The commercialisation of Christmas

[MyUserName]

I did wonder who had bought the industrial sized tin of lube.

Have to get the turkey in the oven some how*!!!


*if you know what I mean?!

[VectraMan]

Not sure which nonsense you are referring to?

Look around. Can't turn on the radio: christmas songs. Can't turn on the TV: christmas ads. I went to Tescos the other day; double the usual amount of people stocking up for a nuclear war (even though Tescos only closes for one day) AND christmas songs. Christmas cards through the post, christmas trees, people putting up decorations in offices (fortunately not happened here yet), and compulsary time off work which I'd much rather have as extra holiday at some other time of year.

None of this is anything to do with people spending time with their families. Yet if you don't want anything to do with it (and I don't) it's impossible to avoid.

I don't. As far as I am concerned other people can do as they please as long as they do not hurt anyone.

See above.

Because it is useful to have time off when everyone else (well, nearly everyone) in my family has time off so we can all get into the spirit of making a special effort at the same time.

Yes but it's the worst possible time. It's winter; everything stops so there's never anything to do, and when the shops do reopen they're always packed full of miserable people desperate to do anything to relieve the monotony of spending time with their family.

If we want to have a national holiday by convention so that most are off at the same time, then it'd be much better to move it to summer, and just have the holiday without trying to pretend it's anything more significant than just some time off.

When I'm king of the world...

[NotAllThere]

I dunno, to me, if you're not religious, what does it matter? The various Churches have always been commercialising things, anyway, e.g. the Catholic church selling salvation of the soul not too many centuries ago. ...

Yeah - and look where that got them. Calvinism with its tulip doctrine.

[MyUserName]

Look around. Can't turn on the radio: christmas songs. Can't turn on the TV: christmas ads. I went to Tescos the other day; double the usual amount of people stocking up for a nuclear war (even though Tescos only closes for one day) AND christmas songs. Christmas cards through the post, christmas trees, people putting up decorations in offices (fortunately not happened here yet), and compulsary time off work which I'd much rather have as extra holiday at some other time of year.

Ah right, I see what you mean. My TV is normally only on for Peppa Pig, Sofia the First and Mike the Knight (lot of Christmas adverts but they simply replace adverts which would advertise toys anyway). Other than that we normally watch specific programs we have recorded or rented so I have little exposure to the adverts. Christmas shopping is a little taxing but we do almost all of ours on line anyway so I have little exposure to that too. I don't listen to the radio. I don't send Christmas cards, I simply tell people that I hope they have a happy Christmas (old fashioned, I know!). Decorations at the client site simply remind me it's Christmas and I like that!

I actually like the holidays! They help ensure that everyone is off together so we can all spend time together. I can understand that it would be frustrating if you actively want to save the days for something else though and I agree that you should be able to.

Yet if you don't want anything to do with it (and I don't) it's impossible to avoid.

Yep, I see your point.

Yes but it's the worst possible time. It's winter; everything stops so there's never anything to do, and when the shops do reopen they're always packed full of miserable people desperate to do anything to relieve the monotony of spending time with their family.

I guess that is one interpretation of it. I used find Christmas quite dull when I was young. There was just my mother did not have the money to buy presents and was not interested in receiving them so it was always very difficult to find anything that she would want. However, now I have money to buy things (I have even worked out that my mother likes going to musicals so I take her to a different one every Christmas) and a large family (including 2 of my own children) to enjoy it with so it is much more fun!

If we want to have a national holiday by convention so that most are off at the same time, then it'd be much better to move it to summer, and just have the holiday without trying to pretend it's anything more significant than just some time off.

Yes, that probably would make more sense. However, it is not going to happen for this year at least. So, why not just try to enjoy what you already know is going to happen anyway? If it helps PM me a safe PO address and I will buy you a Firebox mystery box for you to open on Christmas day.

[original PM]

Yeah - and look where that got them. Calvinism with its tulip doctrine.

[DS23]

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[tomtomagain]

Have to get the turkey in the oven some how*!!!


*if you know what I mean?!

Well I hope you gave it a jolly good stuffing.

[Ticktock]

If we want to have a national holiday by convention so that most are off at the same time, then it'd be much better to move it to summer, and just have the holiday without trying to pretend it's anything more significant than just some time off.

You mean something like we should all take holidays (work and school) in August?

But... but... then we'd be French

[xoggoth]

What's to stop anyone celebrating Christmas in whatever way they they wish? Usual problem with religious sorts, they think their religious freedom involves telling everyone else what they should do.

Look at religious "discrimination" cases and they usually involve the religious being prevented from discriminating against or imposing on others. Refusing B&B accommodation to gays, insisting on prayers at public meetings, requiring time off work for prayers or religious occasions, refusing to do a job they are paid for, such as conducting civil ceremonies or providing counselling for gays or serving alcohol in police cafes at the expense of so their employers or colleagues.

Believe whatever drivel you like but you should bear all the costs for your faith, not expect others to.

[scooterscot]

Rubbish - it's a pagan festival celebrated long before Jesus was invented

WHS