The Christmas Thread

Armistead · 12-01-14, 06:50 PM

Thought I would start a thread to to discuss Christmas. Got pictures of your decorations or Christmas tree? Have any family traditions you would like to share, special memories, wants, etc.,...Anything Christmas you can put here.

Not long ago I purchased several large boxes of Christmas decorations at an estate sale. I knew they were old and boxes filled with decorations from the 40-60's era it seems. One box had numerous cards and pictures in it and was interesting to see Christmas unfold yearly. I plan to use a lot of these decorations this year.....

Christmas is a lil sad for me since my mother passed a few years ago and my father in May.

Sailor Steve · 12-01-14, 06:56 PM

No Christmas here. My kids are far away and so is my sister. Cards maybe, phone calls maybe. It's cool though, I do well enough alone.

Rockstar · 12-01-14, 07:53 PM

Not a christian, but everyone else in my family is. Still, I have a fun time and love getting together with family, if we manage getting together, which isn't often. I get and give gifts and cards and not at all bothered with the seasonal proselytization(if there's such word). I get a kick out of the whole thing and have fun.

swamprat69er · 12-01-14, 09:24 PM

I'm not a christian either, but I do the christmas thing anyway. We wont put the tree up for another two weeks or so, though. The cats would have it down in a day or two.

Oberon · 12-01-14, 10:15 PM

Our last tree was brutally murdered by our cats, demolished a coffee table with it too. Fortunately our two are pretty elderly now so their tree climbing days are over.

fireftr18 · 12-01-14, 10:56 PM

I love the magic of the season and the celebrations. I'm not much on the gifting thing though. I feel we should be giving all year long, not just one month out of the year. As far as receiving gifts, anything I want or need that is reasonably priced, I can afford to buy. My brother and sister feel the same way and we have agreed to stop gifting with each other.

Tango589 · 12-02-14, 04:01 AM

Well, that's Tribes' present sorted:

BossMark · 12-02-14, 05:32 AM

Dont put my decorations up a week before Santa's due to pay me a visit

Schroeder · 12-02-14, 06:17 AM

No Christians in my family (at least none that would celebrate it we've got some Jehova witnesses which we barely see...

).
We usually just come together and have a good meal. No gifts.

I actually find it sort of sickening to have the first Christmas stuff in shops in late September. It's all evolved into a big commerce fest and little more.

swamprat69er · 12-02-14, 06:27 AM

Christmas stuff starts appearing slowly in stores here right after Halloween.

Jimbuna · 12-02-14, 06:36 AM

I enjoy xmas day at home with the wife and kids (if the boy aint at sea), exchange presents, visit my mom then on to the wifes brothers house for an evening party.

I'm not really bothered what I receive because like others here I am able to buy what I want when I want it but I do enjoy spoiling the wife and kids on the day.

Things should really liven up if and when grand kids come along.

Betonov · 12-02-14, 06:43 AM

I'll enjoy Christmas on Christmas, but the season starts tomorrow when decorations are turned on in Ljubljana

AND

Mulled Wine stands !!!!!!

Tango589 · 12-02-14, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betonov

Mulled Wine stands !!!!!!

BRING ON THE XMAS CHEER!

Skybird · 12-02-14, 12:10 PM

Both me and my parents are pissed by it. In mid-August already I saw the first stores rolling out christmas articles and -sweets - in mid-summer! Commerical amok-running everywhere, Weihnachtsmarkt in town - FIVE of them. Crowds, stinking smells, clinging coins, kitschy TV spots. Kollektive Pflichtübung in Rühreseligkeit - a mandatory collective excercise in unctuousness - I once heard somebody describing it. I think it was me.

Christmas makes us all vomit over here, my whole family, we are happy when it is over again - for another 6 months. Next seasons starts in mid-summer 2015.

My atheism has nothing to do with it. Actually, I have kind and precious memories of our family christmasses

when I was still living with my parents. But commerce has plowed it all under, mercilessly, and somewhat damaging my precious memories as well.

And that is something that I will never forgive: that it was all hysterically ruined for the most profane of reasons.

I would follow the freakshow to some degree if I had children, but I would also protect them from it at the same time. But I have none, so: avoiding and ignoring it as much as I can.

And all that retarded sentimental mindless babbling on TV, christmas here, christmas there, babble-babble-babble. We're sick and tired of it. Sick and tired.

On 24th, we will, as always meet and do a family raclette. That is all. No actions taken on the other two days.

vienna · 12-02-14, 01:05 PM

I am non religious (I like to say I had religion beaten out of me back in Catholic school), so I don't 'celebrate' the day. I did make an attempt once way back in 1969.: bought a tree for my family (mother, sister), got the fixings for a good meal, bought presents all around. It went well until my mother got into one of her dark states and went off like a bomb. Since then, I have nodded politely when others say "Merry Xmas", give the obligatory gifts at work. I'm also the person who volunteers to take the holiday duty so others can celebrate since I have no family. It is amusing to me how Christian religions have co-opted pagan religious iconography and customs to meet their own evangelistic ends...

Other than the above, I do hope any and all of you have a good time celebrating the holidays in whatever manner you choose. You all deserve at least one happy time a year...

<O>

12-01-14, 06:50 PM	#1
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	The Christmas Thread Thought I would start a thread to to discuss Christmas. Got pictures of your decorations or Christmas tree? Have any family traditions you would like to share, special memories, wants, etc.,...Anything Christmas you can put here. Not long ago I purchased several large boxes of Christmas decorations at an estate sale. I knew they were old and boxes filled with decorations from the 40-60's era it seems. One box had numerous cards and pictures in it and was interesting to see Christmas unfold yearly. I plan to use a lot of these decorations this year..... Christmas is a lil sad for me since my mother passed a few years ago and my father in May. __________________ You see my dog don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

12-01-14, 06:56 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	No Christmas here. My kids are far away and so is my sister. Cards maybe, phone calls maybe. It's cool though, I do well enough alone. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

12-01-14, 09:24 PM	#4
swamprat69er Aceydeucy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario,Canada Posts: 1,889 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	I'm not a christian either, but I do the christmas thing anyway. We wont put the tree up for another two weeks or so, though. The cats would have it down in a day or two. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. We the willing, led by the unsure, have done so much with so little, for so long, that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

12-01-14, 10:56 PM	#6
fireftr18 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,528 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	I love the magic of the season and the celebrations. I'm not much on the gifting thing though. I feel we should be giving all year long, not just one month out of the year. As far as receiving gifts, anything I want or need that is reasonably priced, I can afford to buy. My brother and sister feel the same way and we have agreed to stop gifting with each other. __________________ Of all the forms of Martial Arts, Karaoke causes the most pain!

12-02-14, 04:01 AM	#7
Tango589 Still crazy as ever! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 3,375 Downloads: 180 Uploads: 1	Well, that's Tribes' present sorted: __________________ Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way...

12-01-14, 07:53 PM	#3
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Not a christian, but everyone else in my family is. Still, I have a fun time and love getting together with family, if we manage getting together, which isn't often. I get and give gifts and cards and not at all bothered with the seasonal proselytization(if there's such word). I get a kick out of the whole thing and have fun.

12-01-14, 10:15 PM	#5
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Our last tree was brutally murdered by our cats, demolished a coffee table with it too. Fortunately our two are pretty elderly now so their tree climbing days are over.

12-02-14, 05:32 AM	#8
BossMark Fleet Admiral Join Date: May 2011 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire Posts: 15,272 Downloads: 278 Uploads: 0	Dont put my decorations up a week before Santa's due to pay me a visit __________________ Never trust the Tories look what Thatcher and Major did in the 80s and 90s and look what the wicked witch May is doing now doing now

12-02-14, 06:17 AM	#9
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	No Christians in my family (at least none that would celebrate it we've got some Jehova witnesses which we barely see...). We usually just come together and have a good meal. No gifts. I actually find it sort of sickening to have the first Christmas stuff in shops in late September. It's all evolved into a big commerce fest and little more. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

12-02-14, 06:27 AM	#10
swamprat69er Aceydeucy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario,Canada Posts: 1,889 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Christmas stuff starts appearing slowly in stores here right after Halloween. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. We the willing, led by the unsure, have done so much with so little, for so long, that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

12-02-14, 06:36 AM	#11
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I enjoy xmas day at home with the wife and kids (if the boy aint at sea), exchange presents, visit my mom then on to the wifes brothers house for an evening party. I'm not really bothered what I receive because like others here I am able to buy what I want when I want it but I do enjoy spoiling the wife and kids on the day. Things should really liven up if and when grand kids come along. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-02-14, 06:43 AM	#12
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	I'll enjoy Christmas on Christmas, but the season starts tomorrow when decorations are turned on in Ljubljana AND Mulled Wine stands !!!!!!

12-02-14, 12:10 PM	#14
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,604 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Both me and my parents are pissed by it. In mid-August already I saw the first stores rolling out christmas articles and -sweets - *in mid-summer!* Commerical amok-running everywhere, Weihnachtsmarkt in town - FIVE of them. Crowds, stinking smells, clinging coins, kitschy TV spots. Kollektive Pflichtübung in Rühreseligkeit - a mandatory collective excercise in unctuousness - I once heard somebody describing it. I think it was me. Christmas makes us all vomit over here, my whole family, we are happy when it is over again - for another 6 months. Next seasons starts in mid-summer 2015. My atheism has nothing to do with it. Actually, I have kind and precious memories of our family christmasses when I was still living with my parents. But commerce has plowed it all under, mercilessly, and somewhat damaging my precious memories as well. And that is something that I will never forgive: that it was all hysterically ruined for the most profane of reasons. I would follow the freakshow to some degree if I had children, but I would also protect them from it at the same time. But I have none, so: avoiding and ignoring it as much as I can. And all that retarded sentimental mindless babbling on TV, christmas here, christmas there, babble-babble-babble. We're sick and tired of it. Sick and tired. On 24th, we will, as always meet and do a family raclette. That is all. No actions taken on the other two days. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

12-02-14, 01:05 PM	#15
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I am non religious (I like to say I had religion beaten out of me back in Catholic school), so I don't 'celebrate' the day. I did make an attempt once way back in 1969.: bought a tree for my family (mother, sister), got the fixings for a good meal, bought presents all around. It went well until my mother got into one of her dark states and went off like a bomb. Since then, I have nodded politely when others say "Merry Xmas", give the obligatory gifts at work. I'm also the person who volunteers to take the holiday duty so others can celebrate since I have no family. It is amusing to me how Christian religions have co-opted pagan religious iconography and customs to meet their own evangelistic ends... Other than the above, I do hope any and all of you have a good time celebrating the holidays in whatever manner you choose. You all deserve at least one happy time a year... <O> __________________ __________________________________________________ __