The winter holidays thread

Medopine · November 2008

So, like it or not, it's holiday season. Thanksgiving is next week and then we get into December and Chanukah and Christmas and Kwanzaa and whatever else.

So what are your holiday traditions? What are you hoping Santa will bring you this year? Any hilarious holiday stories? Like the time you ate all the christmas chocolate and watched A Christmas Story like, twenty times in a row? (That's not very hilarious, is it)

Me, I've gotten to the point where spending time with family will be a reward in itself. But I also like the food and the cookies and pies and the terrible Christmas movies and taking family pictures with the dogs wearing little santa hats.

AngelHedgie · November 2008

Perhaps not a personal Christmas story per say, but:

WSJ op-ed: No more "Merry Christmas" is the source of our economic malaise.

Yep, it's time for the "War on Christmas" bullshit.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a wall that I need to pound my head into. Repeatedly.

Dynagrip · November 2008

I've spent the past 30 christmases with my family. This one I'm going to be out of the country with my girlfriend. I'm seriously looking forward to it.

I've only had thanksgiving dinner with my family once in the past 5 or 6 years. My parents bought some terrible land in a shitty part of texas that's like 6 hours from Houston and they're usually down there for thanksgiving.

This year I'm going to be spending it at the extended family summer home in the Hill Country. It's going to rock.

ElJeffe · November 2008

AngelHedgie wrote: »

Perhaps not a personal Christmas story per say, but:

WSJ op-ed: No more "Merry Christmas" is the source of our economic malaise.

Yep, it's time for the "War on Christmas" bullshit.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a wall that I need to pound my head into. Repeatedly.

That is a terrible article and I should ban you for making me read it.

Casual Eddy · November 2008

So we have a new tradition at my household, which is the tradition of yay divorce. My parents are apparently splitting us for thanksgiving and christmas - my dad on thanksgiving and my mom for christmas. Which is odd because my mom cooks the bitchingest turkeys and she also hates christmas.

Regardless we'll be flying up to boston for the holidays and I'm looking forward to that. I don't get to see my brothers very often and I like them a fair bit these days. My oldest brother, being a chemistry nerd and mad scientist in the kitchen will be whipping up something for thanksgiving. We'll also be playing fallout three and apparently getting very high while doing so.

I like visiting boston to begin with! I'll get to have snow (probably) for the holidays and the place is a pretty cool city. I'm sad that both my parents won't be there, but it will probably cut down on crisis and accusations over family dinner. I'll also get to see my two doggies whom I miss terribly. It's bittersweat, but nonetheless nice to go up north for the holidays.

Qingu · November 2008

Here's how I feel about winter holidays.

Fuck Christmas. It's a pagan holiday, Saturnalia, co-opted by Catholics in the early middle ages to get pagans on board with their own stupid-ass religion based on a bunch of lies about a Judean zombie cult leader. Anyone who seriously celebrates this holiday is an idiot.

Fuck Hannukah. As far as I'm concerned the Greeks were analogous to modern America and the Maccabees were analogous to the Taliban or al-Qaeda. Yes, the Greeks were dicks; they wanted the Hebrews to bow down to their idols and submit to their political authority. Nobody is saying that's good, but did the Jews have the moral standing to start a violent war over it when their own religion is even more intolerant and backwards? Anyone who takes seriously the inflated legends about 8 days of oil as evidence for Yahweh's miracle is an idiot—and anyone who empathizes with the "heroes" of Hannukah is immoral.

Fuck commercialism and materialism. Which is what "Christmas," "Hannukah," and "The holidays" are really all about nowadays. I want less things in my life, and I don't want social/religious obligations to buy other people useless shit that they don't need or even want.

The winter solstice is cool with me. I have no problem commemorating the winter solstice each year (which is incidentally the root holiday of Christianity). It's the shortest day of the year. That's worth commemorating. It's worth noting, and even celebrating, that we humans have evolved and progressed to the extent that we have the ability to note of the passage of time on Earth with precision.

Saturn was the god of time. What I like to do on Solstice is to sit in a dark room with my friends, light a candle, set my alarm, and then just look at the candle for an hour in silence, and try to think about how long an hour actually is. (Preferably while high.)

Edit: Thanksgiving is also alright by me. Its heart is in the right place (nonviolent cultural exchange).

Qingu · November 2008

AngelHedgie wrote: »

Perhaps not a personal Christmas story per say, but:

WSJ op-ed: No more "Merry Christmas" is the source of our economic malaise.

Yep, it's time for the "War on Christmas" bullshit.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a wall that I need to pound my head into. Repeatedly.

Oh no you didn't.

The moral superiority of religious people could have saved us from the economic meltdown? Which dumb fucks overwhelmingly voted in the people responsible for the economic meltdown?

Dynagrip · November 2008

Casual Eddy wrote: »

So we have a new tradition at my household, which is the tradition of yay divorce. My parents are apparently splitting us for thanksgiving and christmas - my dad on thanksgiving and my mom for christmas. Which is odd because my mom cooks the bitchingest turkeys and she also hates christmas.

Regardless we'll be flying up to boston for the holidays and I'm looking forward to that. I don't get to see my brothers very often and I like them a fair bit these days. My oldest brother, being a chemistry nerd and mad scientist in the kitchen will be whipping up something for thanksgiving. We'll also be playing fallout three and apparently getting very high while doing so.

I like visiting boston to begin with! I'll get to have snow (probably) for the holidays and the place is a pretty cool city. I'm sad that both my parents won't be there, but it will probably cut down on crisis and accusations over family dinner. I'll also get to see my two doggies whom I miss terribly. It's bittersweat, but nonetheless nice to go up north for the holidays.

your parents just got divorced? That sucks, dude

Hi I'm Vee! · November 2008

Oh man, here come the cynics.

If they can't enjoy the holidays, nobody can.

Casual Eddy · November 2008

Dynagrip wrote: »

Casual Eddy wrote: »

So we have a new tradition at my household, which is the tradition of yay divorce. My parents are apparently splitting us for thanksgiving and christmas - my dad on thanksgiving and my mom for christmas. Which is odd because my mom cooks the bitchingest turkeys and she also hates christmas.

Regardless we'll be flying up to boston for the holidays and I'm looking forward to that. I don't get to see my brothers very often and I like them a fair bit these days. My oldest brother, being a chemistry nerd and mad scientist in the kitchen will be whipping up something for thanksgiving. We'll also be playing fallout three and apparently getting very high while doing so.

I like visiting boston to begin with! I'll get to have snow (probably) for the holidays and the place is a pretty cool city. I'm sad that both my parents won't be there, but it will probably cut down on crisis and accusations over family dinner. I'll also get to see my two doggies whom I miss terribly. It's bittersweet, but nonetheless nice to go up north for the holidays.

your parents just got divorced? That sucks, dude

thanks

it's been rough but i'm really glad it happened when I was 19-20 years old and not a little kid.

Cervetus · November 2008

Every year we do "theme trees", so that our Christmas tree gets to have cool stuff on it instead of Christmasy junk. This year it's dogs, so we got chew toys and stuffed animals. It's going to be awesome.

Qingu wrote: »

Here's how I feel about winter holidays.

Fuck Christmas. It's a pagan holiday, Saturnalia, co-opted by Catholics in the early middle ages to get pagans on board with their own stupid-ass religion based on a bunch of lies about a Judean zombie cult leader. Anyone who seriously celebrates this holiday is an idiot.

Fuck Hannukah. As far as I'm concerned the Greeks were analogous to modern America and the Maccabees were analogous to the Taliban or al-Qaeda. Yes, the Greeks were dicks; they wanted the Hebrews to bow down to their idols and submit to their political authority. Nobody is saying that's good, but did the Jews have the moral standing to start a violent war over it when their own religion is even more intolerant and backwards? Anyone who takes seriously the inflated legends about 8 days of oil as evidence for Yahweh's miracle is an idiotâ€”and anyone who empathizes with the "heroes" of Hannukah is immoral.

Fuck commercialism and materialism. Which is what "Christmas," "Hannukah," and "The holidays" are really all about nowadays. I want less things in my life, and I don't want social/religious obligations to buy other people useless shit that they don't need or even want.

The winter solstice is cool with me. I have no problem commemorating the winter solstice each year (which is incidentally the root holiday of Christianity). It's the shortest day of the year. That's worth commemorating. It's worth noting, and even celebrating, that we humans have evolved and progressed to the extent that we have the ability to note of the passage of time on Earth with precision.

Saturn was the god of time. What I like to do on Solstice is to sit in a dark room with my friends, light a candle, set my alarm, and then just look at the candle for an hour in silence, and try to think about how long an hour actually is. (Preferably while high.)

Edit: Thanksgiving is also alright by me. Its heart is in the right place (nonviolent cultural exchange).

Like what the hell.

Medopine · November 2008

I see you haven't met Qingu.

Anything religious gives him a rash. I'm surprised he's even able to type out "Christmas."

Casual Eddy · November 2008

Qingu I'm surprised at you. Thanksgiving is a farce. The indians and pilgrims didn't sit down at a table together and exchange food. If anything it marked the moment when the indians weren't aggressive enough off the bat to defend their lands.

That said it's one of my favorite holidays

Mike Danger · November 2008

...well, I, for one, love Christmas. I'm going to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, watching Scrooged and A Muppet Christmas Carol with the posse, and listening to Vince Guaraldi Trio until I'm sick of it (which will probably be around Martin Luther King Jr. Day).

The Big Christmas Break Event (other than the annual New Year's party) looks like it's going to be a trip to see Valkyrie with all my history nerd friends and then catching up (and probably complaining about the movie) over Chinese food.

Qingu · November 2008

Cervetus: yeah, like Medo said, I hate me some religion, somethin' fierce.

Casual Eddy wrote: »

Qingu I'm surprised at you. Thanksgiving is a farce. The indians and pilgrims didn't sit down at a table together and exchange food. If anything it marked the moment when the indians weren't aggressive enough off the bat to defend their lands.

That said it's one of my favorite holidays

I accept that Thanksgiving is an idealized legend, but I believe some of the Pilgrims did rely on Indians for food and salvation, and early on there was some valid cultural exchange between them. I don't think it's fair to blame this relatively touching moment in history for the savagery of the people that came after and exploited it. And like I said, I think the holiday's heart is in the right place (unlike, for example, Hannukah).

Also: sorry about your 'rents. Mine are too, and we split up the holidays the same way. Perhaps dads like Thanksgiving?

Dynagrip · November 2008

Casual Eddy wrote: »

Dynagrip wrote: »

Casual Eddy wrote: »

So we have a new tradition at my household, which is the tradition of yay divorce. My parents are apparently splitting us for thanksgiving and christmas - my dad on thanksgiving and my mom for christmas. Which is odd because my mom cooks the bitchingest turkeys and she also hates christmas.

Regardless we'll be flying up to boston for the holidays and I'm looking forward to that. I don't get to see my brothers very often and I like them a fair bit these days. My oldest brother, being a chemistry nerd and mad scientist in the kitchen will be whipping up something for thanksgiving. We'll also be playing fallout three and apparently getting very high while doing so.

I like visiting boston to begin with! I'll get to have snow (probably) for the holidays and the place is a pretty cool city. I'm sad that both my parents won't be there, but it will probably cut down on crisis and accusations over family dinner. I'll also get to see my two doggies whom I miss terribly. It's bittersweet, but nonetheless nice to go up north for the holidays.

your parents just got divorced? That sucks, dude

thanks

it's been rough but i'm really glad it happened when I was 19-20 years old and not a little kid.

just remember, if it had happened when you were a boy it would have been all your fault.

MrMonroe · November 2008

I'll be headed to CA for two weeks to see the family and the old crew from high school.

We will watch "It's a Wonderful Life" because it's my mom's favorite movie and some idiot will get her another copy on DVD.

I will drink egg nog and some of the beer my dad brews, and probably play some video games with my younger siblings.

We don't really care about Jesus, but the traditions are fun and it's good to have a time of year where your extended family all comes together.

Casual Eddy · November 2008

Regardless I think it's still to hate a holiday just because it's a holiday. It's what you make of it. I like valentine's day because it's an excuse for me and the boyfriend to go out to dinner. There's no stress of getting a gift and if we can't get together, whatever. Why? Because we damn well said so. There is NO ONE putting a gun to your head and forcing you to celebrate a holiday in a certain way (except maybe your family).

Sure, christmas is fake and pagan and over commercialized. But you know what, it can also be a nifty get together to decorate a tree with goofy things and drink egg nog spiked with rum and brandy. It can mean whatever the hell you want. My family doesn't even get gifts anymore, we just use it as an excuse to get together.

I mean you want to celebrate the solstice? Why? because it's the shortest day? That's just as irrelevant and meaningless as christmas.

Casual Eddy · November 2008

Dynagrip wrote: »

Casual Eddy wrote: »

Dynagrip wrote: »

Casual Eddy wrote: »

So we have a new tradition at my household, which is the tradition of yay divorce. My parents are apparently splitting us for thanksgiving and christmas - my dad on thanksgiving and my mom for christmas. Which is odd because my mom cooks the bitchingest turkeys and she also hates christmas.

Regardless we'll be flying up to boston for the holidays and I'm looking forward to that. I don't get to see my brothers very often and I like them a fair bit these days. My oldest brother, being a chemistry nerd and mad scientist in the kitchen will be whipping up something for thanksgiving. We'll also be playing fallout three and apparently getting very high while doing so.

I like visiting boston to begin with! I'll get to have snow (probably) for the holidays and the place is a pretty cool city. I'm sad that both my parents won't be there, but it will probably cut down on crisis and accusations over family dinner. I'll also get to see my two doggies whom I miss terribly. It's bittersweet, but nonetheless nice to go up north for the holidays.

your parents just got divorced? That sucks, dude

thanks

it's been rough but i'm really glad it happened when I was 19-20 years old and not a little kid.

just remember, if it had happened when you were a boy it would have been all your fault.

YOU'RE NOT MY REAL STEP DAD

Emanon · November 2008

My holidays are pretty simple.

Turkey, turkey, turkey!

Gimme, gimme, gimme!

Baaaaaaaarffffff!!!!!

KalTorak · November 2008

"Winter holidays" thread?

Not "Christmas Is The Only Holiday" thread?!

GODLESS FASCIST!

Cervetus · November 2008

Qingu wrote: »

Cervetus: yeah, like Medo said, I hate me some religion, somethin' fierce.

But PRESENTS! Oh, right, you also apparently hate things.

Curmudgeon.

ElJeffe · November 2008

Qingu wrote: »

RARRR CHRISTMAS GIVES ME HERSHEY SQUIRTS

I see someone skipped his meds again.

I will sing a carol for you to cheer you up.

xa52 · November 2008

Christmas means 2 weeks off to see my family and friends and aging dog, which has been a pretty big deal since I moved out to the fucking hinterlands. Since they're in NY, it also means bagels and pizza and sushi that doesn't suck, and my mom's and gram's awesome cooking. Thanksgiving this year means staying home because airfare is too expensive.

I'll actually be getting home early enough this year that I can help my mom haul home a tree. I think I'm going to hang a penis on it and see if anyone notices. I'll bet no one does until it's time to take all the decorations off.

edit- Also, fuck egg nog. The neighbor makes home-made Irish Creme.

Qingu · November 2008

Casual Eddy wrote: »

Regardless I think it's still to hate a holiday just because it's a holiday. It's what you make of it. I like valentine's day because it's an excuse for me and the boyfriend to go out to dinner. There's no stress of getting a gift and if we can't get together, whatever. Why? Because we damn well said so. There is NO ONE putting a gun to your head and forcing you to celebrate a holiday in a certain way (except maybe your family).

Sure, christmas is fake and pagan and over commercialized. But you know what, it can also be a nifty get together to decorate a tree with goofy things and drink egg nog spiked with rum and brandy. It can mean whatever the hell you want. My family doesn't even get gifts anymore, we just use it as an excuse to get together.

I mean you want to celebrate the solstice? Why? because it's the shortest day? That's just as irrelevant and meaningless as christmas.

I agree with you, up to a certain point.

Yes, holidays are what you make of them. For most people (especially on here), I imagine Christmas has zero to do with Jesus, or even commercialism necessarily , and its value comes more from spending time with your family and food traditions and shit.

But then, why not just call it Solstice? That's the source of the tradition, not Jesus' birthday.

And also, my problem with certain holidays isn't that they're meaningless. It's the opposite: I have serious moral problems with their explicit meanings. Christmas, as a religious holiday, is a celebration of something that never happened (Jesus' magic birthday)â€”the story itself is a lie fabricated by the author of Luke, its date is a lie fabricated by the Catholic Church for the purpose of syncretism, and the moral significance of this event is based on malicious lies about the need for salvation from some imaginary "sin." Similarly, the moral significance of Hannukah is that it is virtuous and courageous to violently resist an imperial and culturally intolerant countryâ€”this would be a somewhat okay morally if it wasn't completely hypocritical, since the Jewish "heroes" were far, far more culturally intolerant and genocidal than the people they were opposing. Celebrating Hannukah strikes me as morally appalling as someone hundreds of years in the future celebrating Taliban resistance to American imperialism with the grace of Allah.

Now, some would say that traditions are worth preserving for their own sake, irrespective of whatever moral content they originally had. I happen to disagree with this.

Qingu · November 2008

ElJeffe wrote: »

I see someone skipped his meds again.

Damn right I skipped my meds.

The opiate of the masses meds, ♪ bitch! ♪

nexuscrawler · November 2008

ElJeffe wrote: »

AngelHedgie wrote: »

Perhaps not a personal Christmas story per say, but:

WSJ op-ed: No more "Merry Christmas" is the source of our economic malaise.

Yep, it's time for the "War on Christmas" bullshit.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a wall that I need to pound my head into. Repeatedly.

That is a terrible article and I should ban you for making me read it.

Wow the WSJ's standards have gotten low.

War on christ and bad Mad Max references?

Jesus I swear I was reading the Onion.

Cervetus · November 2008

Qingu wrote: »

Celebrating Hannukah strikes me as morally appalling as someone hundreds of years in the future celebrating Taliban resistance to American imperialism with the grace of Allah.

During this hypothetical holiday, would there be pancakes?

nexuscrawler · November 2008

Cervetus wrote: »

Qingu wrote: »

Celebrating Hannukah strikes me as morally appalling as someone hundreds of years in the future celebrating Taliban resistance to American imperialism with the grace of Allah.

During this hypothetical holiday, would there be pancakes?

potato pancakes

with nasty chocolate coins and 4 dollars from your grandma

Cervetus · November 2008

nexuscrawler wrote: »

Cervetus wrote: »

Qingu wrote: »

Celebrating Hannukah strikes me as morally appalling as someone hundreds of years in the future celebrating Taliban resistance to American imperialism with the grace of Allah.

During this hypothetical holiday, would there be pancakes?

potato pancakes

with nasty chocolate coins and 4 dollars from your grandma

I actually know jack-all about Hanukkah, so I just looked up what foods it came with and assumed they were delicious.

ElJeffe · November 2008

Qingu wrote: »

ElJeffe wrote: »

I see someone skipped his meds again.

Damn right I skipped my meds.

The opiate of the masses meds, ♪ bitch! ♪

On the first day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: a frothy, anti-Christian screed.
On the second day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: fevered indignation; and a frothy, anti-Christian screed.
On the third day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: haughty self-importance; fevered indignation; and a frothy, anti-Christian screed.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: worship of the secular; haughty self-importance; fevered indignation; and a frothy, anti-Christian screed.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: fiiiiiive hours of lectures! Worship of the secular; haughty self-importance, fevered indignation; and a frothy anti-Christian screed.

nexuscrawler · November 2008

Latkas are quite delicious fyi

peteaboda1 · November 2008

I'm not sure what I am doing for thanksgiving yet. Last year my dad went down to Santa Cruz and I decided to stay here so I ended up just going to a friend's house. This year my dad is gone for Monday and Tuesday and we haven't decided yet.

I am thankful for Christmas solely because it is an excuse to see extended family and more importantly my sister, whom I only see during that time.

ElJeffe · November 2008

I'm headed to my mom's for Turkey Day because it's her turn to get my family this year. For Christmas, fuck it, people can come to my house. We're not doing the 600 Mile Round Trip Marathon of Suck this year like we usually do. If our parents don't like it they can move closer.

Qingu · November 2008

ElJeffe wrote: »

Qingu wrote: »

ElJeffe wrote: »

I see someone skipped his meds again.

Damn right I skipped my meds.

The opiate of the masses meds, ♪ bitch! ♪

On the first day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: a frothy, anti-Christian screed.
On the second day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: fevered indignation; and a frothy, anti-Christian screed.
On the third day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: haughty self-importance; fevered indignation; and a frothy, anti-Christian screed.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: worship of the secular; haughty self-importance; fevered indignation; and a frothy, anti-Christian screed.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my Qingu gave to me: fiiiiiive hours of lectures! Worship of the secular; haughty self-importance, fevered indignation; and a frothy anti-Christian screed.

♪ I lived alone! ♪
♪ My mind was blank! ♪
♪ I needed time to think, to make excuses asinine! ♪
♪ What did I see? ♪
♪ COULD I BELIEEEEEVE? ♪
♪ That my snide remarks were real and not just sophistry? ♪
♪ Just what I saw! ♪
♪ In my old dreams! ♪
♪ Was it my Republican brainwashed upbringing staring back at me? ♪
♪ 'Cause in my dreams! ♪
♪ It's ALWAYS THERE! ♪
♪ The evil face that makes me defend religious bullshit without care...... ♪

♪YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Organichu · November 2008

If I'm in America I'll celebrate Christmas. If I'm in Israel I'll not celebrate Christmas. Time will tell.

I'm sure I'll enjoy either.

Casual Eddy · November 2008

Nice one jeffe! It even fits the meter of the song

JamesKeenan · November 2008

This is awesome.

stares and watches
eats popcorn

Quid · November 2008

Qingu wrote: »

But then, why not just call it Solstice? That's the source of the tradition, not Jesus' birthday.

Is anyone forcing you to not use Solstice? And what's wrong with using Christmas? It's meaning isn't just the one you picked you know.

bunch of other stuff

Kay. What makes you think everyone celebrating a holiday are celebrating it for the same reasons?

Cause seriously, most of Asia doesn't give two shits about Jesus.

Quid · November 2008

Oh, and despite being only a third day's drive from family this year, I'm going to be staying home with the missus and our death tree since she works retail.

Organichu · November 2008

Working retail on Black Friday is my most anticipated holiday moment each year.

Penny Arcade

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