Is Xmas magical anymore?

Lysander

Lysander

Lysander

Capodecina
Soldato
Joined
1 Aug 2005
Posts
20,005
Location
Flatland
When I was younger I absolutely used to love the run-up to Christmas. The cold weather, the carols or classical music, the tree, the food and the organic nature of everything all made the whole thing special.

However, these days all Xmas seems to be about is deals at M&S, iPhones, X Factor and Amazon Prime. The problem is that these things aren't specifically related to Xmas, they're there all year round but just more prevalent in December, so it doesn't seem special.

In spite of the fact that I don't own a television it's still hard to avoid the above.

Have we totally lost the magic of Xmas in favour of commercialism? Or are major retail discounts the new 'magic'?
 
I was talking about this with work mates last night,It just doesn't feel like Christmas at all this year,Even with the weather its been not bad at all over here...I WANT SNOW!
 
Partly more commercialised and partly you are older now and so more aware of it.

Christmas is what you make of it I guess.

/Salsa
 
Magical for kids and women (they both should be made to feel special - or at least that is what society expects of us blokes!).

Massively more commercialised - not helped at all by people comparing gifts on social networking thereby each year trying to better one another.

I now look forward to time off, and some good food.
 
It's magical how quickly the money is disappearing out of my bank account. :(

I'm actually enjoying the build up more this year as my daughter is just getting to an age where she knows what's going on and is really excited. If she wasn't here I couldn't care less about Christmas.
 
It's always been commercialised in the 20th and 21st century, you're just older and more aware of it now.

Children help to bring back the magic though, as you have a reason for the silly man in a red suit, the presents, Santa's grotto etc.
 
glad me and the OH aren't the only ones, it's Christmas Eve and I still don't feel Christmassy. Hopefully this will change when we eventually have kids
 
I can see the magic by proxy, through my nippers, but for me alone it is just one huge commercial stunt - and something I'm resenting more each year. The planning and effort going into it is beginning to outweigh my energy.

I'm hoping to have a smaller celebration next year, focusing on my immediate family, and perhaps enjoying it again.
 
RedvGreen said:
Massively more commercialised - not helped at all by people comparing gifts on social networking thereby each year trying to better one another.
Click to expand...

Part of the reason I don't do Secret Santa at OCUK anymore, too competitive, with people clearly spending more that the allocated amount to outdo each other.

And people think my gifts are weird.
 
Christmas is about spending a week with family and seeing friends, not in work, relaxing and an excuse for a bit of indulgence we can't get away with at other times of the year. Magical or not, I just try to ignore the commercial side as much as possible - seems to work out!
 
SilverTongue said:
glad me and the OH aren't the only ones, it's Christmas Eve and I still don't feel Christmassy. Hopefully this will change when we eventually have kids
Click to expand...

My recommendations. Drink mulled wine, listen to medieval carols [don't know where to start, look up Anonymous 4 on Spotify], eat yule log or various Christmas biscuits or cake, keep the tree always in site, dim the lights, light some candles and turn the TV off.

You do not need kids to enjoy this time of year.
 
TheMightyTen said:
Keep Christmas in your own way, your fault if you don't. It's as magical as you want to make it.
Click to expand...

I agree. Each to their own. Personally I refer to Christmas as Giftmas, because nowadays that's what it's become. It's less about a religious festival like in days gone by and more about capitalist commercialism. Having said this, those people with children can still enjoy making Christmas magical for their kids despite the rampant commercialism.
 
The only real difference is that shops are open more around Christmas, plus online shopping makes things easy. I remember about 20 years ago always panicking at this time to try and get my parents a last minute present.

Things are easier now, but less Christmassy? Not sure - having kids makes you re-live a lot of the magic and excitement. Last night I dressed up as Father Christmas and went and fed the rabbits outside much to the amusement of my 4 year old who thought he was witnessing something amazing.

I guess a lot of it is how you live your life/who you spend it with.
 
its magical for my kids.

For me, i'm just looking forward to taking a week off work and the lots of drinking that'll take place.
 
Lysander said:
My recommendations. Drink mulled wine, listen to medieval carols [don't know where to start, look up Anonymous 4 on Spotify], eat yule log or various Christmas biscuits or cake, keep the tree always in site, dim the lights, light some candles and turn the TV off.
Click to expand...

Could not think of anything worse! :D
 
Now I have the internet and watch less tv it's actually not as bad as when I was a kid. For me it was more commercialised back then. About 10 toy adverts in between every pause for breath.

It's no different to when I was growing up in the 80's. All that happned then was you circled the stuff you liked in an argos catalogue or other catalogue. Now you just send links to stuff on the net or send them your amazon wishlist ;)
 
Lysander said:
When I was younger I absolutely used to love the run-up to Christmas. The cold weather, the carols or classical music, the tree, the food and the organic nature of everything all made the whole thing special.

However, these days all Xmas seems to be about is deals at M&S, iPhones, X Factor and Amazon Prime. The problem is that these things aren't specifically related to Xmas, they're there all year round but just more prevalent in December, so it doesn't seem special.

In spite of the fact that I don't own a television it's still hard to avoid the above.

Have we totally lost the magic of Xmas in favour of commercialism? Or are major retail discounts the new 'magic'?
Click to expand...

so translated, when you were younger you got stuff for free (good times) now that you're older you have to buy other people stuff (bad times) ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom