Christmas - What does it mean to you?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

People should not have to hold their tongues, or have censorship placed on it (ie: Retail not playing Christmas music but only "seasonal music").

It's not censorship that forces the Gap to play "seasonal music", it's money. They could play "Away In a Manger" 24/7 if they want. Nobody is going to stop them

[Tron_fdc]

I hate Christmas. Hate it!!!

I'm not a particularily religious feller, so the birth of christ doesn't mean all too much to me....and with all the commercialism these days it seems to me the real meaning of christmas (getting together with the family) has been lost.

Nowadays it's all about buying hoardes of gifts for everybody, spending countless hours in the mall with the rest of the cattle (MOOOOOOO) racking up visa bills and fighting lineups to buy tickle me elmos. I told all my relatives that I don't want gifts, and not to expect anything from me either.

The only part I like about the holidays is soaking my liver with rum and eggnog with the old man, sitting around a fireplace eating chocolate and drinking port. I like being with the family, but HATE the expectations retailers try to drill into your head, with their constant barrage of commercials, radio ads, sales, newspaper ads bla bla bla.

Bring on New Years already.

[FireFly]

Well I LOVE giving presents. LOVE shopping, especially when it involves finding the perfect gift for someone.

Are you saying then Cheese that Christmas shouldn't be a national holiday in order to respect the wishes of everybody else? Almost everyone gets Christmas Day off, why shouldn't I tell then to have a Merry Christmas? It's only a holiday to you after all, with no religious meaning attached. I'm just hoping you have a Merry day.

[Hakan]

Why doesn't everyone get Yom Kippur off or Diwali off then? Why is Christmas the only religious holiday we get off? You would think that if we were really multicultural we'd honour all relgious holidays celebrated by Canadian citizens off.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I've never seen anyone get offended by the words Merry Christmas. I've never even heard of any debate between it's use or Happy Holidays. Kind of shocked by what I'm reading. I'm certainly not religious, or Christian but I would never be offended by the words Merry Christmas. If anything, I think true Christians should offended that their holy day has been turned into a excuse to shop and get fat.

To me, X-mas means time off school. It used to also mean terrible times at work, but thankfully those retail days are behind me. It's nice to not have to swear at a-hole, x-mas shoppers who can't wait in line.

[Tron_fdc]

Happy Festivus!!!!

History of Festivus
Many Christmas's ago, Frank Costanza went to buy a doll for his son. He went to reach for it because it was the last one, but so did another man and as Frank rained blows upon him, he thought there could be another way. The doll was destroyed, but out of that, a new holiday was born. He named it Festivus.

Festivus takes place during the last few weeks in December, families and friends gather at the dinner table and have "The Airing of Grievances". Durning this time, family and friends share all the ways they have disappointed each other during the past year.

After the Airing of Grievances, the "Feats of Strength" takes place. This is where the head of the household tests his/her strength with another friend or family member. The great honour is given out to a different person each year. Kramer was given the honor but passed it to George Costanza as he had an appointment. You can turn down a challenge if you have an appointment. Festivus is not over until the head of the household is pinned.

The Festivus Pole, is not a tree. It is a metal pole with no decorations. Frank Costanza believes that tinsel is very distracting. The pole is tall and silver.

Now THAT would be fun.

[Tron_fdc]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/as....ap/index.html

SANTARCHY REIGNS!!!!!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

I'll tell you what really bugs me about Christmas in Canada... all this Merry Holidays and Happy Holidays crap. Cut the politically correct crap... its Christmas, with Jesus and/or Santa Claus. Get over it.

Agreed. I've been signing all of my xmas cards "Happy non-denominational Christmas", specifically because I know all of my friends and family will understand the sarcasm.

But you know, we just cant offend people like Cheese...

[PYroMaNiaC]

I think I've been in retail too long. I'm at the point where Christmas crowds make me hyperventilate. I hate Santa. Why is he supposed to get the credit for gifts my hard earned paycheck buys? I hate the time crunch. I work full time and then some. Being in retail doesn't allow me alot of time to prepare for the seaon. I get cranky, tired, and stressed out trying to make sure everything is wonderful for everyone. I'd love for Christmas to go back to the basics of making butter tarts, sleeping in, a little toboggan ride down the hill behind our house or a skating party on Mom's pond, watching the Sound of Music and playing Whist till the wee hours, laughing and talking, and just being together. And maybe a few twinkly lights. I love twinkly lights. No gifts. Just being together. One day - lots of love. No matter the religion, that's what it's about. Love.

End rant.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

If you dont celebrate the meaning of Christmas...in its supposed true form...yet you want to hang on to the celebration what does that mean?

Are you looking to ban Christmas or something? You're thinking too deep. Party hardy.

One of my ex-assistants was a Jehovah and I stupidly gave him a Christmas card one year . . . . fortunately to gales of laughter.

I'm generally maniacal about the separation of church and state by the way . . . . . but, my questioning on this board of the past existence of Jesus was more of an intellectual exercise. If people want to love Christmas and put some meaning to it - or not - then that's not really my business and I don't see the harm.

Cowperson

Family Guy totally screwed up Jehovah's Witnesses yesterday. Peter went door to door as a Jehovah Witness but he was telling people about Christ. Fortunately, Christ turned out to be merely Quantum Leaping.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Right, but we aren't saying that you have to say it. What I hate is when somebody gets bent out of shape when I say "Merry Christmas" to them.

Myself, I take it as a good thing if one of my Jewish friends wishes me a Happy Hanukkah.

I've never ever, ever seen anyone, christian or not, get bent out of shape when someone wishes them Merry Christmas. You speak as if there is some massive politically correct anti christmas movement in Canada. I don't think it's that widespread.

And I'm not christian, but I like christmas, just as a time to spend with family, give and get presents, and just have some time off and relax, i guess. What they call it is of no consequence to me. In fact, I wish we celebrated similar times for every religion, then we'd have more holidays all year round.

[Clarkey]

Hey Cheese, would you be willing to work on Christmas day?

I think all those that complain or have no respect for the Christian based holiday should be the ones to be in the office working on that day.

[RougeUnderoos]

Has anyone ever actually seen someone get personally offended by "Merry Christmas"? I know I haven't and someone else above said they've never seen it either. Is it a myth? Has anyone come across a person that is actually offended by Merry Christmas? Is anyone here actually offended by the phrase?

I don't believe in this Christianity business but I say it all the time. I said it to the woman in the line at Shoppers today, the bag boy at Safeway said it to me... who cares? Anyone?

And I know I know everything can be blamed on our multicultural liberal goddamn CBC politically correct society, but again, the only reason that stores and their employees use "happy holidays" and don't play Christmas songs is because they think it will get them more money. That's it. They believe more people will be turned off by "Silent Night" than will be turned-off by not playing "Silent Night".

It's not censorship, pressure from the government, picketers, foreigners, liberal media bias or anything else. They think they might make more money by ditching those songs than they would by playing them and having the grunts say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays".

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Has anyone ever actually seen someone get personally offended by "Merry Christmas"? I know I haven't and someone else above said they've never seen it either. Is it a myth? Has anyone come across a person that is actually offended by Merry Christmas? Is anyone here actually offended by the phrase?

Damn, as one of the "elder" statesman here, all I can do is give my history of what I have seen.

In all my years, my family and myself have not used this season as a "religious" event. None of our clan falls into that category. But we are into the festival. We are into the thoughts for others, both within our family, and outside it. We are mindful of the thoughts this season brings; both of caring and sharing.

About a decade ago, I noticed an emerging trend for people to say "Happy Holidays" and not "Merry Christmas". I even complied, what with the "polically correct" theme that seemed to be predominant.

No more.

I have returned in recent past to say exclusively "Merry Christmas" in my salutations. Strangely enough, what would have been fine a decade ago, now meets with a scornful eye about one in seven or eight times.

To me, Christmas is Frosty the Snowman, it is Santa, it is magical...

It is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, it is the Grinch, and it is giving, caring and sharing. None of those, to me, have any bearing on any one religion that I follow (which is none, if you have followed...).

It is also a time to remember my Mother, who passed several years ago at this time, and whom embodied the spirit of Christmas. Never religious was she, always caring, giving and helpful she was.

And if anyone wants to get ticked off at the Christmas season... let them give up their Good Friday and Easter Monday holidays....

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Hey Cheese, would you be willing to work on Christmas day?

I think all those that complain or have no respect for the Christian based holiday should be the ones to be in the office working on that day.

I have worked on many Christmas Days....and many Easters...and many other Holidays. Without religious barriers Im free to take holidays whenever I choose...without guilt.
Oh and...I wish many people a Merry Christmas and dont get offended when people wish me the same. I have never seen anyone get offended by this wish.

[Cowperson]

Devout Christians want to eliminate Christmas:

"There is nothing biblical" in the yuletide celebrations, said Carrasco, 56. "And we only practice what Jesus orders us to practice."

What's worse, he continued, Christmas was ungodly, a time of revelry, including drunkenness and "pleasures of the flesh. They are not celebrating God," he said.

Carrasco is not alone. A few Christian churches to this day dismiss Christmas with a polite theological humbug, among them a small number of independent Pentacostal churches such as Carrasco's, and the larger and better known Jehovah's Witnesses. Others, such as the Church of Christ, Scientist, avoid much of the pageantry and merriment.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...track=morenews

Cowperson

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by troutman

Why should I have to say Merry Xmas? I'm not Christian. At least three million Canadians are not religious at all.

Great, and did you celebrate Halloween when you were a kid and go trick or treating? But you probably aren't pagan, so why should you do or say anything associated with that holiday either???

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Christmas, to me, is an opportunity to spend time with friends and family. It is the time to share so good cheer after suffering through a year of ups and downs, where we became absorbed in our selves and didn't think of all those around us.

This year my family is not giving gifts, except for the gift of ourselves to each other. This will likely be the last time we spend Christmas as a whole family with our aging parents and that is the most important thing I can imagine. Being so far away from my family has made me appreciate the moments I get with them, even the sibblings I can't stand. So being able to sit in the same room, hoist a few drinks and share the laugher of my parents with my brothers and sisters one last time is the greatest gift of all, and is what Christmas is all about.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

Great, and did you celebrate Halloween when you were a kid and go trick or treating? But you probably aren't pagan, so why should you do or say anything associated with that holiday either???

LOLOL...now now Lanny....his Mom...and yours...and all other Moms...dressed their little kids up as Goblins to go get Candy....

Halloween is dieing<sp?> rapidly as well...it is certainly not the event it used to be.