Thread: Christmas

I actually hate christmas.

I hate that, as a secular society, we celebrate the Christian adaptation of a Pagan festival.
I hate the commercialisation of the whole time of year.
I hate that people feel they have to go out and buy presents for people they don't know very well, or necessarily even like.
I hate that we have to have christmas as an incentive to visit our families.
I hate that once a year, people pretend to be happy, charitable people for no apparant reason.
I hate that people feel they have to put up pointless and stupid decorations, which no longer have any real meaning other than "yaaaaay! Christmas!".
And I especially hate that, as the result of a bet with a friend, this year I will be completely sober (and as a result, suffer from insomnia again) for the whole christmas period (and a significant period afterwards), which will fuel my hatred for the time of year.

Am I alone in hating christmas?

Christmas is my favorite atheist holiday.

I love the winter season: lots of good reasons to get warm and good drinks and foods to do it with.
I love the winter solstice: there's the promise of longer days to come.
I love the winter icons of snowmen, ice-sickles, snowflakes, evergreens, holly, and mistletoe.
I love sense of renewal and fellowship that gets a recharge.
I love the promise of a new year soon to come.
I love the look on my daughter's face when she see's a few presents and a full stocking on xmas morning.
I love the fact that she's 9, but still pretends to believe in Santa.
I love cooking foods and inviting friends over to share.



.... true, some of these things I do all year. I don't need xmas to do it. But it's nice that I'm not alone in my efforts for the most part.

Merry Xmas!
Seasons Greetings!
Happy Holidays!

I agree with your number two more than any other particular point.

I hate the fact that they started advertising Christmas, back in October. I saw Christmas trees in stores in October.
I hate the Christmas songs that invade the country station I listen to.
I hate the Christmas songs.

However I share Skinwalker's love of the winter season for many of the same reasons he listed.

So I turn out to be fairly neutral about the whole situation. I like some things, I hate some things, they pretty much cancel each other out so as long as I'm not being overly stimulated by one particular side I pretty much just don't care either way about Christmas.

I'm about as atheist as they come, and I absolutely love this time of year. I enjoy the songs. I enjoy the movies. I enjoy having time off from work, being able to smile at people and share affection without being looked upon as some sort of weirdo, and I love spending time with my family... reminiscing about old times, creating a fire in the fireplace, cooking nice meals, and traveling. I love giving gifts, and I love receiving them. I love volunteering at the food bank, and collecting for the under privileged.

I love all of these things, and I do so in the knowledge that both god and santa clause are total bullshit.

While some of the stupid religious christmas songs and their lyrics grind on me, I still enjoy listening to them and find myself more chipper as I explore the holiday season.

You know, I think I may actually get to enjoy it more as a dyed in the wool atheist since I can celebrate all holiday traditions without fear that I'm angering some invisible sky pixie for celebrating the wrong things.

Happy holidays, everyone... whether you're denominational, non-denominational, theist, or non. 8)

I'm about as atheist as they come, and I absolutely love this time of year. I enjoy the songs. I enjoy the movies. I enjoy having time off from work, being able to smile at people and share affection without being looked upon as some sort of weirdo, and I love spending time with my family... reminiscing about old times, creating a fire in the fireplace, cooking nice meals, and traveling. I love giving gifts, and I love receiving them. I love volunteering at the food bank, and collecting for the under privileged.

I love all of these things, and I do so in the knowledge that both god and santa clause are total bullshit.

While some of the stupid religious christmas songs and their lyrics grind on me, I still enjoy listening to them and find myself more chipper as I explore the holiday season.

You know, I think I may actually get to enjoy it more as a dyed in the wool atheist since I can celebrate all holiday traditions without fear that I'm angering some invisible sky pixie for celebrating the wrong things.

Happy holidays, everyone... whether you're denominational, non-denominational, theist, or non.

happy holidays to you too :-D

Originally Posted by SkinWalker

I love the winter solstice: there's the promise of longer days to come.

Especially this year, I get a front row seat to a FANTASTIC total lunar eclipse. I just really hope the clouds around here clear up for it

Originally Posted by inow

I'm about as atheist as they come, and I absolutely love this time of year. I enjoy the songs. I enjoy the movies. I enjoy having time off from work, being able to smile at people and share affection without being looked upon as some sort of weirdo, and I love spending time with my family... reminiscing about old times, creating a fire in the fireplace, cooking nice meals, and traveling. I love giving gifts, and I love receiving them. I love volunteering at the food bank, and collecting for the under privileged.

I love all of these things, and I do so in the knowledge that both god and santa clause are total bullshit.

While some of the stupid religious christmas songs and their lyrics grind on me, I still enjoy listening to them and find myself more chipper as I explore the holiday season.

You know, I think I may actually get to enjoy it more as a dyed in the wool atheist since I can celebrate all holiday traditions without fear that I'm angering some invisible sky pixie for celebrating the wrong things.

Happy holidays, everyone... whether you're denominational, non-denominational, theist, or non. 8)

Hear, hear!

Up on the housetop is my personal favorite christmas song, it's just so cheerful!

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

Am I alone in hating christmas?

You most certainly are NOT alone. I have refused to do Christmas - have anything whatsoever in common with it, or anyone celebrating it for the last 5 years.

Similarly I completely reject all religious celebrations - especially Easter!

This is the time of year for my favourite Christmas film " Bad Santa " which is a very politically incorrect film starring Billy Bob Thornton.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307987/

drowsy turtle, is there something in the water over there in County Durham ?

Originally Posted by Dave Wilson

This is the time of year for my favourite Christmas film " Bad Santa " which is a very politically incorrect film starring Billy Bob Thornton.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307987/

Indeed! And the editor's cut is even better.

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

I hate that, as a secular society, we celebrate the Christian adaptation of a Pagan festival.
I hate the commercialisation of the whole time of year.
I hate that people feel they have to go out and buy presents for people they don't know very well, or necessarily even like.
I hate that we have to have christmas as an incentive to visit our families.
I hate that once a year, people pretend to be happy, charitable people for no apparant reason.
I hate that people feel they have to put up pointless and stupid decorations, which no longer have any real meaning other than "yaaaaay! Christmas!".
And I especially hate that, as the result of a bet with a friend, this year I will be completely sober (and as a result, suffer from insomnia again) for the whole christmas period (and a significant period afterwards), which will fuel my hatred for the time of year.

Am I alone in hating christmas?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

who knows, with a bit of luck the weather may cancel christmas shopping

Originally Posted by Arcane_Mathematician

.

Especially this year, I get a front row seat to a FANTASTIC total lunar eclipse. I just really hope the clouds around here clear up for it[/quote]
It is about 0740hrs her e in the UK. I have just looked out and the moon looks to be in total eclipse, as it hangs fairly low in the sky across the Solway Firth, a wonderful sight it is.

Too cloudy here to see the eclipse

I don't like:
- the orgy of Christian rub it in your face symbolism
- the stupid music
- the myth that depression runs high when in fact it's at a yearly low during the holidays (we should care more in the spring when its highest)

I like:
- the sharing with others
- a few days to relax
- enjoying good food & drinks
- the house lights, wondrous smells etc.
- giving to others and the getting
- connection to other cultures that spans half the globe and history before the Jewish cult leader came along

Happy Crystal days.

About the Christmas Eclipse, I was able to get a good view of it this time around. Another day and it would have been too cloudy. I was able to get a rudimentary image of it, which I posted on my blog, but I'll repost here.



I shot it with a cheap, Sony Cybershot 6 mp through one of the lenses of a pair of 8x21 binoculars.

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

I hate that, as a secular society, we celebrate the Christian adaptation of a Pagan festival.
I hate the commercialisation of the whole time of year.
I hate that people feel they have to go out and buy presents for people they don't know very well, or necessarily even like.
I hate that we have to have christmas as an incentive to visit our families.
I hate that once a year, people pretend to be happy, charitable people for no apparant reason.
I hate that people feel they have to put up pointless and stupid decorations, which no longer have any real meaning other than "yaaaaay! Christmas!".
And I especially hate that, as the result of a bet with a friend, this year I will be completely sober (and as a result, suffer from insomnia again) for the whole christmas period (and a significant period afterwards), which will fuel my hatred for the time of year.

Am I alone in hating christmas?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Bah humbug!

*grumbles*

Happy Solstice?

Or... Be cool with your Yule!

8)

that won't change the "I hate the commercialisation of the whole time of year. "

How about, "Most everyone gets a free day off from work. Some more than one. Yay!"

Does that work?

I don't care too much for Christmas but I love Boxing Day: I get so much shopping done.

Originally Posted by inow

How about, "Most everyone gets a free day off from work. Some more than one. Yay!"

Does that work?

I have to work christmas and boxing day AND new years day. They best give me chinese new year off...

I hate christmas... but i love grumbling about it.

Best of wishes to all, happy holidays, yada yada yada

IS

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

I hate that, as a secular society, we celebrate the Christian adaptation of a Pagan festival.

Would you pelase go back and think about how idiotic that sounds? Nobody forces you to celebrate anything.

Originally Posted by sox

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

I hate that, as a secular society, we celebrate the Christian adaptation of a Pagan festival.

Would you pelase go back and think about how idiotic that sounds? Nobody forces you to celebrate anything.

no, but everyone around you tries to make you feel guilty for not "getting into the spirit"

Originally Posted by sox

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

I hate that, as a secular society, we celebrate the Christian adaptation of a Pagan festival.

Would you pelase go back and think about how idiotic that sounds? Nobody forces you to celebrate anything.

Untrue. In the United States, one is definitely forced to celebrate -or to at least is affected by the celebration by others- of the Christmas holiday. This is due to the closure of businesses and schools, the ubiquitous presence of Christmas symbolism (that, ironically, contains a substantial amount of original pagan symbolism like yule logs, holly, mistletoe, evergreen trees, etc.), and the social pressure of "being festive" and not a "Scrooge or Grinch."

There is, most definitely, a fair amount of forcing in the truest, scientific definition of the word. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing an apology for referring to another member as idiotic. You might say, I'm "forcing you" to conform to our social standards here at The Science Forum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce
Peace be with us all, saint's and sinner's alike. Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, and Drunken Solstice.

Originally Posted by SkinWalker

Untrue. In the United States, one is definitely forced to celebrate -or to at least is affected by the celebration by others- of the Christmas holiday. This is due to the closure of businesses and schools, the ubiquitous presence of Christmas symbolism (that, ironically, contains a substantial amount of original pagan symbolism like yule logs, holly, mistletoe, evergreen trees, etc.), and the social pressure of "being festive" and not a "Scrooge or Grinch."

I am also forced to put up with or am affected by terrorists, lying politicians, violent criminals, blue collar scoundrels, lazy civil servants, obnoxious drunks and all manner of fools. I think I can handle a wee bit of commercialization and the odd fake Santa Claus with no additional stress.

Merry Christmas

I personally don't mind being forced to participate in Xmas. It truly is my favorite holiday.

Xmas is over now, but if you want a more science reason to celebrate, break out the bubbly on the 4th January, for Isaac Newton's birthday. If he were still alive, he would be 547 years old.

Celebrate 4 January as the dawn of modern science.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by skeptic

Xmas is over now, but if you want a more science reason to celebrate, break out the bubbly on the 4th January, for Isaac Newton's birthday. If he were still alive, he would be 547 years old.

Celebrate 4 January as the dawn of modern science.

Cheers.

My academic ancestor.

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by skeptic

Celebrate 4 January as the dawn of modern science.Cheers.

My academic ancestor.

oh, you're into alchemy then ?

Originally Posted by marnixR

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by skeptic

Celebrate 4 January as the dawn of modern science.Cheers.

My academic ancestor.

oh, you're into alchemy then ?

no

nor are any other of his academic descendents of whom I am aware

Originally Posted by sox

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

I hate that, as a secular society, we celebrate the Christian adaptation of a Pagan festival.

Would you pelase go back and think about how idiotic that sounds? Nobody forces you to celebrate anything.

You obviously haven't met my family...

I hate that I can't be open with family and tell them about what I'm studying in school. My conservative Republican extended family is highly political and they don't share any of my beliefs or values. My mom accepts my views but always reminds me not to lose my faith. As an aspiring anthropologist I understand the importance and value of culture and accept my Christian roots (sort of). I simply wish I could be more open with my aunt, uncle and cousins.

This Christmas I had dinner with a friend's family. They were Christian and Democratic. Apparently they had bothered to read and comprehend their own religious material. If I were a practicing Christian I would be mighty pissed at the puby's who were trashing my religion.

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ysfQ...layer_embedded

The song is kind of funny. I like Christmas. In fact, I wish I could do more for my family during the holiday season...sadly I don't have a well-paying job right now so my gifts are my undying love and constant complaints about being surrounded by people I consider strangers for 14 hours a day for three consecutive days...

Originally Posted by Harold14370

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ysfQ...layer_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3RJ6DoB1c0

Originally Posted by Harold14370

Originally Posted by drowsy turtle

I actually hate christmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ysfQ...layer_embedded

This made me laugh so ridiculously hard.

Originally Posted by gottspieler

I hate that I can't be open with family and tell them about what I'm studying in school. <...> I simply wish I could be more open with my aunt, uncle and cousins.

I don't mean to belittle the family politics involved nor the significant and deep difficulty of challenging deeply rooted family norms, and I also acknowledge that it's wicked easy for me as an outside observer ... an outside observer who is completely not impacted by anything you do and say to and with your family... but... quite simply, gottspieler... there is only one way to change all of that, and you are the only person who can.

Since I went with kind and conciliatory above, I'll go with blunt now. Either man up and start talking with them honestly, or fuckin shut up about it and stop whining since the choice here to change matters is ENTIRELY yours.


Oh yeah... I hope everyone had a merry everything. I can sum up my holiday as, "Yep... It's still frakkin snowing outside. Do you want to go check out those bear tracks again and try to find where it went after it left our porch?" 8)

[quote="inow"]

Originally Posted by gottspieler

an outside observer who is completely not impacted by anything you do and say to and with your family... but... quite simply, gottspieler... there is only one way to change all of that, and you are the only person who can.

Since I went with kind and conciliatory above, I'll go with blunt now. Either man up and start talking with them honestly, or fuckin shut up about it and stop whining since the choice here to change matters is ENTIRELY yours.


)

LMAO thanks man

I am against Christmas.

1. The money, We spend millions of money every year, we burn them. Instead to buy Christmas-presents we can give money to those who really need money to survive and pay their taxes. I don't think many people use their Christmas-presents in the future, unless the gift is useful for something / important. That's why i think it's better to give the money to those who really need money instead to buy Christmas-presents.

2. I don't like Christianity.

Well, that's it.