What do you think of Christmas?
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Topic: What do you think of Christmas?
Posted By: Doomster
Subject: What do you think of Christmas?
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 11:12pm
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I know alot of people might disagree, but I personally love it (being a Christian I'm pretty much destined to like it.) I saw a really heavy bashing of it on the Doom-mantia forums and it seems like all the commenters there were hating it simply because it appeals to the grey capitalistic mass. And in a way they are right...Christmas these days is nothing but a huge marketing sale. I've lived long enough to know a traditional Christmas feeling, and like pretty much everything else in these dark times the "new" Christmas is all about getting money in this factory we call society. I am one of the few who still loves the traditional holiday feeling (even though the music is done to death.)
What's your opinion on this subject matter?
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Replies:
Posted By: UMUR
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 3:15am
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Well...as a child I really loved Christmas. The atmosphere, the food, the candy the presents. As an adult the month of December is absolutely killing me. It�s an extremely stressful month with expectations from everyone that I�m struggling to honour. So I guess the Christmas spirit isn�t really doing much for me anymore. In fact I can�t wait until the month of December is over. ------------- http://www.lyngby-boldklub.dk/" rel="nofollow - Forever TRUE - Forever BLUE! https://rateyourmusic.com/~UMUR" rel="nofollow - UMUR on RYM |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 4:56am
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Well, I guess the fact that early Christians commandeered existing pagan and nordic rituals and turned them into a commercial venture strikes me that it has always been that way. However, my kids have always loved it, as I did. As an adult its an excellent excuse to get the whole family together that isnt a wedding or a funeral. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112" rel="nofollow - http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112 
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Posted By: Time Signature
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 5:22am
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I used to work in a library, and I had a colleague there who celebrated Christmas in the most awesomely anti-social way. He'd go to his mother's place, go to his old room (bringing some food and some beers), and then he's lock the door to the room and watch the old Star Wars Trilogy in its entirety. Now, that's an ideal Christmas!
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Posted By: UMUR
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 5:46am
I had an unkle (or well my mother�s sister�s boyfriend!. How do you say that in English?) who burned Christmas trees on Christmas Eve and was proud of it. Nice fellow that one .
He also taught my, at the time, young cousins to smoke hash. Again what a nice guy .------------- http://www.lyngby-boldklub.dk/" rel="nofollow - Forever TRUE - Forever BLUE! https://rateyourmusic.com/~UMUR" rel="nofollow - UMUR on RYM |
Posted By: Tupan
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 6:23am
Here in Brazil Christmas never was such a holiday, I think people like it bacause they don't need to work My mother is protestant and ever considered Xmas a catholic holiday, so since I was a children I was aware that Santa Claus does not exist at all! But as a children I was expecting the gifts, sure... Xmas is also a holiday of hipocrisy, 'cause many relatives and people who don't talk to each other in the rest of the year began to smile and hug...  |
Posted By: Vic
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 6:24am
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I've always loved Christmas.
I'm pretty sure early Christians did not turn them into a commercial venture. That happened pretty much the last century and I would suggest that it was probably a move not based on religious motives. ------------- 42 |
Colt wrote:Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 6:42am
| I'd probably also hate the extra-commercialization of Christmas but fortunately here where I live it's not a major issue. On the other hand, France is a very secular country so people don't care much about it either, which is why during the holidays I do feel a bit alone and miss my childhood (I'm from Eastern Europe btw). |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 7:33am
In pre-Christian Rome, the emperors compelled their most despised citizens to bring offerings and gifts during the Saturnalia (in December) and Kalends (in January). Later, this ritual expanded to include gift-giving among the general populace. The Catholic Church gave this custom a Christian flavour by re-rooting it in the supposed gift-giving of Saint Nicholas. It's been going on for centuries, you need to learn your history ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112" rel="nofollow - http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 7:47am
| ^ I think Vic's point was about the "commercial venture" not about the tradition of gifts which is indeed universal. |
Posted By: Woutjinho
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 8:41am
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I don't care about christmas. Everyone assume that they have to be nicer to eachother for Jesus' birthday. It's all fake, because the rest of the year, everyone's an asshole (or not).
I like all the lights and decorations though, but those songs... Argh, those are annoying. -------------  |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 9:09am
I did understand the point Vic made Alex. Except my reply is still accurate, the commercial nature of Xmas is not a recent one and it was indeed solely based on religious motives. But hey, if you want to believe all that stuff, then each to their own  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112" rel="nofollow - http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112
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Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 9:21am
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I like Christmas. It's relaxing being able to just chill with family and friends for a few days. I even like some of the music (Vince Guaraldi comes to mind, as does a good choir or orchestra). It's also the one time of year when most people are actually happy to see a big snowfall (if it actually does snow). ------------- https://armchairmaestro.com/" rel="nofollow - My Music Blog |
Posted By: Vic
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 12:33pm
What the Christians did (basically emperor St. Constantine) was take an existing custom and making it a Christian custom. That is history and nobody who knows history can deny that. I fail to see the "commercial" point you are trying to make. ------------- 42 |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 12:42pm
Sure, there's always been a commercial aspect to holidays because gifts and winter-specific products had to be produced and aquired. The point was though that the phenomenon of extreme commercialization is a modern one. BTW I got to live in a quasi-mediaeval environment - I spent a good part of my childhood in a Romanian village, where people still relied on agriculture done by horse-powered plough and manual hoeing (is this a word?), didn't have hygiene facilities (the "toilet" was a hole in the ground in the back of the house), milked the cow manually and killed and prepared the pig with their own hands, etc. The only sign of the time was electricty; there was no TV though, just a fridge and a radio, which also didn't broadcast any entertainment of the modern kind, just propaganda and old fashioned pop music and traditional folk. Christmas was something so completely from what can be seen in, for example, US cities... Worlds apart. There was nothing in the village to signify the arrival of the holidays, there wasn't this idea of decorating the house (it generally isn't in Europe, just the shops are decorated), we were many eras behind the idea and facilities for play music on the street; there were no commercials on the TV, ads or customized shops. The only thing was the slight sound of chant - children singing carols in the Eve night. Christmas was basically down to this elements: the religious service at church; the Christmas tree, on which the only thing bought from the city was the tinsel, all the rest was natural (baked apples for globes, actual candels for lighting, cookies). We didn't get gifts, but we sang carols and got wonderful cakes and cookies, and sometimes money. It was the most extravagant time of the year cooking wise, and the main activity during the three days was families visiting each other to enjoy all the prepared goodies. Singing carols in front of the door was mandatory and the best part actually. Those were the days... In the city there was already a difference, we got gifts there and the notion of "Santa Claus" (Moș Crăciun) was stronger; at the country people were more religious and Christmas was mainly about the birth of Christ. No difference on the streets though. |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 1:15pm
Oh but I can and will! Personally, I wouldn't call human sacrifice, widespread intoxication, going from house to house while singing naked, rape and other sexual license as adopting a custom rather than a ritual as I quoted. The "custom" was called Saturnalia. The christians attempted to convert pagans to their faith by promising them that they could continue to celebrate Saturnalia as Christians, except there was nothing christian about it. So what did they do, they said that Jesus was born on the 25th December!! Christmas has alway been about sexual indulgence, singing naked house to house (carol singing its called these days), drinking excessively (thats not changed either) and guess what giving presents. Not what you expect from christians and the religion eh? Now why was it commercial. I guess you would believe that each individual made their own gifts from the materials they already owned. No, of course not, they had to go out and buy them. Just like today. The only difference is perception. Today is all about TV, Cinema etc. In those days people spent all their time in the villages and towns where the shop proprietors did exactly what they do today except by advertising at the base of their respective establishments. I also used to believe what I was told, until I wised up and researched it myself. As you can tell, I am now an atheist. No offence intended Vic, we all have a right to an opinion.  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112" rel="nofollow - http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112
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Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 1:40pm
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112" rel="nofollow - http://www.last.fm/user/colt2112
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Posted By: UMUR
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 1:48pm
Christmas is so fuckin� metal  (now I finally have an excuse to go naked from house to house drunk like hell singing like crazy)------------- http://www.lyngby-boldklub.dk/" rel="nofollow - Forever TRUE - Forever BLUE! https://rateyourmusic.com/~UMUR" rel="nofollow - UMUR on RYM |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 1:51pm
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 4:00pm
Not sure where that happened, but I would have liked to try it too.  I'll agree with your comments in red, and the slight difference between our stories are probably marking the difference between protestant and orthodox culture. |
Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2011 at 4:23pm
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I love Christmas. I'm still a teenager and I get spoiled to hell with food, presents, candy, and tons of other stuff... I also have to sit through a church sermon on Christmas day, but it's worth it in the end. I'm an atheist so obviously I'm not a fan of the religious aspect, but I love the secular parts of it (gift-giving, Christmas trees, candy canes, seeing family, etc.). So, yeah, I like Christmas. ------------- Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: 12 Dec 2011 at 2:29am
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As a kid I loved Christmas because I got stuff, now I love it because it's a wonderful, peaceful time spent with family. Living half the country away from my parents and my brother it's really precious. This year we'll be spending the Christmas time at my wife's parents and then go up to mine for new years. (oh, look at Myung jamming to Blackened in perfect rhythm) ------------- http://iamthreepeople.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow">  <- Click on this!
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Posted By: Wilytank
Date Posted: 12 Dec 2011 at 8:09am
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http://www.boortz.com/weblogs/nealz-nuze/2011/dec/08/war-christmas-explained/" rel="nofollow - http://www.boortz.com/weblogs/nealz-nuze/2011/dec/08/war-christmas-explained/
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Posted By: The Angry Scotsman
Date Posted: 12 Dec 2011 at 4:01pm
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Well there's a lot to that! Like most other holidays it's kind of a consumer driven thing these days, which is kind of saddening and annoying but I do like it for the good times spent with family. As Pekka said, you love the gifts as a kid but now that I'm older it just doesn't mean much. Cliche but it's the thought that counts and I prefer just being able to relax and spend quality time with family and friends, those that really matter to me. Religious aspect? Eh....it's already a secular holiday IMO since (prepare for this) many religious people I know, as well biblical scholars, know that in reality Jesus was probably born sometime in the spring. Certainly not on Dec 25th, and that holiday is largely taken from the pagans and all that jazz. pretty much: It's was always just a holiday for ceremony. Atheists quit making everything such a whoop ------------- Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and Testament. The real Big Four of thrash metal! Listen to doom metal, worship Satan |
Posted By: The Angry Scotsman
Date Posted: 12 Dec 2011 at 4:05pm
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Actually, the time of year used to depress me because, well it is all show. Like good times, everyone love everyone, etc. It's like constant phoniness and going along with the act and buybuybuy and make sure you have the most christmas decorations on the block! Make sure that house lights up the night like it's noon Is this a uniquely American thing or do you guys have to suffer as well? Again though, as I got older I managed to push my cynical and angsty nature aside. Just screw that and enjoy what IS good ------------- Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and Testament. The real Big Four of thrash metal! Listen to doom metal, worship Satan |
Posted By: Kingcrimsonprog
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2011 at 8:33am
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My family are all atheists. Despite this, we still give eachother Christmas presents in Santa Clause wrapping paper, put up a cheap tree with fairy lights on it and eat a Christmas dinner of Turkey etc and buy a big tin of Quality Street/Roses to be consumed watching a Christmas film. It may be economically driven, stolen from pagan rituals or whatever, but it is a social/societal jamberoo that is fun to get in on in the same way that other people go to festivals. I wish shops didn't play Chirstmas music but other than that it doesn't bring any negative feelings out in me at all, even as someone who technically shouldn't have any part of it. Its a hypocrisy I'm willing to live with. -------------  My Blog: http://kingcrimsonprog.wordpress.com/ |