Best and worst things about christmas

patrickbrophy18

Best Parts:

1. Getting to unwind with family, friends and loved ones
2. The build up with festive decorations, music and Christmas markets
3. Letting yourself go from a dietary perspective albeit, temporarily
4. Catching some extra sleep
5. Seeing peoples faces when they open presents

Worst Parts:

1. Like many things, it eventually comes to an end
2. The sudden anti-climax, tied in with number 2 in the Best Parts list
3. Post Christmas blues, predominantly kicking in on the run up to New Years Eve as it spells the end of the Christmas break
4. The hyper-commercialized nature takes away from the true meaning
5. With each passing year, it goes by that much quicker

Generally, it is a nice, cozy time for many. However, I do have the utmost sympathy for those less fortunate for whatever reason e.g poverty stricken, abusive home environment, loneliness etc.

eeguy

erica74 wrote: »

For me, Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with some make believe diety. Like many posters have said, it's a special time of year to celebrate with loved ones when everyone has at least a couple of days off work so people have more time to visit each other and more time to spend with each other. For me it's about celebrating life and the year that has gone by.
Also, I'm not an Atheist. For me, calling yourself an Atheist is only describing what you don't believe in, rather than what you do believe in. I don't know how to label myself and my beliefs.

Exactly. As much as I hate the phrase "The Holidays" used in the US, that's what it is. A few days off to make a big deal about the special people in your life.

You don't need to be religious to celebrate an event.

flaneur

I love the atmosphere, the lights, the decorations, the scents, the food and the hanging out with people - both ones I do see regularly and people I don't.

It's very obviously a mix of all sorts of pagan and non religious festivals that are timed to coincide with winter equinox (4 days ago) and a religious festival tagged onto it. You have to have something in the deepest, darkest parts of the Northern hemisphere winter, or we would have a pretty grim few months!

I actually single handedly cooked dinner for 10 people today. Enjoyed it but was starting to get a bit tired after 6 hours of continuous cooking, even with all the wine. It turned out great though and everyone seemed to like it.

I also drove over 500km yesterday to pick up elderly relatives and get them here. So I'm a bit wrecked. Not complaining - it's a great to be able to do it.

The downside for me this year is I'm single. Broke up from a serious long term thing a few years ago and haven't moved on yet. I just find I'm missing the couply aspect of Xmas and actually most stuff. It's great being single in terms of being free to do your own thing, but then you find yourself wanting to go out for a meal, or drag someone to some sci-fi movie, head out for a walk or even just go away for a weekend and you'll have to do it all by yourself. I have friends but it's not quite the same. Xmas has been driving that home very hard.

I really need to start chatting people up !!

erica74

tomwaterford wrote: »

Best:
Having laugh with family

And seeing all the ads put up on donedeal by obviously drunken people




Worst: the over ending pressure on people to spend money/party too much and have yoo many sweets

Also the amount of people going for PCP next week is boring listening to them go on and on about it

What's PCP?

suicide_circus

erica74 wrote: »

What's PCP?

It's a drug, also known as Angel Dust.

AndyBoBandy

Best: the build up to Christmas

Worst: the opposite side when each day it gets further away.

Malayalam

suicide_circus wrote: »

It's a drug, also known as Angel Dust.

Is this actually true? Is that what the poster meant by the amount of people going on about PCP? Thats seems weird. I thought it meant some kind of detox program from eating too much

jr86

Best: time off work, time with family, eat crap, forget about everything for a few days, lots of sport

Worst: commercialism aspect - farcical scenes in shops/supermarkets, people expected to spend money they barely have. I don't like how Christmas is pretty much pushed on people either.

At this stage I'm actually dying to get back into a routine again, my body is actually revolting from all the drink/crap food by now!

KaiserLu

The best:Eating a Wispa for breakfast. No one can say sh1t to me, it’s Christmas.

The worst: Driving by the smug pr1ck joggers out in full gear at 10am on Christmas morning. I just had a Wispa for breakfast. Who’s really winning here?

jr86

Re joggers on christmas Day, there's lots of charity runs this week and many sports teams will be mid season (soccer/rugby) and plenty GAA teams back first week january.

The roads are lovely and quiet too I can see why Christmas day appeals to them

tomwaterford

erica74 wrote: »

What's PCP?

New car finance (leasing).....everyone and there mother seems to be getting it

Malayalam

tomwaterford wrote: »

New car finance (leasing).....everyone and there mother seems to be getting it

Oh...Hahaha! That makes more sense.. For a minute there I thought loads of people were planning on going mental

Malayalam

Jayziz seen as me own car (our only car!) broke down a few days before the Christmas and is banjaxed according to the mechanic, I might be going on the PCP myself for the New Year... :pac:

CastielJ

best foof alcohol
worst too much family

dudara

The best thing about Christmas IMO is all the days after Christmas Day. Wonderful, cosy days to be spent relaxing, catching up with friends and family, eating nice food and drinking good wine while watching TV and reading, with the Christmas tree twinkling in the corner.

Today will be a leftover breakfast sandwich, a good walk, then reheated roast spuds for lunch, followed by the rugby and wine. Maybe another walk.

AndyBoBandy

CastielJ wrote: »

best foof alcohol
worst too much family

In fairness who doesn’t love a bit of foof at Christmas?

Mr.Wemmick

dudara wrote: »

The best thing about Christmas IMO is all the days after Christmas Day. Wonderful, cosy days to be spent relaxing, catching up with friends and family, eating nice food and drinking good wine while watching TV and reading, with the Christmas tree twinkling in the corner.

Today will be a leftover breakfast sandwich, a good walk, then reheated roast spuds for lunch, followed by the rugby and wine. Maybe another walk.

Agreed. I love these few days. The cooked ham with wholegrain mustard on hot bread with a strong cup of Barry's tea for lunch today was pure heaven.

I hate the madness, chaos, shopping and commercial over-kill before Christmas.. really hate it and every year it gets worse.

Just give me the relaxing days between Christmas and New year.. happy days.

5rtytry56

Best: Free choice of Coffee & fav Danish at favourite restaurant. And free glass of wine of my own choice in my favourite watering hole.

Worst by far: Stats about Calls to Childline on Christmas Day read out on radio news bulletins. Apparently getting worse than ever..

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

andekwarhola

jr86 wrote: »

The roads are lovely and quiet too I can see why Christmas day appeals to them

Agreed. Something really nice about getting out for a run over Christmas.

I tend to like the build up and the day best. I find the days between today and new year a bit boring and look forward to routine returning. I actually usually go into the office over that time so I've more days off left for summer.

TOss Sweep

dudara wrote: »

The best thing about Christmas IMO is all the days after Christmas Day. Wonderful, cosy days to be spent relaxing, catching up with friends and family, eating nice food and drinking good wine while watching TV and reading, with the Christmas tree twinkling in the corner.

Today will be a leftover breakfast sandwich, a good walk, then reheated roast spuds for lunch, followed by the rugby and wine. Maybe another walk.

One thing I miss about Ireland is this. Living in the US right back to work on the 26th.

tigger123

Patww79 wrote: »

I'd love to see a priest take a stand and ask any of the once a year heads to leave.

I went yesterday for the first time in about 10 years. Really felt the priest was trying to pit on a show cos he had his once a year crowd.

mrsdewinter

Patww79 wrote: »

Do they release or report on those stats all year round or just at Christmas? Seems a strange one to report on just at this time of year when numbers would surely be up because poor little Odhran rang in because mummy and daddy got him the wrong colour Nintendo Switch.

It's not strange at all. Christmas is particularly stressful for families where there are serious issues - say, substance abuse, marital break-up - at play. I wouldn't be surprised at all if calls spiked on Christmas Day when people are pretty much confined to the family home.
And I think it's good journalism to report the figures, putting a figure on the problem.
If people still believe that the calls to child protection services are from spoiled brats then clearly the information needs to gain greater circulation.

homerjay2005

nothing really negative about christmas in my opinion apart from the select few whingers who just moan and complain about it.

otherwise, its an incredibly special time of the year.

no.8

RobAMerc wrote:

I hate all the anti drink driving adds and misery campaigns from all the charities. I am thankful for what I have, I dont need to be made feel guilty for having it thanks

Sad sad comment

jeonahr

Amazing food but the lead up is over hyped to the point the day doesn't live up to itself. Or maybe that's just because I'm losing my childlike view of Christmas. Sad times.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Cork Lass

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

You’re really not being very Christian yourself.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

_Dara_

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Is this truly inane contention destined to always be trotted out every time the very understandable spike in calls to the service at Christmastime is reported on? Can you really not figure out other reasons why there would be more calls at this time of year? I have a friend working in child protection and there are times of year when call outs peak dramatically, Christmastime being one of them. Do you honestly think child protection gets involved when a spoiled brat doesn’t get the present they want? Is straining to appear oh-so-world-weary and cynical so important to you that you’ll sacrifice compassion and intelligent reflection on its altar?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

_Dara_

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Read my post more carefully. I obviously mentioned my friend working in child protection to back up the point that Christmas can be a turbulent time in many families. I did not say the news report was about child protection.

But, sure, more children call in because they didn’t get the presents they wanted. Derpy derpy derp.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

ChikiChiki

Best, catching up with friends, eating crap and time off work to chill.

Worst - Commercialism and people who really should not drink using it as an excuse to drink to excess (in my experience)

Wildcard7

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I can't believe people under 60 still go to mass! And yes I know I'm edgy.

Not half as edgy as grown people who go to mass even though they hate it, because they can't explain to their mommy why they're not going, only to anonymously complain about it on the internet afterwards.

_Dara_

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

No, I asked you if you really couldn’t understand why there would be more calls at this time of year. Both reading comprehension and logic taking a severe hit in casa Patww79 last night and this morning.

Tell me how

Patww79 wrote:

This post has been deleted.

An answer to the question "Give an example of an oxymoron?"

I love Christmas games.

suicide_circus

Wildcard7 wrote: »

Not half as edgy as grown people who go to mass even though they hate it, because they can't explain to their mommy why they're not going, only to anonymously complain about it on the internet afterwards.

What this lacks in dignity it makes up for by the fact that you can look into your mother's eyes as she's dying and say with reasonable conviction that they're going to see their dead family and friends soon and that you'll join them when your time comes. It's not glamorous or even honest but if it gives them an ounce of comfort on their deathbed then many people are willing to go along with it.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

eeguy

Patww79 wrote: »

You're just lying about what you asked now. One way around it I suppose.

Go back to sleep ya grinch :rolleyes:

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

FixdePitchmark

God help some of the people on this thread. And if you don't believe in God, Santa help us.

If you can't get a bit of joy out of Christmas you will struggle to get a bit of joy out of anything .

There is music , food , get togethers , a seasonal atmosphere , reflection , fun and games , decent tv , presents, meeting family some you like, hate and love, all at once .

There is a bit of shopping , sport events , charity events.

I'm just off now to meet 10 friends I meet every year and we are doing it 20 years .

Yes Christmas is very sad too and some people can't genuinely cope with any of above.

But it is your own state of mind too.

I know religion is not hip , but there is throwing baby Jesus out with the bath water too.

You can find anything you want in Christmas

flaneur

TOss Sweep wrote: »

One thing I miss about Ireland is this. Living in the US right back to work on the 26th.

Depends where you work.
I had to work Christmas Eve and was expected back on 26th and that was in a public sector job!! ( a few years ago )

woodchuck

Best: spending time with my family

Worst: spending time with my family

BuilderPlumber

Definitely the TV can be the worst aspect about Christmas. Namely Mrs Brown's Boys and such stuff. Why is that drivel pushed at us all the time? I am lucky to have DVDs of good films and series to watch in my own time.

The best things are wine, the dinner, presents, meeting good friends, family, DVDs and whiskey.

Rubberchikken

Best things family lovely dinner twinkly tree.
Wirse things working christmas night and st stephens night.
But off tonight so all is good.

PandaPoo

Best is the food, all the food all the time. I've been eating like a pig the last few days. I love giving presents, all the lovely lights and decorations around the place.

Worst is that my brother and sister aren't speaking anymore so this year it was a weird Christmas. Neither went to my parents on the 25th for the usual piss up. A real pity.