A Christmas-lovers' thread!

Xofer = Christopher.

That's right SueDonim
^The word for Christ in the Greek is Christos. In Greek, the twenty-second letter of their alphabet is written as "X" (the "X" of Xmas) and is pronounced CHI. It is the first Greek letter in the word for Christ.
The early church used the first two letters of Christos in the Greek alphabet 'chi' and 'rho' to create a monogram (symbol) to represent the name of Jesus. This looks like an X with a small p on the top: ☧

That depends on who you believe, Mabon. The word Xmas has a centuries old history.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas

Absolutely love it! Every moment of it. Mainly the family togetherness, meals together etc.

It is Christmas not Xmas.

It is not Xmas, it is a celebration of the birth of Christ, not someone named X. It is Christmas.

Furniture retailers advertise' we can deliver your new suite in time for xmas' Who in their right mind would want a new suite at that time of year with the merrymaking and abundance of food, sticky fingers comes to mind, that goes on at this festive time.?

No problem with how folk want to and when to start their Christmas but having to go through the way it is shoved at us by retailers and TV is something I can do without.

I am a nurse...need I say more? Lol

Christmas cupboard filling up nicely .

Christmas trees - when dds were still at home, dh used to take them off to a garden centre to choose - with me saying, 'Don't get such a massive one this time!' - but they'd invariably come back with a whopper - he'd often have to saw two feet off the bottom before it would fit under the ceiling! And the base diameter would be so huge, we'd have to do some major furniture shifting to make room.

Luckily it's just me with him nowadays, and we stick to a 'modest' 5 or 6 footer - still plenty big enough IMO. And at least we don't have to shift any furniture.

I love Christmas. I know it's a roller coaster time emotionally, I accept not everyone is having an easy time and in fact, I know we won't be because of bereavements, family issues and many other difficulties. None of that will detract from the joy that can be felt at this special time of year.
I always made a cake at October half term but currently I'm wondering whether to buy a small Christmas cake and make a couple of Middle Eastern orange type cakes, which keep well and are devoured by my adult children who don't like fruit cake (why not!?)
I listen to Carols, love playing the Messiah and my old Best Christmas Ever CD's, making mince, mince pies, cooking a ham on Christmas Eve and a turkey on Christmas Day. We're a much smaller gathering than when we were often 17 round the table. We had garden benches, garden chairs, borrowed an add on table but someone all managed to fit around and eat copious amounts.
Then, as now, various family gatherings need to be accommodated. My adult daughters and partners ate two Christmas dinners one year but we're slightly better organised currently.
I love the Nativity and hope to attend round the crib this year with grandchildren, at the Church their parents attended at the ages they are now. Their parents don't go to Church but they do make an exception for Christmas Eve

I can't stand Slade and I do become slightly bored by folks moaning about what an extravaganza it is - but surely its up to us to make it good.

My DD too has also completed her Christmas shopping. Wanted it all done since DGS2 is only a week old. ❤️?

Yes, indeed it was Witzend, and isn't it wonderful to be able to take the bits you like from all of the festivals (Christian and non-Christian) to make the season your own?
Easter, too, has Pagan origins.

After all, it was a pagan, Midwinter Festival long before it was absorbed into a Christian one, and no wonder they needed that, when you think what winter must have been like so long ago - it's bad enough now!

I often think that's why Christmas was not traditionally such a big thing in Mediterranean countries - Easter was certainly bigger when we lived in Cyprus - they didn't have such horrible, cold, dark winters that needed brightening up.

IIRC the Yule Log is a leftover from the pagan festival and they still call Christmas Jul in Sweden, though you don't often hear 'Yuletide' any more in the UK.

She is super organised, Sodapop as is her sister. I won't talk about her brothers here!

Your daughter is super organised Suedonim they say if you want something doing ask a busy person.
I love all the things mentioned by other posters. I used to enjoy visiting a local garden centre where they had a fantastic array of gifts and decorations. There is nothing like that here in rural France.
Christmas carols, reading again the Christmas story, its all familiar and heart warming.

By the way, my daughter has informed me this morning that she's just finished all her Christmas gift shopping! She puts me to shame - she's married, has just moved house, has a small baby and holds down a responsible job! I don't know where she gets her organising genes from - it certainly isn't me or her father.

I have both Muslim & Jewish in-laws and they love Christmas! I think there's something for everyone at that time of year and that you can make of it what you want, small or large. There are no rules.

I don’t really love Christmas ( am I allowed on here?)
But I do like it.
We all need a bit of light and cheer in Winter.The religious side of it doesn’t resonate with everyone ( it does for me though) but what I mean is that all can join in, even our Hindu friends do.
No need for anyone to be Scrooge like at this time of year, enjoy it all!

We buy a tree from a local estate - I live in Scotland where some estates have small Christmas tree plantations. There are so many types to chose from! Last year, the owner's daughter was helping out, along with her two day old baby! My own Dd had just had her first baby, too, and that really made Christmas for me. Shame I had the flu for three weeks from Boxing Day, which rather took the shine off it, but never mind!

Yes, Grannygravy, we're going to a children's crib service too, where they can dress up and take part, in a lovely little old church near dd's house. Gdd at only 2 was slightly overwhelmed by it all last year, but I'm sure she'll love it this year. Gds was too little last year, but as a very rumbustious 2 this time, I dare say he'll enjoy taking part, too.

Our indoor tree, always real, doesn't go up until about a week before the day, so that it stays fresh until 12th Night. Our decorations are a very varied assortment, some dating back to when I was small and very excited to see them come out each year, though since money was tight we only ever had a very small tree, that was dug up and re-planted in the garden each year.

The poor thing would struggle to recover each time, but eventually it was 'pensioned off' and allowed to grow properly.

Absolutely love Christmas, I bake Christmas cakes, mince pies, sausage rolls and Christmas puddings. I cook a gammon ham for all AC as well as home made chutney and pickled onions.

Have a large real,tree in lounge which GC decorate (ends up being very eclectic) I have my Christmas tree in dining room decorated with silver and Chrystal decoration.

Wouldn't miss the Christmas Eve crib service with AC and GC, it is a very special and grounding part of the celebrations.

Yes I love Christmas too. Loved it when DD was growing up even until she left home we always put our tree up together, listening to Christmas carols in the background with a wee glass of mulled wine to accompany. It's not quite the same doing it myself but that can't be helped. Love looking and buying new Christmas ornaments etc and making the whole house feel Christmassy. Love the cooking of the dinner, although it is a bit stressful but hey ho no matter it's all good fun. Even more now that we have2 DGS, one who shall know that Santa will be putting toys in his stocking, he is now 2.5, the other will just be 2 months old and probably will sleep through it all. Just love the atmosphere. It will be different this year as DD and family normally stays over but with two of them now that won't be happening but I do appreciate things have to change. Lets hope everyone has a great time leading up to and during the festive season.

I've just re-read my thread, and I mean "a week or so before Christmas Day" that the decorations go up, not a week or so before the Advent wreath, as it might read as if that's what I meant! ??