Why is everyone so obsessed?

[zbw565]

I don’t celebrate Christmas but I really don’t understand the appeal. Is it because most people celebrated it as children so it’s nostalgic? You got toys and spends some time with family member you rarely see otherwise?

I don’t get how you can do things with zero meaning behind any of it except “it’s tradition”. Yes but what’s the significance of any of it? All I see is pure commercialism.

The majority of people who celebrate are not religious at all. Some agnostic, some atheists. Yet they still insist on celebrating Christmas. They will put a tree up and tinsel and lights and make up some story about Santa - what’s the significance of any of it? Aren’t these pagan rituals? What do they have to do with Jesus? Just doing it because the adverts on tv tell you it’s time to?

I could just never live my life this way. Doing things like a sheep with no idea why I am even doing it. When I read some posts some people honestly seem to revolve their whole lives around it. I have no idea how much money they end up spending.

How people just rinse and repeat the same crap every year. No wonder most people are miserable and depressed.

Of course after Christmas we are told we have to get excited about New Year, then Valentine’s Day, then Easter, then summer holidays, then Halloween, bonfire night and Christmas again. They’ve added some more gems along the way - Mother’s Day, st Patrick’s day- you get the jist. It’s all load of commercial crap and I can’t stand this time table the west has made up that we all seem to be obsessed with living our lives by with zero meaning behind any of it.

rant over

Merry Christmas to you OP

THAT is now the official club uniform! If I had a gavel, I'd bang it! Now all we need is a secret handshake, but I suppose the flashing Santa hats might give us away anyway. 😂

I think if you want to break free from the herd you should mull cider, if that's still slightly tethering then white wine (use apple juice instead of orange. ..if that's not too dictatorial)

A wolf in the flock! Horror! Gasp!

I've never tried the mulled white before...maybe we could add this to the list! Sounds delicious!

I really fancy some mulled something now

Do it. You know you want to. <whispers> Baaaaahhhh.

We're all tumbling like dominoes, proving the OP right!

(I have mulled, it is delicious - a very standard red though, I didn't even attempt originality!)

I can imagine the OP violently pointing at the screen with glee. Oh well, maybe it'll bring them some Christmas cheer to be right about something! 😁

Same here. Decided it wasn't a mince pie worth eating after a busy day if there was no mulled wine. DH threw in a MASSIVE handful of cloves though, so I'm going to end up with a numb mouth. 😂

You're absolutely right @zbw565 . I'm no scrooge, but it's madness when you really think about it. I wish I could skip Christmas one year.

As you are presumably a human with free will, you absolutely can skip Christmas!

Are you bored? Have you only just noticed Christmas happens ? Or are you from some religion that doesn't celebrate it and just feel like spreading a bit of hate?

Red check. Brandy check. Mulling sachets check.

Christmas is go!🐏

Another herd member! I'll have a sweater sent out in the post (delivered by Elves, obviously) immediately! 🐑

Ooohh yes. Has to have the brandy. I remember one year in uni we only had gin. I can't say it was bad, but I wouldn't repeat it!

That reminds me of a punch someone made for a uni party. One person tried to freeclimb up the outside of the house.

It was general carnage.

Please tell me it was a Christmas party. I'm imagining some bloke dressed as an Elf drunkenly climbing a drainpipe.

Punch is dangerous. I'm sure it's supposed to have fruit juice in somewhere, but those uni ones had to have been just fishtanks of spirits!

Meanwhile, I've just put a batch of mince pies in the oven and they smell amazing already! So tempted to mull some wine but possibly a wee bit early! 😁

I’ve made some mince pies this afternoon, chocolate orange ones (made the same as normal but with a square of orange chocolate on top of the mincemeat). I draw the line at mulled wine though 🤮

Ooohh, they sound gorgeous! I'm totally stealing that one. DS is obsessed with peanut butter, so I'm trying to figure out a way of incorporating that into a batch without it tasting like breakfast cereal. 😂 You baked mince pies, you still get the 🐑 sweater, that still counts! I really want to like mulled cider but I just can't handle cider in any form.

I shall wear my 🐑 sweater with pride.

Oooh OP your post is making me even more excited about Christmas 😃🎄 sounds like you're all geared up to enjoy the festive season, enjoy! 🧑‍🎄

Multiple people have told you it is about celebrating family time. All of us are here for a limited number of years, so getting through another year with your loved ones is something many of us take for granted and should absolutely be celebrated. Seeing another Christmas isn't guaranteed.
I now have family members who are in poor health and there is nothing more important in this world that knowing I have enjoyed the best times I possibly can with them while they are here. Why are you getting joy from inflicting your depression onto others is the real question?

I don't think everyone is obsessed as you put it, but I do think a lot of us enjoy festive occasions, whether that's birthdays, Christmas or whatever. I am atheist so the religious aspect doesn't bother me at all, but it's nice to have some time to meet up with friends and family for drinks and some nice food. Both our DS are coming home this year, it'll be lovely to spend some time together as we don't get together a lot (due to travel distance). It's also nice to do something a bit out of the ordinary as winter can be dark and dreary. We also sometimes go away for Xmas, just breaks the routine, get some sun etc.

Sadly not! Post second year exams (I ...think... 😁)

Climber was trying to show the leading light of the Mountaineering Society what an asset he would be. Never did join.

@Uricon2 Ha! 🤣 Poor bloke. He's probably still got a set of climbing hooks at home that he looks at longingly from time to time. Ghosts of punch bowls past haunting him.

Bullshit. That's not what people have said at all. And it's 'lying around', not 'laying around'.

I do Christmas because I like it.

Ever since I was a child I have loved everything about Christmas and I still do.

It's a bit daft to say that people are only doing it because the calendar says so.

If the majority of people didn't take part then it simply wouldn't be. Part of the fun is that everyone joins in.

You talk about consumerism, that is true and is a downside. But you don't have to go mad and spend more than you can afford. What's the problem with coming together and giving loved ones gifts anyway?

It's as though you don't understand what holidays are.

What is your alternative? Just celebrate nothing?