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

Ooo joy, happiness and magic, happy children, nice food, thinking of others, seeing people you love, time off work

cant see the appeal myself

I can't see how you allow birthdays and weddings to have meaning but not Christmas - the turn of the year - why a birthday ( focus on one person) and not Christmas ( focus on all )

Pretty sure every human culture has its turn of year festivals or similar

Most cultures have a festival of lights during the darkest and coldest time of the year. There was a festival of lights before Christianity and many of those traditions have now become Christmas traditions eh lights, Yule logs, presents, feasting and celebrating.
The point was to celebrate the beginning of the end of winter , the shortest day and to look forward to lighter days and nights. Also to cheer people up and bring light to dark days.
It's not necessary to be religious to enjoy Christmas

Shallow ? meaning of life ? There isn't one - we are random atoms that collect together - we make our own meaning and Christmas is part of that

These are only possible because the calender tells you it’s Christmas? Oh I see. Imagine if you were told you can do this all year!

Again give me a non abstract meaning? Like a wedding is celebrating a marriage. So what is Christmas celebrating? Some of you said it’s simply a winter festival ..Are you celebrating that it’s winter? Just admit it’s lemming behaviour. You don’t know why you are doing it you just do it because everyone else is.

We celebrate Winter Solstice in our house 🙌🏻

Having a bit of a dull week OP? Yawn.

I'd say your birthday parties are an absolute hoot OP 😅

December chez @zbw565

Christmas is celebrating friends and family - relationships - the most important thing in life

It's celebrating the turn of the seasons and the planet and sun that keep us alive

Pretty fundamental stuff really

😂😂

Christmas is celebrating the Sun? 😳

It's funny, I'm not overly Xmassy but make an effort for the kids. They LOVE Xmas, wanted the tree up in November (they are teens). I've always tried to make it special but not follow traditions but make our own. We had a takeaway curry instead of turkey dinner for 5yrs on the trot which was really nice, it got too expensive though so we switched to hot buffet foods throughout the day. We did the elf when they were young which was special for them (a pita for me though). I do love buying lots of gifts but hate receiving them.
It's the only time of year I get to meet up with aunties and uncles that I've not seen all year.

Not one of you can tell me the meaning of Christmas except “spending time with family, spreading joy, being generous, cooking nice meals, giving gifts” why can’t you do that all year round? Why do you have to wait until December lol

Er…um…lol ( 🤣) I’ll let you into a little secret, OP. We do do those things at other times of the year too! It’s called Having A Life. Nobody needs a meaning approved by you in order to have a nice time at Christmas. Who do you think you are? 😂

Winter is dark and gloomy. That's why festivals like Christmas happen in winter. Stop us from hibernating.
The only reason Christmas happens in the sunny southern hemisphere is because Christians moved there and the festival/traditions went with them.
Maybe we are sheep to follow the "rule" of celebrating Christmas when the calender tells us.
But what else are people gonna do in cold dark gloomy December?

The natural world and our families and friends - you don't think these are justification enough for the biggest of celebrations?

How sad

Have you...heard of the solstice? We welcome the lighter days and the gradual return of the sun. That's why there has always been a winter festival pre-Christianity. In the darkest time of year, light starts to creep back in. It's quite beautiful to reflect on that.

So what if I’m being a sheep, or a lemming? I enjoy Christmas. Why would I not do something I enjoy, just so that I’m not a ‘lemming’? That would be weird,

OP can't make up their mind. On the one hand they hate the consumerism of Christmas, and yet when the ancient roots of it are mentioned (definitely not consumerist), that gets mocked too. They whinge about greed and presents, then when they're told it's about family it's "why can't you do that every day?". 😂 They've just come to stir shit. There's no hoping for an honest discussion; they just hate every aspect of it for whatever personal reason, and I'll bet it goes beyond anything they've said here.

We could all come up with the most factual, tangible reason (not that any reasons given haven't been), and they'd just reject them based on whatever misery they've got in their heads.

It's sad, really. I hope they get the help they need. 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! 😁

If I go and mull some wine now @giddyrobin does that confirm my sheeplike nature?!

Oh, absolutely! You're so easily led! It's appalling really! Eurgh!

😂

I'm happy to be a Christmas sheep, they're the best kind of sheep. As they're full of joy and kindness and giving, and look great in a Christmas sweater.

Shame OP is so moody and wants to rain on the joy parade. I'm gonna go and stare at my twinkly lights and revel in my sheep-dom.

In fairness, I didn't take a lot of persuading 😅🍷🐑

My DH mulls mead at this time of year, he has to be extra fancy. I love the idea, but it goes like thick warm honey! 😂 Think I'll stick with the wine! 🍷 Cheers!

Also very happy to be a Christmas sheep! I'd love a sweater with that on! 🐑

Like this one??!