I began thinking over the weekend, with all the well wishing on fb, messages, email ect about this.

Having spend 2 years in Thailand now, the year prior in New York, before that Prague, before that the Middle East and before that the Caribbean. I really haven't had a family xmas for a long time, and the charm is now lost upon me and i even find it quiet irritating.

Im young 26, yet for over 5 years i have not celebrated xmas as you would with a family and to be fair not even NY which still has its charm for me.

I find it strange to not have this well wishing feeling but on another as mentioned it is quiet irritating.

Wondering whether anyone else feels the same regarding this.

Edited December 23, 201312 yr by Jameskrabi

For me, it's just another (busy) day at my hotel. I can't imagine that it's Xmas when it's 30 degrees outside....

Simon

no Christmas for me. At home my parents always insisted on a family dinner (no presents).

But since 10 years nothing....

Well I guess for the 65 million Buddhists here it is just another day :-)

I'll be working same as usual, but I must admit I still get some of the excitement I had when I was a kid, even though I'm not a Christian, and there is no chimney for Santa to come down.

I like to to have a holiday dinner, but I enjoy the fact that the pressure is off in Thailand. If you want to celebrate you can. If not, it is no big deal.

BBQ & beer thanks; balls to Santa, turkey & mulled wine!

I am surprised it has happened to you so young, I always thought that it was something that came as you get older.

Christmas I always felt was for kids, watching their faces and sharing their excitement, the closeness of the family unit all gathered together etc. Sadly the kids grow up, lead there own lives, with world travel etc so easy now, things get diluted and just dont feel the same. Having lived out here several years it really is "not the same", and to a degree, just another day.

Got some great memories though of Christmas past.

To the OP ... Christmas is what you make ... not what it does for you.

If you choose to ignore it ... it will ignore you.

Sure, it mightn't be like Christmas back 'home' or when you were younger ... but isn't that the Joy of travelling?

Had you said that you were posting from Iran ... sure ... I could sympathise with your feeling.

It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

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Edited December 23, 201312 yr by David48

I can't imagine that it's Xmas when it's 30 degrees outside....

Simon

Aussies grew up with it.

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Copy/paste from a Thai teacher in Isaan:

"Christmas will come, a school will have Christmas day for students, we are not christtians but we have to learn the culture of native English speaker."

I won't let any of that crass commercialized bah humbug Christmas spirit get to ME no-sirree you-betcha (What a bunch of tough guys)

Edited December 23, 201312 yr by JLCrab

Christmas has no appeal here because of the temperature (yea Aussies grew up with it but nobody ever accused them of having any sense )

The fact that I am atheist also has its influence but the biggest thing is my family isn't here (Dutch part of the family).

Add to the fact back in the Netherlands many houses would have decorations out ect ect.. i just don have the feeling for it.

It changes everything for you if you have young kids. We have a little girl, 7 years old, just understanding Christ (sorry)-mas for the first time, We have a small Christmas tree on the table with presents under it, (DON'T touch!) and flashing lights outside. Tacky, I know, but it's worth it just to see her getting more excited every day. The whole near family will congregate on the farm around this time so celebrated it will be, a chicken or two will die, I will buy whisky and beer, dogs and kids will all get a treat.

Sure it's not like it was back home (we had a white Christmas almost every Christmas) but it does seem to be one time of year where family bonds are reinforced, wherever it is celebrated.

Firstly, I'm not a practicing Christian. I used to be like you, it was irritating and I couldn't care less about it but since I had kids, it's a joy to see the happiness on their faces when they are opening their presents from under the tree from Santa. My kids go to a Catholic school and when I went to their xmas party, I was sitting next to Jesus(statue). I asked him what he thought about Santa and how he was more popular than Jesus these days. He replied:-

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited

JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did.Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too.He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus!

Although I don't believe in the Omnipotence or Omnipresence of Jesus, and find the whole interpretation of his great teachings confusing, I believe he had a great message and use this time of year to remember some of them. One I particularly like at New Year time is :- "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." This means to me that although the past has often shaped my present, I can't allow it to dictate my future. I have been blessed with a 'plough' and it's my choice what I want to plant for tomorrow.

Now listen here young man, get those thoughts out of your head

Christmas is fantastic, it's the best time of the year IMO.

Rent a flick - Love Actually my favourite Xmas movie, sit back and think about all the good. Wrap a gift for yourself and call your family, when you're lucky enough to have your own family ramp it up and keep the tradition alive it's what our parents did for us.

Merry Christmas & if you're lonely on Xmas PM me, it'll be an excuse to break away from all my monsters.

Edited December 23, 201312 yr by ToddWeston

Fairly much just another day for me, wherever I might be. I opted out of christmas celebrations and festivities about 15 years ago. Being an atheist it has no special significance, other than pleasant memories as a child getting lots of presents. The biggest turn off for me is the commercialisation of the day and the weeks leading up to the day.

Time spent with my family can often be trying, and Christmas day merely adds X10 to the tensions and stresses among family. This is doubled when you have your own family, then the wifes/GFs family you have to make time and visit both on the same day. Most of my teen and early adult memories of Xmas is of stress, arguments, false bonhomie, not particularly enjoyable times.

I have found that i have very little in common with most of my extended family and a catch up can be a long and boring process. Just because they are related doesn't mean I want to spend time with them.

I made a conscious decision to see the family, whose company I enjoy, outside of Christmas, and where it is warranted or needed, I help out in between. Gifts I give more randomly, birthdays, or simply if i see something special.

For kids, it is a fun day: presents, games, laughter, food. Really, for me, it is a day for the kids.

Yes ... I know it's made for kids ... but it made me smile also.

I hope it lifts your Christmas Spirits ...

Nice soundtrack BTW

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Christmas is a childrens holiday.

For me, since my daughter is grown up an off at Uni, its just another day, Without kids around ........

Personally i hate the way Thais have fully taken Xmas as another excuse to spend money and cash in with the tourist ( like the Manditory dinner for 1,000 baht)

I am not celebrating Xmas since long time, but i can't help what i call " Xmas Spirit " to enter my mind on that day.

It's just about being a bit less selfish, and feel some empathy for the less fortunate...

Normally it lasts a few days, then everything is back to normal.

Edit... Just forgot, i wish a Merry Christmas to all

Edited December 23, 201312 yr by mauGR1

It's my shower day ...

If you can't enjoy Christmas in Prague then perhaps best just give it up.

I think Christmas in Prague is FANTASTIC!!

I like the pre-christian traditions, celebrating the winter solstice, the evergreen tree, breaking out the preserved goodies on the coldest, shortest and darkest days of the year to boost the spirits.... so that is why we are generous at this time, we survived halfway through the harshest season.

my grandma always made ravioli for xmas eve and we had tamales on xmas day... then maybe an afternoon surf session.

Edited December 23, 201312 yr by daoyai

It's my shower day ...

It's a great day for house cleaning!

I like christmas when there are kids involved but havent really had one for a few years now. A couple of weeks ago I started a christmas post in here because my wife wanted us to have a traditional christmas this year and I was rapt, started buying the food for it etc. Ok, 2 weeks later, everytime I have tried or suggested we go shopping for presents it is rejected as a waste of money/dont need anything, put up some tinsel around the loungeroom but thats as far as spending on decorations is allowed to go, our christmas dinner has been put off because the "family" are visiting a few days later so we should wait till they are here, they dont like roast meat/egetables(lamb/pork) so we should just do thai instead, wife is now going to work christmas day etc, etc. So what started as a probable good christmas this year has turned into another, "oh well doesnt matter" christmas once again, so do I feel like it is just another day, yes I do.

Edited December 23, 201312 yr by seajae

I have just bunked off work and come into the pub, would be a late start if i was on holiday at home around Christmas, but feel like a little bit of a naughty school boy now Tiger tastes good though.

Now listen here young man, get those thoughts out of your head

Christmas is fantastic, it's the best time of the year IMO.

Rent a flick - Love Actually my favourite Xmas movie, sit back and think about all the good. Wrap a gift for yourself and call your family, when you're lucky enough to have your own family ramp it up and keep the tradition alive it's what our parents did for us.

Merry Christmas & if you're lonely on Xmas PM me, it'll be an excuse to break away from all my monsters.

Sorry but the best Christmas movie was easily shared with the Griswalds.

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation!

Op, Christmas is awesome, it means much more once you have kids. Although your not with your family, ring them and say hi, go out and catch uwith some of your friends and have a drink and some food. If you make the effort, it's a great day:)

In my home country Christmas is more a religious and spiritual happening since we Belgians (and also the Dutch) have a special Santa Claus day on the 6^th of December dedicated to children.

Probably because of my Christian upbringing I cannot help but be moved by the whole idea of peace on earth for all people of good will and I do enjoy the happy faces of children and adults alike.

Granted it’s overly commercialized nowadays but deep down the message remains the same : giving is living.

Yermanee

Christmas has no appeal here because of the temperature (yea Aussies grew up with it but nobody ever accused them of having any sense )

The fact that I am atheist also has its influence but the biggest thing is my family isn't here (Dutch part of the family).

Add to the fact back in the Netherlands many houses would have decorations out ect ect.. i just don have the feeling for it.

I am as well atheist and have nothing to do with Christmas, but so do the Christs because Christmas origins from the Yule Festival and was only hijacked by the Christians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule

When I was living here single and even once with GF and later married ... Was just another day

But now with 2 kids... It is a blast and love watching the kids having so much fun...