The Christmas poll.

philologos

After the tea, coffee, and badly posed poll about who drinks alcohol on boards and if so what. I thought I'd focus the subject on something all of us really love (within the proper time and season) and that is how we celebrate Christmas.

Hopefully, this time I will even do the poll properly! :pac:

On the poll, the answers titled 1, will be to the question: "Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"

On the poll, the answers titled 2, relate to the question: "Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"

Finally, answers related to 3, relate to the question: "Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"

TPD

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

1: Won't be going to mass. We used to go at christmas to keep up appearances, until I was about 12.

2: Spend the day with my family, the night with my friends.

3: I voted 'no'.

Kiera

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
No.
"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Both.
"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
I dont think so anymore.

How about you Jakkass?

Dartz

2. Friends

Humbug.

I hate my family sometimes. They're always so happy, and act so glad to see me, but I know the truth. They just hid their lies behind smiles because they don't have the guts to say things to me to my face.

There're two members of my family who I get.... two.

The rest.

Well.

wudangclan

3. No

No.
I don't celebrate it (I'll be abroad).
It's fundamentally a Christian festival though arguable if it remains so in spirit.

philologos

3. No

Well in the poll:

1 - Yes, probably midnight church, I like the atmosphere and just being able to think about what Christmas is really supposed to be about in my eyes.

2 - Yes, I reckon with my family. I think Christmas for the most part is still a family event, having friends involved can only enrich the experience, but I'd generally make any efforts to meet up with friends on either side of Christmas Day rather than on the day itself.

3. Yes, I do believe that Christmas is primarily about Jesus, although materialism and other influences have eroded away from the true point of the occasion.

rannerap

my family doesnt bother going to mass anymore,spending the day with family but my friends are coming over after dinner for drinks and karaoke:pac:

L1011

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

No
Both
Its now a commercial 'experience' based around the remains of a christian festival that was placed on that date to match a pagan festival... so no.

cloneslad

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
No

"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Both

"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
No, what does the birth of santa have to do with christians?

I spent christmas day 2007 in Korea, partly in busan, an hour on a ferry, about 2 hours doing christmas shopping (all the shops were open like it was a normal day) and then in my apartment with my girlfriend and had to work the next day. Probably the only time I wished I was back home when I was living there.

brummytom

3. No

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
Yep, Christmas Eve mass.. always do. It's absolutely lovely

"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Family. Just mom dad and brothers on the actual day, extended family coming over on boxing day

"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
Yes. Though it's increasingly expoited for commercial purposes, it's still fundamentally a Christian festival, and I personally celebrate it as such. (I burnt my hand when I was 7 sticking my finger through a candle conducting my family in singing Happy Birthday to Jesus )

Mint Sauce

2. Friends

will go to one of the xmas masses, its one of the only times i make a real effort to go, and voluntaraly

will spend the day with imediate and extended family

christmas is no longer just a christian celebration, its became very materilaistic, although hopefully in the grip of a recession, hopefully some of its true meanings will reappear, and i dont mean in just a christian sence, but spending the day with people you love and care about

admiralofthefleet

3. No

not catholic so no


day with family, evening with girlfriend and her family


yes

3hn2givr7mx1sc

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
Yeah on Christmas Eve, then go to the pub after it to get pissed and play pool..it's a tradition.:)

"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Christmas Eve in the pub, kinda both. Christmas Day spent with family and St. Stephens day probably both.

"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
It's too commercial now.

MikeC101

2. Friends

I'm still mad at the Romans for stealing the winter solstice for their Sun God. They set a precedent and now I'm expected to deal with this Jewish cult claiming December 25th for their tramp God who was such a hobo he was born in a barn????

*Shakes fist*

And what did they ever do for us, those Romans?

Kiera

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

brummytom wrote: »

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
Yep, Christmas Eve mass.. always do. It's absolutely lovely

"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Family. Just mom dad and brothers on the actual day, extended family coming over on boxing day

"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
Yes. Though it's increasingly expoited for commercial purposes, it's still fundamentally a Christian festival, and I personally celebrate it as such. (I burnt my hand when I was 7 sticking my finger through a candle conducting my family in singing Happy Birthday to Jesus )

Pardon? :mad:

CianRyan

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

Yes, my young niece insists.
Both, family time and the laugh with the mates. Few drinks like.
No, I'm not Christian and I still like it, there's a nice feeling that goes with the time of year.

GLaDOS

2. Friends

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
Nay, agnostic to the max

"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Family

"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
No, it has very little to do with religion now, apart from angels and the nativity which have just become decorations, and as mentioned by others, it was originally a pagan festival which Christianity took over for convenience

SV

2. Friends

Kiera wrote: »

Pardon? :mad:

Oh come on Kiera!
If you don't think it's about the whole 'Christian festival' thing anymore then what's the point in calling it Saint Stephens day?!

cloneslad

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

Kiera wrote: »

Pardon? :mad:

I call it boxing day too, and I'm from Monaghan...most people around here do. If you had of watched as much bbc tv as us you'd call it boxing day too!!

Kiera

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

SV wrote: »

Oh come on Kiera!
If you don't think it's about the whole 'Christian festival' thing anymore then what's the point in calling it Saint Stephens day?!

I leave out the Saint part. Its Stephens day

philologos

3. No

So, it's not worth celebrating or honouring Jesus on Christmas Day, but it is worthy to take note of the Christian martyr Stephen who was killed for something you don't particularly believe in?

CianRyan

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

Anything is better than agreeing/conforming with the Brits. :F

Sorry, Tommy.
You're a nice one.

Feeky Magee

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

Jakkass wrote: »

So, it's not worth celebrating or honouring Jesus on Christmas Day, but it is worthy to take note of the Christian martyr Stephen who was killed for something you don't particularly believe in?

And I guarantee she still calls Christmas Christmas. Just because you call something by its name doesn't mean you believe in it. Stop being pedantic.

Kiera

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

Jakkass wrote: »

So, it's not worth celebrating or honouring Jesus on Christmas Day, but it is worthy to take note of the Christian martyr Stephen who was killed for something you don't particularly believe in?

Ah dont give me the god babble. Its habbit, end of!

philologos

3. No

I'm just noting the irony. It's purely a matter of semantics then?

Hazys

2. Friends

Jakkass wrote: »

So, it's not worth celebrating or honouring Jesus on Christmas Day, but it is worthy to take note of the Christian martyr Stephen who was killed for something you don't particularly believe in?

What does all this have to do with Christmas?

Family, Presents, Booze and turkey = Christmas

Liam Byrne

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

Feeky Magee wrote: »

And I guarantee she still calls Christmas Christmas. Just because you call something by its name doesn't mean you believe in it. Stop being pedantic.

+1,000,000

One of the most irritating aspects of the current version of Christmas is the use of "Xmas" or "Crimbo" by people desperately and pathetically trying to appear "cool" :rolleyes:

And it's definitely Stephen's Day!!!! Although we'll forgive BrummyTom based on his username, but there's no excuse for anyone from Ireland to call it anything other than what it's called.

It's actually the first thing I'll check in a desk diary before I buy it; if it doesn't say "Stephen's Day", then it shouldn't be on sale here.

wudangclan

3. No

Liam Byrne wrote: »

+1,000,000



And it's definitely Stephen's Day!!!! Although we'll forgive BrummyTom based on his username, but there's no excuse for anyone from Ireland to call it anything other than what it's called.

It's actually the first thing I'll check in a desk diary before I buy it; if it doesn't say "Stephen's Day", then it shouldn't be on sale here.

Boxing Day?

silvervixen84

3. No

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
Christmas Eve, really nice mass though, always get a kick out of the donkey's back legs wearing jeans and runners!

"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Family, Bottle of Baileys and Sky Plus

"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
It should be but in recent years it got a bit overshadowed by Celtic Tiger materialism. At the same time however, no-one has the right to shove Christianity down people's throats at Christmastime and if someone happens to like sparkly lights, Santa Claus, and giving (and receiving) thoughtful prezzies, let them enjoy it!

Liam Byrne

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

wudangclan wrote: »

Boxing Day?

What about it ?

That's the name of a day celebrated in another country.

Like - I dunno - Thanksgiving or Eid or St George's Day or Bastille Day or whatever other countries have.

Pompey Magnus

3. No

Even though I am atheist I will go to night mass on Christmas eve, and being quite honest I kinda look forward to it. I will be spending Christmas with my family, and as I am the only unbeliever I think its a small sacrifice for me to go along with them to a ceremony that I don't believe in for the sake of the time thats in it, I think the upset that it would cause them by me staying at home would far exceed the pleasure I would get by relaxing at the fire watching Macaulay Culkin inevitably missing some flight.

I think Christmas should remain a Christian festival, forgetting about the fact that its rooted in paganism it has been made the warm, generous celebration that it is today as a result of the Nativity story. To me, for an unbeliever to say they will celebrate Christmas but ignore the story of the nativity is like someone who doesn't believe in ghosts saying they will celebrate halloween, but will do so by ignoring all references to the supernatural.

Agricola

3. No

Wont be going to Mass at anytime over Xmas. It would be massively hypocritical, as I dont darken a church door on the 364 other days of the year (unless theres a funeral to go to)

Ill be with family on Xmas day and will head out with friends Stephens night.

I think it should be seen as a Christian event. Just because its a lucrative time of the year for businesses doesnt mean the original meaning of Christmas should be overwhelmed by the commercial aspect of it. For lots of people, including meself, its just a nice time of the year for open fires, Xmas TV, too much food, too much drink and time off work to be with the most important people in your life. Nothin religious about it and I dont think theres anything wrong with that. But Id never bash the religious part of it and expect it to be a secular event.

brummytom

3. No

Kiera wrote: »

Pardon? :mad:

St Stephen's Day** :pac:

wudangclan

3. No

Liam Byrne wrote: »

What about it ?

That's the name of a day celebrated in another country.

That's what they call the day after Christmas Day where I was brought up.

Liam Byrne

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

wudangclan wrote: »

That's what they call the day after Christmas Day where I was brought up.

If you were brought up in another country, then I've no issues with that, obviously!

That said, if someone was, say, brought up in Germany, they don't wander around Ireland asking people if they're going out for a few drinks on "Samstag" night.....

wudangclan

3. No

Liam Byrne wrote: »

If you were brought up in another country, then I've no issues with that, obviously!

That said, if someone was, say, brought up in Germany, they don't wander around asking people if they're going out for a few drinks on "Samstag" night.....

I was brought up in Ireland.

Liam Byrne

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

wudangclan wrote: »

I was brought up in Ireland.

Really ? Whereabouts ?

N.B. Maybe we should move this sub-topic to a thread of its own ?

wudangclan

3. No

Was brought up in Dundalk (with most of my family from just across the 'border')
Sorry to break it to you,dude,but we (my family at least) call it Boxing Day.
And officially it is St.Stephens Day.

Turtwig

2. I don't celebrate Christmas

Yes.
Both.
No.

My name is URL

2. Friends

Nice way to use a poll to ask multiple questions

Biggins

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
No - not a hope in hell (if I ever thought hell existed in the first place)
"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Family.
"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
No, just the main feast day of commercial capitalism.

Rebelheart

wudangclan wrote: »

Was brought up in Dundalk (with most of my family from just across the 'border')
Sorry to break it to you,dude,but we (my family at least) call it Boxing Day.

Something definitely dodgy there in fairness.

wudangclan

3. No

Rebelheart wrote: »

Something definitely dodgy there in fairness.

Dundalk is definitely dodgy,by any standards.

Biggins

wudangclan wrote: »

Dundalk is definitely dodgy,by any standards.

What do ya expect - its got two FF TD's for crying out loud!

TheZohanS

2. Both

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"
No, am an atheist but have respect for people that celebrate it.
"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"
Friends as family are in a different country.
"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"
No, but it is a time for catching up with people and having the craic.

K-9

2. Friends

Jakkass wrote: »

So, it's not worth celebrating or honouring Jesus on Christmas Day, but it is worthy to take note of the Christian martyr Stephen who was killed for something you don't particularly believe in?

Good point, but going on the poll most of us shouldn't be celebrating Christmas.

No mass, spending it with family and I voted No on the Christian festival question.

To me, its a nice time to spend with family and appreciate them. It gets forgotten in normal day to day life. A time to reflect and look back.

Last Christmas was a disaster between visiting Mum in hospital and Dad in a Nursing Home. Touchwood, should be better this year.

rizzee

2. Friends

I ****ing hate Christmas. Waste of money.

Prof.Badass

2. Friends

"Will you be going to church either on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?"

Possibly. Either on christmas eve to get it out of the way, or if i can get away with it i might pretend to go on christmas morning and enjoy a walk in the park instead.

"Will you be celebrating Christmas with family, friends or both?"

Family. A friend sent me a text last year asking did I want to meet up later on and i was like "wtf????? christmas is a family day :eek:"

"Is Christmas still to be regarded as a Christian festival in your opinion?"

I'll answer that with a question. Is pizza still to be regarded as an italian dish or has it become a part of modern irish culture?

KnifeWRENCH

2. Friends

1. Yes, the whole family always goes to mass Christmas Day. No-one's particularly religious but there's always a nice atmosphere there on Christmas.

2. Family

3. Didn't vote, as I'm in two minds about that question. Obviously it is a Christian celebration at heart but a lot of people don't really care about that aspect of it.