The Feeling of Christmas

As it is every year, those who celebrate Christmas are beginning to grow excited in anticipation of the upcoming holiday.

But for the past few years, it's been a bit different for me. The old days of the excitement that led to the 25th of December have long since waned into an almost nonexistance...

When I look at this holiday and how I feel now, it dosen't seem to add up. Today feels so much like the day before that and the day before that, no matter how close Christmas is.

I look on TV and in other media, and I see blinding advertisements selling all sorts of interesting junk, some ofwhich I too have my eyes on...but in all, it just dosen't feel right.

As it's been stated many times before, Christmas has become immensely commercialized. Nobody remembers those days of old when Christmas was visualised as family getting together on a cold winter's eve, giving to one another. Now, it's more like your normal every day only you want to know if you got the junk you wanted. But you can only really know how much when you look back at the way it used to be celebrated.

Recently though, I began looking at the old ways, and I am saddened by the many wonderful other parts of the Christmas season other then the 25th. Most people remember the story of St. Nicholas (The Turkish saint who inspired Santa Claus) and his day on the 6th, or the Feast Day of Anna Lucia on the 13th, where the girls would dress in white and wear wreaths upon their heads, carrying candles throughout the darkened homes and offering prayers for the season. The old Italian legend of the Christmas Witch who, like in the story of Santa, flies through the night, not on a sleigh, but a broom, to give gifts to the good children, and coal to the bad.

And then you also look towards the other countries, in places not as populated as the big cities, and their own traditions. Like in how in some European countries, the grandparents hide the Christmas tree and then proudly display it for the children on the 24th. And children leaving a single lit candle in the window to aid any travelers on their way during the night. Or how in alpine communities in Switzerland, they hike up the moutains to find a tree, and then with it, they sled down the mountain, with candlight guiding their way through the night.

The old ways of Christmas are something that I feel must be brought back if we are to ever really expeience the same way we felt as children. Getting gifts is fine, but we must never let go of the traditions our ancestors celebrated in the past, for it is those old ways that truly defined Christmas for what it was, and the way it should be-that when winter blows its cold winds across the land, and the world grows a little colder, that we are still able to come and keep each other warm, both in mind and body, together.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Good point. I haven't felt like that in awhile either now it's just presents. I used to love getting together watching christmas specials listening to carolers sitting by a fire after you went sledding drinking hot cocoa. Now Christmas is just about getting stuff.

Yay for Blue Knight, the coolest thread starter!

And yes, Christmas seems commercilized, and it is somewhat, but you must remember that the advertizers control the media, and the media is what you see a lot of the time. The picturesque family-getting-together Christmas you illustrated is not something we do as a nation, but as families. Sure, the ads will be on TV, but making Christmas meaningful is something we do personally. If you want a loving Christmas with your family, then you bring together a loving family. It doesn't matter what they say in the papers, 'cuz its always of the same ol' scene.

Yay, for blue knight just spammed! =P X3

It's because it's been awhile. So you just gotta sink into the Christmas spirit.
I'm a summer boy, I don't like winter. I just like to go to lodges.^^
Minnesota gets cramped with all the Christmas junk.>>
I feel as I out grew this holiday. It's not as fun as it was when I was in the playpen.
I really don't care for the holiday as much as I used to.
My mom calls me a Scrooge for it.>> I'm really not into Christmas anymore.

For me, Christmas is kicking back and being with the family, playng up OoT. (Which I do every Christmas)

The Christmas spirit has dwindled. It was really a magical time for being as a child. Everybody exchanged gifts and we had a good sized family gathering. We caught up, talked, and just celebrated. Nowadays, it's mostly my family and my aunt and uncle. We just go in there to watch some dismal cable TV(yes, I lack cable at my own house) - make some minor chit-chat. And we just exchange some money. Kind of kills the idea of maybe asking somebody and caring enough to go out there to shop. The energy is not there anymore. There's no holiday cheer at all. Christmas is pretty commercialized, but the funny thing is that I think that all the advertisements and media are keeping the spirit alive in some fantasy sugar coated world, even if its undertoned with super-consumerism. Everybody else just kind of rants on how Christmas is mostly a Hallmark creation. Really, all they are just grumpy about it. It's actually rare to see somebody complain about the consumerism and than explaining how the spirit of Christmas is being compromised. But yeah, the family gatherings and warm feelings are not there for me anymore. And its shocking to me how many people act towards Santa. They point out he's unrealistic and a physically impossibility - but since when was that the point? No, Santa for me repersents the heart of Christmas and how it is just a wonderful time of the year. It's not about him being real or not. Instead, you have guys trying cracking jokes about why Santa couldn't possibly be real.

Originally Posted by Frost Guardian

The Christmas spirit has dwindled. It was really a magical time for being as a child. Everybody exchanged gifts and we had a good sized family gathering. We caught up, talked, and just celebrated. Nowadays, it's mostly my family and my aunt and uncle. We just go in there to watch some dismal cable TV(yes, I lack cable at my own house) - make some minor chit-chat. And we just exchange some money. Kind of kills the idea of maybe asking somebody and caring enough to go out there to shop. The energy is not there anymore. There's no holiday cheer at all. Christmas is pretty commercialized, but the funny thing is that I think that all the advertisements and media are keeping the spirit alive in some fantasy sugar coated world, even if its undertoned with super-consumerism. Everybody else just kind of rants on how Christmas is mostly a Hallmark creation. Really, all they are just grumpy about it. It's actually rare to see somebody complain about the consumerism and than explaining how the spirit of Christmas is being compromised. But yeah, the family gatherings and warm feelings are not there for me anymore. And its shocking to me how many people act towards Santa. They point out he's unrealistic and a physically impossibility - but since when was that the point? No, Santa for me repersents the heart of Christmas and how it is just a wonderful time of the year. It's not about him being real or not. Instead, you have guys trying cracking jokes about why Santa couldn't possibly be real.

Ya know, that brings up another good point I should bring up.

I think that the part of the magic of Christmas as a child revolves a lot around the concept of Santa. I believe that children MUST believe in Santa when they're little, it's part of that magic. They need to believe in him for as long as possible, in order to be able to hold on to that aura of mysticism that comes with this holiday.

I think it is sad that people are forgeting the true meaning of christmas. It is over shadowed by geting gifts, and yet people forget why. I saw this sign on the side of the road that said "Put the christ back in christmas". But you know what I dont have to worrie because a do Chanuka! But I do think it is sad.

Here's my rant - a long one again.

*sigh*... back in the old days... around nine years ago, Christmas spirit could be felt. All the kids were happy. The elementary school was fiilled with joy and everywhere you looked there were things relating to Christmas right around the corner.

Television channels would have Christmas-theme shows. Lots of caring and giving; card writing; cooking Christmas meals....

Now, it's fully commercialized industries. You'd see ads everywhere hoping that you could take out your wallet and spend some cash in the stores. You'd see people getting lazier every year and more "order the meals and have them deliver to your house, fresh!".

Gift giving is pretty much out the window around the people that I've known. 90% it's just a card and a phrase of: "Merry Christmas!". Parties were hardly done at home now. Everyone decided to go out, eat, wipe their mouths, and go back home to sleep.

Christmas morning should be the time of the year where "magical" things happen. It's the presents, you see. Back in the old days, you'd wonder what were those presents beneath the tree. Those beautiful, mysterious presents. And you'd believe that Santa has come to your house through the chimney. Now? Now you'd probably know what's in those wrapped boxes. The things you've asked for were bought for you. Parents don't even care about keeping them a secret anymore.

"I'd like to have this and this."

"Oh, here you go, honey. Now, don't open them yet. It's for Christmas morning. "

I missed the old days. Back in the early 90's, the cartoons of Christmas were beautiful. Now? Lame, lame, lame. Drawing styles sucked. Old classics are slowly disappearing, replaced by lame-assed cartoons by artists who just wanted to make some quick bucks. Storylines? What storylines? The Christmas Eve theme with Mickey Mouse or something never appeared on the TV for me anymore. That is, for me anyway.

Remember when the channels were so little in amount? 39 was the highest I could go. Channel 43 had all these classic Disney cartoons with Christmas theme songs during this once-beautiful and comforting holiday season. Oh, that channel was filled with static, but I could see faintly see the images. I was willing to sacrifice my good vision just to watch and listen to those cartoons. Those were amazingly drawn with life inserted into them. All of this, gone. Replaced by 800 channels of repeated ****s.

Christmas feeling? It's long gone for me. I didn't even bother setting up a Christmas tree this year. Everything's gone. Disappeared. There's nothing to look forward to except the feeling that I didn't have to do anything for a few days during this holiday season. Parties? Presents? Compared to the past, they held no values to me anymore.

I agree with you.

I do not feel a speck of excitement or anxiety I do when christmas usually approaches. It was a little like that last year, but now it's just...ugh.

It honestly disgusts me.

Not for me.
I got my Wii early, so all I have to look forward on Christmas day is underwear and socks from my grandma.

To just about every one us of us, Christmas is about getting gifts. Heck, I like getting presents myself. Who doesn't? But, Christmas is about being with your family, and appreciating what you already have, not what you don't have.

Really, these days I enjoy Christmas because it is Christmas. I care little next to nothing for gifts anymore, because it's never really a surprise anymore. If it is, it's definately not something you asked for.

I have, and always will, love Christmas no matter how commericalized it's become. I may not like the days leading up to it, since everyone seems to be in a rush for presents and trying to get them sent out in time to make it to wherever they need to make it. But I sure do love Christmas. ^.^

That's what stinks about Christmas, it's all about the money during this time and everyone rushing around like chickens with their heads cut off. I said in the chat a few days ago that I hand make about 90% of my presents. It gives someone something special and they can't return it. Some gift receivers may look at me and think, "Thanks Mae, for not giving me something I could return." and I just smile back at them and think, "They don't like it but at least they can't return it.".

But to everyone, their own.

Eh...

Well, you all forget those who can't celebrate the Christmas spirit "properly" because of other life problems, such as income and stuff. Also, well, no one has the time anymore to just make a lovely Christmas dinner and invite everyone over for a big celebration. Because of that, they try to make it easier for themselves and just order something quick and make the best of it.

We all miss it, sure, but what can we do about it? I'm happy for those people with huge houses and all the money in the world and can afford to have that huge old Christmas themed thing, but in reality, that's not gonna happen for most. ^_^

So, good for you all. Thumbs up, but for others, life just isn't so merry anymore.

I sound like my mother...

The people in the past didn't necessary have a great lifestyle as well and they had a greater Christmas value than we have right now. So I don't see how the income has anything to do with this. This isn't a materialistic holiday, even though my previous post sounded pretty much like so, but the main point is the atmosphere and the value of Christmas have been seriously degraded.