To be annoyed by photos if piles if presents on Facebook.

[Lilliput]

It is probably present pile envy but I am finding it a bit vulgar. Plus it is making our small pile look crap.

[annieorangutan]

Which other day would be the biggest day of the year in your average year?

[Sparklingbrook]

Teenager FB is bonkers this morning. Lots of pictures of piles of gifts unwrapped, all artfully arranged. Vouchers/money at the front, expensive boxes of I gadgets behind and designer clothes draped across the lot with logo facing front.

With a caption. 'Thanks lovely Mummy and Daddy' or similar. Um why? And why not thank them in person?

[BrianTheMole]

Do you really see christmas as the 'biggest day of the year'?

Yes I do.

[Sparklingbrook]

This afternoon even. It's later than I thought......

[figrus]

Beat this one. 'My son and his dad. Wish all separated dads got to spend Christmas with their children. I invited him to spend the day with us. I would never be so mean or lacking in empathy to keep them apart. I have put our personal differences aside on this day for the sake of our son'. Isn't she a saint.

[Lazysuzanne]

When you say biggest do you mean most important or most significant?

For me significant days vary according to what happened at the time.
I don't see christmas as a highlight, more of an annoying time when retailers and the media try to goad us into a frenzy.

[BrianTheMole]

It depends on what else has happened that year. But barring deaths, disasters and the celebration of births in the family, then yes the most important / significant.

[annieorangutan]

Xmas for me is the kids faces, me, dh and kids all off at same time, drink, food, and all your family and friends whats not to like? Although I have eaten a bit too much so am resting up on sofa right now!

[loveolives]

YANBU, braggy, tacky and unnecessary. For those that have insecurities.

[Lazysuzanne]

I guess I've just never been a fan of over eating or over spending but really it means very little to me and I've been relieved that I can pretty much ignore it these days.

[BrianTheMole]

YANBU, braggy, tacky and unnecessary. For those that have insecurities.

Well it strikes me that comments like these come from the friend collectors on fb. The ones that have a billion friends they don't know. Because why would you actually think this of your friends and family posting to share with each other. Your comment says a lot about you.

[BrianTheMole]

I guess I've just never been a fan of over eating or over spending but really it means very little to me and I've been relieved that I can pretty much ignore it these days.

Christmas doesn't actually have to mean those things you know. Theres more to it than that.

[Sparklingbrook]

It's definitely bragging on teenage FB, but that's what teenagers do-competitive present receiving.

[coffeeinbed]

I agree.
You don't need crappy stuff to make you happy.
Magical Christmas my arse.
Just a pile of plastic rubbish.

[Geckos48]

Oh and here come the competitive 'Christmas is just a small insignificant thing' posts.

No its not, its a mid-winter celebration that has existed for thousands of years, a chance for family to get together, be warm, be fed and be merry.

It is nothing to do with consumerism, my gifts were ALL (bar one) second hand and it is far more about the magic and the sparkle than anything else.

[Lazysuzanne]

Obviously it can mean whatever you want it to but consumerism appears to be the predominant concern for most.
To me it means a relaxing double bank holiday in December.

[zeeboo]

I am SO impressed with all of the grumpy arsed Mumsnetters who can SEE through wrapping paper!!! You know it's all plastic tat??? Really! I posted our annual "he's been" photo last night and nothing in the pile was plastic unless you count a few DVD cases.
Sheer jealousy and mean mindedness and it's so sad.

[AmberLeaf]

Loving all the jibes about 'tat' and 'plastic rubbish' I expect your children all got a basket of pine cones and were happy with them eh.

Joyless bastards.

[ChoudeBruxelles]

Yabu I'm not envious of other peoples piles. Pain in the arse (literally)

[CarpeVinum]

Oh god please no pine cones !

They are worse than lego for standing on in the dark in bare feet.

[BrianTheMole]

bviously it can mean whatever you want it to but consumerism appears to be the predominant concern for most.

Thats your perception looking in from the outside. But if you asked most families, then I strongly suspect Christmas would mean much more to them than that. You have quite a narrow set view on this. Its a little sad.

[Geckos48]

obviously it means what you want it to mean

Yes, for some it is a celebration of family, in the knowledge that loads of other people are also celebrating family

For others like you it is an opportunity to cast scorn down upon the masses who are so lowly enough to celebrate with gifts.

Ridiculous.

Merry-fucking christmas.

[CarpeVinum]

I don't get the plastic tat hate. My fond memories of the 70s are mainly of me having the time of my life playing with plastic tat.

Basically everything that people look down on .. is the stuff of my happiest childhood memories.

Big present mountains of plastic tat and morning spent watching Scoobie Doo accompanies by massive Smartie tubes while mum and dad sensibly refused to get up at stupid o'clock and just let us three get on with it from Boxing day to back to school.

We were so happy. It was so much fun. I remember those days every Christmas even though I am now middle aged with a child of my own, and just for a moment I get a flash of how everything feels when you are 7 or 10 years old. Which is lovely.

Ahhggg ....I've gone all leaky.

I hope I've managed to give my boy memories that are so vivid and feel good and durable. So he can carry on the family tradition of going leaky face from nostalgia when he is a grown man.

[BrianTheMole]

For others like you it is an opportunity to cast scorn down upon the masses who are so lowly enough to celebrate with gifts.

Yes, that sums it up rather well I think.