I spend most Xmas's at my inlaws at Lennox Head, so I love it;-). I especially like the kite surfing Santa who zooms by on a downwinders most years - whoever you are, top work!
In the Southern hemisphere, the 22nd of December is the Summer solstice, (in the Northern it is the winter solstice). On the 25th of December, the sun starts moving back toward the northern hemisphere. As a result, the people of the north started celebrating 'the birth/return of the sun'. The days were going to get longer and it was going to warm up again.
I am not sure why we celebrate it, it just means shorter days and colder weather.
Most of the Worlds religions have a celebration about the return or birth of the sun on this date.
Christmas is what you make it.
I think it is about sharing the love with people you care about. It is not a time for selfishness.
In the NH it is much more important as it gives people a lift in the winter, a focal point to be social and happy. It seems over here many people are just going through the motions.
The most stressed and frustrated people I know at christmas time are the ones who "do" christmas. Stressing about sharing kids between separated families; stressing about getting there for breakfast, here for lunch and home again; stressing about what to get someone who already has everything; stressing about hitting the shops in the mad rush to get last minute stuff.
I like that people you don't know smile and wish you a merry one.
I wish they would just be like that for the rest of the year...
What is so happy about xmas....
It is all about the gifts which can be found under the tree.
I forgot to put up mine.
Look what I ve been missing out of this year...
MERRY X-MAS and a HAPPY 2014 to everybody.
Last night, after I got home from a sesh on the lake...
Missus: How was it?
Kamikuza: Pretty good, considering. What do you want to do tomorrow?
M: What's the wind forecast like?
K: What?! Tomorrow?
M: Yes.
K: But it's Christmas!
M: So?
I married the right woman, I think
It's always raining during Christmas in Sydney... so wind isn't an issue.
Now I'm still in pain from SO much food.
Sure, you all think, well stop eat you stupid bastard when you're full... I say you don't know my wife. She plans layers of food, and then uses peer pressure to get it down you.
So when you're about to burst, she spring on you... oh we're going to see X & Y now, I'll load up the car with the food... WTF!