Christmas is Mostly Ruined for Me

[bluesummer]

.....because I'm getting old and I think about shit way too much. Anyone else have this problem?

When I was a kid, Christmas was magical and exciting. Everything about it gave me the warm fuzzies.....Christmas carols, baking cookies, lights on houses, chopping down the tree (yes, a live tree) and decorating it, all that stuff. Now I sit back and wait for the spark to happen and it just doesn't. The only time I really really feel something is when I'm around kids at Christmas and I experience it vicariously through them. (Maybe this means I should have kids soon?)

The other thing is that I've detached myself so much from religion that it drives me crazy that I'm celebrating a holiday that's centred around something I don't even believe in. The Christmas carols have no meaning because they sound hypocritical coming from my mouth. I am almost on the verge of exasperation sitting in Christmas Eve mass with my fiance's family.

This holiday has become, for me, all about buying shit and spending time with my family. I don't know if I'll ever get the old feeling back and that sorta makes me sad.

[IndiReloaded]

It will change when you have kids of your own, Blue. Then you get to see things through their eyes and its magic, in a different way. Better, I think.

Xmas (esp Western style) is really for little kids anyway.

[Lipp]

I usually consider it as a get-together with the cousins/grandparents and just sharing an evening, and tend to tone down the whole present thing, they should just be for the kids anyhow.

Good food, good company, white winter night, it's not bad at all. But as I only visit during summer I'll be staying here for christmas, so might hang onto a barbeque or something instead.

[vashti]

I think Western-style Christmas is overwhelming for little kids.

[IndiReloaded]

Australia xmas is sweeeet. Seafood and outdoor bbq & beer completely rocks. Beats a turkey dinner, hands down.

[bluesummer]

We cooked our turkey on the barbeque last year, and it was awesome.

Didn't feel like Christmas, but it was a good dinner.

[Cbrider]

(Maybe this means I should have kids soon?)

Maybe your already pregnant! It can sneak up out of the bush(es), happened at my high school a lot.

I don't know if I'll ever get the old feeling back and that sorta makes me sad.

Remember when you never wanted to stop being a kid, but then you had to grow up, and realized 20 something was way better? Why would the next step be any different

[Only-virgins]

The other thing is that I've detached myself so much from religion that it drives me crazy that I'm celebrating a holiday that's centred around something I don't even believe in. The Christmas carols have no meaning because they sound hypocritical coming from my mouth.

Don't worry about this. I enjoy Christmas and you know my stand on religion. Personally Christmas is another holiday like any other...basically an excuse to just be happy and get some time off with your family.

[Cbrider]

Don't worry about this. I enjoy Christmas and you know my stand on religion. Personally Christmas is another holiday like any other...basically an excuse to just be happy and get some time off with your family.

If the banks get it off, its not based off religion, at least anymore. Separation of state and government right??? right???

[Only-virgins]

If the banks get it off, its not based off religion, at least anymore. Separation of state and government right??? right???

Yep, now all we need is Separation of government and my wallet.

[Cbrider]

Yep, now all we need is Separation of government and my wallet.

You could claim tax exempt....but you would have to be a religious affiliation of some kind.

I feel like we just ran in a circle.

[Only-virgins]

You could claim tax exempt....but you would have to be a religious affiliation of some kind.

I feel like we just ran in a circle.

Religious places don't have to pay tax? WTF! why?! I obviously know nothing about that since I am not religious at all.

[Cbrider]

Religious places don't have to pay tax? WTF! why?! I obviously know nothing about that since I am not religious at all.

I don't know the specifics, but religious institutions/organizations are tax exempt or at least partially I believe.

There was a raging debate over whether the Church of Scientology should receive tax exemption status at one point.

[Lipp]

Apparently they are thrown in as "charitable organizations" when it comes to tax. Churches are expensive to maintain and I cant help but grin each time I think about why they are built big and elaborately.

[Cbrider]

Apparently they are thrown in as "charitable organizations" when it comes to tax. Churches are expensive to maintain and I cant help but grin each time I think about why they are built big and elaborately.

Maybe they can use these big, elaborate buildings that don't make a financial contribution to the United States government like everyone else, a place for all of our unemployed, homeless and economically battered citizens to stay.