Christmas, comercial or not?

[Elfhelm]

In the middle of winter, when life is the hardest, we give each other gifts. It's because we all need each other. What better time to have a party celebrating that communal spirit than the dead of winter?

It's cool, too, that the Christians moved the celebration of their spiritual progenitor's birthday to fall during this period instead of supressing it. I don't lilke it when they then say that is the ONLY reason for doing it.

Commercial? Sure, why not? It gives the economy a much needed boost. Santa is the very image of bounty with his roly-poly belly and his sack full of goodies. Buy! Buy! Buy! and then Give! Give! Give!

But if you're poor, make things for people. They'll really be glad to accept handmade gifts. Some people even prefer them.

[BeardofPants]

Oh sure, the rest of the world is wintering in xmas just cos the States is. 'Course, fat chance of it ever seeming like Summer, when it always rains on xmas.

[Pytt]

Christmas is commercial, and I think partly as Elfhelm. the economy is given a boost, and everything is fine, BUT they don't need to start in bloody Speptember! I love christmas and I think economy should take advantage of it, but NOT before it is christmas!
and christmas starts advent, maybe in late,late November.

[Elfhelm]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Oh sure, the rest of the world is wintering in xmas just cos the States is. 'Course, fat chance of it ever seeming like Summer, when it always rains on xmas.

Oh sure, blame the Native Americans.
(It's a European tradition, brought to 'merica by white people.)

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Oh sure, the rest of the world is wintering in xmas just cos the States is. 'Course, fat chance of it ever seeming like Summer, when it always rains on xmas.

Just ignore the fact that Israel is in the NORTHERN hemisphere. Is there anything worth mentioning in the southern?

[Elfhelm]

Ahem... in Australia, on the longest DAY of the year, the hottest, rainiest day of the year... they give each other presents like air conditioners and umbrellas. It's because we are communal beings. We need each other. And what better time to celebrate the communal spirit than ... um ... the shortest night? ... somebody hep me! hehehe

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by Elfhelm

Ahem... in Australia, on the longest DAY of the year, the hottest, rainiest day of the year... they give each other presents like air conditioners and umbrellas. It's because we are communal beings. We need each other. And what better time to celebrate the communal spirit than ... um ... the shortest night? ... somebody hep me! hehehe

All you had to say was that no one cares about the southern hemisphere.

[jerseydevil]

What are people's favorite Christmas shows. Mine were always - A Christmas Carol, Grinch Who Stole Christmas (cartoon), A Christmas Story, Little Drummer Boy (really sad though), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (and all those type of shows), Charlie Brown's Christmas.

[BeardofPants]

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

Just ignore the fact that Israel is in the NORTHERN hemisphere. Is there anything worth mentioning in the southern?

There's a giant pineapple in Australia... think that's about it....

Anyway, when the rest of the world goes to ****, Australia and New Zealand will be nuclear-winter-free.

[Elemmírë]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

There's a giant pineapple in Australia... think that's about it....

Anyway, when the rest of the world goes to ****, Australia and New Zealand will be nuclear-winter-free.

Not bloody likely.

JD... can't remember what the last Christmas show I watched even was...

[Millane]

Originally Posted by Elfhelm

Ahem... in Australia, on the longest DAY of the year, the hottest, rainiest day of the year... they give each other presents like air conditioners and umbrellas. It's because we are communal beings. We need each other. And what better time to celebrate the communal spirit than ... um ... the shortest night? ... somebody hep me! hehehe

yep. hes got the right of it. got me a room full of air conditioners and umbrellas now

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

There's a giant pineapple in Australia... think that's about it....

dont forget our giant Banana at Coffs

Originally Posted by HOBBIT

Now a ton of non-christian immigrants and such celebrate Christmas, do the whole tree thing, santa thing, and giving out lots of gifts thing, thinking that that it is an American holiday - without any mention of Jesus or why it is a holy day

So, i doubt these people are entirely ignorant about the religious part of christmas, more likely they are like me and a lot of other people now, they dont care. Is there anything wrong with this? No. Is this the fault of commercialism? you can argue yes til the cows come home, but we make the decision of how we spend christmas. Personally i love the thought of giving and recieving presents. Not in the ill give someone a present because its expected but because i want to, and it makes me feel better than sitting around thinking about Jesus. And then of course you get presents anyone got a chrissy list yet? oooh have we got a thread for christmas presents you want? ill go check that out

[jerseydevil]

Charlie Brown's Christmas is on - woohoo.

[Embladyne]

Y'know the commercialism of Christmas doesn't really bother me too much, seeing as how so many holidays are prety bad off, as well. Besides, I rather like having an excuse to ask for presents. But, the overcommercialism of daily life does get to me. I guess that's why I really don't watch t.v. much except for films and really extra special shows.

Originally Posted by jersey devil

What are people's favorite Christmas shows. Mine were always - A Christmas Carol, Grinch Who Stole Christmas (cartoon), A Christmas Story, Little Drummer Boy (really sad though), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (and all those type of shows), Charlie Brown's Christmas.

I really like Nightmare before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands. The muppet's Chrismas Carol is pretty neat as well, oh, and definitely Charlie Brown's Christmas.

[inked]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

There's a giant pineapple in Australia... think that's about it....

Anyway, when the rest of the world goes to ****, Australia and New Zealand will be nuclear-winter-free.

BoP,

Ever read ON THE BEACH ? Maybe you'll get it for Christmas. If the big one goes off, you'll have about 3 -6 months, that's it!

Merry Christmas!

PS Santa bringing you pants? or are you waiting up to get his for your collection?

[BeardofPants]

Inked, I know that we wouldn't really be safe... hence Mister Winky.

I already have santa's pants.

[Draken]

Christianity appropiates the pagan festivals, secular free market western culture appropriates the Christian festivals - there's a nice symmetry to it.

Make of Xmas what you will. Feel free to be filled with angst if you like. If you don't like shopping (and I don't) well DUH that's what wives are for! Or the internet. Or buy it all in the summer. If you don't like Xmas TV, don't switch on the telly.

Personally I'll be getting hammered on as many works parties/pub crawls as possible, flying out to Lapland to give the kids a Xmas they won't forget, listening to our Slade/Roy Wood/Greg Lake etc Xmas CD but hiding those bloody awful ones with Perry Como and choirs on them, getting tired & emotional watching some version of A Christmas Carol (yes even the muppet one), watching our video of It's a Wonderful Life on Xmas Eve and getting tired and emotional about that, having a fantastic Xmas morning watching the kids opening presents, having a great Xmas dinner (no sprouts), watching The Snowman at the Sage Music Centre with a full, live orchestra playing the score, then finally squeezing a ton of packaging into a wheely bin and wishing I could go back to work ahead of New Year. All achieved without going anywhere near a church.

[Lenya]

Yes, totally comercial. That is so sad, and sick. It is horrible to see how poeple have even twisted Christmas into a money making sceme

[me9996]

It's getting to comirshal, but it is based on a truth.

[Nurvingiel]

I agree with Draken, largely, except to add that for myself I love the midnight Christmas church service. That's my favourite service of the year. (That fact that I haven't been to one since 2003 is not the point. )

I wouldn't worry Me9996. Though it is very commercial, it's pretty easy to ignore that and focus only on the good stuff, both religious and cultural. (There are a lot of fun non-religious parts to Christmas too, like giving gifts to your friends and family, and Christmas dinner.)