Nobody cares if it is the most wonderful time of the year. The X-mas 2021 thread.

[Free]

And now it's safe.

 

[WolfEyes]

Everyone has their heads covered so I can't tell which one is supposed to be Mary. I can't see who has the long hair.

 

[Romana]

 

[Sid]

Someone publishing such a photo of their kids over here, would have the police at their doorstep within a day and would have major problems, especially if the weapons turned out to be real.

 

[Sid]

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Your niece is suddenly vegan! How to survive the 12 disasters of Christmas

One guest is an antivaxxer, another is allergic to your cats, the turkey is still raw and your best friends are splitting up in the sitting room. Here is how to face down festive fiascos

www.theguardian.com

Evernote link

 

[Sid]

Your niece is suddenly vegan! How to survive the 12 disasters of Christmas

One guest is an antivaxxer, another is allergic to your cats, the turkey is still raw and your best friends are splitting up in the sitting room. Here is how to face down festive fiascos

www.theguardian.com

Evernote link

When I read this article, I'm so happy that I don't do anything special for Christmas other than putting up some decorations (solemnly to please myself). No dinner preparation hectics, no tip toeing during Christmas conversations, no rat race to get the presents in or the Christmas cards out in time.
Just me, myself, and I, a few good movies and a few extra snacks and one or two Belgium special beers.
Quality time. I hope the weather is good enough for a long walk in the surrounding nature, because we have to fill 2 Christmas days over here,

 

[Innula Zenovka]

I don't celebrate Christmas at all now. I'm not a believer any more, my partner died at Christmas, so it's a festival with very mixed associations for me, I don't have children (from choice) and, while I'd be very welcome to spend the holiday with my cousin and his family, I don't drink any more and, as a consequence of radiotherapy to my throat some years ago, I'm very limited in what I can eat (swallowing is difficult).

So, just nope.

I'm perfectly happy at home, reading, listening to music, chatting to friends online in various social media, watching movies and so on.

There is someone I'm fond of who doesn't have much money, though, and, having discussed it with her so that neither of us feel embarrassed about it, for the last few years, at the beginning of December I give her a large enough cash gift that she can give her young family a really good Christmas without having to worry about the expense too much. That's Christmas enough for me.

 

[Isabeau]

In recent years, we’ve gone out of town (this year we’re housesitting for a friend) and we just eat and relax, play board games, and exchange 1 gift (worth no more than 25$ or hand made/used). It isn’t ever very traditional, last year we had Mexican food on Christmas Eve, just an excuse to lay around in pj’s or nature walks…

I think what may make the holidays stressful for many is the expectations we or others put on ourselves. My nieces are so used to this they get excited to receive just about anything. “Oh Yay! Socks! I love them!” ha ha

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

There is someone I'm fond of who doesn't have much money, though, and, having discussed it with her so that neither of us feel embarrassed about it, for the last few years, at the beginning of December I give her a large enough cash gift that she can give her young family a really good Christmas without having to worry about the expense too much. That's Christmas enough for me.

This is the true spirit of Christmas right there! I hope that God blesses you in return. *hugs*

 

[Romana]

People always ask me what I'm doing for the holidays, and when I tell them they look like they feel sorry for me. I miss seeing my brothers and my nephew, but we never had big family gatherings this time of year. When MBTD ("My Brother The Doctor", as he used to sign letters to my mom, except it was MSTD, S being for son) was still married, his wife would cook, but, meh.
The expectation of big family gatherings and the pity for not having them can be very depressing. Last year wasn't so bad with the pandemic people didn't harp on it.
This year, so fast, it's not hitting me so bad.

 

[Sid]

Christmas is in fact a simple holiday. The birth of Jesus from Nazareth, whom many believe was the son of God on earth. So in fact the celebration should be: go to a church of your choise if you believe, praise God that he has send Jesus. That's it.

All the rest is commerce trying to pull as much money as possible out of your pocket, using every trick in the book that they know. Sentimental music, sentimental commercials and advertisement, sentimental movies, special offers and packaging. Christmas is pushed to be about decorations, dinners, presents, clothing, not being alone (that is presented as the worst thing that can happen to a person during Christmas), but it is not where it is all about.
If you dump a lot of those commercially pushed aspects, Christmas becomes a very peaceful relaxed and happy holiday. No big deal really. Especially when not christian (anymore like me).

 

[Sid]

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Someone publishing such a photo of their kids over here, would have the police at their doorstep within a day and would have major problems, especially if the weapons turned out to be real.

Washington Post: Why so many guns on Christmas cards? Because Jesus was ‘manly and virile.’

Evernote link

With more than 40 percent of White evangelicals owning firearms, they far outpace other religious groups and the general population, according to a Pew Research Center study. In a sense, American evangelical culture is a significant part of American gun culture, and vice versa. One would not be the same without the other. Their entwined influence can be seen in scriptural arguments for bringing firearms to church, as well as in hoodies extolling the trinity of “God, Guns and Trump” worn at the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

 

[Caete]

 

[bubblesort]

Mary responds to the song Mary, Did You Know? Context: Luke 1:26-38

 

[Sid]

Washington Post: Why so many guns on Christmas cards? Because Jesus was ‘manly and virile.’

Evernote link

Obelix comes to mind:

 

[Sid]

The publicity agencies have totally lost it this year with their Christmas ads, at least here in NL:

ALDI: a shopping cart in love with a woman.



Albert Heijn, the number one supermarket over here, dabbles about two hamsters in love



But if you think you've had it all: the end of the year lottery presents a clock with love problems:



This country needs a lot of extra shrinks quickly.

 

[Isabeau]

Aww Those we’re great! I’m a sucker for silly but sad ads (like the IKEA lamp one from years ago). Prefer them over the those that try and hide their “manipulation”…

 

[Sid]

Seems, that I don't belong to the consumer group they try to target.