Christmas: Is it really all that important now?

I don't think it's really wrong, and it's a personal choice for everyone, but I just can't see myself not ever wanting to celebrate Christmas, my family is Catholic, but we've never really made it into anything religious either. I just think it's a nice time, getting to see family, I just love the entire atmosphere, I always look foward to it.

 

You should find some Jewish friends. For us it's traditionally a day to eat Chinese food and then go to the movies.

 

I've always liked the family element of Christmas and how it's one of the few times of year that everyone gets together. I could do without the extravagant gift giving that comes with it (smaller but more personal gifts would be better in my opinion than all the vast expensive material things that normally are bought).

I'm also very very annoyed by how everyone is always rushing Christmas. I mean, I saw two Christmas commercials before even Halloween...come on. It's a fun time of year, but it has it's place in December.

 

Alright, I put "other" so here's my take:

In the world we live in, all of it, we're so caught up in everything that we do that we WANT to give the people closest to us the best that we can give them, should we choose to. But the thing is, we can't. Responsibility takes over time after time again, and as we beat ourselves up for procrastinating or not getting something done right, we also miss each possible opportunity to give the best to our family and friends. But even if we took that opportunity, that one opportunity might cost someone a job, whatever it may be. And then that becomes circular once they CAN'T give the best to their family.

So honestly? I think Christmas has its place, no matter what your religion is, if you have one. We're still human beings, and we still live on this planet. Nobody's life is for forever, and I really do think everybody as human beings needs that opportunity to give the best they can to the people they love.

 

Nothing wrong with going against the norm. I mean I'm fine with doing Christmas(not religious though), I like getting together with my brother and mum, but I wish there was no gift stuff involved. I'm more interested in the family time. I tried to tell my mum not to get me anything last year, but she didn't listen. I really don't need gifts and I feel like it kinda is unnecessary money spending.

 

I hate Christmas....
But every year we get together and celebrate, forced to unfortunately.
Though this year I'm only going to buy presents for my parents and my pets

 

I see it as merely another holiday, but a bloody good excuse to get the family together and enjoy a nice dinner.
Oh, and my cousins getting drunk. They're hilarious.

 

It's important to remember to love the people in your life, and to keep the spirit of giving alive.

That and presents/getting schwasted on mom's cookies.

 

The irony of spending the holiday devoted to the man who deplored greed, waste, and the love of money in buying extravagant gifts (and expecting them in return) and stuffing ourselves senseless is rather annoying.

Can we remember Christ (if we're Christian), or at least the teachings of modesty, love, family, and genuine generosity rather than getting drunk, buying pointless baubles and eating more turkey than any human should?

 

Christmas started out as a pagan holiday. Christ's birth was moved in order to help convert said pagans.

 

Nope. As a first world person born to a wealthy family, I try to eat as little from the platter as I can. I'll tell my mother to buy me a notepad if she feels bad about not getting me anything. For her gift, I will write her a letter, but I won't buy anything for anyone.

And SL, what you're saying isn't new; everyone knows that. It's as common knowledge as the sun rising in the east, setting in the west, and being a star.

 

Actually, no, not everyone knows that.

 

You're right. Most people with a high school education know though.

 

Perhaps where you're from. Though, I've ran across plenty of people who were adults, had a highschool education, and didn't know.

 

I'm from Colorado, but I live in a neighboring state now. You're from the midwest, so I think what accounts for the ignorance is that religion predominates there, so they try to suppress the truth, because in their eyes it's anti-Christian to know the truth.