I've been pondering the War on Christmas again

[GrpCaptMandrake]

And I got to thinking about roots and causes and so forth.

Why don't we properly "cherish" Christmas anymore? Easy. Because here in America, every day is Christmas. Sorta like the Monty Python sketch about "Christmas in Heaven."

Once upon a time, Christmas was really special. Efforts were made to ensure that, for instance, tropical fruits (oranges) would be available. Seafood was brought in to places that didn't have it. We have all that all the time now.

Moreover, there was a time (even as recent as the last century) when Christmas was about the only good meal poor folks would have during the winter months. It *was* special. And it was chalked up to Yeshua the brown-skinned Palestinian carpenter.

The commercialization is annoying. The "War on Christmas" people are downright infuriating. But Christmas itself has lost some of its force and effect if for no other reason than our own ability to eat more than one really good meal per winter.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. We're spoiled and fat...

(before you flame me, I include myself)

[GrpCaptMandrake]

2. I seldom flame

Me, too. And I'm looking forward to that standing rib of beef on Sunday like nobody's business.

We've spent as much on Christmas Dinner as we have any other part of the day. And I think that's right to do.

[LittleClarkie]

5. We're having Hamburger Italiano at my house

It may not sound like much, but it's my brother's favorite dish that my mom used to make. So I promised to make it for Christmas for him. To hell with the ham and/turkey.

I'm also making my mom's shrimp salad.

We're on the all-carb diet.

[MazeRat7]

3. If you get flamed for being "accurate" then fuck 'em.

We are spoiled and fat. I think you left out stupid. We consume (per capita) more than a large collection of other 1st world countries. From a global perspective, we are the greediest, most wasteful, most decedent country on the planet and our education level falls behind many. *sigh.. oh well. its home.

MZr7

[REP]

4. No; It's Been Commercialized Beyond All Recognition

Most of the "cherished Christmas" memories peole think they have of times gone by are nothing more than false nostalgia. Go find older writings of frontier Christmases (written in the early 1900s about the mid 1800s) and you'll find vastly different recounts than the familpaloozas of sharingcaringivinglovingiftasms and damn few shrimp'n'oranges.

Yearning for a good ol Christmas is like yearning for the good ol '50s - nobody's yearning for anthing that really happened, just what they wish had happened. And we have the magic of marketing exploiting this delusional wishfulness, and insane commentators making it worse.

Christmas is a minor Christian holiday. Always has been. Almost always has been about drinking and eating (like the ancient holidays it usurped) and not about any moral issues, no matter how much any church has tried. Birth days are minor events in Christianity; death days are much more important (Easter is the reason for the religion, dontcha know). So no need for handwringing; just enjoy the rebirth of the sun and have a good time.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

7. I'm so pagan

I want the New Year changed to the Vernal Equinox. Growing up in Alabama, winter was cute when you got a two inch snow. Cute, hell! That was a blizzard. Four snowflakes in a minute was enough to close schools and declare martial law.

When I was a kid, my depression era parents still filled the stockings with nuts and fruits and trinkets. I *do* cherish that. And the meal was *huge.* That had a lot less to do with their rampant consumerism than a throwback to the sparse times in which they, themselves, were children.

I really don't need accounts of the 1850s somewhere else. I have my parents' and extended family's Depression-era memories right here in Coal Camp, West Virginia. Of course, one might fairly argue that the 1850s lasted into the 1940s here in Appalachia.

And, on a point of precision, I was thinking more of the oysters that went into the dressing.

[REP]

10. *Whooosh*

That was my point flying by on wings of your nostalgia.

I could tell you charming stories of my grandmother's Iowa Xmases (one tree for the town; gift exchange centralized; men on the roof with bells; lemon sours big payoff gift) but in the midst of the charm, the point may be lost - it was a fun day, sure; but not that big a deal! (Welsh in Ohio in 1850s less charming - more eating, more singing - Welsh find any excuse to sing - but no men on the roofs.)

As the for the stories from the 1850s, the point isn't the hardship (many didn't think they had it hard) or the lack of gifts (just not as many as we're used to) but the nonsentimental, nonreligious, fun feel those gatherings had - none of the overwrought Jeeeeeeeeesusday musthavefamilylove thing that people think we "used to have."

ObYorkshiremen: Your parents were lucky! During the Depression, my parents didn't even have socks. They had to wear the nuts they found in their shoes!

[GrpCaptMandrake]

13. I'm short on nostalgia

But long on the reality of this place where they lived and I do now.

Maybe your 1850s were a time of irreligious celebration. Dunno. Around here, the coal companies had the preachers in their pay to make sure the miners lived in a constant state of fear and misgiving.

But here, seventy years ago, religion was inextricably tied to the celebration. And the celebration, as you note, wasn't the orgy it is today. Of course, I don't necessarily think orgy = celebration.

But the bottom line remains the same: it's hard to make the celebration "special" when the same thing could happen on any other day. I see it today in the desperate attempt to harken back to those desperate days, when no one in their right mind would willingly go.

[REP]

16. Yup, My Methodist and Congregationalist Minister Ancestors Were Heathens!

The Iowa grandmother's father founded the first Methodist church in that part of Iowa; his in-laws founded the first Congregational congregation and the Welsh in Ohio were Non-conformist (Congregational) ministers as well. Christmas is a minor Xian holiday, so yeah, religion wasn't a big part of their parties but I do understand things are much different in Appalachia.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

17. Not heathens

just not slaves. Know what scrip is? When you're a coal company slave, it's what they pay you instead of money.

Slaves and peasants got a big day on Christmas. We can't match the emotional impact now.

[Hello_Kitty]

6. I flipped through that dumbass book at Borders

Looking for some outrage about the crass commercialization, greed, and gluttony. Couldn't find it. Go figure.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

8. That can be dangerous!

I flipped through an Ann-thrax Coulter book at a store once and caught myself mumbling to myself and sounding like a wingnut freak babbling about the Illuminati. Certifiably weird looks from the fine folks at Books-A-Million. :spray:

[Hello_Kitty]

11. I can't do Ann-thrax. I just can't.

Seeing her on the cover alone drives my blood pressure up.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

14. Well, as long as that's all

that gets driven up by the sight of her! (Sorry, guess that's a gender specific reference)

John Gibson's funky-ass hair makes me think of Bozo.

[Hello_Kitty]

15. I'm female so no worries there!

Right wingers are just fugly. Maybe that's why they're so mean-spirited.

[laheina]

9. I don't know that this is completely pertinent

but someone from the local Dems sent me this article.

http://nationalcatholicreporter.org/fwis/pc121905.htm

Sister Joan takes on the War on Christmas loonies. I love it!!

[Hello_Kitty]

12. That was cool! You go Sister Joan! n/t

[GrpCaptMandrake]

18. Excellent article!

Sometimes I wish the occasional fundie was allowed at DU just so we could listen to their ignorant, paranoid squawkings. I'd love to hear the squeals over an article like this.