Christmas is nice. It's about nice things. It's pretty, it's just nice.
I like it. I will mention it.
Lots and lots and lots.
Christmas lights make everything pretty. Buying Christmas presents, wrapping them up to look decorative and seeing someone open a present they want is marvellous. Even seeing people is nice at Christmas time.
Things have to be organised, people have to have strops and be pacified, plans have to be made. It's not too early.
It's never too early.
I will start in June next year.
4 comments:
What is nice about Christmas? You have to be nice to people that you have spent the other 364 days hating. If you wish to "do it properly" it is almost impossible not to spend the GDP of the average third world country. Unless you buy it yourself you can pretty much guarantee that you will be disappointed with the presents you receive and after spending a small fortune on other people, how often do you actually see them using or wearing the present you bought them. And you, as a recent parent, now have the awful duty of continuing that whopping great lie that is Father Christmas. Just think of what that is going to do to your children. It is a time of falseness, insincerity and is one big celebration of the god of greed.
Now I've got that off my chest, perhaps we can get onto the more sensible subjects of euthanasia for pensioners and compulsory sterilisation of chavs
Christmas is usually spoilt by people moaning and groaning that it's rubbish and I'm determined not to be like that, regardless of how much I actually enjoy it.
The whole lead up to Christmas is lovely, the lights and the parties and the general bonhomie that's about. (It is). And you get Christmas specials - there's enough channels now not to have to watch Only Fools and Horses or Eastenders.
Plus it smells lovely. Orange spice and mulled wine and chestnuts and pine. There's a song there if you want to expand.
As to presents, it's not about what you get or how appreciated it is, it's about caring about someone and what they'd like, choosing something, wrapping it up and giving it to them. If they only like it for ten seconds, it's still nice. Getting anything is kind of nice, especially when you're skint. You don't have to spend a fortune, you need to be sincere and have a little imagination, then it's not about greed, it's about trying to do something nice for people. I don't give presents to people I don't like any more and I certainly don't see them but that doesn't mean I can't be thoughtful and nice and generous to those I do like.
I thought the whole thing about Father Christmas was wonderful as a child, I still half believe in him and I refuse to live in a world where it's wrong to create a magical world of make believe for children. It's not deceit, it's fantasy, it's making childhood a magical time. They've got plenty time as adults to discover the world's shite, why force it on them aged 3? I think carrying on the story of Father Christmas is a wonderful duty and I am looking forward to it.
I think I'm done now.
Actually you have given a very impressive, elaborate and persuasive reply but I am far too old and set in my ways to give in that easily. It is true that even I occasionally allow myself to fall under the magical spell of twinkling lights and the Christmas spirit for brief moments but that is all it is, just brief moments. Being such a misery guts means that I honestly can't remember the last Christmas party I was invited to, if you discount the "works do". Personally I agree with you about the giving of presents. I was speaking generally rather than on a purely personal note and certainly these days when I want for nothing, I am happier giving than receiving gifts. What makes me sick is seeing Mrs Average Lowlife complaining on the tv news about how deep in debt she is at Christmas because her little Kyle and Chardonnay are expecting to get a PS3 each, a laptop, a mobile phone etc and it is so difficult to afford all that when you are on benefits. She claims that they would be heartbroken if they didn't get it all and would think they had a rubbish Christmas if they didn't. That is what makes me so cross and so cynical about Christmas. How people get sucked into the commercialism of it all.
The belief in Father Christmas is something I cannot remember. I have had this discussion with my other half. She remembers believing in him. She remembers the first Christmas after she found out that he wasn't real but I have no memories at all. I don't know why, I'm sure my parents must have done the whole Father Christmas thing but I have no recollection of believing in him or his magical sleigh.
You paint a lovely picture of a simple magical time but that is not the reality for most people. I shall not let the way I feel spoil my children's Christmases but you have not changed my opinion on the subject. Maybe I am just a cynical bitter little man that can't abide seeing people enjoy themselves and likes to spoil things for others, who knows!
It may not be the way for most people, but it is the way I want it to be for anyone I can share a little magic with.
Imagination is wonderful, and it's a privilege to contribute to it. We have nonsense going on here all year round, a little magical nonsense at Christmas is just... special.
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