The Meaning Of Xmas

[eve1974]

I wonder if covid will make many think of what is really important about xmas. Instead of the crazy consumerism.

[Neveracrossword]

What is 'really important' about Christmas varies from person to person, reflecting their beliefs and experience.

[eve1974]

Completely agree Neveracrossword. although I like to think that for most the importance of family and / or religious persuasion will trump the need to spend crazy amounts on food and presents this year.

[eve1974]

I reckon a lot of people wld happily forgo any roast turkey or big presents just to be able to see folk that they love instead

[Atheist]

Eve, I really think that Christmas is about poor people celebrating the change from the worst time of the year to the promise of spring and fresh food again, a way of cheering themselves up in the darkest gloom, and a way of fastin on the last of the preserved food from the year just gone. Religion latched on to it, but there's surely no evidence that Jesus was born in the middle of our European winter.

[bednobs]

nah, buy, buy buy :)

[Atheist]

Woops! I just did a Priti!

[Maydup]

For me there isnt anything very important about Christmas. Honestly, I loathe the commercialisation of it, I am not religious, I like to spend time with family all year round and least enjoy it at Christmas. Lets restict is to a Little Christmas for ever more. Just a family Christmas lunch for those who enjoy that and a handful of gifts for the under 16s.

[Neveracrossword]

I think there are very few people nowadays who simply 'need to spend crazy amounts on food and presents'. I don't know a single one of those!

[eve1974]

Atheist agree - and that too (ie the celebration in the dark gloom of winter etc is part of it) The point I was trying to get across is simply that buy, buy, buy isn't what makes Christmas. Spending time with loved ones is the important part (and for some of us the religious aspect too). Husband and I have nor done the big consumerism part for many years

[pixie374]

No, usually just a family get together.

[emmie]

i will miss seeing my family, the rest can go hang

[Theland]

'This the season to waste lolly on folly,
Tinsel, yule logs and glitter by golly,
Smellies for everyone an idea methinks,
Just in case there are seasonal stinks.
Mince pies and pud and red boxer shorts,
Imagination and seasonal thoughts, (cor!)
I look forward to ABers on the Big Day,
Saying Hello to me as they pass on their way.
I wish I could write a good Christmassy rhyme,
And put in a cracker to pass the time.

[eve1974]

Emmie - yup im with you on that one.

[woofgang]

atheist we were taught at very high church school that shepherds would not have been out watching their flocks in winter and that the Christian church had taken over an exisiting holiday. Here's the best reason i have ever heard or read from Dr Who.
"Kazran Sardick : On every world, wherever people are, in the deepest part of the winter, at the exact midpoint, everybody stops, and turns, and hugs, as if to say "Well done. Well done, everyone! We're halfway out of the dark." Back on Earth, we called this Christmas, or the Winter Solstice. On this world, the first settlers called it the Crystal Feast."