2 weeks off.
That’s what it means to me…

I truely believed in christmas I wouldn’t be celebrating on the 25th of December.

Oh yes I’ll be serving at the altar of cheeses too.

3 kids and all birthdays in september, what do you reckon.

We spent euro 40 on cheeses in Paris supermarket on Sunday before the eurotunnel home, to be honest that’s just a normal shop though !

I think it depends a lot on how well you get on as a family….I’m very lucky that my wife has two sisters with great (Hubs)Bro in laws, fun Parents and lots of nephews and neices etc. We all get on great and have fantastic days together enjoying each others company.

For that reason, I look forward to it and enjoy it. I know its not the same everywhere. I also enjoy the fact that its a two week break with nothing going on at work to distract and concern me.

Awww I love the baby cheeses

Remember they’re for life, not just for Christmas.

I wonder what unfitgeezer does for Xmas?

Loads up the tombola for 2015.

A testing time in that am caught between:

Family/social conditioning ie conspicuous consumerism, lots of plastic crap, costly tech and tat presents, TV & acres of Hallmark/Sellotape/ignore the homeless and less fortunate who often feel even more lonely at this time of year.

and

Personal inclinations/belief – ie celebrate the Winter Solstice/Yuletide with friends of a similar persuasion, no plastic tat, homemade fare, cheer, lots of evergreen decor, scotch, ale, and volunteering in the community.

Add to that our wedding anniversary and two family birthdays between 19-25th Dec.

It’s a very busy and costly madness to do it all but we do. I also feel very lucky.

euans2 Your picture has me off to a tea. Mrs. S is just out of shot looking similarly miserable. But we enjoy ourselves.

Pretty Girls prancing on dance floors giggling into Mahitos, exposed bare bottoms wobble and tence as they’re fling towards half open Loo doors.
Tear stained makeup leaking from sore eyes and squished gloss lipstick stained teeth, tramp tats blinking from low cut Little Black Dresses and broken heels on Jimmy Choos.
Matted hair sprinkled in glitter, a lonely earring glinting in the dim light of Dawn.
Phone numbers etched into over ripened pale skin forearms, clutch bags piled high next to abandoned tables, necklace figurines caressing the lower shoulders.
Lost coat locker tickets, a single glove.
Straddled kerb onlookers.
A “goodnight” hug.

That’s what Christmas means to me..

Have a good one all.

These days, nothing.

If I had kids it would be different, but I don’t and the dogs don’t care.

Sleighbells in the snow.

bikebouy ,have you considered writing lyrics for Marillion.

Currently, sitting at work waiting for the gaffer to give up and let us go home! (We’re all doing our best to look as un-busy as possible too).

Generally, pigging out, presents, being happy, no work. Christmas is great. 🙂

Better still OP forget people being in a church as that is only a building, do something good for someone/humanity, rather than some which I have seen over time, never miss the attendance in church but the rest of the time they are the nastiest vilest people you could ever meet.

What does it mean to me, it’s a reflective time, my mother had her spinal injury on the boxing day, I was nine at the time, so going from a mum who would occasionally have a game of footy with you, walk on the beach, etc, to growing up quickly and pushing a wheelchair. How was the injury caused prolapsed discs which went whilst making up a fire whilst leaning over the jigsaw I was completing that had been a christmas present.

What are my plans this year, hoping to get out on the bike, and the rest of the time will be spent with my Mum, probably a walk/push out and go feed some ducks in the local park, whilst spotting the new growth of bulbs and trees.

What does Christmas actually mean to you ?

Quiet trails and hilltops. Can’t beat it.

Ignoring the high probability of trolling….

I am not religious (and have no interest in the religious aspect), but love Christmas. Specifically just having time off work, giving and receiving presents, seeing the family (one of the few occasions when everyone is off work), relaxing, good food etc. My family spend very generously, but not beyond our means.

The people I know that moan about it tend to be joyless, jealous, bitter tightwads who can’t stand spending money, and use the consumerism thing as an excuse :wink:.

On the other hand, I can see why some people may find it a lonely time, which is a better reason to dislike it.

I’m looking forward to the day after St Stephens, when I can legitimately chill with Mrs and Miss North before winding myself up for the onslaught of next year at work.

These are the first days off since July, and I suspect will have to sustain me until April. So deciding back in October to host two families seemed a better idea than it does after three supermarket trips and the fourth to come….

Merry Christmas – I love you all..!

food, drink, a nostalgic sentimental glow, gleeful kids and gifts

St Stephens

*wipes a tear from my eye…*

Haven’t called it that in years.

For me it means some time off work to relax that always seems to rapidly get filled with things that aren’t very relaxing at all. Last couple of years I’ve actually been sort of glad to go back to work!

Baby Jesus died so i can live for ever in heaven

Rampant capitalism/consumerism

Neither appeals tbh

You’re a barrel of laughs Junkyard lol.

For me it’s just about lots of food and family.

Humans like to feast and party.

Midnight mass with my fellow Catholics and plenty of ale.

Actually this year is weird having just moved to the UK and really not knowing anyone. With a small child socialising time is short and I would really like to have my mates to got for a beer with but, nada. Bugger. I’m a bit sad now.

Appreciating those who are with you

Missing (badly) those who are not

Counting your blessings

Giving

(And the last bottle of Clos Mogador bought before the price explosion 😉 )

For me, it’s a holiday. I’m a teacher so cant have holidays here whenever I want. So, that’s it, it’s time away from the little dears.

What does Christmas actually mean to you ?

1. Sales
2. Cheap/good food & drinks
3. Peace and quietness – the place is so empty it is good
4. Telly – I hope there are some good programmes on this year.
5. Eat, shite & sleep
6. Watching people get emotionally silly …
7. Oh ya … the invention of fat bloke called santa who should actually be a troll.

😯

Yet again STW provides a fascinating insight into the (mostly male) mind.
Always make time for that most holy of cheeses, emmental.

If I had kids it would be different, but I don’t and the dogs don’t care.

But they do. Our older dog loves Christmas. He knows exactly which presents are his under the tree. Bloody funny.

Rampant consumerism and Religion can both bog off IMO but a day most of the working population can have off at the same time and get together with family is pretty cool, I’d keep that, happy to switch it to the winter solstice or new years.

All the food, beer and partying is pretty fun too.

Sleighbells in the snow.

Why did you mention snow?

Ale, whisky and pigs in blankets!

I wish someone would invent a fast forward button and I could skip the next 2 weeks and get back to normal living.

Mind you I wouldn’t have missed today’s ride – bone dry empty trails – best conditions for months. If you can get out in the next few days do it.

Sweet fa

Avowed atheist here but still love the way that Christmas essentially forces our work-obsessed society to simultaneously down tools and go see their Nan.

Tim Minchin puts it quite eloquently:

[video]http://youtu.be/fCNvZqpa-7Q[/video]

Midnight mass with my fellow Catholics and plenty of ale.

The ale bit is ok the other nasty stuff you can keep

Having a medicinal stiff one with the lunchtime bird.

OP. Do you actually want to know what Christmas means to anyone else?

Or did you just want to stand and randomly shout at passing strangers and tell them that they are “doing it wrong” because they do things different to your (obviously perfect) way.

Crap rant. Just makes you look like a miserable bastard to be honest.

Minchin speaks for many 🙂