David Lock

I was brought up with the usual family tradition of mayhem on Christmas day. There's just too much to fit in! Kids only interest is waking at 5.30 and wanting to get at presents. Mum worried about when to put the turkey in and then lunch mid-afternoon and total exhaustion.

But some years back when we had kids the blindingly obvious struck!! Christmas day is just for kids and relaxing and even time for a pub visit at lunchtime for some Champagne. Then use Boxing Day as the big lunch day. Kids have all their pressies to play with and mum and dad can have a lie in and still have plenty of time to prepare grub and even welcome in-laws, perhaps with a quick pick-me-up or three before hand. All in all much more civilised. May be that's what you do already? Happy Christmas btw. dl

davyboy

It's called Christmas.

...and if we are celerbrating something (remember why we do it?) then we may as well use the correct spelling.

You often wonder if all those out shopping for presents have even thought about why they are doing it....or even uttered/thought some of the words.

Jesus
Mary
Bethlehem

Not to say I am a born again or anything - but it may be worth reminding some.

TheBigMan

These days it's not simply all about the pathetic story of a crazy Arab born from an immaculate conception that I celebrate.

For me it's simply a time to spend with family, take some time to reflect on a year and make plans (so to speak) for the coming year.

What we are "supposed" to be celebrating is nothing short of comical.

So, with that said "seasons greetings" to all - a far more apt term.

STi-Frenchie

I'm fairly sure they do use those words, as in:

"Jesus, have you seen the queue at the toy shop?"

"Mary Christmas"

"It's absolute Bethlehem in the supermarket, everyone's gone crazy!"









I'll get me coat...

eClaire

He wasn't even born on 25th December Wasn't it on 16th September?

eClaire

But it is a top tip David

OllyK

It's actually about the early Christians trying to convert the pagans. The pagans didn't want to give up their winter solstice fetivals and so the early church proposed their own celebration at around the same time and declared it to be celebrating the birth of Christ. It sure as heck had little to do with when he was actually bourn (if he ever was).

Most of the things you think of as typically Christmassy originated in Victorian times.

OllyK

The historians that believe Christ ever existed put his year of birth somewhere between 6BC and 20AD - so how acurate do you think their estimates of the day are?

eClaire

No idea. I picked a random day in september (the month I was told by some when I was young, you know how these things stay with you)

I don't believe he actually was born. Religion was created to fill a gap when people were niave about the scientific side of the world, IMO (i agree with John Tickle)

SiPie

Think the 'experts' <cough> worked out that if the big star that the wisemen were supposedly following was over Bethlehem, then it had to be mid July or September 16th

Whole thing's a pile o ****e anyway (allegedly)

Hanslow

My family tradition was to have your main present in the morning, plus some stocking fillers and then all the family presents stayed under the tree until lunch was finished and the washing up was all done (usually about 3pm).

Used to kill us as kids seeing all those presents that we couldn't get at, but it helped teach us patience and actually helped to spread the presents throughout the day giving us plenty of time to play with our main pressies.

davyboy

Being a Jehovas Witness - we dont celebrate it at all.

Still gives me some nice time of work to spend time with family and knocking on doors.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

It's funny, these days if a bird got knocked up behind her boyfriends back she'd get chucked out and branded a slag..

Back then it was immaculate conception

OllyK

Some background reading on the origins of Christ for anybody interested:
http://www.askwhy.co.uk/christianity...hristMyth.html
http://www.atheistresource.co.uk/history.html

David Lock

Glad we're keeping on topic

Hanslow

I tried but it got lost in the pseudo-religion-babble

OllyK

I see - you want to ignore the origins of it all and just get on with the over marketed commercialised revelry?

G-STAR

Does it really matter to you what other people think/do?

At the end of the day, take what you wish out of Christmas, whether that be spending much needed time with the family, or full on worshipping.

Hanslow

Yep I'm not a believer so for me Christmas is a time to relax away from work with the family Although I'm not big on the commerical side. Spending time with the missus, relaxing and getting out and enjoying the fresh air and countryside is my Christmas.

David Lock

No I was just suggesting a light hearted commentary on making family life easier over Chrissie - sorry Christmas and didn't plan for heavy stuff on origins of Christianity and commercialisation.......

OllyK

Simplest way to make things easier is to not celebrate Christmas. Bah Humbug!

Hanslow

LOL @ Olly ya miserable git

Happy Yule all May Mithras shine on you all

OllyK

I do strive to be, especially at this depressing time of year

Mithras, Attis, Buddha, Dionysus, Heracles, Krishna, Osiris, Zoroaster - take your pick, all supposedly bourn of a virgin, on the 25th December at various times through history, who went on to perform miracles, heal the sick, feed lots of people with bread and finally die, often on a cross to be be re-bourn a few days later. So happy Paganday to you all

Hanslow

You missed out Saturn and Isis

Have a good one (whatever it is to you ) chap. Time to head off home

Julz1983

Our Christmas' are jam packed, we have Christmas Day, the following day is my Birthday and the 28th is our Wedding Anniversary, so after all of that we should surface again sometime next year Our daughter is just starting to understand what Christmas is, explaining to her that Santa will bring presents etc, we have to spread her presents out throughout the day as she gets so many, takes ages for her to get through them all, then she'll probs want a box something came in

Hope all you snetters have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year

apples24

iTrader: (1)

HAVENT YOU ALL HEARD????


were not supposed to call it christmas no more its now called

WINTER CELEBRATION pmsl