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We are coming up to the end of the year in most calendars. Quite a few religions and secular cultures, too, have increasing holidays as things gradually limp to a close--perhaps to celebrate the fact that we all managed to make it this far along.

This prompted me wondering: what is my favorite holiday? And what are yours? Leaving aside the obvious birthday choice, of course. And vacation. No, this isn't about personal holidays. It's about the ones formed by groups that are larger than you, and will outlast you, unless you kill them all, first.

So give. What holiday?

Favorite holiday? I'd say Christmas, not because of the traditional gift-giving (if I really want something, I'm fully capable of going out and buying it myself), but instead because it is perhaps the only time during the year where my immediate family gets to gather together in one place, albeit for a short period of time...

Thanksgiving runs a close second, though. One word: FOOD.

Amen, Tower_Master!

[QUOTE=Tower_Master]Favorite holiday? I'd say Christmas, not because of the traditional gift-giving (if I really want something, I'm fully capable of going out and buying it myself), but instead because it is perhaps the only time during the year where my immediate family gets to gather together in one place, albeit for a short period of time...

Thanksgiving runs a close second, though. One word: FOOD. [/QUOTE]

I'd second all of that.

Also, my birthdays just the day before the whole gift-giving of Christmas, so it often feels like it's just present after present!

Well... if I lived in the snow belt (which I don't.. we just get rain and yet more rain..) I would very definitely say Christmas. I'm quite secular in my beliefs, but I enjoy the food, the wines.. and the general feelings of coziness.

I couldn't care less about my own birthday, so ignoring that is no problem Most holidays in my part of the world are related to christian mythology, which I also couldn't care less about. There are no public holidays I care about at all, except for holidays marking independence for countries which have been violently colonised.

In the rich world, public holidays are commercial jippos that put extra stress on people because they feel they must fulfil certain traditions and norms. In Sweden as in many European countries and the US, this is especially true for christmas, so for me that's the best period to go away from the christian world. To quote my professor when I was new at the lab and it was a bank holiday, and I asked him whether I was supposed to go home, "One of the advantages with our job is that if we wish, we can totally ignore public holidays."

Halloween.

Mostly because I can run around in an overly popular costume and commit mass murders then go home and cool off for a year.

Halloween, as well. Simply because it's the only time of the year those around me will allow me to get away without wearing pants

Weekends

Actually - I dont' really care much for holidays, because as CEs says, they often lead many people to experiences more stress because of all the things one has to do and how one has to act. Many holidays are have becomed commercial circus - just an example for about 5-10 years the common person didn't know squat about Valentines day. Now there is so much marketing and publicity in Denmark about it that it is now the second largest day in regards of turnover for the florists in Denmark, where 5 years ago it was an ordinary day. Sheez, sheeps - people are sheeps.
If you wanted to show your love to a significant other - what is the best way to do it? When everybody else does it because the medias have told you so, or each and everyother day instead. Give the gifts spontanious instead - "saw this, thought of you" kind of thing - which I would think cause much more joy.


I don't really like christmas that much either (anymore - differnet when I was a kid), because of the way people get stressed out over it, and so many start to act all phony and nice.
Shouldn't be once a year where people behave themselves - it should be all the year - so thus, I find peoples behaviour phony when they change behaviour closer to christmas.

Birthdays to me are insignigicant. I dont' need to be reminded that another year has passed and I'm that step closer to the grave - I can look at a calendar each day for that confirmation, and I find the notion of presents simply because one was born that day rather .... useless
Rather here - give presents occasionally and spotanious to the people around you that you apprechiate.


Call me a cynic if you wish, but holidays in this day and age has little to no meaning other then throwing money down a bottomless pit and causing stress.

Live life as plesently as possible on each normal day instead would be much better in my opinnion.

I'd have to say that my favourite holiday would probably be Christmas, not for presents myself, because I can always buy things I want myself, but because I enjoy giving other people things they wanted but otheriwise wouldn't have gotten. I do agree with your post Xandax, and it's just a pity the world's run by Corporations.

It is not a pity that the world is run by corporations per se. It is a pity that people don't tend to think much for themselves anymore - but simply goes with the flow.

"Oh - the newspaper tells me that valentines day is so and so romantic. I better go purchase flowers."
"If I don't get my girlfriend/wife/lover (or all three ) flowers this one day a year, she'll be mad, because the media has told her that she is supposed to get flowers this day

"Oh - christmas is about being nice and friendly, so I better stop getting roadrage or be offensive this one month a year"

It is the same with farthersday and mothersday. Why "celebrate" this one day a year. Get the kids to appreciate their parents (if they like them) more often and "out of season"

Instead if people would only think for themselves and act respectful (most of the time ) on their own - instead of around christmas/<insert random holiday here> and would give presents when they felt like it instead of when the news/corporations told us to etc.
This would be so much better in my view.

In my view holidays are a relic of old days.

I'd say Christmas, because of its atmosphere. Must be wonderful in Sweden/Norway/Finland, so, up there

In general, CE is right. More money, less care involved, and I don't like that.

Samhain.

[QUOTE=Chanak]Samhain. [/QUOTE]

LOL! And you knew I'd catch that, too. Certainly the pagan ones do something for me, though my lack of a current coven makes 'em a bit lonely. At the same time, I tend to avoid most modern holidays because of the endless commercialism CE points out. We *do* have a Yule tree, but only because it conjures up happy memories for my wife (who's a lapsed Methodist/current agnostic) and because it's a pagan symbol I can relate to and use in ritual practice.

@fable: I figured it might draw your attention. I inherited a general dislike for the rat-race, marketing holidays from my father. He never cared for the "can't afford it? Then charge it!" version of the American dream, instead valuing the company of friends and family more than anything else on a holiday. Myself, I am drawn towards the old observances, like Samhain. There is something very special about the end of summer.

A dear friend of mine has invited me to join her and a large group of friends in observing Samhain this year. If that were possible I would...more than likely, all I'll do is sit around dreaming about it. (Maryland is a bit of a drive from the old Republic of Texas, alas)

I know what you mean. Although it's not quite the same thing, all my coven brothers and sisters are either in Texas, or Florida. I've periodically checked to see what groups are in this area, and they're just feminine witch groups. It's hard, because I can still remember the good times and celebrations. Ah, well.

[QUOTE=fable]This prompted me wondering: what is my favorite holiday? And what are yours? Leaving aside the obvious birthday choice, of course. And vacation. No, this isn't about personal holidays. It's about the ones formed by groups that are larger than you, and will outlast you, unless you kill them all, first.
[/QUOTE]

Larger than me? Favourites?

Well...

The Student's day, the Brazilian Independence Day and Easter, but easter is my favourite cause I can eat lots of chocolate and tell "hell, its easter, lets eat it".

Students' Day? Do you have that in Brazil?

[QUOTE=Brynn]Students' Day? Do you have that in Brazil?[/QUOTE]
Student's, tree, independence, nature, national counciousness, uh... 400 saints days (we have more saints than days in the year), teacher day.

It happens that in the 1800-1950 period it was nearly imperative that every president, every ruler had a few new vacations and celebration dates made. Thats why japanese and american people get mad when they come here and hear about "ponto facultativo" that is a vacation day when you may actually choose if you will work or not.

Funny, isnt it?

Eventually you will rest more than work You know how to live - actually, that's the realization of the Commandments, isn't it? Rest and sleep as much you can

[QUOTE=Brynn]Eventually you will rest more than work You know how to live - actually, that's the realization of the Commandments, isn't it? Rest and sleep as much you can [/QUOTE]

Well, thats good, but not on a nation profile, be sure.