Go Fish explains it rather nicely, don't you think?

How do you view Christmas? What is it about to you? What do you normally do on Christmas?

I personally don't know what the whole "happy holidays" freak out is about. People will say what they want... for me the collective phrase "Happy Holidays" is just a simple way to refer to all of the winter holidays (including New Years). What's wrong with it? The phrase is inclusive, inoffensive, and does not give precedence to one religion or occasion. And of course, Christmas is not the only thing be celebrated around this time of year. But I'm not saying that should be your phrase of choice too.

I don't think the phrase is an alleged attempt to diminish Christmas as the video would suggest. I think it's an upwards of 75 to 80 percent of Americans profess allegiance to some denomination or another of Christianity... that does not constitute a cruelly oppressed minority and "Happy holidays" is not some form of anti-Christian bigotry. No one is trying to devalue Christmas.

"Happy Hanukkah," "Happy New Year," "Merry Christmas," "Happy Kwanzaa," and "Happy Festivus." No biggie, let people say what they want. (Of course the politically correct corporate world is another story... but who cares... they're just covering their own butts from being sued. We can't except them to risk it.)

And on to your subject... what is Christmas? I think there are many meanings to Christmas, some religious, some secular, but they all seem to fall under the same umbrella (goodwill, peace, family). I think the meaning of Christmas might be a bit different for me than for you, but I'm sure it all crosses paths at some point. (It's not all "lights and presents!" mind you).

And on second thought... this video might promote the sort of discussion that got the "Religious, are you?" thread locked. I'm not going to lock this myself, but I'd like to see what the other mods feel about it. Until then, let's not get out of hand.

Remember that this is not just a discussion on the video, but it's a serious question on how each one of us views Christmas and such. I do not mean to start a debate or just a discussion on the video. I just want to hear from my fellow Chex Quest fans on how they think of Christmas. I apologize if I have upset you in any way. I have modified my above post to more convey what this topic is about.

I, myself, think that Christmas is all about giving, and, indeed, the Ultimate Gift.

I have several views, most prominent being:

An overlypromoted renamed version of a week long roman festival that has turned into a coporate tool to get people to buy things.

Second, a time when people maybe, just maybe, would remember the true teaches of religion about being good to thine neighbor, do unto others, and all that jazz.

Thirdly, a time of year when there is NOTHING good on the radio.

No worries, I'm not upset. I was just expounding upon what was given to me at the time (just the video), but I did respond to the subject of the topic. The video was pretty knee-jerk and political.... I'm not sure that's my meaning of Christmas. It sounded kind of militant.

Anyways... for the holidays, my family and I travel down to Texas to spend time with family and friends. It's always fun spending lots of time with everyone. Before we head down, I try and spend as much time with my boyfriend and his family (his extended family have a ton of Christmas get togethers).

The best thing about Christmas, is being together, and siiiiinnnging a sooooooOOOOOOONNG!

My family sang Christmas songs at our 'real' Thanksgiving dinner on the Saturday after. :P

I used to love all the Christmas songs... but now they're being crammed down my throat starting the day after Thanksgiving via TV commercials. Makes me sad... :(

The more religious Christmas songs are still as beautiful as ever though (I'm so glad Honda hasn't made a commercial including one of those songs).

I love Christmas songs, religious and otherwise. What about the "Happy Honda-days" thing, or the "duh" thing from Hyundai?

One of my most favorite Christmas songs would be this 'en. John Lennon....

My dad came up with a brilliant solution to the 'happy holidays' thing. Whenever he hears someone say it to him, he says something like: "Thanks, you too. Which holiday do you celebrate?" And then whoever he's talking to almost invariably says, "Christmas." And so then dad says 'Merry Christmas!" :D


On the subject of favorite Christmas songs, my favorite is 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel'.

Mine too! One of my favorite bands does a beautiful (and traditional) take on that song. ^_^

That's one of the points stressed in the video I posted. :lol:

Really? I guess I should have watched the video, then... :P

Where did that come from? Where does he get his pictures?

ANYWAY: I like the Manahiem Steamroller and Transiberian Orcherstra songs that use the guitars and synths. Maybe thats just who I am, rock and synth.

But I do like the Bing Crosby songs that are more religious. Especialy 'O come all ye faithful'. (got the casette in my moms car.)

And I hate that happy honda days comercial

Kuwabara and I are going to try to carol to this woman in church who went to japan for her mission(and of course, knows japanese.) One of the songs is Hark! The Harald Angels Sing! It goes like this:


Ame ni wa sakae, Mikami ni are ya,
Tsuchi ni wa yasuki, hito ni are ya to,
Mitsukai-tachi no, tatauru uta wo,
Kikite moro-bito, tomoni yorokobi,
Ima zo umareshi, Kimi wo tataeyo!
Sadame-tamaishi, sukui no toki ni,
Kami no mikura wo, hanarete kudari,
Mitama ni yorite, Otome ni yadori,
Yo-bito no nakani, sumubeki tameni,
Ima zo umareshi, Kimi wo tataeyo!
Asahi no gotoku, kagayaki nobori,
Mihikari wo mote, kuraki wo terashi,
Tsuchi yori ideshi, hito wo ikashime,
Tsukinu inochi wo, atauru tame ni,
Ima zo umareshi, Kimi wo tataeyo!

^_^ Idk why, but I like the japaneese from you two. Hark! the herald angels sing is one of my favorite songs at christmas.

This is pretty much my take on Christmas carols and such...


And yeah, happy Festivus!

lol... i dont even like to sing x-mas carols (can't sing worth anythign anyways)

Allen had gotten some carols in Japanese. (What child is this sounds the coolest)

On topic: I celebrate it the way any Christian would. But instead of Happy Holidays, I say Merry Chrismahannakwanzakah to you! (there was a series of phone commericals using that.)

You know, I wonder why Christmas is selectively targeted by "happy holidays." I mean, "holidays" could be any holiday of the year. There are other holidays that get nicknames that sometimes negate the meaning of the holiday (Thanksgiving is "turkey day," Independence Day is "4th of July," etc.), but none of them are as generic as happy holidays. I've even heard it said, "Happy holidays and happy New Year!" Obviously, happy holidays is not just used as a substitution for multiple holidays, but as a substitution for Christmas and Christmas Eve alone.

Its was just a random day in december were its cold. ;)

america is predominently christian. its easier to appeal to the shoppers by advertising buying stuff for thier most popular holiday

The strange thing is, in Japan, only like 5% is Christian, but they all celebrate Chrismas.

A ton of non-Christian folks celebrate Christmas (my family does). I forgot about "Chrismahannakwanzakah".... it's the best way to go when dishing out holiday wishes.

And what makes you say that? :huh:

What? Chrismahanukwanzakah, you mean? I was just kidding. :P

my favorite part about xxxmas!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJD2ROYPPkc

everyone who mentioned that gets +1 LULZ.

I'll be honest. I've never heard of "Chrismahanukwanzakah" before until recently. I was just curious on what it meant (I have a good idea, anyway, but...), and what day of the year it's celebrated.

It's a fake holiday created by Virgin Mobile (as in the phone company). It was just an ad campaign, as Kuwabara mentioned.

Oh, an ad campaign. Yeah, those advertisers can get pretty silly, like the "Honda-days" thing or the "duh" thing. :P

Yeah, most of those ads are lame. Chrismahanukwanzakah was particularly cute though.

I guess if anything, I celebrate Chrismukkah... that seems like an appropriate hybrid. Or Festivus, since our X-Mas tree is pretty shabby and looks like a pole (A Festivus Pole).

I don't celebrate any holidays this time of year... I eleminate all humen contct except the over the internet... I am completly alone all month long. I see no one or talk to no one over the phone... I stay indoors and sleep... I don't buy anything unless it somthing to keep me alive... I don't give to any cherities, i don't volenteer my time to help others... I spend my time using the things i have and apresheating all that i have given... I reflect on my actions for the year and work on a way to make a better year next year... The reason I do this is because christmas is very stressful for me... By eleminating the month to stay at home and do the things I wish, elelimates alot of the stress, I hope... I am just starting this year...

I hope to elelimate all holidays from the year this year including my birthday... I just feel no need to see anyone or do anything on these days...

It sounds like you have a rather depressed life, Dvader0086.

Yep, i do... I've amounted to nothing over all these years... Besides all my family does is fight and I don't need all the new stuff at any of the holidays...

I have enough stuff... Besides all christmas is is a holiday that was made up by the card companies and toy comanies to sell stuff... Besides this is just an exparement... If I feel I am missing somthing from any of the holidays, I'll go back to celebrating them...

Just now I want to be left alone during any of the holidays... I just need time to think about improving my life without any distraction...

I don't believe this for a second. Besides, secluding yourself won't really help your depression, not at least in my opinion. It's like scratching a mosquito bite; sooths it temporarily, but the problem gradually gets worse.

And, in my honest opinion, Christmas was NOT made up by the card and toy companies. You can celebrate Christmas and not have a dime to give. Christmas is about giving (not necessarily material possession or money), being with family and friends, and the Ultimate Gift. The card and toy companies merely capitalize on it, like any other holiday. They did not make it, nor do they own it.

Now I am back to celeabrating christmas... I just needed that time away to find out what to do with my life... A bad thing though... I found out who my real friends were in real life... I realized that afew of them were taking advantage of me, by abusing me... Now out of four friends I have one... I just hope it get better from here on...

But I do wish everyone a merry christmas! May you and I have a better one!

I don't plan on being here on Christmas, but I don't plan on leaving the house, either. I don't want to even touch a computer. :P

I will be online on Christmas for ONE reason, and that is a sweepstakes I've been entering.

I'm trying to win my dad something he REALLY wants REALLY badly but I can't afford.