Happy Christmas

Can't celebrate now, luckygal. We're in Advent now. Preparing . . .



Wish me again on 25th December if you don't mind.

i guess i will be staying at home to celebrate christmas

I am not very religious really, however if there was a time i dread during the year it is definitely christmas. It is just too commercial for my liking and there is no real thought going into the meaning of the day.

I am not certain as to how some people celebrate other religions major days, i just have this feeling that for the most part it isn't all about the gift giving. I am fortunate in that my family for years and years would spend loads of money on gifts and when i was younger i loved it, latterly though being that i have grown older it has become less and less and this year i expect very little. The only thing i love about Christmas is spending some time with the family relaxing playing some games or something before and after the very nice christmas dinner.

I know though that this isn't always the case for many other people who will be opening loads and loads of gifts that they probably don't want or need. There is a huge expectation too from younger people to get something new, fancy and expensive. It's been like this for years, but with alot of kids getting introduce to technology at a younger age i can imagine it's even more expensive and demanding than it was when i was younger. I'm only 24 and remember when i was about 10-12 wanting a Stretch Armstrong toy thinking that would be cool but would usually get something else (and the dreaded, sicking, and horrible Toblerone!!) that i didn't really want just because my parents and family expected me to want more.

I am not looking forward to having children if this is what things will be like, although i imagine the smile on their face when they get something they like or the happiness they have on the day will be a great feeling as a parent.

I should add i am more of a Scrooge guy and much prefers new year to Christmas. I actually cannot wait for Hogmanay (as we call it in Scotland) aka New Years Eve because it's going to be great celebrating the new year and generally having a great time.

I am unlikely to post this closer to the time, so i just want to say that i hope you all have a good festive period and you all take a moment to think about what this time of the year really means whether it's religiously or what it means to yourself.

We are preparing to celebrate Happy Christmas at our home. Thanks You

I, for one, love this time of year.

Like George, I regard it as Advent. However, I think preparing is just as much of a celebration as the 12 days that end on Epiphany. The midnight mass on Christmas Eve is one of my favorite services of the year.

In addition to hanging out at my church a lot, I also have a healthy appreciation for the secular nature of the holiday. My first Christmas party is tomorrow and there will be several after. The family meal on Christmas day will be awesome. My birthday is 5 days before Christmas, my oldest son's birthday is 3 days after. New Year's Eve parties are always fun. I love watching all those movies that don't seem right any other time of year. I hate shopping and I avoid the mall like the plague, but I love watching the kids in their frenzied excitement of crass commercialism.

I put it to you all to have a Merry Christmas! Find some reason for happiness, hope and peace and cling to it for only one day of the year, if no other.

Cool, ...Chris. sounds really really fun to you! I am jealous. I found our priest here said - in our last Saturday's mass, it was Catholic first day of the new year and he has said during Advent, we're not supposed to be celebrating Christmas party??.. except that there was a Carol sing..and visit to houses..last Saturday.

The meaning of this New Year in Catholic means we're preparing for Christ, Jesus to come, like we believe going to be near the judgement day, usually in Advent or after Catholic new year, not exactly sure.. "Are we prepared?"

I seriously don't know honestly. There are many things I haven't done!



but I trust God.



Peace be with all..!

Happy Christmas HO HO HO