That is a lovely, well thought out comment, sir. And I do agree with you 110%. It has manifested itself into Tradition and Tradition holds much weight.

I tend to only accept gifts that were hand made for me. I do not like people to spend money on me. I hate that. I don't like anything that is over the top expensive. I think it is a waste of money. I don't even like jewelry that is overly fancy. I prefer it simple too, esp during the holidays. I agree! Store bought, its a holiday of commercialism. That is the downfall to it. I AGREE!!

I actually... agree with you on that one, sir! This is true. I just wish we could find a way to extend this One Day onto a larger calendar of days.

Family for me too

Those are also valid facts you mentioned. I try not to invest my cash into it as much as humanly possible. I put limitations on it. I do love that many people I rarely have a chance to see trickle back home for he holidays. Those perks, i cannot deny!

Bingo. I think you hit the nail on the head. It was the same for me even when I was a believer. I just sat in the church to appease my grandmother, my family. I was typically bored into a coma whenever we had to "pray in christmas" or "pray in the new year." However, the good side: Potluck!! All those grandmas sure knew how to toss together a decent, god loving spread for the church meal! haha Gotta find those silver linings!!

That is certainly true. The holiday has created a time when most human being have time off and are able to be together, in a number of cases, it is the Only time they can all get together. Those are the things I love about the holiday season, too.

That is how I see it myself. Agreed.

That is a good balance to have.

Yes. Even as a child I found the hypocracy of One Day a year, one small window in time, where we are Encouraged to be kind. And one day a year when we are basically wallet raped because we are forced to supply gifts, otherwise, we are assholes, right? hah! And yes, this is the price, but I would rather pay this price than to be blind and in the dark. I rejoice in the knowledge because for me, I don't need to Waste my time crediting some... big dude in the sky for my failures or my successes and I am not governed by a set of rules that box my intelligence and my yearning for experiences by keeping my freedoms held hostage. I also believe if there Were a god, there is no way on Earth we could understand how to comprehend his/hers intentions with our mere, human brains. And any god I would believe in would, first and foremost, chastize the behaviours of Most Christians, religious folk in general, the ones that insight violence or shoving of their points of view down the throats of the unwilling. Any god I would believe could exist would be more so benign... not all Fire and Brimstone. Religious texts as so versed in such a way that it was Clearly the mind of a Man who dreamed that fantastical shit up. I mean, thats how I see it anyway. I might as well read Grimm's Fairytales to that of the bible. I would get just as much insight, I am sure. lol

@Sadoi811 Impressive. … ‘wallet raped,’ perfect. You’ve put it together, I feel I have too, so why can’t everyone (present company excluded)? And why should our free thinking be so rare, or feared? Are we that exceptional, god-like? ...or is humanity as screwed up as it appears…

Dog damn - I can’t shake this place! Granted, I’m ‘home alone,’ on X-mess, thousands of miles from former friends and family -- but I’ve fought online for many years supporting Atheist Rights, and would be ‘lucky’ to have 1 or 2 ‘like minded’ folks chime in to help. Here, and relatively new at that - I’m surrounded! And to read a response like yours, then on to another … wow, and thank you ~

@Varn Aww why thank you. I much appreciate kind words based upon the intelligence ratio of the compliment giver. haha! I am also thousands of miles away from my own family. I understand that feeling. I do have my children with me though so that is a something. It would be nice to have elder members of my family around me during the holidays though, but I am still okay, with or without. Maybe as we get older, we begin to grow more comfortable within our own skin so alone time isn't a feared thing or a status curse. I enjoy being alone actually. haha! I consider it a compliment from me to me considering I truly enjoy my Own company. lol! Ego aside. I also agree with you about the quality of responses and of people here. Why didn't someone think of this long ago?? Its been a pretty sublime experience for me thus far, too!

@Varn oh yes, and we are feared because we are considered void of morals if we are void of god. Or dare we say We are God to ourselves. That is blasphemy, you know! haha! Only unorthodox types could think such things!! lol! Well, at least the good deeds I Do, I do out of a place that receives no hope or thought of reward. But... I (we), we are the fucked up ones, right? lol. riiiight.

@Sadoi The thing I’m noticing about getting older ..is that I’ve never done it before And though you’re right about becoming more comfortable within our ..thinning skin (never knew that was actually a thing!), there is an aspect of being haunted by memories of ..better days … and the realization they’re not likely to be repeated... I’ve a lot of time inside my head, and though I also ‘appreciate’ my observations and humor, it feels wasted.

And yes, this place is amazing, though addictive… But, as much as you feel you have in common with anyone, the more you share, the more differences appear.. I appreciate watching friends navigate that in a relationship, wondering if I’ll ever get that good.

Yes, good ol’ Blasphemy, that victimless crime I appreciate your wisdom, humanity is lucky to have us, whether they realize it or not ~

Oh yes. Very true. I have only seen the Nativity in the front yards of churches and maybe, maybe, one or two homes. Instead I see dancing reindeer, even dancing candycanes... heck, I even saw a Dancing Pickle Rick at one of the houses I frequently drive past. haha

Agreed.

Hahahha! That is a kind gesture, and tradition of sorts, to continue to hold to. I am sure your children appreciate it.

@Sadoi811 It is a parent responsibility to show your 3 children how you handle a divorce. I have never spoke wrong of their mother... she had not been that kind about me but does not matter I won't smear their DNA. They come from Good Stock, both sides. She need to keep me alive to get half of my military pension anyways. I need her dead to get that other half... is our joke!!!!

I grew up on the Coast of Central California and the Hawai'ian Isles so I am not well versed in the snowy nature of this season. I am used to being in a swimsuit, grilling up tri-tip and veggies outside next to the pool, in front of the Pacific Ocean. lol! I now reside on the lakeshore of Lake Michigan and we get so much snow... driving in it is a form of hellish torture for me, ugh! Let me just say, I am Nooo fan of Winter. This is bullshit. And yes, I like to hostess so I am usually the one who makes ALL (yes, All, and I'm not exaggerating) the food and boy, do I make a total spread! I do the turkey, pineapple spiral ham, about 10 sides, tons of veggies, salads, appetizers of all types, pies, cakes, cookies, bar desserts, etc etc. I don't mess around. So yeah, I celebrate. However, there isn't one, single religious icon in my digs. No thank you sir! I quickly change the channel PAST the publically broadcasted church pray-in's and masses. I go for horror instead. haha! I prefer to play The Shinning on Christmas day. On Christmas Eve, I play Twilight Zone (original of course) most of the day and in the night I watch Logan's Run, Fantastic Planet (and anime from the 70's, French) then more horror. Those are my traditions... thus far. hah

hahah! Good answer! Now go scream that into a few religious mass gatherings? I would like to be there too. Let me know where we are meeting. HAHA

I agree with you. I think, for me, the tradition rolls on because I have children. They still have a connection to it. I do have fond memories of family get togethers on Christmas too, but for me, it was always void of snow as I grew up in the Central Coast of California and Hawai'i. I now reside on the lake shore of Lake Michigan and, wow, SNOW ANYONE? Jeez I loathe the stuff! haha! Winter is like... the long months of death for me these days. lol! The city I reside in is very religious, upper class, white bread America. I fit in like a dreeam if you can imagine! I was raised by hippies. I am anti-government. Yes. I can't see myself sipping wine at the typical get together as we mix and mingle and pretend to have concern this one time of the year. I prefer to keep it low key, celebrate for the sake of celebration... for the family time. Otherwise, I kind of prefer to check out by way of holiday... things. I am the only one in my family who has traveled to this snowy land as well, so not being near them sort of dulls the desire as well, however, the children... As for Christmas music, I must admit, I am that asshole that dislikes Christmas music, minus some old few as well. I was actually thinking as I read your first sentence and before I saw your (little drummer boy, anyone?), I thought to myself, "one of the few Christmas tunes I can handle is (about then I saw your notation) Little Drummer Boy..." haha! So it must be a good one!

@Sadoi811 Nooooo! Not little drummer boy!!! How could you? =P

Yes. I spent over a decade searching for "The Truth" as though it is just That simple and That obvious! haha! Oh the ponderings of the young mind. In time, as I researched religion after religion, my faith eventually became crushed under the weight of Logic and Sensibility and all God was choked out of my system. However, during that collection of years, I honestly could have majored in Theology and been granted a phD for all the work i completed. hahah

I believe you are correct, sir. Yes. I think at this point it is merely habit, cultural norm. I mean, can any of us in Modern America say we have known a time without Christmas? Even if you are Jehovah Witness, you Still know Of the holiday seasons, short of celebrating them. I cannot recall a time I never know of a Christmas. Or an Easter for that matter. I also know of Asian holidays too, though, since I am half Japanese and was raised by my Asian family. It is like going through the motions when I celebrate or do so with my own children. I know they love the tradition. I don't want to make my children feel like freaks so I opt to tell them I Celebrate Christmas because of the Winter Solstice and have changed, in my mind, what it is I am joyous about, however, if They want to believe it is the birthday of Jesus or a time when a Jolly, rosy cheeked man flies around the Entire Earth in One night, dropping gifts down chimneys, then Sure. As for mom, mom looks at holidays in terms of seasonal changes, but not as dates created due to Heavenly, etheral happenings. I just want them to decide for themselves What they believe. I always share my point of view and I always tell them to Decide for Themselves what they believe. If they end up athiest or agnostics too, i hope it was an organic process for them because unlike most Christians, I will never Force feed my child a faith and force them to agree that it is 100% Truth without Ever having given them the chance to Decide for themselves. I never want them to follow my lead simply Because I am their mother. I love my children and in that, I love their rights to choose their own truths.

They are lucky to have such a thoughtful Mother. @Sadoi811

@skado aww thank you.