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Any MacRumors Members who do not celebrate any holiday?
- Thread starter maestro55
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So, not a "holy day", then?
While we're at it, please forgive me for not worshipping Thor on Thursdays
That's kinda the point I was making; In the UK holiday has become a catch all for time off work/school etc. and is used for summer holidays to Ibiza, which don't really fall into the 'Holy day' original phrase, although a lot of time is spent on one's knees and scream God's name.So, not a "holy day", then?
In America they use English more simply and literally. Holidays are the Holy days, vacations are when you vacate your home, sidewalks are the walkways at the sides of a street, pavement is the paved street(both road and sidewalk etc. etc.
So in American English, is "Friendly fire", still "Friendly fire"?
Actions speak louder than words, though
Actions speak louder than words, though
The UK is being taken overtaken by foreigners? I wonder what the Welsh think about that?
I know nobody except the Scots benefit from it, and everybody would rather it were non-existant, but that's for another thread.
Could make a book out of that let alone a thread
...On the one hand we take them in and have one big English union, but get their beliefs and accents...
Or let them go independent and have them in a right old state :/
Ah well, merry Christmas everyone
Debating the meanings of English words with those who are part of other cultures who use it is rather pointless. It would be no different than asking one of us Americans "Why do you say 'every two weeks' instead of 'every fortnight'?" Or "Why do you call your homosexuals 'fags'? Do you smoke them?" Or you folks looking funny at one of us after we called one of those belt-mounted pouches (used for storing money, keys, bottle of aspirin, etc.) a "fanny pack". Or a wrench vs. a spanner. And so on and so on...
The U.K. refers to days taken off from work, or business-closing days as holidays. We have no formal word for those days themselves here in the U.S. For us, a holiday is always and only any of those number of specific days associated with some kind of spiritual, religious, or historical event. Christmas, Easter, Forth of July (oh, now isn't that a rub with Britons?), etc. And oddly enough, business may or may not necessarily be closed on any of those days over here.
So there!
Back on topic...
If it were up to me, I wouldn't celebrate Christmas.
It's more of a habit to "celebrate" with my family.
I live alone, and since my mother died in the Spring so does my father. So my sister who is married with 3 little boys invited us over for Christmas day's eating and drinking. And with those 3 cute little nephews you just have to bring along some presents.
But I celebrate it just because I get invited over, and not for myself. I am sure I am not the only one who actually gets sucked up by other people's Christmas celebrations...
If it were up to me, I wouldn't celebrate Christmas.
It's more of a habit to "celebrate" with my family.
I live alone, and since my mother died in the Spring so does my father. So my sister who is married with 3 little boys invited us over for Christmas day's eating and drinking. And with those 3 cute little nephews you just have to bring along some presents.
But I celebrate it just because I get invited over, and not for myself. I am sure I am not the only one who actually gets sucked up by other people's Christmas celebrations...
I suppose next year I will celebrate HumanLight day on the 23rd. Looks like a holiday to fit me, perhaps instead of giving gifts to friends I could give gifts to the needy. Seems the HumanLight celebrations are gaining interest among many people and it makes sense, it is more than the made-up holiday of Christmas (why celebrate the birth of Jesus in December when the man was actually born in the spring or summer time? Why, because of the Pagan Yule celebration).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HumanLight
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HumanLight
I think you're right. Most Americans don't know how "Christmas" came about, what it means, how it was incorporated into the Christian religion, etc. I think it's sad that an atheist like me knows more about the history of Christmas than many so-called Christians.
Christmas these days is largely a commercial venture, ensuring that retailers end up in the black (they hope).
Which is why my family celebrates by getting together, spending time together, and not exchanging gifts. We used to do it years ago, but then asked ourselves, "what's the point?" We're not starved, or needing anything important. If we want an item, we're all capable of getting it ourselves.
Then again, we're not Christian (by birth or conversion), so I guess it's easier for us to get into the true spirit of the holiday, rather than get bogged down in consumerism (as ironic as that is!).
QFT.
My family's Jewish (I'm Atheist and think religion's one big lie, but this isn't PRSI so I'll shut up now) and the only celebration of Chanukah I do is exchange gifts and spend time with the family. I don't follow the traditions or believe any of the stories behind it though.
I caught an elf this year. He's tied up on my balcony. Soon he will crack, and give up the secrets to Christmas. One by one, the holidays will fall. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving; they'll all be mine in the end.