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Christmas Love it or hate it

Christmas Love it or hate it

  • I'm Christian and I celebrate it for a valid reason

    Votes: 11 13.4%
  • I'm not Christian but I like to overindulge myself in an orgy of mass consumerism

    Votes: 19 23.2%
  • Not too keen on it, its too commercialised

    Votes: 27 32.9%
  • Hate it with all the red hot fiery hatred of an imploding star.

    Votes: 25 30.5%

  • Total voters
    82
  • Poll closed .
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Eagle

Established Member
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20 Feb 2011
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7,106
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Leamingrad / Blanfrancisco
What would you say to people like me who'd rather treat it as any other bank holiday and having chips for dinner? Society and the Media say I should be forced to join in and be happy...

My family had fajitas last Christmas. I think (if it's my turn to cook) we'll be seeing a curry-based meal this year.

Oh, the fun you can have with vegetarianism...
 
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Ivo

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8 Jan 2010
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7,307
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Bath (or Southend)
I do like catching up with my grandchildren, my children and getting out the board games, where two of my sons conspire to cheat.

One of the true pleasures of Christmas - arguing about cheating :lol:

Or, of course, the humiliation of genuine and heavy defeat... In 1998 my brother and I got two games for our then fairly new N64, which previously had only one game for it. On one of the two, ISS64, our first game was 3-3. The second? 12-3 to him :( And then two of mine were own goals because he felt sorry! :cry:
 

hairyhandedfool

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14 Apr 2008
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8,837
....Ive been thinking whats RUKs general opinion of christmas?....

I love the opening of presents and the family gathering, but all the rest I hate and as this year I will be alone on Christmas Day (for the first time), I'll hate it even more.

Roll on March!
 

12CSVT

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18 Aug 2010
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2,612
I usually start thinking about Christmas around 20th to 21st December, and that's only because mother would go mental if I didn't send Chrismas cards, buy presents for kids etc. Most of my close relatives / family couldn't give a monkeys about Christmas anyway.

Just an orgy of commercialism in my opinion.
 

43021HST

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Location
Aldershot, Hampshire
I never suggested that Christmas should be the only time of the year that people spend with family, and in many cases it is not possible for people to spend time with family at any time with the year if they live many miles away and have work or study committments or financial constraints.

Because so many services, places of work and other daily distractions in life are shut down on Christmas day, Christmas can act as a valid and convenient focal point to bring family members together in one place at the same time with all other considerations put aside that would otherwise not be acheivable.

Touche on that one, I just hate all the christmas crap that comes with the family meeting.
 

43021HST

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Aldershot, Hampshire
I take it you refuse to accept presents people may send you then?

Yes I have in fact asked for no presents for christmas, no one knows what to get me anyway, I said to them if you going to get me presents you can give them to me at any time of the year, why pin it down to one festival.

Also I have have just seen the thread about christmas music, but as the OP righfully says, keep all whinging on the 'other thread'.

I hate christmas music, lately its been dominated by the xfactor offerings as well as 'well past it stars' trying to bring up their declining coffers. Its all crap
 

curly42

Member
Joined
23 May 2008
Messages
747
Put me down for more of the same. I don't give presents and I don't accept any.People who know me are happy with that.
I'm too old now to actually hate it,but I do despise the fuss that goes with it.
I still laugh at the huge queues trying to get into Asda at a quarter to closing time christmas eve !!
And the couple who poked their nose into the pub at 12.30 last christmas day,and asked the landlord "are you doing food" ?
 

102 fan

Member
Joined
14 May 2007
Messages
769
The early Christians thought it would be easier to tack their celebrations onto already established festivals. The mid-winter festival became Christmas, the spring re-birth became Easter (As a child I was always confused what an egg had to do with crusifixion!). As an athiest I don't to the religious bit, but I carry on with the Pagan bit!

However, what I don't like is the mass hype from the multinationals. When I was a boy 30 years ago I hated November, as it was the in between bit from Halloween to December. Not so now. As soon as Halloween is over the Xmas goods are going up in the shops. There is a House down the road from me that has the decorations up a week now. It's said that it's a time to be with family, but for me, it just reminds me of those relations who arn't with us anymore.
 

Blindtraveler

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Joined
28 Feb 2011
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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
same here mate. And its true how the hype just gets crazy, as some may know im a part time DJ and the office parties, although much reduced in number now as people and companys cut back have started now. I did one last night and was told by several people proudly that they have FINISHED the shopping! Unbelievable!

I personally like easter as things dont grind to a hault and the huge number of bank holidays mean you can get doing things. Good weekend for bashing in my oppinion.
 

Greenback

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Joined
9 Aug 2009
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15,268
Location
Llanelli
It's the hype that I don't like as well. Although I like Christmas itself, and the idea of a festival to cheer people in the Winter with its short days, I don't understand why so many people must go on and on about it from October onwards.

Some of my colleagues have had their Christams lights up for over a week, and have been prattling on incessantly about what they are going to buy their partners, what they are going to eat/drink, and just about everything you can conenct with Christmas. When I don't join in with the hysteria, I am accused of being a miserable bar steward!

Mind you, I am secretly really looking forward to the Secret Santa Christmas lunch, Christmas Party and Christmas buffet in work - even though I will have to wear a festive hat!
 

SS4

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I do like Christmas lights, especially since they make me reflect on the photoelectric effect (although it's probably something else since the electric current provides the energy rather than a photon) and atomic emission spectra :)
 

Rachie88

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2011
Messages
6
Location
West Lothian
I love christmas its one of the best seasons. From going out and buying all ur presents, to getting to spend time with loved ones and (most important) get to spend time with my bf.

Plus its always good to get a long break from work if your fortunate to get days off until after new year. Even though ive seen all the xmas films many times its still great to watch and get you in the spirit.
 

Greenback

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With the way the hype si these days, one could be forgiven for thinking that Christmas is a season...sometimes it seems to last almost as long as the rugby union season!
 

SS4

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Christmas. The one day we make an effort to be nice to everyone essentially condoning being a complete bar steward for the other 364/365 days in the year :lol:
 

yorksrob

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6 Aug 2009
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Yorks
I must admit, the xmas tree at Leeds City station is cheering me up in the mornings.
 

43021HST

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11 Sep 2008
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Aldershot, Hampshire
Think you'll find christmas t'is the season to be jolly.

T'is the season to be stressed
fa la la la la la la la
Dig deep into your pockets
fa la la la la la la la

We'll ram it down your throat
fa la la la la la la la
Celebrate capitalism
fa la la la la la la la

celebrate consumerism
fa la la la la la la la
Spend you worthless piece of ****
fa la la la la la la la

And you'll find happyness
fa la la la la la la la
Greed is the only thing
fa la la la la la la la

The revised modern version to the Christmas classic
 

sprinterguy

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4 Mar 2010
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11,048
Location
Macclesfield
I prefer the original classic, it's got a much better rhyming scheme ;)

You really don't have a lot going for you at christmas, do you klambert? :|
 

Nonsense

Member
Joined
20 Oct 2009
Messages
292
T'is the season to be stressed
fa la la la la la la la
Dig deep into your pockets
fa la la la la la la la

We'll ram it down your throat
fa la la la la la la la
Celebrate capitalism
fa la la la la la la la

celebrate consumerism
fa la la la la la la la
Spend you worthless piece of ****
fa la la la la la la la

And you'll find happyness
fa la la la la la la la
Greed is the only thing
fa la la la la la la la

The revised modern version to the Christmas classic

Christmas really is what you make of it. The shops are full pointless crap, being purchased by the irritating unwashed masses, all year round. Christmas is no different.

Pick out the bits you like and enjoy em.
 

SS4

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8,589
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Birmingham
Christmas really is what you make of it. The shops are full pointless crap, being purchased by the irritating unwashed masses, all year round. Christmas is no different.

Pick out the bits you like and enjoy em.

Left to my own devices that is not a problem. 365 days a year I am told that rain is bad, snow is bad, cold is bad, sun is good. I am told that if I do not celebrate Christmas - defined as spend, spend, spend - then I am an antisocial, miserly Scrooge who deserves to be alone (nothing I'd like more) and unloved. Christmas has been hijacked by capitalism as much as Christianity hijacked it off of Pagans.
Additionally, there is no escaping it. At work there are decorations, in town there are lights, shops have stuff out and my freezer is not large enough to stock up and hibernate even if I wanted to. The traditional office party is something very difficult to turn down without losing face and/or standing and the less said about secret santa the better!

As Sheldon Cooper (from the Big Bang Theory) put it:

Sheldon said:
Of course I do. The essence of the custom is that I now have to go out and purchase for you a gift of commensurate value and representing the same perceived level of friendship as that represented by the gift you've given me. It's no wonder suicide rates skyrocket this time of year.
 

43021HST

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Joined
11 Sep 2008
Messages
1,564
Location
Aldershot, Hampshire
I prefer the original classic, it's got a much better rhyming scheme ;)

You really don't have a lot going for you at christmas, do you klambert? :|

If you look up the original lyrics they dont ryhme either.
The reason for my firm anti Christmas stance is thus, both my parents had opinions that drastically varied when it came to Christmas, My Mum absolutely loved it and went crazy every year, putting up truck loads of decoration and spoiling everyone with presents, meanwhile my Dad hated Christmas and used to spend it working.
My views of Christmas used to side with Mums until a couple of years ago I was in Matalan, it had all its Christmas tat up, you know crap music, tat hanging from the ceilings and I realised, what is the f***ing point and walked out, I bought no one anything that year.

Next year I'm going to celebrate Diwali round a friends house using all the excuses that all non religeous people use, it brightens up the autumn time, I get to eat lots of sweets and get presents, it brings the family together blah blah.

The small mindedness and the blatant submissiveness of the masses to capitalism during the 'Festive Season' is unbelievable.

Dont these thick people realise what they are doing is utterly pointless.
 

Schnellzug

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22 Aug 2011
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Location
Evercreech Junction
i do approve of the recent vogue for Christmas Markets. they seem so much more classy than plastic Satans in shopping centres. Lots of wooden huts and mulled wine & Sausages. What can there possibly be not to love there?
 
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