Certain Holidays

[Racket_Man]

I once complained about Sweetest Day with my Ex within hearing distance (a couple of years before we split for good) ie. "Just another madeup Hallmark created day." I got the longest meanest DeathGlare from her ever.

Hmmmm I too always thought it was Valentines Day lite in October. as in ANOTHER day where the male has to buy shit for the female or face repercussions.

** reads the WikiPedia article**** I guess my Ex NEVER knew SHE was supposed to give ME stuff/candy that day. she just ASSUMED I had to give HER stuff.

and I wonder if that was one of the many reasons "we" no longer exist as a couple. I guess she REALLY bought into the "created" day.

I no longer really care about Christmas as it has gone (to Quote Linus Van Pelt) "TOOO Commercial". the very name Black Friday gets its meaning from when retailers go "into the Black (or make a profit) finally" by inducing a feeding frenzy of blantant consumerism.

[Mytical]

That is a common misconception (on her part that is). Yep, the female is supposed to supply the male with candy/etc. I think it was billed as a feminist movement holiday (at one time), but had to do with the movement about as much as WBC does with Christianity .

The spirit of the holidays started out a good thing. They just have become so bloated and commercial that they can't be recognized. Exchanging a gift to those you love..for any reason..is a good tradition...brings people closer together. The greed and "WANT" aspect of it has gotten to be a bit much however.

[MaggieTheCat]

I like Valentine's Day, but my husband and I don't go overboard with it. We usually go out to dinner to a nice Thai restaurant (who thinks to go out for Thai on V-Day?) that always has a couples special, and then usually go to a movie or a play or some other event. We do dinner and movie/play/event several other times throughout the year so this is just like any of those days for us, just with a name attached to it.

I like Christmas, but I dislike how so many kids these days only see it as a time to get goodies from all their relatives, and not as a time to spend with family. I blame the parents for this, mostly (and kudos to parents like ana for teaching their kids early not to expect a million things.)

Case in point: When my nieces and nephews were little, my parents would usually host Christmas. It'd usually be both of my brothers and their families, me, my parents, and all of my grandparents, and sometimes other extended family. Thus, there were a lot of presents going around. We tried to always go around the group doing one present at a time, but the kids were just crazy -- you'd have to literally hold them back to keep them from tearing open all their stuff all at once. And it's not like they appreciated any of it. They'd open one thing, say "Oh cool!" then toss it aside and go for the next one. They'd open other peoples' gifts before they could read, thinking that everything under the tree belonged to them. All it was to them, was a loot-fest to see who could get the most crap. After all the gifts would open, the parents of the kids would take off without helping to clean up the mess and without the kids actually playing or getting to use their gifts with the person who bought it for them. It was disgusting. The kids are in their teens now, so I don't know if they're quite as bad (I haven't been home for Christmas for a few years) but I know it used to make my mom absolutely sick to her stomach.

My husband and I are staying home for Christmas -- our home, that is, and none of our family lives remotely close to us, so it's just going to be us and friends. We had our big Christmas party a week ago with a bunch of friends of ours. Another couple had their big Christmas party this last weekend, which we went to. Next weekend my husband and I will exchange gifts between ourselves and hang out with our local friends who don't have other plans going on. It is going to be absolutely wonderful. It's already been the best holiday season that I can ever remember. No family drama, no stress, no commitments or expectations. I talked to my mom last night, who is trying to plan my family's Christmas and she's so stressed out and upset about it for a variety of reasons. After I got off the phone with her, I just smiled and thought how lucky I am to be out of that scene now.

[Bloodsoul]

Where's Lobo when you need him? I think the Main Man could certainly put some of these holidays in their place.

Except for "Talk Like A Pirate Day;" he'd probably be down with that one.

[IDrinkaRum]

Grandparents Day

Started in 1978 in the US, now is recognized in other countries. In the US, it's the first Sunday after Labor Day.

[Dreamstalker]

Sweetest Day sounds like White Day where whoever got candy on Valentines Day is supposed to give it. Also invented by a candy company.

[Andara Bledin]

All it was to them, was a loot-fest to see who could get the most crap. After all the gifts would open, the parents of the kids would take off without helping to clean up the mess and without the kids actually playing or getting to use their gifts with the person who bought it for them. It was disgusting.

That would so not have gone down in my family.

Nobody got gifts until whoever was playing "santa" gave them out. They were given out one by one so everybody could watch. And we didn't get to do a thing with any of what we got until the communal paper dump happened - we would usually compete to see who could clean up more than the others.

And the boyfriend's cousin's kid was 2 when we first had Christmas with her. She didn't really understand it that first year, but we have her trained that she's to fetch a package and take it to the person whose name is on it and let them open it. We had to read the names for her the first couple of years, but she's getting them on her own now.

^-.-^