Giskard got me thinking about this regarding Wal-mart's flogging of Christmas goods on late September.... Okay, so I'm not a christian, but I can still respect Jesus' radical politics and his outrageous (even now) social agenda. So... why the hell are we celebrating his birthday by buying shit nobody wants at prices no one can really afford and in doing so supporting a system of economic slavery that produces the shit nobody wants? I mean honestly... I don't know about other economies but I read somewhere that 25-30% of the annual sales of most U.S. business is christmas-related. What would happen if we just decided "no more for me, thank you"? The stock market would probably take a giant dump. Good. What if we put the word out now, October 1, before the frenzy starts, that we are not giving or accepting christmas gifts. What if we followed Jesus' example and gave the money we would have pissed away on the holiday to those who could really use it - probably at least $700 in my case - and called it even? Isn't that what Jesus would do? So here's the plan, folks. Mentally tote up all the energy, agony and money you expend in this corporate orgy called christmas, the exercise that leaves you exhausted, deflated and depressed on December 25th, and instead expend an equivalent amount of time, sweat and money making things better in your community. Do it in ways that don't involve consumerism and 400 trips to Wal-Mart. Hell, just write a check to the local charity and watch football for the rest of the time if that's your speed. Let's spend time actually visiting with family and friends. Break bread with them. Not Wal-Mart bread - actually bake your own. Put your lights up to illuminate the season of darkness. Decorate a tree. Let's not buy worthless crap just because it's a certain month on the calendar. I guarantee you that you will wake up on the 25th of December with a new sense of joy in your heart. Unless you had one too many on the 24th - but that will pass. How about it? Can anybody think of any reason not to do this? The only down side is the sudden withdrawal for children conditioned to get buried in toys at Christmas - could make getting over heroin addiction look easy. For these kids who can't fathom the social issues real well I say let 'em down easy - over the next three christmases show them the injustice and inequality that their expectation (and yours) are feeding, and taper them off to just one nice gift from mom and dad - one real bitchin' gift, not socks or something, and then when they are old enough to understand the responsibility of it all (twelve?) they are weaned off of it.
You'd almost think that Christmas has become a secular holiday. Poetic justice. The Romans turned Saturnalia into Christmas because the people seem to need a holiday around the Winter Solstice. Presumably what we're observing today is the same phenomenon. Never forget that the two most widespread symbols of Christianity in our country are Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
Christmas was an pagan event once,....the CHURCH took it in, because they needed the support of the people back then, and no way better then to mold their event into a 'christian' rite,... Christianity just makes me laugh,...just like any other religion,...man man, is truly insane.
The only two holidays that I actually celebrate are Thanksgiving due to having a huge family gathering and Independence Day mainly just because that's my mom's birthday and fireworks are fun too. I do go to my uncle's house on Christmas for a huge family get together the same as for Thanksgiving, but that's about it. It's not really gift-giving Christmas related as it is everyone gets vacation during that time to be able to travel to his house, heh. I don't buy gifts for people on holidays because holidays are just an excuse to be lazy caregivers. Instead, I buy gifts for people at various times of the year rather than limiting it to special occassion holidays. Heh, sucks for the wives whose husbands only do anything for them on their anniversary, Valentines, their birthday, and Mother's Day then doesn't do anything for em the rest of the year. It adds more fun and spontaneity to life too by not doing things in a set holiday manner. - N
You're right, even Santa Claus is more popular than Christ at Christmas, just ask the kids what they would prefer - a trip to the local church on Christmas day or waking up to an obscene amount of expensive presents from Santa..lol.
Why boycott christmas? Without that, I wouldn't a load of cool stuff each year. Plus the good food, me likey food.
Why, man? Exmass is awesome. I'm a staunch athiest, and even I celebrate it as a day to give stuff to pepole, get stuff from people, and actually be nice for once. Plus, ham and stuff.
I stopped celebrating Christmas about 2 years ago. It just didn't seem worth it anymore - the buying, the scrimping, the 'having to eat and would rather spend money on a decent meal than buy some piece of crap for someone who doesn't want it.' Unfortunately, the significant other still thinks Christmas is the coolest thing ever, and this has lead to some pretty embarassing situations around that time of year. Outside of Thanksgiving, which for the meal alone makes it the most kick ass holiday, pretty much every holiday in America revolves around buying crap. It's really quite sad.
I use to make things out of wood or metal for my friends. During the past 5 years or so many of them have died. I no longer want to make things for there's no one left to make them for that I would call a friend. The last thing I made was a rocking chair for a woman I knew and she enjoyed it alot. Her family gave the chair away to someone I didn't know....oh well I just hope they are enjoying it as much as she did. I like to make things so it gave me a kick to make others things with my own hands.
no way am i boycotting christmas.looking inside my stocking is one of my favourite things.not going to be home this christmas tho :'(
