My birthday is the day after... You have no idea how terrible that really is.

michaelmurfy:

 

My birthday is the day after... You have no idea how terrible that really is.

 

Kinda do. Mine is 4 days after!

My father's birthday was in April, so me and one of my brothers are end of December.

My other two brothers coincide with my father's habitual summer holiday.

Just saying...!

The post I made about xmas which inspired Rikkitic to start this thread was more about the frenetic pre-xmas madness, which does my head in.

Fred99:

 

The post I made about xmas which inspired Rikkitic to start this thread was more about the frenetic pre-xmas madness, which does my head in.

 

 

That I can agree with - the worst place to be in the world at that time surely has to be shopping malls. My answer is to avoid shops as much as possible in the last 2-3 weeks, so do shopping earlier or on-line.

michaelmurfy:

My birthday is the day after... You have no idea how terrible that really is.

mdf:

michaelmurfy:

 

My birthday is the day after... You have no idea how terrible that really is.

 

I'll see your Boxing Day and raise you the 25th. Years (and years!) of "About this time x years ago, you changed the Christmas party plans". And don't get me started on "one big present".

My wife got tired of my belly aching and shifted by birthday by arbitrary decree to the middle of August. I highly recommend it.

But my Christmas spirit has been re-enthused by having kids. I enjoy them enjoying it.

The "one big present" was quite annoying too! I remember one year I was sorta hungover from Christmas so having a nice sleep then my family came into my room with party poppers to wake me up. For starters, I've been forced to ban party poppers from all family gatherings and furthermore I've decided to keep christmas small for the last couple of years which is great.

I was terribly close to being born on Christmas (about a hour earlier and I would be a Christmas baby) so glad that didn't happen at-least!

We just get together with Family, and to de-stress the gift buying thing do a "secret santa" type deal where you just buy one gift for a randomly selected member of the family (and optionally your significant other) - and of course the children.

The thing with Christmas is its so pervasive that its hard not to get dragged into participating, even if you don't want to.

So there is no point fighting it IMHO. Just join in.

The Christmas rush has already started here, I just wish drivers had more patience this time of year instead of the mad decision making you see going on. Don't mind the busy shops, its quite fun to go to the malls around the 2Xth.

Yeah it's Ok - good and bad aspects and I try and focus on the things I like (good food/drink, time off work, getting enjoyment from other's Holiday spirit) and leave the rest (obligated socializing with people/family you don't have any interest in spending time with, over-commercialization of the festival, baby Jesus etc)

Problem is, as a Pom I have to force myself into the mood as the reversed season just doesn't work for me. I need cold and dark to foment my Christmas spirit

I find it very sad that a post like this appears (as they always do) most years.

Commercialism aside - it has indeed spoilt the historical intent of Christmas. To me (and I hope) friends and family, Christmas is still a time for giving and enjoying both friend's and family's company without having to question the reason for being there. Christmas is all about support rather than accepting, expecting, or even enjoying. I guess that is where it is going wrong.

Perhaps you need to get involved with some of the charity activities that help those in need, especially at this time of year? It certainly gives you a new and different perspective on life, especially when we can afford to ponder Christmas on an online forum when many people cannot even afford to feed their kids.

Oh well, "Merry Christmas" everybody. I would rather say that than "Happy Holidays". Political Correctness is not my excitement. Helping and enjoying the company of others is definitely the way forward.

Tradition has more value than we can ever imagine.

michaelmurfy:

 

My birthday is the day after... You have no idea how terrible that really is.

 

My middle daughter does, hers is the day before yours!

DaveB:

I find it very sad that a post like this appears (as they always do) most years.

Commercialism aside - it has indeed spoilt the historical intent of Christmas. To me (and I hope) friends and family, Christmas is still a time for giving and enjoying both friend's and family's company without having to question the reason for being there. Christmas is all about support rather than accepting, expecting, or even enjoying. I guess that is where it is going wrong.

Perhaps you need to get involved with some of the charity activities that help those in need, especially at this time of year? It certainly gives you a new and different perspective on life, especially when we can afford to ponder Christmas on an online forum when many people cannot even afford to feed their kids.

Oh well, "Merry Christmas" everybody. I would rather say that than "Happy Holidays". Political Correctness is not my excitement. Helping and enjoying the company of others is definitely the way forward.

Tradition has more value than we can ever imagine.

DaveB:

 

I find it very sad that a post like this appears (as they always do) most years.

 

Commercialism aside - it has indeed spoilt the historical intent of Christmas. To me (and I hope) friends and family, Christmas is still a time for giving and enjoying both friend's and family's company without having to question the reason for being there. Christmas is all about support rather than accepting, expecting, or even enjoying. I guess that is where it is going wrong.

 

Perhaps you need to get involved with some of the charity activities that help those in need, especially at this time of year? It certainly gives you a new and different perspective on life, especially when we can afford to ponder Christmas on an online forum when many people cannot even afford to feed their kids.

 

Oh well, "Merry Christmas" everybody. I would rather say that than "Happy Holidays". Political Correctness is not my excitement. Helping and enjoying the company of others is definitely the way forward.

 

Tradition has more value than we can ever imagine.

 

Yep, some people find it hard to have fun.

Merry Christmas.

Some people have other ways of having fun.

Rikkitic:

 

Some people have other ways of having fun.

 

 

 

Exactly, so why can't folks leave those who wish to celebrate Christmas and have fun alone to do so and not keep up the annual self-righteous BS about Christmas and the beliefs some have.