What Does Christmas Mean To You?

[Bahku]

My vote for the absolute WORST Christmas poem ever written, (perhaps the worst poem, period):


Another Christmas Of Agony

Misha the dog lies dead in the bog
The children mourn over the carcass
The mist chokes my heart
Covers the mourners
At least this year we eat.

       - Kalashnikov


If that doesn't make you appreciate Christmas, I don't know what will. 

The guy that invented the gun? I kinda like it

Should have known you'd like that one, Eja ... glad you enjoyed it. It is nice in a very depressing, morbid kind of way.

[jackson_34]

A stress-free time to focus on family and friends! Nothing else matters whatsoever 

[nickagneta]

Great Christmas music. Music that reminds you of all your great Christmas memories and makes you smile and sing along. Music that makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck a little because it's a religious themed song done so well. Music that makes you smile and happy.

Great Christmas smells. Evergreen. Baking pies and cookies. That cold snowy smell when out in the air. The burning incense at church.

The Christmas sights. Decorated Christmas trees. Well decorated and lit up homes at night. Mistletoe and wreaths. Big mangers and Christmas specials on television.

Christmas feelings. Joy. Happiness. Generosity. Thankfulness. Surprise. Love. Family warmth.

[greg683x]

I guess I can add a different side of the spectrum to all of this.

I'm happy guy, I love my current situation in life.  I'm 26, I love my job and make plenty of money to support myself, I have a woman that I dated for 2+ years and although we know we wont work out in the long run, we remain very close and are 'friends with benefits'  Other than my family, shes the only one I have to think about around christmas time because me and my friends have never exchanged presents......and I obviously have no kids.

So I guess, I'm kind of in that grey area part of life when it comes to Christmas happiness.  The only fun in christmas right now for me is trying to find creative presents for people that they didnt ask for but still love.....and obviously receiving some of my own.  Christmas is obviously a special time of year and I just remember how magical it was for me as a kid, but I havent REALLY enjoyed Christmas in a real long time.....and I probably wont until I have kids and I can see their faces light up like so many of you are talking about......I guess when life some full circle in that aspect.

Seeing family and friends is also nice, but most my family lives in the area so I really see them a lot anyway....hell you can find me and most of my cousins out at bars together in DC on a regular basis.

So I guess thats me providing my other end of the spectrum perspective of christmas.

Happy Holidays to Everyone! and be Safe Celtic Fans!

[GreenFaith1819]

It used to only mean:

*Time together with family. 

Since many of us live around the country (and world) it was a chance to catch up with each other.  However, as I get older, and more financially secure, it also means:

*I have to find a gift for everyone. 

I really hate the consumer aspect of Christmas.  And I don't just mean gift giving amongst family members (which is fine), i mean the whole shebang -- the whole idea that starting Nov. 1st or so, Starbucks changes its colors to red and green (for example) and pipes jingle-bell music through the speakers.  But I also feel that way about the consumerization (is that a word?) of all the holidays (eg: Valentines Day, Mothers Day, etc).

**All that said, I don't want to come across as a scrooge.  My wife and I are expecting our first child in January, and I have no doubt that Christmas time will take on a whole new meaning very soon...

Congrats on the pending birth! I was there to cut the cord for both of my boys. God's been good.

They are a handful, as you are about to find out, but I tell you NOTHING in the world will enrich your life like being a father, at least in my opinion.

I did not have the best examples of fatherhood growing up, so I have to give thanks to God for showing me the way thus far. I don't get it right all the time, but no one does.

Enjoy your pending fatherhood, Cman....they don't stay small for long, I tell you.

[Jeff]

I like what Linus says in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.



I'm a sucker for cartoons.

[nickagneta]

I like what Linus says in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.



I'm a sucker for cartoons.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, JEFF!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn10FF-FQfs

[Kiorrik]

.edit: oh shugs.

http://i.imgur.com/ddL79.gif

[nickagneta]

Just letting people know I'll be off the blog from mid afternoon on the 24th until probably the 26th or 27th. So Merry Christmas fellow CBers and:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34zwVfnQBoc

[nickagneta]

Of course, this is without a doubt my favorite moment in Christmas specials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yon2YuXssvo

[Edgar]

times have change....

[King Mob]

Stan: Yeah, and you know, I think I learned something today. It doesn't matter of you're Christian or Jewish or Atheist or Hindu. Christmas, still, is about one very important thing...

Cartman: Yeah, ham.

[Bahku]

Of course, this is without a doubt my favorite moment in Christmas specials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yon2YuXssvo

For high school I went to a prep school in Maine called North Yarmouth Academy ... one of my classmates and friends was this guy named Adam Shawn, whose father, Dick Shawn used to be a famous comic, and was the guy who was the voice (and likeness) of Snow Miser in this Christmas Special and clip. I also had a classmate one year named Rick Hilton, who is Paris Hilton's dad. He was only there for one year ... as a precaution against kidnapping/abduction, they had to change his school every year or half-year ... he was a very unhappy kid, and very lonely. I still exchange Christmas cards with them, but reunions are very rare at boarding schools, as logistics of people makes it's very difficult ... so I haven't seen anyone for years.

[Bahku]

I am so thankful that my family is healthy and safe this Christmas ... I often take so much for granted. I had to inform a family this afternoon that their 13 year-old son, brother, nephew, grandson, succumbed to injuries and head-trauma from an automobile accident in which he was a passenger ... on Christmas Eve. There were four others in the car and none had life-threatening injuries ... they were wearing seatbelts, he was not, and was thrown forward through the windshield.

That family's Christmas will forever more be tarnished by this tragedy ... and will most likely never be a happy occasion again, but rather a painful reminder. So tonight when I go to sleep with the knowledge that my loved ones are safe and sound, I will say a prayer for so, so many who are much less fortunate. Christmas means counting your blessings ... and not taking those simple things for granted. God bless you all.

[Bahku]

I just received my Christmas present ... a win in Orlando! It wasn't wrapped very nicely, but I'll take it just the same. Thank you, Big Guy!