How far do you go with Xmas?

[keepitlow]

Since Jesus was not born on Dec 25 and the whole Christian story is all based on lies. How far do you go with Xmas? Or do you just treat the story of Jesus like you would Santa Claus?

[Whitney]

To me Christmas is about being with family, eating a lot of good food, and exchanging a few gifts.  I don't really think of Jesus as being a part of it; even when I was religious I knew Christmas was stolen from Pagans and that the real birth date was likely in the spring.

[hismikeness]

I don't think for the vast majority of Christians any of the "religious" holidays are very religious. Easter? Really?? I know Christians who don't really know what the reason for Easter is. Christmas is pretty easy. I think the whole X-mas thing is a realm of minutia in which I don't wish to be involved.  

Unless I'm saving letters on an announcement board or something. Otherwise, there really is no reason to do it.

On that note, my mom does have a "Keep Christ in Christmas" lawn sign that she puts up every year.  

Hismikeness

[Whitney]

I think the whole X-mas thing is a realm of minutia in which I don't wish to be involved.

I use to write x-mas when I was a kid...didn't see it as something anti-christ just a fun way to abbreviate it.

[Kylyssa]

My ex-husband and family used to celebrate Christmas with gluttony, useless and plentiful presents, and a bunch of holier-than-thou posturing.  It really made me uncomfortable AND grossed me out.  

So now I do nothing but use the winter holidays to guilt people into giving things or money to homeless people and charities.

[Renegnicat]

I get wasted and go beat the shit out of a bunch of pinatas every christmas. Then I eat barbacoa!

[Tanker]

My family does little for X-mas. My mom and I dislike the present giving process because we don't like the feeling of obligation of giving them because we recieved them. My brother and some of my extended family still sometimes give us gifts despite our requests not to. Even when they say you don't need to give a gift in return it makes me feel like a shitheel regardless. I have told my family I would rather spend time with them then recieve a gift. We also sometimes have a Christmas dinner when one of the more traditionaly minded (grandma usually) sets one up. I have in the past and sure I will again treat x-mas like any other random Tuesday.

[MommaSquid]

I decorate a tree while listening to secular holiday music and I send Christmas cards.  I buy gifts for my mother, nieces and nephew.  Hubby and I eat a good meal, and watch football and some Christmas movies (A Christmas Story and Elf are planned this year).  Since we live so far away from our relatives, it's usually just the two of us.  Mom is visiting this year, so there will be a few extra activities; mostly touristy things.

[Will]

How far? Too far!

I decorate the entire outside of my house with lights from top to bottom the day after thanksgiving, put up a tree covered in ornaments and lights, and then put lights and pine garland all over the house, along with candy and pine potpourri.

Then comes the music. I've got a huge Christmas playlist on iTunes that I stream all over the house. If those get old, KDFC, the local classical music station, has a streaming internet Christmas music channel.

Then comes the dinners. I have people over constantly for ridiculous dinners all month long, leading up to my famous homemade seven layer dip on Christmas eve followed my s'mores and then a massive honey-baked ham on Christmas day.

Oh, and I always go overboard with gifts. This year, I'm going monitor crazy and I'm getting my dad, mom, and little brothers really nice computer monitors (Acer 23" HD LCDs) along with a whole bunch of other goodies. Even Jack, my beagle, is getting a host of bones and toys.

I love Christmas!!  

[Whitney]

How far? Too far!

I decorate the entire outside of my house with lights from top to bottom the day after thanksgiving, put up a tree covered in ornaments and lights, and then put lights and pine garland all over the house, along with candy and pine potpourri.

Then comes the music. I've got a huge Christmas playlist on iTunes that I stream all over the house. If those get old, KDFC, the local classical music station, has a streaming internet Christmas music channel.

Then comes the dinners. I have people over constantly for ridiculous dinners all month long, leading up to my famous homemade seven layer dip on Christmas eve followed my s'mores and then a massive honey-baked ham on Christmas day.

Oh, and I always go overboard with gifts. This year, I'm going monitor crazy and I'm getting my dad, mom, and little brothers really nice computer monitors (Acer 23" HD LCDs) along with a whole bunch of other goodies. Even Jack, my beagle, is getting a host of bones and toys.

I love Christmas!!  

^me if I had a lot of money to spend.  I LOVE Christmas lights and like to stick them on everything.  But I can't decorate my current place because the retard who designed the house didn't put an outlet in the front (which sucks for other reasons too).  I also LOVE parties (any excuse will do) and am looking forward to moving in the spring to a place that will hopefully be a better layout for parties.

[jrosebud]

I *love* Christmas.  I love the baking, the shopping, the decorating.  I love taking walks with my daughter to see xmas lights (we live in Texas - it's not *too* terribly cold).

And I love Santa Claus.  I love giving gifts to others - and Christmas is a time where it is socially acceptable.  Our Santa doesn't have a naughty list; he is simply the spirit of giving.  I can't wait until Jessie figures out that the jolly guy is a sham so that she can be Santa with me.  

[McQ]

I want to be Will.  

Seriously, that sounds perfect to me.

Growing up we did the whole go to midnight mass thing (a few times, my brothers and I made it too painful for my parents!). But other than that it was Santa, presents, parties, and decorations. Gaudy, Italian decorations (mom and her family all from Italy). But not gaudy, religious ones, just any new marketing thing that came out and would light up.

With my own family (wife and kids), it's more subdued, but still more based on the Santa stuff, although there was a period there of deep devotion. But that shit gets old really fast!

[Will]

^me if I had a lot of money to spend.  I LOVE Christmas lights and like to stick them on everything.  But I can't decorate my current place because the retard who designed the house didn't put an outlet in the front (which sucks for other reasons too).

Booyah, solar Christmas lights for folks that like to be holiday green and/or that don't have outdoor plugs.  

[Whitney]

^me if I had a lot of money to spend.  I LOVE Christmas lights and like to stick them on everything.  But I can't decorate my current place because the retard who designed the house didn't put an outlet in the front (which sucks for other reasons too).

Booyah, solar Christmas lights for folks that like to be holiday green and/or that don't have outdoor plugs.  

Not to mention that they don't waste electricity!  I'm going to get some of those...I wonder if walmart has them...

[Renegnicat]

Bah!

...
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...Humbug.