The gift of Covid

As someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas, I find the quantity of people planning to infect their loved ones over a number on a calendar disturbing.

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Stressmas

Nov 21, 2020 at 1:57pm

They should get rid of this antiquated tradition. Adults giving gifts to each other in celebration of an Earth Woman getting impregnated by a wizard? Now how stupid do you feel? Aside from cashing in on black Friday and boxing day deals, I completely ignore Christmas because I'm not 9 years old.

Hmmm

Nov 21, 2020 at 3:05pm

Yes, I’m sure we can all agree that Christmas is silly but the reason we have a celebration at this cold and dark time of year is so we don’t go crazy and kill ourselves. We need these types of parties to get through life otherwise what’s the point? Life can’t be serious all the time. Besides if you don’t want to give into consumerism, make some jam or hummous and give it away. Not difficult.

@streesmas

Nov 21, 2020 at 4:36pm

Christmas' traditions come directly from pre-Christmas paganism and were slowly turned into a Christian holiday to win over the "pagans". Once it became a Christian, the "pagans" tried to ban it. Coca-Cola gave us the image of Santa Claus we have today. It was a marketing image because the origin character was a little gnome or hobbit type character. Christmas is bullsh%t like so much in our lives put there to lead us around by are noses and turn us into slaves.

Honestly

Nov 21, 2020 at 5:56pm

Christmas for me = guilt, stress, and feelings of inadequacy. I know I don’t speak for everyone, but I’m happy to be chilling solo this year for safety’s (and sanity’s) sake.

Thank you to the posters

Nov 21, 2020 at 8:14pm

who actually said Christmas. It's not the " Holiday season ". This term has been created for the many who don't celebrate Christmas so that they will still spend all their money on useless junk.

Bah humbug

Nov 21, 2020 at 11:47pm

I'm broke and I love Christmas! The lights, the music, the food, the old movies and cartoons, the smell of a real tree, putting ornaments on it, ornaments that have nice memories...the sentiment of goodwill and appreciation of those we love is what makes it fun, and there have been years where I had little and spent it alone and I still loved it and was happy because even with one cookie and one TV movie I still felt good inside. Having a hot chocolate looking at Christmas lights walking at night, giving people a card just to see their faces light up, all of it reminders of aspects of abundance, appreciation and love.
Sure, there's material aspects, and the only one putting pressure to focus just on appearances like a Norman Rockwell painting with the precision of Martha Stewart is you. I do the traditional stuff as much or as little and I do it with the actual spirit of sharing and joy, not to impress others. That's on you if you want to swallow that path of high pressure.
Enjoy the trappings for what they are, ease up on pressure and have fun making fun of it. Make your own traditions, carry some forward that honor the good memories. Our family stopped doing big presents and we're just as happy. We sing the songs badly and laugh. We don't take ourselves seriously and maybe that's all the problems of every grinch on here; so focused on image and buying and then it becomes a checklist versus just enjoying the season. If I can afford it, great, if not it's still good. Pine and holly are everywhere, so is ribbon, all cheap if not free. Music and TV are on my phone. Cookies are always on sale. Friends are a Zoom call away.
Regardless of who started the holiday, the core of the sentiment is always the same: appreciation and generosity. You have to be pretty helpless in life if you can't tap into and celebrate that.

In a city full of atheists...

Nov 22, 2020 at 2:03am

Christmas is a Christian holiday and a very important time for those who believe. It's about hope but I know most people in Vancouver don't believe in anything, except Lululemon.

What we celebrate.

Nov 22, 2020 at 7:47am

Good grief, who the hell is celebrating an"Earth Woman getting impregnated by a wizard" anymore. Most of us have moved on. It's become a solstice event and an end of year family /friends holiday. All the lights are cheerful, and I love my favourite Christmas music and carols, regardless of the fictional lyrics. There is no real obligation to buy gifts for people, maybe just the kids. At this time of year, I think back to every magical Christmas I had through childhood and beyond to an older age.

17 9Rating: +8

@hmm, Christmas is silly

Nov 22, 2020 at 2:03pm

and @What we celebrate. According to a 2015 census, there are over 2.5 billion Christians in the world , almost one third of the world's population. I'm not "sure that we can all agree that Christmas is silly". It seems there are a few who don't agree.

11 8Rating: +3

Well....

Nov 23, 2020 at 10:41am

I love my family - especially my adult kids - and for that reason, we're doing it remotely this year. I don't want to risk their coming down with Covid just because I want to be selfish and demand that I get to see them in person. In my opinion, while we might think it's loving to all get together, there are huge risks attached as well. We can gather remotely - not the same, but better than having my kids (or me) struggle with Covid 19. There's time to gather later on.

15 7Rating: +8

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