Do you like Christmas?

[Alex-RS]

Thought i'd get it settled.

I, for 1, hate Christmas, and have ruined a total of 3 of them for the family.

Any stories of why you like or dislike it?

[Harold_Shand]

I love it, eat, drink and be merry, you miserable bastards.
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BCF's 6th favourite poster 2009-2010

Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[Blau Zedong]

I hate it. It's ok as a kid when you divvy up on gifts but as a working adult it's utterly pointless. 5 days compulsory holiday in December rather than spent fannying around with bikes or fishing in summer???? Fuck off!!! Get to see people you don't see the rest of the year - fantastic....the reason I don't socialise with these people during the other 11 months of the year is because they are idiots. Don't get me started on the state of TV.....
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[kitty kat]

It was fun when the children were little, now they are 15, 17 & 20 and it is no fun anymore. The 2 eldest have left home, leaving just Keely & I. They all ask for things I can't afford to buy, but they seem to forget all about mum. My son asked me what I wanted for a present and when I think of something can I buy it. What is the point in that? Keely will probably be out Christmas day, leaving me. Mind you that could be a good point, a day with little traffic out on the roads could be a good day for a long solo bike ride.
There is too much hype over 1 sodden day of the year.
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[Itchy]

Its some time off, so its all good...
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[Ariel Badger]

I loath it and wish Jesus had never been born.
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[Hoffy]

Wht Mr Shand said
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[hellkat]

I've learnt not to take any notice of the hype.
Its all created by guilt, the same guilt that gets you geared up about New Year Resolutions, and about Valentines Day.

If I don't buy someone a present, will they hate me?
Nah, they'll just not buy me one next year.
I can live with that.

The people who I want to buy presents for are small and select.
I like it that way.

And as for pigging out, and absolutely must have everything "proper" for Xmas, nah, sod that, I can pig out any one of the 365 days, so I just make a point of buying and making some food for that day which is really nice, for whoever is family this year.

I like the paid days off, though.
Now I'm back to work 9-5 and commuting, I could DEFINITELY handle a few more of those
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Shaun]

Hmm, I'm not fussed either way really, it's a major annoyance having to buy gifts because I'm shit at it (although doing well this year) but if it's what it takes to make some people be merry and have a laugh then I'm all for it.

This year I shall be spending it as cheaply as possible (apart from presents which I seem to be spending more on), good being single though, no panic attack about what to get someone who might go mental if you get it wrong.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

The parts I do like about Christmas (good food, good company, good laugh) I can do any time of the year. The rest of it (rampant commercialism, religious shite) should be flushed.
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[Dragonfly]

The day is ok, loads of nice food, few festive films on and a bit of a drink and family get together. Some gifts. But feel bad this year as I cant get everyone something due to to many reasons to list so that bit makes me feel bad as they got me something. Its only one day! The shops do put up such a hipe about it though but its what you make it. You can be a miserable sod on the day because you hate it or you can try and enjoy yourself.

This year I am vegging out at home watching my new lee evans dvd and stuffing my face !

I have been ill every xmas! now thats crap. Last year I had flu so didnt get a drink, its actually happened since I was 14 and lay near dying in hospital every bloody year since that on xmas day I have been really ill. This year I am pregnant so I cant even have a drink then.

But I still try and make the best of it.

[Marcg868]

Its a bag of shite. But then i've not had an enjoyable christmas since our last with my step dad in 1999 (he died september 12th 2000) so ever since we lost him, they've not been enjoyable moments for Me & Mum. Will make the effort and smile tho and enjoy drinking time with Mum,gf and her family

But i'll be glad when January 1st 2009 comes
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[D O G]

Was discussing this last night, particularly as it is our first Chrimbo on this side of the world.

On balance I do quite like it, have some tasty food, bit of a break from work, get some stuff from people, see my mates and family.

Problem is pretty much all of those things are missing this year, so reckon it will be a big disappointment. Hey ho.

[owdamer]

[Fawbish]

Im in the middle of the transition between enjoying and (most likely) hating it.

I'm 19, well, I'll be 20 by the time it rolls around.

But this year, I'm on a decent wage (4th year apprentice, electrical design engineer) so can pay back what I now get myself in debt for

And I know its all material and shit, but I thought, my 'rents have bought me alsorts of cool shit for the past 19 years, so this year I'll get em something decent back. So in that way I'm enjoying it, even though I should be posting in the debt/credit crunch thread

So I bought my mother a Wii (soon to be followed with a Wii fit on her bday probs, she's wanted one for ages)

Me dad I'm getting a camcorder.

And bought my little brother....Oops. Cant say. He's on these boards

My girlfriend a day at Centre Parks Spa, some L'eau d'issey and some rather nice lingerie. And various tit tat.

Sweet.


So I sorta hate christmas. But also am happy that I can now bring more joy into peoples lives.
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[lofty]

I like Christmas!

I like buying presents for the people I actually care about, I am not a big pressy person to lots of friends or anything like that, but I do spend a crazy amount on loved ones, I always see things and think... ooh.. they would like that.. and end up with millions of presents!

I am hoping this christmas is going to be better than last christmas, that was a bit of a hard time for me, well, it was in the middle of a very big low in my life, and I really hope that this xmas is going to be good.

I don't like the fact that christmas is so commercialised now... since when did xmas start in november?

[Tim.]

Christmas ended for me at the age of 13, when my parents didnt buy me the Scalextric set with the 2 Mini Coopers.

[kitty kat]

[JonB]

To be honest, it hasn't seemed like Xmas has started as early as usual. With the whole economic crisis, I haven't heard much of xmas until the past week or so, i'm in the spirit now and have spent £200 on shell and a further £200 on friends and family.

Also on Friday, Shell is treating me to a weekend at Center Parcs @ Longleat, so looking forward to a cold weekend in front a wood fire in a lodge.

Xmas is gonna be good this year, I think.
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[map]

On the whole I'd have to say yes, I do like Christmas.

However, in line with other posts above I think as I've grown older it's lost a little sparkle.

There no seems now such a long run up to the day. There's all the pressure to get it right, be nice to the family, get the right presents (not too stingy, not too extravagant), get all the right food, get all the right drink, don't drink too much, don't drink too little (it is Xmas after all), write and post Xmas cards, wrap presents, etc. etc. etc. Xmas is too much like hard work, where's the holiday?

Then with all that build up, poof, it's all over and you're left wondering where to go on Boxing Day. Unless you're lucky to have a large family that you have to visit, then it's often an action replay of the 25th.


This year we have no one to visit, no one visiting us and are planning a relaxed day.
Have a lie in, open presents, first course of the meal, start cooking main course, drinks, eat main course, more drinks and think about desert. Eventually get around to desert about 8 hours after starting. That's a good Xmas day to me
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[trevoriv]

My family dicthed me presuming id be spending xmas with the gf and the gf ditched me presuming id be spending it with the family

SO i get a few hours with mi parents etc in the morn, ride 130 miles to the gf for a few hours and then ride the 130 miles back to spend xmas evening on mi tod.

I love it.
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Mudskipper wrote: Someone just has to sig that...

[Mudskipper]

[Mudskipper]

I'm actually finding it a real struggle to get motivated for Christmas this year. I only really bother for the sake of my kids.

Otherwise, as shaggy and other point out, all the good bits can be done anytime.

Why can't I pig out on biscuits with cheese followed by a box of matchmakers and a bottle of port, on some non-descript weekend in June?

Why can't I have a big roast dinner with my kids followed by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and starmix, in the middle of March?

It never snows at Christmas, flashy house decorations embarrass me rather than excite me, I hate having to fight with all the 'shopping zombies' in huge crowds in November just to get a roll of fucking wrapping paper. I hate the commercialism, the guilt, the forced seasonal joy. I hate being skint come January. I hate work christmas parties.

However, I do love watching my eldest in the school nativity, and I will love the look on my lil un's face when she opens the pink power ranger with pink thunder bike I searched high and low for.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/pinkpowerranger.jpg
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[JonB]

Mudskipper, that's a mighty cameltoe on the pink ranger there.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.