halloween was when we first lived in Sacramento, I don't recall it in the UK prior to 1979 when I left, and I don't recall it in Australia 79-89 either.

 

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Just as an extra, Christmas Day, cold outside but as kids, we wanted to see what our mates had got for Christmas. Mum would be getting the chicken stuffed, rare treat in the 1950's, I don't recall any working class people having Turkey.

Streets were dead apart from kids out playing with their new toys, no cars, buses, no pubs open, no shops open, Nottingham was a ghost town!

Even Boxing Day was fairly quiet, pubs opened 12-00noon, closed 2-30pm, usually pretty busy too. Sunday opening hours, but I gather Landlords could apply for extended hours, many just shut up shop after closing hours.

As a teen I did have a walk into Market Square once on a Christmas Day, not a soul to be seen, but the pigeons made the most of it.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

We used to keep chickens when we lived in Woodthorpe back in the 50’s. We sold the eggs but at Christmas one would be prepared for slaughter. My father used to grab a plump one from the coup and bring it to the back yard where somehow he broke its neck over a broomhandle. This didn’t quite finish it off as it ran around for a bit until it expired. I helped with the plucking and dressing and was fascinated by the drawing and examination of its entrails. When the claws were chopped off you could make its toes curl by pulling on the guiders. I don’t think I could do that now. Have I gone soft?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Again at grannies at Christmas time I used to do all of those things, Phil. Used to do it with rabbits as well. Don't think I could do that now although  Mme (the housekeeper) is very adept at all things like that.

Link to post
Share on other sites

You are right in your assertions re. the  time of Christ's birth John.

 

I didn't  develop any of the ideas as I have no desire to be accused of pushing a Christian perspective.  That's as dangerous as politics these days. 

 

Let's just sayI am not particularly in favour of reindeer, sleighs, jingle bells etc, or even Santa the jolly old elf (since when?)  Who knows if you've been bad or good.  I'm sure Google and Amazon have some  detailed references in the databases on that topic.  Not to mention the credit bureaus in thes days.

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Having just retired from working in a small local shop I was not surprised to see all the Christmas stuff in shops, the Easter eggs used to come into stock January, creme eggs out after Christmas. By the middle of December I was fed up of it and just wanted it to be over. Then there was the hassle of who was working when as the shop was open from 6 in the morning until 10 at nite even on Christmas Eve, the unnamed company would not want to miss a sale! I usually got Christmas Eve and Boxing Day as I don’t have children, even went in for a few hours on Christmas Day, yes they opened then from 8 until 3, amazing how many people forget batteries. The manager did get extra for working on Christmas Day and ours would share it with anyone that worked it. It just became another working day and I was glad when the frenzy was over. I feel sorry for the retail staff knowing what it is like. One good thing did not hear Slade or Wizzard songs, so there was an upside.

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

My youngest daughter used to be in nursing at the City Hospital, and always opted to work the shifts that nobody else wanted, especially those with children. She'd work nights, Christmas, Easter, Bank Holidays etc. She always said it brought in to most remuneration for the least hours worked. Can't fault it !

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I think people forget how many do work during holidays, I always did those to. I was once in my local co-op in Doncaster and a customer was moaning because they weren’t open on Christmas Day. At one time the shops were closed longer, I can remember shopping with my mum at Christmas and stocking up for a few days. Some still seem to do this even though shops are open. It gets crazy.

Link to post
Share on other sites

It always amazes me seeing people shopping in the superstores prior to Christmas. I appreciate that some people have large family gatherings (ugh) but you'd think that some were stocking up for an impending siege, or a forthcoming natural disaster. Unbelievable !

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

They just remind me of a plague of locusts!  Since I don't celebrate Christmas, I just buy my usual food and, of course, moggie food.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when it's over...and start looking for snowdrops in the garden.

  • Upvote 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow so many different views for Christmas. Our Christmas comes and goes. We've always had the restaurants open on Christmas day for lunch so apart from stocking up food to be prepared and served for that day, we never thought about what we were going to do. It was always a lovely atmosphere at these times ( new years eve included) so I suppose that was our interpretation of Christmas without the hassle. Here its a much different scenario. Christmas isn't promoted until late so we don't get fedup with constant reminders that its on its way and you don't want to miss it. The rule here is " Natale con i tuoi e Capo d'anno con chi vuoi"  christmas with you and yours and new year with whoever you want,. Easter is the same sunday at home and monday with friends having a bbq or big group all bringing a plate of something. The Christmas tree doesn't get put up until last we have a crib outside the church that one of the local carpenters made. Its a shed with cutout figures, simple but effective. This year my daughters restaurant is open for christmas lunch but my son is closing and vice versa for new year.

As for christmas food at home the only thing I have got in is a couple of boxes of chocolates that I ordered from British corner shop as their last orders have to be in by a certain date. I still have 8 jars of mincemeat that I made 2 years ago. I did make some pastry ready to finish and put into the freezer along with some crumble mix and thats all I'm going to do. The pastry and crumble are things I normally do every now and again to save time when necessary. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I will be spending Christmas Day with my sister and brother after we have walked dogs, first one without my husband. Going to get the old board games out, cluedo, monopoly (not my most favourite Game), mouse trap and risk (which I could never understand). Then it will be cards, rummy and cribbage if we can remember how to play it. Can remember so many Christmas days after dinner, no telly and dad got out the cards and games to loud groans from everyone. He once tried to teach us how to play bridge, not very successfully I might add. 

,

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
39 minutes ago, nonnaB said:

Wow so many different views for Christmas. 

True. I suppose it depends which Chrismases you remember most vividly. Have to say. I've just got back from a few days in Hebden Bridge. It felt like a journey back to how I remember Autumn/Winter. 

 

 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...