I just need to say this.

[PA_jen]

I am tired of Christmas starting in OCT and all the marketing and then Dec 26th everything is taken down and stops.

Dec 25th is the FIRST day of the 12 days of Christmas not the 12th day.

I remember a time when this time kind of slow down. Holiday parties and get togethers. I remember being at events with family friends who are Jewish, even agnostic it was the idea of common goodwill and just being together.

I am just so tired of the season is no longer a season but a marketing and run up to 1 day then that's it.

Happy Holidays However you choose to or not to celebrate.

[2naSalit]

1. My take from an early age...

And this is from the 1950s!

[purr-rat beauty]

2. I agree

But it just may be capitalism, not the people. We are celebrating our Christmas with our kids on New Years Eve morning as one was traveling and the other spending time with his other parent. So it's nice to have this chance to stretch it out for them. We'll topple a ton of Christmas movies "post season" this week no doubt.

[Siwsan]

3. I totally agree

I'm not much of a Christmas person but I participate for my family. They're coming by for dinner, tonight, and they are bringing dinner, tomorrow. I always insist on NO GIFTS, just food, drink and loving company is perfect. Sometimes they listen. Sometimes they don't.

Back in the day, before people started moving away or dying, our family had a huge gathering for Christmas Eve. My grandmother, and then my aunts and mother, made a very traditional pea, mushroom and potato soup. I'm the last one in the family who knows how to make it. There's no actual recipe - just ingredients and 'suggestions'. It's all a matter of getting the roux the right color. The first taste always brings back so many wonderful memories.

We will probably watch 'A Christmas Story' tonight and the 'A Christmas Story Christmas' tomorrow.

And, of course, I don't bother with a tree because, well, i have four very rambunctious cats. A tree would be a non stop disaster.

[hlthe2b]

15. Your middle paragraph was the Christmas of my youth. Once the grandmother

(the matriarch) and the elder uncles all started to die, Christmas celebrations pretty much did too. But, I do love those memories of old.

[Siwsan]

30. I just found some old picture albums and put them on the coffee table

My niece LOVES to look at family photos.

[Butterflylady]

29. This year is a 'no tree' event for me also.

Since I now have Boots the tree would be a giant toy and I would be frazzled trying to keep it from destruction. But Boots is my buddy and he has me wrapped around his 🐾.

[bahboo]

36. well that soup sounds fantastic....

[Laffy Kat]

4. Under capitalism everything boils down to consumerism and profit.

It's sickening. It makes me want to leave during the holidays.

[twodogsbarking]

5. Great to have the family together. Food is wonderful.

The rest, meh.

[Siwsan]

31. Most of my remaining cousins live on the west side of Michigan, or out of state

No aunts or uncles left. My two nephews live out of state, too, so there's really just my brother, niece and her husband left.

Unfortunately my late sister's husband decided we're not important enough to share either day with us, and that includes his daughter.

His loss. She's spending the weekend eating, drinking, celebrating and laughing with her husband, me and my brother.

[Maeve]

6. Agreed! I prefer to start after Thanksgiving and keep going til about Jan 6

In Irish tradition, Epiphany is "Women's Christmas" when the ladies get together over cakes and sherry (more likely white wine, now) and let the men watch the kids and keep house--we've worked hard and it's time to enjoy! And the ornaments come down on the 7th. Last year, we didn't have the kids together til the 28th, this year, we won't see some til Jan 1st.

Don't let the commercializers get you down. Keep going thru New Years!

[LakeArenal]

23. Same with birthdays for us. A birthday is a week long.

Whoever gets treated to their favorite dinners, treats and activities. Cards received early or late are celebrated individually.

[llmart]

7. I couldn't agree more!

Two weeks ago my local Meijer store was already putting out the Valentines stuff. I've never much liked holidays anyway. There's so much expectation surrounding the holidays and not everyone is happy/jolly. If they are having problems in their lives it only exacerbates their sadness or depression. Growing up we were poor but as children we would still get excited about the tree and candy canes on it and maybe a game or two under the tree that all seven of us shared. In addition to that I may have gotten new socks or underwear, but I still got excited about it. There was an unspoken rule in the family that once you reached thirteen you no longer got any presents, only the younger ones got something. So I grew up just enjoying the simple parts of Christmas.

[JI7]

8. I saw one store start to set up Valentines Day already

[John1956PA]

9. About 10 years ago, eBay stupidly thought Dec. 26 pertained . . .

. . . to the SPORT of boxing. I was a aghast to see that a powerhouse web commerce company made such an idiotic mistake and filled it's opening page with promotions for merchandise related to that sport.

[hlthe2b]

13. LOL

I only wish I were suprised.

[Rebl2]

28. +1

[ananda]

10. Same. This nonstop holiday shit is just commercial.

I hate it.

[HAB911]

11. It's Evolution

[hlthe2b]

12. I think that is why I do so much less for Christmas than in many years past...

It is so abrupt to go from 100mph planning, celebrating, decorating, shopping, entertaining, and fixating on the holiday and its traditions to BANG, December 26--nada. Not to diminish true grief, but it does seem to instill a sense of loss and dread if by chance you aren't too exhausted to feel it.

Lower-key celebrations that end after New Year's seem much more to my liking. And this year, in particular, I look forward to the New Year's eve NCAA football bowls, actually having a "dog" in the fight, which makes me quite content not to have any real New Year's eve plans.

[FakeNoose]

14. Agreed! The merchants have ruined it for the rest of us

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

16. Christmas is for kids, I don't let any of the rest bother me, enjoy what you can in your own life

[mucifer]

17. I'm glad when it's over because it seems to start around Halloween But that's me

[LakeArenal]

18. Every holiday is what YOU make it.

It’s what goes on in YOUR heart and home.

Peace on Earth. Goodwill to All.

[nightwing1240]

21. This!

Well said, peace and goodwill to all!

[LakeArenal]

22. 🎄🦄🥂

[Hermit-The-Prog]

34. Or maybe in the airport?

[LakeArenal]

42. Perfect. ☺️🎄🤶

[Scrivener7]

43. I'm with you! And back acha!

I got Roku, so I don't see too many ads. And for me the season means pretty decorations in my home and my town, a few nice small parties, and lots of laughs.

[LakeArenal]

44. I decorate but no one ever makes the time to see it.

Mr Lake knows I do it for us. Not them. But they are all welcome.

Edit: sounds fun actually. 🕊️

[Scrivener7]

45. I have three neighbors who don't decorate. Each of them goes to

relatives for Christmas and they don't want to decorate if they won't be around.

But I like a tree. So we've started a tradition where I get a tree and have them over in mid-December. We decorate the tree together, drink lots of mulled wine, then have a kick-ass meal and exchange very small gifts.

It's become one of our favorite Christmas things. For me it gets the season started on the best note.

[LakeArenal]

46. "Decorate the tree together!!!???" 😲😱

No way for me. I have no duplicate ornaments. Everyone of them has a memory. They go exactly where I want them.

Treezilla!!!! 🎄.


PS. Outside is Mr Lakes domain. He’d take any help one gives. Heck. He’d hand the job over to any interested party.

[Scrivener7]

47. Lol! To each our own.

Hope it's merry and bright for you from start to finish.

[Javaman]

19. I wish it started in oct

I saw ads right after the 4th of July here in texas

[nightwing1240]

20. I do not like the commercialization of the holiday

Growing up and then raising our own family (my wife and I) we did our best to make the day and season about family and loving each other at a special time of year. Love is special always of course. The world certainly needs it more than ever these days.

BTW, whatever happened to making a child smile rather than making a fast buck?

[Marthe48]

24. Good points

My personal solution is to observe my own schedule, and ignore the hype. As I get older, I have to start my Christmas prep earlier, but other than that, I keep the holidays, especially Christmas, the way I want.

[IbogaProject]

25. Christmas is a Twelve Day Feast

I believe it's a 12 day feast that starts the 24th in the evening.

[TygrBright]

26. This. Plus the whole "Christmas is all about the FAMILY" thing...

Well, for those who have families.

Or those who have family within reach.

Or those who participate regularly in community activities, join groups, belong to self-chosen 'family' type clusters of people.

Christmas is not a happy time for solitaries.

Nor for people whose families live far away, and your 'celebration' is in the form of a Zoom call or two.

The constant entertainment diet of heartwarming family this and that is not fun this time of year, either.

It's all part of the same over-hyping over-compensating, capitalism-driven "SPEND MONEY AND HAVE JOY" culture.

This year many of us whose holiday "celebration" involves outdoor walks, activities, going around to look at lights, watching the stars, feeding the birds, etc. aren't going to be able to enjoy even that, with the storm.

There's plenty of joy in a quiet cup of tea watching the bare branches dance against the sky, but it's not limited to December 24th/25th.

Be kind to one another every day.

wearily,
Bright

[Boomerproud]

35. Thank you.

Take care.

[Hortensis]

27. It has to be how you live it.

Last edited Sat Dec 24, 2022, 11:17 AM - Edit history (2)

Covid's blasted a lot of personal interactions for us because we're both high risk in spite of immunizations.

But someone without that problem really could fix the problem for others in their circles by inviting people over, or whatever, after the New Year this time -- and before Christmas and after next year? Long ago I discovered (looking back) that first invitations willy-nilly started a tradition if a repeat event got it in the heads of others. Third year, people started having expectations (you're having your party, right?) even though as a kid I'd had no specific intention of creating dependablly repeat and annual getogethers. But when someone does, others come.

Btw, we have friends who are very active and sociable but who literally leave the country for the other side of the planet every holiday season. Before Thanksgiving. They buy each kid one share of some stock they have fun but aren't too serious about choosing, leave them with the parents, and that's it for the whole thing. Back in the spring.

[Tommymac]

32. Agreed. Here are our 12 Days:

Re, Capitalism, my better half and I stopped exchanging gifts many many years ago; instead we give a substantial donation to the local foodbank.

On Christmas Eve we start the Holiday SEASON, first driving around in the evening to look at all the outdoor light displays, unwrapping our stocking stuffers (we still exchange those - candy and treats and such, nothing expensive), and listening to Christmas Rock.

Christmas we go to my nephew's for Christmas Brunch (yummy biscuits and sausage gravy!), then to my Sis-in-laws for Christmas dinner (usually Steak and Lobster).

Then sometime in the next few days we celebrate The Family & Friends Christmas party - a huge event with over 70 folks some years. Highlight is The Chinese Auction and watching all the kids run around playing all day.

Then, we will go Downtown to see the Pittsburgh Tree and Crèche, and have a nice lunch somewhere.

The...we usually celebrate on NYE going to First Night in downtown if I am not working, then get up and watch football all day on New Years.

After all this, finally we celebrate the Twelfth Day on Little Christmas (Orthodox Christmas) Jan 6th by taking down the tree at the end of the day.

[NoMoreRepugs]

33. Holidays makes me think of my USMC drill instructor

Sgt. Biller and his daily reminder about being in the Corps - “Every Days a Holiday and Every Meals a Feast.”

[Chipper Chat]

37. TV Christmas commercials this year are awful.

Liberty Mutual has hit the bottom of the barrel with that commercial where the kid kicks the bike. Disgusting.

[llashram]

38. American capitalism

the profit mongers can't help it. And yes at 74 I have seen the diminishment of the true Christmas. 12 Days of Christmas is also one of my favourites. Peace to you and yours this season.

[usonian]

39. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman:

Today... is Christmas! There will be a magic show at zero-nine-thirty! Chaplain Charlie will tell you about how the free world will conquer Communism with the aid of God and a few Marines! God has a hard-on for Marines because we kill everything we see! He plays His games, we play ours! To show our appreciation for so much power, we keep heaven packed with fresh souls! God was here before the Marine Corps! So you can give your heart to Jesus, but your ass belongs to the Corps! Do you ladies understand?

What's worse than Christmas at boot camp?
Being on Christmas leave from boot camp, AND HAVING TO GO BACK.
Cheers, vets.

[Skittles]

49. heh

"I want that head so sanitary and squared away that the Virgin Mary herself would be proud to go in there and take a dump."

[Sneederbunk]

40. Buy your Valentine's Day candy now.

And Easter eggs if you can get them.

[mwooldri]

41. UK TV up until the early 1990s reinforced this somewhat.

The Christmas logos and continuity wouldn't start properly til Christmas Eve and would continue in Christmas mode until after New Year's Day. Sure programme trailers and promos for Christmas would have Christmas theming but it's not Christmas until you see something like this before your TV programming...



The commercial stations at that time had in vision continuity - people introducing what's on next and later. I can assure you the guy wearing the "ugly sweater" wouldn't have wore it before Christmas Eve - at least not on screen.



Wholeheartedly agree with you - Christmas begins on Dec 25 and ends Jan 6th.

Have a Merry Merry and a Happy Happy

[Ms. Toad]

48. As a general rule, I start celebrating the day after Thanksgiving (and have for my entire life)

But my tree stays up all January, sometimes into February. I'm too busy to fully enjoy it ahead of Christmas.

This year my celebration started in October - but only because I was in a Christmas Musical, and it's kind of hard to perform the first three weekends in December if we don't start practicing in October.

But, aside from play practice, my Christmas celebration starts after Thanksgiving - and I really don't Christmas encroaching on Thanksgiving, Halloween, or even the 4th of July.

[Iggo]

50. I'm over it.

I do notice it, though.

[TreasonousBastard]

51. Yup.