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CLICmas #8

Posted by emb789 from Cardiff - Published on 08/12/2011 at 12:17
4 comments » - Tagged as Festivals, People

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Welcome to window #8 of the CLICmas Advent Calendar! If you'd like a window of your own to strut your Christmas stuff in (or should that be stuffing - parp!) and have the chance of winning a Nintendo 3DS then email dan@cliconline.co.uk as soon as possible.

If I had my way, I probably wouldn't celebrate Christmas. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have a say in the matter. My parents are particularly religious, and so I have no choice but to join in with the festivities once a year.

This doesn't mean that I don't get into the spirit of things, though. I love pulling crackers; it gives me an excuse to tell some awful jokes! I would tell you the joke about the butter I had one year, but you'd probably spread it.

I also love eating ridiculous amounts of very good food (though I'm not so keen on my waistline for the following weeks)! The other brilliant thing about Christmas is showing those who matter most to me just how much I care about them, by giving them something I think they would enjoy. Personally, I don't care too much about receiving gifts, and I never know what to ask for, so for me, just a card to let me know that I'm in your thoughts is plenty.

My point is that none of these things have anything to do with Christmas. Well, alright, you can pull some kind of tedious link between the wise men and gifts, but aside from that, there's nothing. So now I have a better idea! I call it "Family Day"!

Now, the idea of "Family Day" is to spend time with those who mean the most to you (I understand that this isn't always your relatives, but I know that I consider my dearest friends to be part of my family) and let them know that you care. You would all get together, enjoy each other's company, drink wine ("I know I'm underage, Mum, but it's Family Day! Pleeeease?" "Oh alright then, but only because it's Family Day!") and generally celebrate your love for each other. I think the best time for Family Day is mid to late winter, sometime in December, so you can all gather around the fire for warmth.

My point here is, leave Christmas to the Christians. Let them do their church stuff and celebrate the birth of their saviour. Let them have their nativity sets and their advent calendars, but unless you're actually anticipating the birth of the Messiah, I don't see why you should join in.

PS: For those wondering why Tim Minchin's face is all over this article, his song 'White Wine In The Sun' is probably the best example of an atheist Christmas carol I could find. It's also a beautiful song.

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4 Comments – Post a comment

Stormer007

Commented 2 months ago - 8th December 2011 - 16:00pm

My heart leapt when I saw Tim Minchin as the cover picture for this article. And when it comes to Christmas, I see it more as an essence of something rather than looking directly into details. The essence of family and appreciation of life.

I saw Tim Minchin live last November, and cried my eyes out when he played this song. He is my God. Tim Minchin forever. (and emb789. emb789 forever as well).

Jeff the Fridge

Commented 2 months ago - 8th December 2011 - 16:23pm

you dont like christmas???? But .....PRESENTS!?!?!?!?!?!

tommy b

Commented 2 months ago - 8th December 2011 - 21:34pm

Christmas has taken on a life of it's own but if there is some goodness at the heart of it well why don't we just take the week of and, yes, enjoy some family time. And no, mindless present buying does not embody the Christmas spirit, it is just part of the greed of our society, but let' s leave any anti-Capitalist jibes to the occupiers. Happy Family Time! :)