Christmas/Xmas/Yule(Jul)/Winter Solstice...

[Kyelo]

Since it's coming up to Christmas a group of friends and I started talking about what we get up to.

So do you go for the original, pagan shindig?

The 'traditional' plagiarised Christian version?

The modern, commercialised Xmas?

Something different? Got any family traditions? etc etc...

[feral chile]

Fairly traditional I suppose. In the sense that it's good for getting the kids to visit at the same time, which doesn't happen often.

I've cut down loads on the traditional overindulgence and overspend though. Mainly through necessity, and partly through experience - I find the more you build up the day, the more frustrated and grumpy you get when it's not perfect.

[Katster]

Christmas eve I have family and friends round for mulled wine, food, games and silliness. Gives my mum a rest ready for the day after!!!

Boxing day go to whetherby races.

New years eve is spent with mates and new years day at my aunty's house in Kendall.

I enjoy Christmas but I'm not keen on new year - although I do enjoy going to my aunties.

Merry Christmas

[abdoujaparov]

Dont do the whole christian thing, so ours is a more pagan affair

[Ed209]

growing up in a vicarage, Christmas used to be hideously religious. Was always so church orientated and the most stressful and busiest time of the year for my folks. Nowadays its not so bad. Neither me or my siblings are religious, so we just get on the sherry and the odd doobie as soon as the folks go to church in the morning, and then bimble our way through the day. Stocking, Turkey, presents, film, game. Standard stuff. Started enjoying it a hell of a lot more now that I have nieces and nephews. Always good to have little people around.

[mikeb]

Ah-ha ... time for me old mate Mr.B.Humbug to make his customary annual appearance methinks

Sorry, but I choose not to do Christmas or indeed any of it's vaguely similar or kinda related cousins either I'm afraid. It's just another day in paradise and all that. Each year generally has 365 of the li'l b*ggers and they're all much of a muchness !

Have fun and enjoy whatever you're doing tho ... while I go into hiding in an attempt to completely avoid all or at least most of the hypocritical nonsense

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I volunteer at a shelter for the homeless on Christmas Day and Boxing Day mornings. After that I go around and do the family thing. Have stayed in quite a few New Years Eve's now but will be going to a disco at a hotel this year. Oh and I also tend to go to church on Christmas Eve with my parents - my one trip into a church all year (unless there's been a funeral).

[russycarps]

I sit around in my underpants playing computer games and listening to music.

Christmas is for idiots and generally a time of year for people to do the "family thing". It helps them ease their guilt about the fact they couldnt give a shite about their family for the other 364 days of the year.

Edited December 13, 2011 by russycarps

[The Nal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LALbdGv8mBc&feature=related

[5co77ie]

Did a 'Wild Hunt' in the woods for 5 hours last Sunday shooting arrows at 3d animals - only killed the tasty (turkey, boar, deer etc) and the hunters (big cat, hyena) missed the fluffy ones (otter, squirrel). Have another Festive Fun shoot next weekend shooting drawn targets, and then hopefully off to the beach for a fire (might go swimming - not likely) and visiting friends on Yule day bearing gifts and an evening meal listening to The Lancashire Hotpots Christmas Cracker. Followed by a few days of family visits, those that are still here, a Winter Clout shoot, holly and mistletoe gathering, and then Farmer Christmas (New Devon Army) rave up, and the obligatory New Year celebrations with some dark ales in a pub somewhere.

I rather like this time of year personally.

Edited December 13, 2011 by 5co77ie

[The Nal]

Love this time of year.

Usually have the rellies around Xmas morning for finger food and drinks, then its more food, booze and dinner followed by Indiana Jones/Bond etc and then go somewhere to get totally blotto that night.

Have a night out on the 23^rd. 30 lads, mates back who live abroad etc. Looking forward to that.

And a hotel disco, as above, on NYE. Entire hotel rented out, 8 bars, nightclub etc.

[russycarps]

Never really get why people have to sneer at other people about these things... Alright, your not up for it, I get that... but why knock other people for having what they consider a nice time...

[Paul ™]

Can't be arsed with it either.. so am working it same as every other weekend

[5co77ie]

Oh and there's the CAMRA winter ales festival

[russycarps]

my father is a founder member of CAMRA.

beat that suckers

[rachbon]

i've always loved christmas but in the last few years i've found that i prefer the time leading up to it, rather than the day itself which usually ends up being quite boring.

[russycarps]

to be quite frank Rachel, you're worse than Hitler

[rexclark]

Totally love Chrtistmas. Finish up on Christmas Eve, few beers in the pub then home to watch a few Christmas specials (probably Still Game). Up earlyish on Christmas day, swap presents a few glasses of champagne then up to my girlfriend's parents for dinner and all the usual stuff. Boxing day should be good as well a nice long day in the pub then off out to the football.

Not so much a fan of New Years, I find Hogmanay to be a bit of a let down. Used to go out in Glasgow but the hassle of spending a fortune to get into a club then standing around in the cold for hours waiting to get home loses it's appeal after a while. It'll be down the local this year then home about 1am and keep drinking till the early hours. I really enjoy New Years day as well, chilling out, watching films all day with a few beers then steak pie for dinner. Can't wait!

[Kowalski]

I certainly enjoy all the nights out and a couple of weeks off work, the opportunity to catch up with friends who are in the country for the festive period, and the extra football on during the xmas and new year period.

Xmas day itself can be a bit of a hit and miss, and I can already see this year's TV schedule looks like being the worst ever.

Hogmanay is nothing special these days. Unless you go to a proper organised event then there's little point in going out as town is pretty deserted and pubs and clubs charge extra.

There's way more positives than negatives for me.

[Bisque]

i've always loved christmas but in the last few years i've found that i prefer the time leading up to it, rather than the day itself which usually ends up being quite boring.

[5co77ie]

This, by Wychwood Festival regular Gary J Armstrong, sums up Christmas for me:

[Kyelo]

One thing I do truly love at Christmas is something I've had since I was a child(I'm now 24)is Snowball Floats(advocat, lemonade amd ice cream)...tis f*cking amazing!

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I'm so appalled by that combination that I actually now want to try it!

[fred quimby]

Christmas isn't a day it's a state of mind

[The Nal]

Right, Christmas songs then. Shoot.

Not a Christmas song but unusual.