-The longevity of the holiday.
-The success of card and toy companies to cash in big time on consumerism.
-The cleverness of business to plan Christmas around what would otherwise be a fairly slow economic time.
-The opportunity for people to keep in touch and be together.
I also give it a 1 bases on:
-The holiday is based on myth.
-Consumerism is bad for the planet.
-Nature planned winter to be a time of hibernation, not hyper-consumption.
-Getting together based on real events like celebrating a birthday or anniversary or solstice would make more sense and have more meaning.
But in the spirit of getting along, I wish you all Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Years and, of course, a Joyous Mayan End-of-the-Earth Day!
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
hmm, Pro-straps? are these for her or the hammock?
well ... that's for you to decide ...
if there was a serious question there - the pro straps are almost mandatory as it gives you way more flexibility to string it up in various spots ... the straps can hold up to 400 lbs ...
i actually bring my doublenest with me everywhere ... takes me 2 mins to hang it up and it's super comfy ...
-Getting together based on real events like celebrating a birthday or anniversary or solstice would make more sense and have more meaning.
SO whose do you choose?
It;s a big world nowadays and families are spread out.
By way of the internet and in the spirit of keeping the holidays free of personal conflict, I choose you, Cincy. Merry Cincymas and Happy New Cincyear!
You give me too much credit! I only recycle dead trees! Oh, and plant a live one each year after the holidays when the danger of ground freezing passes.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
-Getting together based on real events like celebrating a birthday or anniversary or solstice would make more sense and have more meaning.
SO whose do you choose?
It;s a big world nowadays and families are spread out.
By way of the internet and in the spirit of keeping the holidays free of personal conflict, I choose you, Cincy. Merry Cincymas and Happy New Cincyear!
You give me too much credit! I only recycle dead trees! Oh, and plant a live one each year after the holidays when the danger of ground freezing passes.
brianlux...just to be clear, you are a good egg and I'm joking about the tree killer (since our previous misunderstanding). Take care and have a Christmas at a level 10!
"Lights please...
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men'.
So there you have it, Charlie Brown. That's the true meaning of Christmas."
...
Even though it is taken from the Bible... at it's base is a universal hope that we, someday, come to understand that we are all one people on this planet.
...
Note: I do not consider myself as 'Christian'. I don't believe the 'Jesus Is Magic' myth. I do, however, recognize the positive message Jesus tries to teach us. I don't prescribe to the churches founded in Jesus' name... I do listen to the lessons He tries to teach me.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
Christmas tree smell - 10
Annual argument that we're missing a whole box of ornaments - 3
Thinking about everyone one by one and finding perfect gifts - 10
Driving the family around thanking friends and neighbors for all their help - 10
Collecting, cleaning, refurbishing, rebuilding bikes w/ Church dad's for less fortunate - 10
Amazon Prime "Free" shipping - 10
Egg nog and rum - 10
Carollers - 10
Walking around the neighborhood looking at lights and decorations - 10
Getting cards from distant friends and families - 10
Annual cracked crab feast - 10 (11 if a butter warmer catches a napkin or bread basket on fire!)
Chillin' with the fam for a few days, reading, eating, drinking, playin some Wii - 10
Reminiscin' about xmas's past and those no longer with us - 10
Vino - 10
Longer sets of pipe organ music at church - 10
Incense at church - 5
Midnight mass - 10
Eating christmas breakfast REALLY slow and making the kids wait to open gifts - 10
Baileys and coffee - 10
The orange in the toe of the stockings - 10
Lounging in my wife's arms on the couch watching the chaos - 10
Napping on that couch a few hours later - 10
Celebration Ale - 10
New underwear and socks for the year - 10
Christmas tree smell - 10
Annual argument that we're missing a whole box of ornaments - 3
Thinking about everyone one by one and finding perfect gifts - 10
Driving the family around thanking friends and neighbors for all their help - 10
Collecting, cleaning, refurbishing, rebuilding bikes w/ Church dad's for less fortunate - 10
Amazon Prime "Free" shipping - 10
Egg nog and rum - 10
Carollers - 10
Walking around the neighborhood looking at lights and decorations - 10
Getting cards from distant friends and families - 10
Annual cracked crab feast - 10 (11 if a butter warmer catches a napkin or bread basket on fire!)
Chillin' with the fam for a few days, reading, eating, drinking, playin some Wii - 10
Reminiscin' about xmas's past and those no longer with us - 10
Vino - 10
Longer sets of pipe organ music at church - 10
Incense at church - 5
Midnight mass - 10
Eating christmas breakfast REALLY slow and making the kids wait to open gifts - 10
Baileys and coffee - 10
The orange in the toe of the stockings - 10
Lounging in my wife's arms on the couch watching the chaos - 10
Napping on that couch a few hours later - 10
Celebration Ale - 10
New underwear and socks for the year - 10
my princesses are just so excited right now, it puts me in the spirit. I love Christmas because of the children. but let's be honest, there's nothing religious about this holiday for most people anymore. I'm agnostic, but I celebrate getting together with family and having some relax time and fun with my kids and wife.
even when I was a christian, the religious part meant almost nothing to me. mind you, I've been agnostic since I was a teenager.
I'd bet that 90% of christians go to church christmas eve out of obligation, not because they are actually celebrating anyone's "miracle" birth. and 99% of them are glad the service isn't christmas day, getting in the way of the gift unwrapping.
Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
brianlux...just to be clear, you are a good egg and I'm joking about the tree killer (since our previous misunderstanding). Take care and have a Christmas at a level 10!
No worries my friend- I got the joke... and a good one at that! :thumbup:
Merry #10 Christmas to you too!
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brumalia Brumalia was an ancient Roman Southern solstice festival honoring Cronus (Saturn) and Demeter (Ops), together with Bacchus, generally held on 24 November and possibly related to the ancient Greek Lenaia. The festival included drinking and merriment. The name, signifying "winter festivals", is derived from the Latin word bruma, meaning "shortest day" or even "winter". "They call them “Cronian festivals”—[1] and because of this the Church turns away from them," the Byzantine antiquarian John the Lydian, who described them in De mensibus, reported in the sixth century AD.[2]
The Brumalia was also celebrated during the space of thirty days, commencing on 24 November and ending with the "Waxing of the Light", December 25.[3] This observance was instituted by Romulus, who entertained the Senate during this time. During this feast, prophetic indications were taken of the prospects for the remaining part of the winter. According to Choricius of Gaza, Oration XIII, the festival was celebrated as late as the 6th century AD during the reign of Emperor Justinian I who otherwise persecuted paganism;[4]
It is also revived as a festival annually held by Connecticut College.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the deity Saturn held on December 17 of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through December 23. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves.[1] The poet Catullus called it "the best of days."[2]
In Roman mythology, Saturn was an agricultural deity who reigned over the world in the Golden Age, when humans enjoyed the spontaneous bounty of the earth without labor in a state of social egalitarianism. The revelries of Saturnalia were supposed to reflect the conditions of the lost mythical age, not all of them desirable. The Greek equivalent was the Kronia.
[...]Saturnalia is a festival of light leading to the winter solstice, with the abundant presence of candles symbolizing the quest for knowledge and truth.[5] The renewal of light and the coming of the new year was celebrated in the later Roman Empire at the Dies Natalis of Sol Invictus, the "Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun," on December 25.[6]
The popularity of Saturnalia continued into the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, and as the Roman Empire came under Christian rule, some of its customs may have influenced the seasonal celebrations surrounding Christmas and the New Year.
Oh, and as to the OP - I forgot to mention the music! Not into some of it, but I just listened to Etta James' White Christmas for the first time.
Like aural alcohol
Phil Spector's 'A Christmas Gift For You' is not bad, if that's your cup of tea.
1. White Christmas - Darlene Love
2. Frosty The Snowman - Ronettes
3. The Bells Of St. Mary - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Crystals
5. Sleigh Ride - Ronettes
6. Marshmallow World - Darlene Love
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Ronettes
8. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Crystals
9. Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
10. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers - Crystals
11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
12. Here Comes Santa Claus - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
13. Silent Night - Phil Spector And Artists
I hate Christmas. The endless, needless, inane trading of JUNK with social repercussions enforcing it as a dogmatic law is too much for me. I give everyone jars of jam, jelly, pickles, and salsa that I make in the summer...I think some people think I am a cheapskate, but I wish they would give me something wholesome instead of another damn hooded sweatshirt or knockoff PJ tshit.
What I hate the most is Santa. Yeah, I am dead serious. I think encouraging children to believe a little bit of magic exists in the world is a wonderful thing, but parents take it way too far. It becomes a a several-year active deception where the child is getting closer and closer to the truth and the parent comes up with more exotic lies and rouses to convince the child. Everyone knows someone who believed for too long and was shattered when someone finally told them Santa isn't real. It's the dumbest fucking tradition we have in America, and if you tell people you aren't interested in actively deceiving your child for half a decade, they look at you like you are some kind of goofy, radical hippy or something. Burns my balls.
I hate Christmas. The endless, needless, inane trading of JUNK with social repercussions enforcing it as a dogmatic law is too much for me. I give everyone jars of jam, jelly, pickles, and salsa that I make in the summer...I think some people think I am a cheapskate, but I wish they would give me something wholesome instead of another damn hooded sweatshirt or knockoff PJ tshit.
What I hate the most is Santa. Yeah, I am dead serious. I think encouraging children to believe a little bit of magic exists in the world is a wonderful thing, but parents take it way too far. It becomes a a several-year active deception where the child is getting closer and closer to the truth and the parent comes up with more exotic lies and rouses to convince the child. Everyone knows someone who believed for too long and was shattered when someone finally told them Santa isn't real. It's the dumbest fucking tradition we have in America, and if you tell people you aren't interested in actively deceiving your child for half a decade, they look at you like you are some kind of goofy, radical hippy or something. Burns my balls.
Santa is not just an American tradition
96 Randall's Island II
98 CAA
00 Virginia Beach;Camden I; Jones Beach III
05 Borgata Night I; Wachovia Center
06 Letterman Show; Webcast (guy in blue shirt), Camden I; DC
08 Camden I; Camden II; DC
09 Phillie III
10 MSG II
13 Wrigley Field
16 Phillie II
I hate Christmas. The endless, needless, inane trading of JUNK with social repercussions enforcing it as a dogmatic law is too much for me. I give everyone jars of jam, jelly, pickles, and salsa that I make in the summer...I think some people think I am a cheapskate, but I wish they would give me something wholesome instead of another damn hooded sweatshirt or knockoff PJ tshit.
What I hate the most is Santa. Yeah, I am dead serious. I think encouraging children to believe a little bit of magic exists in the world is a wonderful thing, but parents take it way too far. It becomes a a several-year active deception where the child is getting closer and closer to the truth and the parent comes up with more exotic lies and rouses to convince the child. Everyone knows someone who believed for too long and was shattered when someone finally told them Santa isn't real. It's the dumbest fucking tradition we have in America, and if you tell people you aren't interested in actively deceiving your child for half a decade, they look at you like you are some kind of goofy, radical hippy or something. Burns my balls.
it must suck going through life with such at attitude. lighten up Francis and learn to enjoy the things that don't need to be stressed or annoyed about.
Christmas is what you make it. We do christmas/solstice in my family. I also make and give out home canning and baking for Christmas and it is loved and appreciated every time. I would say 90-95% of what is purchased comes from local artisans, crafters or businesses. The gifts that are bought are reasonable, mostly functional and meaningful - even the ones for the kids. Santa is like all the other make believe(easter bunny, toothfairy, etc.) it is a precious time in a child's life. It is limited and only as outrageous as you make it. This time of year is what you make it, if you want it to be about religion or family or celebrating the return of the light to the earth or whatever so be it. If you have people in your life who don't appreciate the simple things, and the love and care taken to make/get that for them, then you have the wrong people in your life.
Anything you lose from being honest You never really had to begin with.
Sometimes it's not the song that makes you emotional it's the people and things that come to your mind when you hear it.
Add to the threat of burning eternally in hell for not following a book they don't understand, then no presents if they don't please Santa, now there's a fucking elf put up around the house to watch kids and he hides in different places To catch them doing bad. WTF. Swear parents are lazy fks and don't want to take the time to talk to them so threaten them with these ridiculous strategies. Child abuse.
As to the holiday season. Give it a five. 10 for family and cool weather and 1 for buying shit for people that they don't want.
I'm giving it a 5. The family, friends, and food part is great, and the decorations are also very nice - I enjoy Christmas lights a lot, almost to the point where I think they should be used all year. I also love cold weather. Plus, the university completely shuts down for Christmas through Jan 1st, so every single person gets that week off, paid and it doesn't count as vacation!!! That is SUCH an amazing bonus! 1 extra week of vacation on top of our regular vacation benefits. It's awesome. But the whole materialistic/money spending side of Christmas makes the holiday suck IMO, and I do indeed feel like I've been caught in the capitalist trap. I have actually tried to escape it by discussing it bluntly with my friends and family. Some of my friends released me from the trap, but some won't, and my family won't allow it either. My mother told me that the idea of forgetting about all the gift giving/money spending/fucking Christmas shopping (which entails telling each other what we want and then going and buying it - it's so stupid for adults) was "unacceptable". She's 70 years old on Monday, so I'm not about to put up a real fight. Oh, and I would say that I don't like the whole Christian theme, but seriously, I haven't noticed anything even remotely Christian about the Christmas holidays in YEARS. And as an Atheist who likes booze and Turkey, that suits me fine.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
I hate Christmas. The endless, needless, inane trading of JUNK with social repercussions enforcing it as a dogmatic law is too much for me. I give everyone jars of jam, jelly, pickles, and salsa that I make in the summer...I think some people think I am a cheapskate, but I wish they would give me something wholesome instead of another damn hooded sweatshirt or knockoff PJ tshit.
What I hate the most is Santa. Yeah, I am dead serious. I think encouraging children to believe a little bit of magic exists in the world is a wonderful thing, but parents take it way too far. It becomes a a several-year active deception where the child is getting closer and closer to the truth and the parent comes up with more exotic lies and rouses to convince the child. Everyone knows someone who believed for too long and was shattered when someone finally told them Santa isn't real. It's the dumbest fucking tradition we have in America, and if you tell people you aren't interested in actively deceiving your child for half a decade, they look at you like you are some kind of goofy, radical hippy or something. Burns my balls.
it must suck going through life with such at attitude. lighten up Francis and learn to enjoy the things that don't need to be stressed or annoyed about.
Not at all, there's nothing that sucks about knowing and keeping close to your heart the things that really matter while you watch people who live their lives asleep rushing to and fro to honor traditions which they think little about and follow through rote devotion. Since I don't give a shit about indoctrinated commercialism and backwards rituals, I have less stress in the holidays than you, I'd bet my farm on it!
Comments
I have a rule: I don't buy her anything that can double as a weapon.
hmm, Pro-straps? are these for her or the hammock?
-The longevity of the holiday.
-The success of card and toy companies to cash in big time on consumerism.
-The cleverness of business to plan Christmas around what would otherwise be a fairly slow economic time.
-The opportunity for people to keep in touch and be together.
I also give it a 1 bases on:
-The holiday is based on myth.
-Consumerism is bad for the planet.
-Nature planned winter to be a time of hibernation, not hyper-consumption.
-Getting together based on real events like celebrating a birthday or anniversary or solstice would make more sense and have more meaning.
But in the spirit of getting along, I wish you all Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Years and, of course, a Joyous Mayan End-of-the-Earth Day!
well ... that's for you to decide ...
if there was a serious question there - the pro straps are almost mandatory as it gives you way more flexibility to string it up in various spots ... the straps can hold up to 400 lbs ...
i actually bring my doublenest with me everywhere ... takes me 2 mins to hang it up and it's super comfy ...
SO whose do you choose?
It;s a big world nowadays and families are spread out.
Merry Christmas you tree killer!
You give me too much credit! I only recycle dead trees! Oh, and plant a live one each year after the holidays when the danger of ground freezing passes.
brianlux...just to be clear, you are a good egg and I'm joking about the tree killer (since our previous misunderstanding). Take care and have a Christmas at a level 10!
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men'.
So there you have it, Charlie Brown. That's the true meaning of Christmas."
...
Even though it is taken from the Bible... at it's base is a universal hope that we, someday, come to understand that we are all one people on this planet.
...
Note: I do not consider myself as 'Christian'. I don't believe the 'Jesus Is Magic' myth. I do, however, recognize the positive message Jesus tries to teach us. I don't prescribe to the churches founded in Jesus' name... I do listen to the lessons He tries to teach me.
Hail, Hail!!!
Annual argument that we're missing a whole box of ornaments - 3
Thinking about everyone one by one and finding perfect gifts - 10
Driving the family around thanking friends and neighbors for all their help - 10
Collecting, cleaning, refurbishing, rebuilding bikes w/ Church dad's for less fortunate - 10
Amazon Prime "Free" shipping - 10
Egg nog and rum - 10
Carollers - 10
Walking around the neighborhood looking at lights and decorations - 10
Getting cards from distant friends and families - 10
Annual cracked crab feast - 10 (11 if a butter warmer catches a napkin or bread basket on fire!)
Chillin' with the fam for a few days, reading, eating, drinking, playin some Wii - 10
Reminiscin' about xmas's past and those no longer with us - 10
Vino - 10
Longer sets of pipe organ music at church - 10
Incense at church - 5
Midnight mass - 10
Eating christmas breakfast REALLY slow and making the kids wait to open gifts - 10
Baileys and coffee - 10
The orange in the toe of the stockings - 10
Lounging in my wife's arms on the couch watching the chaos - 10
Napping on that couch a few hours later - 10
Celebration Ale - 10
New underwear and socks for the year - 10
Hope you have a badass Christmas.
Thank you for giving me a shitload of smiles.
fucking awesome.
you're the fucking boss
to god damn funny
after crying the last 20 minutes this just made me bust up
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
with kids: 25,000
my princesses are just so excited right now, it puts me in the spirit. I love Christmas because of the children. but let's be honest, there's nothing religious about this holiday for most people anymore. I'm agnostic, but I celebrate getting together with family and having some relax time and fun with my kids and wife.
even when I was a christian, the religious part meant almost nothing to me. mind you, I've been agnostic since I was a teenager.
I'd bet that 90% of christians go to church christmas eve out of obligation, not because they are actually celebrating anyone's "miracle" birth. and 99% of them are glad the service isn't christmas day, getting in the way of the gift unwrapping.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
I wasn't betting on the beer being in the other hand!
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
No worries my friend- I got the joke... and a good one at that! :thumbup:
Merry #10 Christmas to you too!
in some parts of the world its summer now.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Still haven't gotten gifts
I'm drunk
Shit :fp:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brumalia
Brumalia was an ancient Roman Southern solstice festival honoring Cronus (Saturn) and Demeter (Ops), together with Bacchus, generally held on 24 November and possibly related to the ancient Greek Lenaia. The festival included drinking and merriment. The name, signifying "winter festivals", is derived from the Latin word bruma, meaning "shortest day" or even "winter". "They call them “Cronian festivals”—[1] and because of this the Church turns away from them," the Byzantine antiquarian John the Lydian, who described them in De mensibus, reported in the sixth century AD.[2]
The Brumalia was also celebrated during the space of thirty days, commencing on 24 November and ending with the "Waxing of the Light", December 25.[3] This observance was instituted by Romulus, who entertained the Senate during this time. During this feast, prophetic indications were taken of the prospects for the remaining part of the winter. According to Choricius of Gaza, Oration XIII, the festival was celebrated as late as the 6th century AD during the reign of Emperor Justinian I who otherwise persecuted paganism;[4]
It is also revived as a festival annually held by Connecticut College.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the deity Saturn held on December 17 of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through December 23. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves.[1] The poet Catullus called it "the best of days."[2]
In Roman mythology, Saturn was an agricultural deity who reigned over the world in the Golden Age, when humans enjoyed the spontaneous bounty of the earth without labor in a state of social egalitarianism. The revelries of Saturnalia were supposed to reflect the conditions of the lost mythical age, not all of them desirable. The Greek equivalent was the Kronia.
[...]Saturnalia is a festival of light leading to the winter solstice, with the abundant presence of candles symbolizing the quest for knowledge and truth.[5] The renewal of light and the coming of the new year was celebrated in the later Roman Empire at the Dies Natalis of Sol Invictus, the "Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun," on December 25.[6]
The popularity of Saturnalia continued into the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, and as the Roman Empire came under Christian rule, some of its customs may have influenced the seasonal celebrations surrounding Christmas and the New Year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G_owDUij1w
Happy Christmas to you.
What I hate the most is Santa.
Yeah, I am dead serious.
I think encouraging children to believe a little bit of magic exists in the world is a wonderful thing, but parents take it way too far. It becomes a a several-year active deception where the child is getting closer and closer to the truth and the parent comes up with more exotic lies and rouses to convince the child. Everyone knows someone who believed for too long and was shattered when someone finally told them Santa isn't real.
It's the dumbest fucking tradition we have in America, and if you tell people you aren't interested in actively deceiving your child for half a decade, they look at you like you are some kind of goofy, radical hippy or something.
Burns my balls.
98 CAA
00 Virginia Beach;Camden I; Jones Beach III
05 Borgata Night I; Wachovia Center
06 Letterman Show; Webcast (guy in blue shirt), Camden I; DC
08 Camden I; Camden II; DC
09 Phillie III
10 MSG II
13 Wrigley Field
16 Phillie II
You never really had to begin with.
Sometimes it's not the song that makes you emotional it's the people and things that come to your mind when you hear it.
I stand by my earlier posts in this thread.
And man, re-reading it all was a sweet tiptoe through the tulips who aren't around much here anymore, or that often.
Liked it as a kid. Hate it as an adult. I give it a 1.
As to the holiday season. Give it a five.
10 for family and cool weather and 1 for buying shit for people that they don't want.
But the whole materialistic/money spending side of Christmas makes the holiday suck IMO, and I do indeed feel like I've been caught in the capitalist trap. I have actually tried to escape it by discussing it bluntly with my friends and family. Some of my friends released me from the trap, but some won't, and my family won't allow it either. My mother told me that the idea of forgetting about all the gift giving/money spending/fucking Christmas shopping (which entails telling each other what we want and then going and buying it - it's so stupid for adults) was "unacceptable". She's 70 years old on Monday, so I'm not about to put up a real fight.
Oh, and I would say that I don't like the whole Christian theme, but seriously, I haven't noticed anything even remotely Christian about the Christmas holidays in YEARS. And as an Atheist who likes booze and Turkey, that suits me fine.
Since I don't give a shit about indoctrinated commercialism and backwards rituals, I have less stress in the holidays than you, I'd bet my farm on it!