Yes |
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66.3% (130) |
No |
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33.7% (66) |
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Beat Writer  Posts: 155 Joined: 11 Sep 2008     | |
On the Record  Posts: 5484 Joined: 13 Aug 2008     | Just because some people have gone nuts with shopping doesn't mean the spirit of Christmas is gone. Yes it has been over-materialized, but we live in a capitalist society, so this is nothing to be surprised about. However, I can tell you that personally, my favorite part of the Christmas day is spending the time with my family. I have found myself several times now thinking that I just want to get through the presents so we can start chatting. And eating. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1532 Joined: 6 Apr 2008     | Well, I'd assume the Christmas Spirit is in some bar somewhere getting drunk. But, as for life. Meaning is what you make of it. I'm not overly fond of Christmas anyway...so many people who no, no matter how many times you're told, they don't -need- fancy gifts, or even moderately expensive gifts, just that you at least spared a thought for them. That over-urging urge, that if you -don't- buy, then you're a bad person. There's nothing worse than putting your foot down and saying no! I'm going to acknowledge those around me just a bit more than I usually do, but not get them a gift. And then receiving a gift from them and feeling crappy about it because you didn't give anything! And in the end, you have your whole life to be good and nice to people, why compact it into one or two consumption packed holidays per yer? |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2659 Joined: 4 Nov 2007   | Oh god, you've just summoned Khell_Sennet. Everyone take cover before he gets here and educates us all on the true meaning of Christmas. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1532 Joined: 6 Apr 2008 |
We await in supplication and baited breath. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2591 Joined: 27 Aug 2008    | What, by celebrating the mid-winter season with a huge feast and present giving? Because I'm pretty sure that's probably what it was about before Jesus got involved. Idiots will always be obsessed with the next shiny thing, to be honest I'm out of giving a shit for them. People are capable of so much, and yet they choose to spend it buy cheap plastic crap of no worth, merit or value. I'm doing my Christmas shopping on Amazon because I can do it for the 8 people I need to buy for inside an hour, from my office, without being stampeded by 'tards. And everything I've bought is something I know the recipient will at least read, hear or drink. |
Infamous Scribbler  Posts: 599 Joined: 20 Aug 2008    | I don't wish to alarm you, but people die on most days. Does that mean we've lost the meaning of most days? No, you just don't hear about it on the news because we're supposed to believe certain days are special and other days aren't. And for the record, nobody died for lack of christmas spirit. They died because shoppers were in search of ONE DAY ONLY (and sometimes it's only a few hours) bargins. If you want to blame anyone, blame the retailers for creating the initial conditions for mobs to form. |
Beat Writer Posts: 155 Joined: 11 Sep 2008 |
Fine, I will. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1974 Joined: 5 Jun 2008  | Nah the magic is still there but not as much as there was before! It still feels good to give out the biggest presents and to have an epic feast with all your family. However the latest christmas movies are awful and I don't think ill ever get a present as awesome as the N64 and Golden Eye 64. That would suck to die in a shopping raid, I wonder what they say at nthe funeral! |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1735 Joined: 29 May 2008   | Well, i certainly have being a non believer. It's just a time to be annoyed by the family, really. I don't really like Christmas very much, but then, i don't get on with my family very well, since they are a bunch of moaning gits. People wonder why i have legendary patience levels. My family is the reason why. |
Paperboy  Posts: 39 Joined: 8 Oct 2008     | I don't think so. In Australia I see as many Christmas trees as I'd have seen when I was young, which I suppose is 'Christmas spirit'. As long as you make somebody happy, either indirectly or directly, you're spreading the greatness that is Christmas. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2849 Joined: 8 Jul 2008    | What do you define as the 'true meaning of Christmas'? We're Atheists so that rules out the possibility of it being to celebrate |
Beat Writer Posts: 155 Joined: 11 Sep 2008 |
I'm not religious, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy Christmas. Spending time with family while eating a great meal and then sitting next to the fireplace is what Christmas means to me. Also the whole "giving" thing. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2290 Joined: 14 Jan 2008 |
If that is so...ten where the heck is he? *Opens blast doors and looks into cargo bay 3.* KHELL! Stop stealing my jet fuel! Come on, theres a topic you gotta comment on. NO I am Not letting you ride in the T.A.R.D.I.S. again, It still smells weird every time we get close to the 1980's. Fine, you can ride in the TARDIS, just don't touch anything. |
Beat Writer  Posts: 126 Joined: 6 Aug 2008   | I agree, I feel that the presents have gotten in the way of the true meaning of christmas. I personally try to spend as much time with my family throughout the holidays to make it more than just the presents. The presents are indeed the biggest part about it but it's more or less up to all of us to pitch in a little more effort for family values than presents. You know, IMO of course. |
Paperboy  Posts: 50 Joined: 4 Dec 2008    | Christmas has no meaning anymore. Its nothing but commercialism backed up by overly-religious farce. And it used to be ONLY about pseudo-religious farce. |
Infamous Scribbler  Posts: 591 Joined: 24 Jul 2008    | No, because Christmas has gone beyond the Christian holiday. Nowadays Christmas is about kicking back, relaxing, giving and recieving presents and stuffing yourself with Turkey and Chocolates. Alot of people who celebrate Christmas aren't Christians, so we haven't lost the meaning of Christmas. Maybe the christians have, but everybody else hasn't. |
On the Record  Posts: 6029 Joined: 25 Jan 2008    |
Wuahahahaa. Who dare summon me at this early hour? Seriously, it's not even noon yet. But no, I'm not going to educate you all as to the meaning of Xmas being bullshit anyways. But you have all lost sight of something more important. Xmas always seems to overshadow my birthday, how many of you forgot? Woe be me, for the falsified date "Christ" was born has more importance than the true date of your ranting messiah's birth. And will they gather in my holy places, sex toy shops, bookstores and mall foodcourts, and tell the tale of Khell? No. Will people gather with friends and family to celebrate, with a feast traditional Khellday Crush Lime and Hotdogs? No. And who is going to give in my holiday spirit, for on this day all are supposed to give the gift of middle fingers to bad drivers. Woe be me, this Saturday shall be yet another unremembered Khellday. |
Infamous Scribbler  Posts: 657 Joined: 14 Nov 2008     | I know we lost sight because the store i work at started putting up Christmas decorations on Oct 30th:( |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 2591 Joined: 27 Aug 2008 |
That's the funniest image edit I have seen in literally hours. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1168 Joined: 2 Sep 2008  | Yes we have lost sight of the meaning of Christmas, which is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. |
On the Record  Posts: 5945 Joined: 7 Feb 2008  |
Technically Christmas as I recall, was the appropriation of several pagan festivals by Early Christianity in order to promote acceptance of their religion. As far as I know Jesus was REALLY born sometime in July by current reckoning and December 25th is really the birthday of Mithras. If you want to dig WAAAY back, what we think of as Christmas is a Winter Solstice festival. There are lots of conflicting opinions on this though. |
Muckraker  Posts: 328 Joined: 4 Dec 2008   | The set of events Mr. Clinton started in 1999 has led to a failing economy, making both stores and consumers desperate. The meaning is still there, it is just harder to see sometimes. But hugging your child can act like a pair of glasess for this conundrum... EDIT: No, I'm not referring to the "events" that took place in the former president's trousers, I mean the housing bills he signed |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1168 Joined: 2 Sep 2008 |
You're totally correct which is why Christ and Christmas are both totally coincidental right? |
BANNED  Posts: 2340 Joined: 27 May 2008  |
The early church placed Jesus' birth on a date that was already celebrated in the hopes of encouraging more to join in(and also to avoid prejudice). In reality, Christ was born somewhere between May and July, we aren't really sure. Christmas' meaning has continuiously evolved throughout the past few centuries. Late Celtic groups in Britain celebrated it even with no knowledge of Christ being involved. It was banned in Puritan England for various reasons. Several religious groups now don't celebrate it partially because of doctrine, but also because of the sketchy history behind it. The name may make it appear to be 'Christ's mass' but its backstory for the most part disagrees. User was banned for: [NEW SCREENIES]Prototype [HOLY SHIT]. (Permanent) |
Pulitzer Laureate  Posts: 887 Joined: 9 Jan 2008   |
No, there are no conflicts. Your description is correct. Feel proud :D |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 3058 Joined: 12 Nov 2008   |
Correct. Presents under the trees? It was originally presents too the trees. Sacrifices if you will, asking for those trees to grow again soon (winter was a bitch back then). Mistletoe was a Pagan ritual practiced during the winter solstice (shortest day of the year). Santa Claus was originally the Viking god Odin coming to bring presents to all the kids (and left them in their shoes). It wasn't about the birth of Christ until someone else decided to rewrite the seasonal holiday folkore. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1168 Joined: 2 Sep 2008 |
It is Christ's Mass, it was placed there like you said by the church. We celebrate Christmas now not the Pagan Winter Festival. It's undeniable Christmas is a celebration of Christ's birth regardless of cultural changes and founding history. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 4229 Joined: 27 Apr 2008  | I personally don't believe I have, I mean, a lot of people have it's true, and it's not like I don't like getting presents. But I like the non-material things about the holidays, the decorations, the spirit, the festivities. |
Infamous Scribbler  Posts: 542 Joined: 28 Jul 2008   | i don't know how it is in america but here in sweden its all about the cozy hot chocolate, giving, feast with family and the like (though for some reason we worship garden gnomes and santa more than jesus) |
Pulitzer Laureate  Posts: 980 Joined: 24 May 2008 | The fact that Christmas is celebrated on a date that previously belonged to another holiday and was selected for that purpose doesn't make it any less Christmas. I don't see why people think that's an important point. Those holidays were on December 25, but they were not Christmas. To answer the OP, many celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday, but to others, it still is a spiritual and religious event. It's religious meaning lives on, but not, perhaps, for everyone. |
Beat Writer  Posts: 223 Joined: 3 Dec 2008  | To be honest i think the meaning of Christmas has changed. Not to mention that i f*****g love a good Christmas dinner. was going to do a joke about 'giving and receiving', but some one else can drop that bombshell ;) |
BANNED  Posts: 6317 Joined: 29 Nov 2007  |
Separation of church and state. Thereby, no. As long as the church and state remain separate, and in consumerist America (wherein the corporations are the state), Christmas being about the shopping is a good separation in my opinion. User was banned for: The hypocrisy is KILLING me.. (Permanent) |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2586 Joined: 6 Jun 2008  | Christmas has a meaning? |
Muckraker Posts: 300 Joined: 1 Jul 2008 |
I love you, man. Love you. Until Christmas is renamed Saturnalia, we are out of touch with what it really means. |
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I hate to sound like every Christmas movie you've ever watched, but have people forgotten the meaning of Christmas? I can't believe that three people died on Black Friday. Are we that obsessed with presents and such that we're willing to fight. If so, why don't we just start gladiator matches outside stores and whoever wins gets what they want, for 80% off. Am I the only one who thinks things are spiraling out of control? What happened to the Christmas spirit? My family doesn't even get presents for each other anymore, instead we pool our money together to do something nice for one family member. We basically started this a couple years ago after getting sick of receiving gifts that don't suit us. Now the Holidays are relaxed and family gathering are about family.