Is the so-called Christmas/holiday/whatever spirit really about true feelings, or is it simply about covering up true feelings in schmaltz - via external cues bombarding us at this time of year - thereby glossing over all the real things we feel (and want to say and do)?

Basically, are people in it 'cause they feel it, or are they in it because it's expected at this time of year? I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a little awkward at times with certain people during this time of year. Not all of them, but enough to be concerned. It all seems too...fake?

Thoughts?

You cynical bastard.

cynicalbastard said:

no




and no




















noedits
[This message was edited Tue Dec 23 12:40:37 PST 2003 by AaronAlmighty]

Well, out of courtesy, you are supposed to be celebrating your family & friends and think of those needing help. In reality it's an expensive trip because you can't avoid buying presents for familymembers that aren't anything special to you, and you have to sit through their drunk christmas-diner-rambling. You also have to be carefull NOT to say what you think to avoid a family war.

The people-in-need-bit is easely fixed with some donation you reluctantly give while you would rather spend it on another prince-boot. If they were available of course

It gets even more expensive, because there are some people that you truly adore, and that you want to shower with gifts to show them how much you care; 9/10 they won't be family

You can forget about a peacefull time of reflections because shops and families don't get any busier unless at weddings.

Oh well; it's good for the economy I guess...

cynicalbastard said:

sometimes i think 'christmas' the way it works in the USA is commercialism at its worst. the economic indexes are all awaiting the 'holiday shopping season' and they don't let us forget it either. it gets tiresome seeing christmas ads in october's papers but we're consumer puppets on employment strings. and in order to keep the GNP climbing we must all consume more than we need. so the christmas spirit gets obscured by the advertisements screaming buy! buy! buy! if you REALLY love your loved ones you will buy them something big.

but, the idea of celebrating a messiah's birth is pretty nifty. and the fact of the winter solstice gives the whole thing a glorious touch. also, the story of st. nick is pretty cool. he was an actual person, an eccentric one at that like a really rich zorro, someone who left mysterious gifts for people who needed them. and getting together with loved ones is always worth the effort, even if it is a bit challenging. so i think there's a real christmas spirit if you know where to look

It's real