Christmas shopping

[Idoru]

So, when do you start Christmas shopping, Some people are insane and start in january, while some are equally insane and start on 23rd of December. I try to shun Christmas altogether because im a scrooge and just figure that every Christmas so far has been an anti-climax so why should the next be different.

Well anyway, what are your views on Christmas in general?

[hitancrias]

I don't do Christmas shopping at all. My family and I don't celebrate Christmas that way. It's just family dinner and church.

What we do celebrate is "Sinterklaas" which is the Dutch/Belgium version of Santa. It's with presents and songs and sweets and it's celebrated at december 5th. That's why a lot of people here, especially the ones with young children, don't celebrate Christmas with presents.

[seperot]

Its Corporate and Christian....


In other words i'd be more happy if we got rid of the "holiday" all together and we just spend a little more on eachother during the course of the year and actually go see family members because we want to not because were forced to because its the season.

Same for Valentines day, Easter, Turkey Day and any other holiday

[Xordan]

The day that Santa was born :333 Presents \o/ Food \o/

I start it... in December whenever I remember. Last year I started on the 20th or something xD

For me, it's a good excuse to have fun

[Idoru]

Corporate, Christian, those are some of my main issues with it. glad you said the Christian thing lol

I will admit that it is a good excuse to get drunk and have some time off work/school/college.

I would prefer that we didnt 'have to' do the things that people do at christmas, 'season of good will to all men' wouldnt it be much better if we didnt reserve good will for a couple of days a year?

 hitancrias, what do you call the festival on the 5th of December?

[Proglin]

Sinterklaas rules! Especially his Pieten, Pepernote and kruidnoten are great hits.

And we celebrate christmas as well.

And the ramadam,

and 3 kings.

and....

and...

And ofcourse the 2 years and 1 month anniversary of me goldfish! got 10 people coming over!

[Phinehas]

I celebrate Christmas for what it truly is, the celebration of the birth of the Son of God on Earth. However, I am the first to admit that certain traditions have snuck in to make it something completely different than what it should be. On the other hand, rather than whine and complain, I embrace it as an enjoyable excuse to spend time with family and friends and enjoy an exchanging of gifts. I do not, however, restrict "goodwill to men" to this single season, however.

[zanzibar]

I celebrate Christmas for what it truly is, the celebration of the birth of the Son of God on Earth.

ummmm

"No one knows what day Jesus Christ was born on. From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover. One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. This is quite unlikely to have happened during a cold Judean winter. So why do we celebrate Christ’s birthday as Christmas, on December the 25th?

The answer lies in the pagan origins of Christmas. In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast. "

http://de.essortment.com/christmaspagan_rece.htm  (one I just picked at random)


http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=christmas+pagan&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

[Phinehas]

Indeed. I'm well aware of that. However, December is as good a time as any to celebrate Christ's birth, in my opinion. And yes, I understand that it was originally a pagan feast. As I remember Constantine was the one who united the celebrations, however that is the true meaning of the celebration now, at least in my mind, and therefore that is what I celebrate. There are endless ways of arguing my point of view, but if you disagree, you have a right, and I don't really give a crap what you think I should do on Christmas.

[miadon]

I have mixed feelings about christmas, can be very corporate but can be very giving. It can be just about some fat guy who wears a red outfit (thanks to coca-cola) or it can be about what christians believe, remembering the birth of the "messiah". I tend to think on it as a chance to see whats happened in the past year and try and help more, altough that can lead to me feeling abit hopeless as theres only a certain ammount I can do.

Oh and if you want to have a slightly greener christmas, why not buy this: http://www.carbonneutral.com/shop/details.asp?productid=1052&productname=Greener%20Christmas%20Box

I hope at least a couple of you take my suggestion on that, and if you do please tell me.

[Idoru]

Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.

Now that is the true spirit of Christmas..... that and vodka 

[Gharan]

Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.

I agree, If you can't remember it you probably had a good time. 

[chazarus]

i had a good time last night .... i guess i don't remember

[zanzibar]

Indeed. I'm well aware of that. However, December is as good a time as any to celebrate Christ's birth, in my opinion. And yes, I understand that it was originally a pagan feast. As I remember Constantine was the one who united the celebrations, however that is the true meaning of the celebration now, at least in my mind, and therefore that is what I celebrate. There are endless ways of arguing my point of view, but if you disagree, you have a right, and I don't really give a crap what you think I should do on Christmas.

You said that the true meaning of Christmas is X.  However, to me, Christmas means Y.  And there are many other letters in the alphabet.  I even gave links to articles that back me up.

Not everyone on this forum comes from the same religious background.

[zorbels]

However, December is as good a time as any to celebrate Christ's birth, in my opinion.

Amen to that. One of the reasons I celebrate christmas. The other reason is I have a little girl and take joy in her excitment when christmas comes. It is an excuse to spoil her. I am one of the insane ones though and shop in december. Yay to insanity.