Perhaps nice for small families with little children, but a minefield for many extended families, let alone the lonely.
‘Halloween’ (All Hallows Eve) in the religious calendar is for remembering the dead, the saints and martyrs – probably mixed up with the end of summer, harvest home, and pre-Christian festivals for those things too. Turning it into lollies and vandalism is not in anyone’s interests, certainly not for children, their behaviour, their teeth or their nutrition.
‘Thanksgiving’ was the Harvest Festival, when the Pilgrim Fathers had survived a summer with enough food to last through the winter. In a nation with serious obesity problems, a festival based on lots of food surely deserves a re-think.
‘Christmas’ is the time for celebrating the birth of Jesus. It has been overtaken by gift buying (and of course more food). If you actually read the New Testament, the three wise men who came from the East were not at the crib in Bethlehem with their presents. They went first to Herod, who sent them off to find the ‘young child’. When they didn’t return promptly, Herod ordered the slaughter of the innocents, all boys under two. An accurate celebration might mean waiting a couple of years to hand over gold, frankincense or myrrh, then manage a mass murder of toddlers. This stupid suggestion is no sillier than plastic trees, glass baubles, electric lights, heaps of parcels that are often unwanted, and lots of alcohol.
I think what I am suggesting is to walk away from ‘celebrations’ that cause more problems than pleasure, to know what we value and want to celebrate, and pick a good way for that to work. At a minimum, to stop feeling guilty if things don’t work out like a good old fashioned ‘leave it to Beaver’ way.
It’s a serious accusation and should have to be proven. Sometimes it is a false accusation. Other times, the father is a child molester and the mom isn’t able to provide proof and he gets away with it. Very complicated and sad. The poor kid is caught in the middle and suffers horribly.
I have a sense of humor but trust me, any female that has been molested or raped won’t find the story about your neighbor the least bit entertaining.
Kids experiment but a man who forces himself on a young girl or woman is a totally different story. A life changing situation that is never forgotten and is never a joke. Any young girl or woman should receive justice because it’s a crime.
Unfortunately, it’s the most unreported crime because women haven’t felt safe coming forward. That’s changing some and I hope that one day now women will ever fear reporting any crime.
By the way, the same goes for young boys who are molested. I hope they get justice for the crime committed against them.
My younger daughter had a crazy boyfriend. The day he put his hands around her neck, she left him! He was a spoiled ‘momma’s boy’ that expected her to do the same. When she didn’t he couldn’t handle it. His mom even called me to speak to my daughter to tell her to give him his way!
I told her that my daughter was over 18 and made her own choices and to never call me and ask me to interfere again. Thank God she broke up with him. I can’t imagine her having him as a mate or having to deal with her for a MIL!
Honestly, even if a woman had no clothes on at all, a man NEVER has the right to touch her, EVER! You can’t blame the victims.
You also can’t excuse men for behaving inappropriately, blackmailing or committing crimes.
Then you should understand. Those things should never have happened to your son, EVER!
its a sht show out there .
i dont think girls or women should play the crowd to a frenzy and then break everything off after their ego's have been maxed out and theyve played everyone for money , food , entertainment , and exitement either . its trashy as sht .
Don’t know! Sorry.
I am one of those "lonely ones". who no longer have family. My Dad passed last April, my mom is still around but in memory care and doesn't really realize holidays.. I lost relationships with all my siblings when my Dad died last April.. They were MIA but when they did show up.. they managed to harass me and hated/blamed me for everything concerning my parents.
Needless to say... I am spending all holidays alone this year (other then visiting my mom in memory care). My strategy is to simply ignore the holidays.. I dont watch TV.. and I am treating the holidays as just another day.. and trying to enjoy my day off as much as possible.
Maybe at some point I can find a new routine where I can start enjoying holidays.. away from any family connections of course.. but for this year.. that is my strategy.. I fear that if I did any thing else.. and tried to "be happy".. it would put too much stress on me and catapult me deeper into depression.
I do feel there is a lot of pressure to have happy family connections.. and to be happy.. and if you aren't in that place...it is a tough time of year to get through.
I had friends who went camping over Christmas, with a rule that all presents had to be made on the spot from natural materials – OK a bit of sticky tape etc was supplied. They said that the thought that went into it made it the best Christmas ever. I’m still looking for ways to celebrate Christmas that will bring a smile, peace and joy, which I wish to all of us.
Logging out until this thread is deleted.
I thought that this lovely poem might get things back on track:
The Maid-Servant at the Inn, by Dorothy Parker
"It's queer," she said; "I see the light
As plain as I beheld it then,
All silver-like and calm and bright ---
We've not had stars like that again!
"And she was such a gentle thing
To birth a baby in the cold.
The barn was dark and frightening ---
This new one's better than the old.
"I mind my eyes were full of tears,
For I was young, and quick distressed
But she was less than me in years
That held a son against her breast.
"I never saw a sweeter child ---
The little one, the darling one! ---
I mind I told her, when he smiled
You'd know he was his mother's son.
"It's queer that I should see them so ---
The time they came to Bethlehem
Was more than thirty years ago;
I've prayed that all is well with them."
Really? I have never heard of such a thing. Where I live (in USA) people in general try to conserve water and energy as evidenced by our toilets using less than a gallon per flush. People are encouraged to take 5 minute showers to save water. If such a thing as you said really happened, it was done by some idiot or it was made up. There is such thing as fake news.
In my family and extended family, we haven't traded gifts for many years now. Only the kids get gifts. No commercialization of the holidays, at least not in my family circle.
that doesnt make me a jaded old grinch and an ' under the table , uninsured cowboy builder ' is really pulling things out of your azz .
now if you called me a mischievious old man up on the hill who likes to wind people up just for free entertainment and a few laughs , i would probably agree with that .
happy holidays to everyone . dont let anybody tell you how to celebrate them ( or not ) .
GOD BLESS THE USA
Gone are the days of traveling anywhere for the holidays. In our newly married years I remember driving from White Plains NY to Long Island when the trip was 4 1/2 hrs for a normal 1.5 hr drive. They can come to our house and they did (family) for many years.
Those visits stopped 15 yrs ago or so as the children grew to adults who got married and went their own way.
I still cook my turkey, buy a real Christmas tree, have my traditional special dinners but just for hubby and me.
Matter of fact I told my husband today that this past Thanksgiving I felt guilt free for the first time ever. All of my nuclear family are gone. I used to worry every holiday season about my mom & brother being alone (never bothered them but always bothered me). Because of my job (RN) I always have had to work holidays. This Thanksgiving I had no such worries. It felt good.
But it back to American holidays yes Christmas has become very materialistic unfortunately. But there are still plenty of us that still celebrate with simplicity. A Child is born & he is our Savior so it’s a happy time of hope.
Really? I thought the point of your original post was to offend people by bashing their country and customs.
Am I tired? Yeah. Am I bitter? No. My contentment and faith is somehow stronger than before. I do not begrudge anybody for wanting to celebrate the holidays however they want. Do it while you can and with who you love. It doesn't last that long.
There's something to that, and I can deal with people being offensive jerks. It's doing that and then coming back all sanctimonious over the babe in the manger that gags me.
the latter will resort to dam near homicide to possess another dollar .
it really doesnt make sense to me -- you cant take a dime of it with you .
im not bashing christians ( or any faith ) . most believers have great basic values ( imo ) .
https://cbs4indy.com/2019/11/29/black-friday-goes-global-but-not-everyones-happy/
love and hate are two sides of the same coin .