Anyone here who doesn't celebrate Christmas?

epona

epona

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Just curious, with all the Christmas themed threads around.

We don't really celebrate Christmas. I get 2 weeks off work (forced to because the office closes although last year I managed to get some overtime to work from home) and Nate works pretty much the whole of the time I have off.

We will eat plenty of good food, but mostly because I'll be off work bored and cooking is a good way to spend the time (who am I kidding, any excuse to stuff my face is fine by me
)

We don't put up any decorations, wrap any presents, have a tree, play seasonal music, put santa hats on the cat, have people come over, nor do we go to anyone else's house. It's pretty much like an ordinary day for us, except I won't be at work. I will probably spend most of it playing computer games.

I am a bit glum because those very ordinary 2 weeks I have to take off work really would be the ideal time to introduce a new kitten to our household - but at this time of year everyone assumes that it's going to be a gift that will be unwanted come March, and that your house will be in turmoil. No turmoil for me, just boredom
 
satai

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BF and I celebrate Yule (the Winter Solstice), and spend Christmas Day with his parents. This is the first year that I will even be trying anything on a similar scale to Christmas - normally Yule in our house has been a very quiet affair.
 
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epona

epona

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Originally Posted by Satai

BF and I celebrate Yule (the Winter Solstice), and spend Christmas Day with his parents. This is the first year that I will even be trying anything on a similar scale to Christmas - normally Yule in our house has been a very quiet affair.
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We will be going to a Yule ritual, we don't really do anything much at home for it though, very quiet
 
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It is pretty much just another day for us. We enjoy cooking a big meal together, and we go to his boss's Christmas party, but only because he is such a good guy and it would hurt his feelings if we didn't. I buy a few presents, my daughter and granddaughter, and his boss's family, but that's about it. I am feeling less festive than usual this year. I will probably work Christmas day.
 
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I'm jewish so no I don't celebrate Xmas and Hannukah is pretty much for children so it's just another day for me except nothing is open and the only thing on TV or the radio is Xmas themed. We have something called Jewish Xmas- chinese food and a movie. Only things open on Xmas day.
 
satai

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My "tradition" (quoting myself in the decorations thread):

Originally Posted by Satai

I don't have my decorations up, I'll be putting them up on Friday. The very first post mentions telling a little bit about your traditions, and that's been on my mind lately, so I'd like to do that.

I grew up Catholic, but became Pagan as an adult; as a very traditional person, it's been hard to celebrate the holiday with no previous sort of tradition to go on. Well, after nearly eight years, I think I've finally worked it out (yes, believe it or not, because of TCS! I was spotlight of the week last week, and a lot of people asked really intelligent questions that got me thinking about the holiday, and how I wanted to celebrate it). So, it's not a tradition yet (this is my first year), but I've got it pinned down now.

My BF is agnostic, but follows a Zen Buddhist philosophy, and the 8th is a significant day in Zen Buddhism (Bodhi Day - celebrating the Enlightenment of Buddha). As BF isn't religious, he doesn't "celebrate" it, but I thought it would be a good day to pick to start our holiday season, as it is significant to him, to me (for personal reasons), to our families (it's a Catholic holiday as well). Plus, the Bodhi tree can be seen as one varient of the World Tree (the probable origin of the Christmas Tree). (And because the Bodhi tree is a sort of fig tree, I'll make some sort of fig dessert - probably pastis - for eating after the decorations go up.)

So that sorted out when to put the tree and decorations up. But to take them down again? It turns out science has come to my rescue. Perihelion (the earth is at it's closest point to the sun) is in the first week of January. Perihelion, like the Solstice itself, moves annually by a few days. So I've decided to pick Perihelion as the 'end' point of my holiday season.

Anyway, thank you for letting me share my "tradition". It makes it a little bit realer to tell someone about it.

I'll take pics of my decorations on Friday - and the pastis if it turns out well.
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I picked up some Yankee candles, one in Mistletoe and one in Hollyberry, because I don't want the "Fly paper for Fairies" effect, and I bought a little fairy bookmark that I thought would be a nice decoration so that any Fairies know that ours is a Fairy-friendly home.
 
hopehacker

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I'm Jewish also, but in our family, we always celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah. However, now that my parents are no longer with us, and I'm alone, I usually don't get to celebrate the Holidays, although I would love to. I love this time of the year, and I LOVE getting and giving presents. Sadly, I have to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so I won't be able to do anything this year at all. I'll probably go to Denny's and get a turkey and stuffing dinner, like all of the other lonely people in the city.
 
satai

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Originally Posted by HopeHacker

I'm Jewish also, but in our family, we always celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah. However, now that my parents are no longer with us, and I'm alone, I usually don't get to celebrate the Holidays, although I would love to. I love this time of the year, and I LOVE getting and giving presents. Sadly, I have to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so I won't be able to do anything this year at all. I'll probably go to Denny's and get a turkey and stuffing dinner, like all of the other lonely people in the city.
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That's so sad.

Maybe you could have a get together with other people in a similar situation?

Maybe you could volunteer an hour after work (I'm assuming you work in the day time, which you may not) at a shelter or soup kitchen? You won't be alone, and you'll be giving, though I realise that they're won't be any getting (accept the heartwarming kind). I know not everyone can face that, so I'm suggesting it as an option if you're up to it.

Edited because I saw the other thread where you mentioned working the graveyard shift. You might still be able to volunteer in the afternoon for an hour or so before work (I realise this is probably less practical).
 
natalie_ca

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I don't bother celebrating it either.

I stopped buying gifts for my family several years ago when I received a phone call from my brother's wife in the month of September wanting to give me their Christmas ideas list and get a list of mine.

That year I spent almost $200 per gift and every single thing I gave was taken back and exchanged or returned for cash. I figured that's it. Never again.

I used to put up a small tree every year though, but got rid of it when I got a 7 foot tree. But after putting that big tree up one year I decided that was it. Way too much effort and time to put it up and take it down and put it away again.

The only thing in my apartment that gives even a hint of Christmas is the lights I have strung up along my windowsill. I put them up several years ago and left them. Sometimes I'll plug those in anytime during the year instead of putting on my lamps. It's a nice atmosphere.

Depending on how I am feeling I will go to my brother's for Christmas dinner, but usually I decline. We aren't that close and to me it's more of a yearly obligatory visit than anything special.

This year it will be me and my kitties.

When I work, I usually volunteer to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I figure I'm not that into Christmas so let someone who has kids spend it with their children. Plus it gives me an honest out from having to go to my brothers. Plus the money is good!!!
 
silentnate

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I'll be working Xmas (as my wife indicated in the original post) but as I will be with homeless people I'll get to give out presents and offer up a bit of hope. Not being Xstian (I follow mainly Pagan beliefs like Satai) it will seem strange- the pubs are shut here and aside from the odd restuarant it seems the world stops...
Xmas growing up always ended in drunken rows and I think I prefer to be working, my only worry is leaving Epona at home cooking til I return...

Still haven't figured out the 'gift' thing this year- you crowd up when its really busy for things that are half the price the next week...

Sorry but I find the commercialisation of Xmas sad, as a ex-Catholic I struggle to see what most people seem to get out of Xmas at all
 
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