Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Joyce]

My future DIL put her tree up a week ago. She's Christmas daft. Mine may go up some time next week. I've got a real mini tree at my front door, but that's it, well apart from advent calendar.

[Dulciana]

Just catching up with this thread.....

I find the rampant and unashamed commercialism of Christmas and the associated materialistic frenzy, appalling and it is all so unsustainable that I think there is no hope for mankind on this planet!!!

I was brought up in the church (weekly church attendance, Sundayschool, confirmation etc) as my parents were very religious (mum still is) which put me off for life and I left as soon as I left home, never to return! However I still love to sing and hear Christmas carols as we all have a spiritual side and to me singing and music is very evocative and moving, especially in a church - not that I go there at Christmas but I do love to hear singing in a church.

Also although I am no longer religious, nor believe in a deity, I do see the Christmas period as a time to think about peace in the world, and especially to remind each other to be kind to each other, as well as a time to come together and with family and enjoy doing simple things together rather than having to have expensive gifts, the most glittery clothes at the best parties, and the most delicious culinary treats that the supmarkets and all the big chains would have us buy and feel we've failed unless we indulge!!

By the way what's happened to dulciana who started this thread? It's good to have a discussion about these things! If you're out there - do come back and re-join - I enjoyed reading your posts about music and especially playing the organ. You are a great example of someone who has successfully learnt a new challenge and a skill despite the discomfort that menopause brings!

Do hope you are OK dulciana?

Hurdity x

Thanks Hurdity, especially for what you say about my musical efforts!  Yes, I'm okay.  I don't know what happened to my name on MM, but I certainly never left (at least, not since a brief spell months ago)!

Could you ever re-consider things that you've spoken about, above?  After all, "Christmas or Christmas Day (Old English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass") is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ"  (Wikipedia)   His hallmark was love.  That doesn't come from science.  The world is crying out for hope.  Or maybe God's crying out for us all to come back...

[Scampi]

I am Pagan, so I celebrate Yule, rather than Christmas.  And to me and most (if not all) Pagans, it truly is a celebration - it's a party to celebrate the fact we've made it through the darkest part of the year, and to welcome back the light (I suppose that translates very well to the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ - the return of the 'light').  So we feast unashamadly, yes, but the most important thing for me is to spend the time with my nearest and dearest (not always family - I said dearest!) and celebrate the victory of the Oak King over the Holly King and the turning of the year (not New Year - that was Samhain!).

[CLKD]

Scampi - new thread please 

[limpy]

Gosh Scampi I've not met a pagan before.
Yule seems to make so much sense.
Is it December 25th?

[Scampi]

Started a new thread.  But to answer Limpy - Yule is 21st December (the Solstice).

[Taz2]

Gosh Scampi I've not met a pagan before.
Yule seems to make so much sense.
Is it December 25th?

You've probably met quite a few Pagans Limpy but just never realised it 

Taz x

[Dorothy]

I've got my advent calendar out and I've wrapped the presents for abroad and made the cake, and have made some Christmassy things in a local craft group I go to (morning off from mother!!!)

I'm a Christian, so for me the most special stuff is based around the church - all the kids' groups in our church do something, each group on a different Sunday in advent, and we also have some community events and a gift service where those who are able to bring gifts for a women's refuge so that families who have lost everything have some gifts at Christmas.  I LOVE this time of year as there is something special going on all the time, and even though it's so busy I love it so much that it's not stressful.

Hurdity, I know what you mean about the commercialism and materialism - but my view is that Christmas is what you make it - so if you don't like commercialism you can avoid it.  Let's face it, the big retailers try to commercialise EVERYTHING!  I give simple things like homemade biscuits or early daffodil bulbs that I have potted up in the autumn and which are budding up nicely by Christmas.  It's a shame that your Mum has put you off church - Christianity is meant to be about a relationship, not rules!  Maybe you could find an open air carol service so you could enjoy the carol singing without having to go into a church building?  There are usually a few happening in the week or two before Christmas - we have at least 3 in our area beside the ones happening in church buildings. 

[CLKD]

I don't have much to do with Church but I LOVE singing carols.  I think being part of a Church/Chapel can be grounding. 

Cards/paper/envelopes spread all over our lounge floor along with scissors, seleotape 

[dazned]

If i bring mine round can you do those as well,sure you wouldn't notice a few more ! 

 

[CLKD]

Yep.  Will you bring the stamps 

[dazned]

Oh no I haven't got any damn !   

[CLKD]

There's a PO in the village 

[Dyan]

Trees & decs up. Cards all written. Pressies wrapped, apart from one or two I'm still waiting for.

[Pennyfarthing]

I'd like to go to sleep and wake up when it's all over.  No interest in it whatsoever and have to make a real effort to be nice to people because I don't want to shop, cook, plan, wrap, decorate or do any of it.

Of course I don't tell any of the family this or I'd spoil it for them. You lot just get it in the ear!!