The 2013 Holiday Season Thread!

[ImTheWiseJanitor]

'Tis the season, fuckers! I was thinking we could have a thread where people can talk about celebrations and traditions and presents and experiences and all-around merriment. Pictures of ugly sweaters and Christmas music welcome. But don't feel like talk should be limited to Christmas! This is a good time of year for err'body, regardless of your religious preference or lack thereof, so fuck it. Let's just revel in the holiday spirit and celebrate all the good times from the past year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXca4WcCzlo

[Halo Infinity]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrPnwLjZbHs

@marodi (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=125) - Because I happened to see your comment under this video on YouTube again. :) @henryeatscereal (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=1572) @Yoshata (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=2973) @eversonpoe (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=588) @Kid Charlemagne (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=92) @Pillfred (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=393) @Joy Prevention Hotline (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=3789) @ad infinitum (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=80) Ryan

[miss k bee]

I know its December but still doesn't feel like Christmas to me yet. Not helped that where I live they don't seem to be putting Christmas lights up this year.

[marodi]

Kris

I stand by that comment: it is the best Xmas song ever!

I've had a strange realization: the older I get, the less fun Christmas is. :confused:

[sick among the pure]

@Kris (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=244)

I stand by that comment: it is the best Xmas song ever!

I've had a strange realization: the older I get, the less fun Christmas is. :confused:

I totally get that, and I'm still "young". I just keep telling everyone I don't want anything for x-mas. I don't need physical consumer products. My fiance is being stubborn, and I keep telling him to just pay for my next NIN ticket and call that my x-mas present.

[thevoid99]

I haven't put any Xmas lights right now cause it's raining. Yet, I do like to watch certain things for the holidays like this little gem...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSH9ryRzHQ4

[Space Suicide]

Delivery for Clark W. Gris...ewe...wellll.......


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlfV1Q2eSkE

[slave2thewage]

My current tradition is listening to black metal on Christmas Eve. Seriously.

[Joy Prevention Hotline]

Kris, that's the freakiest Christmas carol I've heard in, like, ever. :D

(Not sure I have this Mentions thing figured out yet.)


I've had a strange realization: the older I get, the less fun Christmas is. :confused:
I used to blame that on the hell that is a mall at Christmas time, but I haven't been in one in years.

Having Amazon at your command 24 hours a day has its own side effects — before the internet, the flood of catalogs in December was an event. But now? Making a big deal out of one day of the year makes less and less sense. I don't even have the religious sentiment going for me.

I like birthdays (well, other people's birthdays). More personal, fewer sacrificial fir trees.

OK, I admit it. The Christmas spirit isn't my strong suit. :p

[Halo Infinity]

I'll probably post more and more Christmas songs gradually as the 25th gets closer and closer. You also can't go wrong with any of the South Park songs for Christmas, especially when you think about how South Park started with a Christmas episodes in 1992, 1995, and 1997. I also thought I'd post Dead Dead Dead. It's not just slightly amusing and absolutely true, but interesting, since winter certainly reminds me of death, and has been used to represent death as well. I've also thought about death this way ever since I was a child.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWv-SuQ9ZaQ

@Ryan (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=67) @thevoid99 (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=254)

[eversonpoe]

my fiancee and i saw Rifftrax do Santa Claus Conquers The Martians live tonight. good way to start our holiday movie-watching binge.

[Halo Infinity]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17ORnNFgtlw

@Hazekiah (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=1162) @Space Suicide (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=532) @october_midnight (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=288) @jezstyle (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=260) @tony.parente (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=2107) henryeatscereal

[Halo Infinity]

@Kris (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=244)

I stand by that comment: it is the best Xmas song ever!

I've had a strange realization: the older I get, the less fun Christmas is. :confused:
As did I. I have a feeling that when it comes to getting presents and being an adult, most people would've already expected you to get your own things. And then there's also the inevitable fact that even the closest of friends can grow apart when you get older, so even if you and your friends would've liked to have a Christmas party at your house, it would seem highly unlikely if they also have their own families to visit, or if they've relocated. And then if you're also growing apart from your family, or weren't that close to them to begin with, it would be sort of like going through the motions, even if you're still okay with them.

For me though, I think an ideal Christmas party would be close friends and family that you have an excellent rapport with at your home for that night. If I also had the means, I would definitely purchase gifts for close friends as well. I believe that it is possible to have close friends, or even friends and acquaintances that you can hold in regards as high as if they were blood relatives, as a reason to give them presents if you have the means, but that's just me. As somebody that's given some presents here and there on Christmas and birthdays, it really does give me a very good feeling.

Monetary reasons aside, which are very understandable, it seems like one of the best things close friends can do for each other on birthdays and Christmas. I also like the idea of knowing what to get, like, "Is there anything I can afford, that you didn't get around to purchasing?" I think when the time comes, I just might be the kind of person to put money aside for the holidays to give presents like that. As you can tell, I still didn't outgrow the gift-giving spirit of birthdays and Christmas.

Oh, and sorry for the rather late replay. I just wanted to think about it for a moment before posting. I'm all for Christmas being joyous and fun, and if not for the presents, close friends, and family, definitely for the food. :)

[ManBurning]

That Marilyn Manson Christmas parody video is the BEST THING EVER! Well, maybe not ever... but it's goddamn hilarious!

[Halo Infinity]

I'm sure there's still a fair share of old school Korn fans here, so I think you couldn't go wrong with these songs, especially the first two. Jingle Balls is my favorite one out of all of them too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTzyPWgyOq0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU4J5BHfx6M


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=popPQmikR9w

[marodi]

As did I. I have a feeling that when it comes to getting presents and being an adult, most people would've already expected you to get your own things. And then there's also the inevitable fact that even the closest of friends can grow apart when you get older, so even if you and your friends would've liked to have a Christmas party at your house, it would seem highly unlikely if they also have their own families to visit, or if they've relocated. And then if you're also growing apart from your family, or weren't that close to them to begin with, it would be sort of like going through the motions, even if you're still okay with them.

For me though, I think an ideal Christmas party would be close friends and family that you have an excellent rapport with at your home for that night. If I also had the means, I would definitely purchase gifts for close friends as well. I believe that it is possible to have close friends, or even friends and acquaintances that you can hold in regards as high as if they were blood relatives, as a reason to give them presents if you have the means, but that's just me. As somebody that's given some presents here and there on Christmas and birthdays, it really does give me a very good feeling.

Monetary reasons aside, which are very understandable, it seems like one of the best things close friends can do for each other on birthdays and Christmas. I also like the idea of knowing what to get, like, "Is there anything I can afford, that you didn't get around to purchasing?" I think when the time comes, I just might be the kind of person to put money aside for the holidays to give presents like that. As you can tell, I still didn't outgrow the gift-giving spirit of birthdays and Christmas.

Oh, and sorry for the rather late replay. I just wanted to think about it for a moment before posting. I'm all for Christmas being joyous and fun, and if not for the presents, close friends, and family, definitely for the food. :)

For me Christmas was fun when I was young mostly because we got to stay up very late; we went to Midnight mass after which we went to my grandparents place and then we would eat like pigs and we would open our presents and it was the only time of the year where we got to see our cousins that were living in the USA. So it was very special.

Now, we "celebrate" Christmas for my young nephews and niece. I have 2 siblings, a sister and a brother, both younger than me and we don't get along. We have a very weird family dynamic going on and I do not look forward to those times when we are all together. Other than that, I have 2 close friends and both of them are celebrating with each of their families (although one of them and I do sometimes make extravagant plans for an eventual Christmas that we would celebrate together but I know it's just make believe).

In my early 20s, I was spending Christmas eve watching horror movies all night long. True story.

The food is still awesome though but there's always so much left of it (and I eat so little) that I usually make it to New Year's Eve eating left overs.

edit: this is fun:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RWzd3Q-Qtg

[Space Suicide]

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1505011_10152415643164056_1923226458_n.jpg

[Dra508]

I went to the holiday party in my apartment building, only 24 units, really enjoyed myself. Good practice working a room, not spending too much time with one person. I think the dude from the third floor finally warmed up to me. Usually, he rides around in his wheel chair, with an angry face, not looking for any morning salutation. He was very charming and funny tonight. Yeah, and I think I ate 2500 calories. :(

[Big Fat Matt]

This is the time of year where i trade my American flag bandanna for a Santa hat. Christmas is the best fucking time of year because the house smells like cookies, and everyone is nice to each other for once.

Also, I think my body is capable of running on Egg Nog, sugar cookies and cigarettes, because thats all im consuming anymore.

[october_midnight]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKC_8KO3RDo

[miss k bee]

Just put up the Christmas tree while half drunk...its the only way!

[bruised]

As a UPS driver, I'm ready for the season to be over!

[Space Suicide]

As a UPS driver, I'm ready for the season to be over!

I shed many tears for you!

[Your Name Here]

I just hope Santa brings me a cordless phone and a beeper.

[Halo Infinity]

I suppose Christmas couldn't arrive any sooner for me. I just want to relax without a care in the world that day. And to my surprise, I don't even think there's any actual parties or family gatherings for me to attend to this year as well.

[nothing8]

Ever since I started work I've always worked up until Christmas Eve, this year being no different, so it's never actually felt like Christmas to me until I'm heading home after work. Except this December, work has just been a really shitty roller coaster ride at the moment, so I'm really looking forward to a fair bit of time off and actually enjoying the whole 'Christmas Spirit' thing this year :D

[Charmingly Miserable]

I'm not a big fan of the holiday season but don't let me rain on your parade. Wishing all of you the best of the season.

[miss k bee]

Have to do last of Christmas shopping tomorrow and the weather is going to be shit, great.

[sick among the pure]

Posted in random NIN thoughts but figured it works (better?) here.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/799461b0b3106c28ea5cdadda15bd41a/tumblr_mxw05gNMtG1rcuumvo1_500.jpg

[Joy Prevention Hotline]

The thought of a synth-toting TR going around ruining Christmas for small children just makes me smile. I guess I'm more evil than I thought.

[Dra508]

I'm pretty sure I've not bought enough gifts. I hate that feeling. Need to go wrap and see what I missed.

[allegro]

I feel kinda weird because we're not doing gifts, this year. Which is great, but it still feels like I forgot something.

I feel so so so so so blessed, I went around donating to charities (mostly food pantries).

We're going out for Thai food tomorrow for Christmas dinner!!!! Yes!!!

[marodi]

We're going out for Thai food tomorrow for Christmas dinner!!!! Yes!!!

Sorry, I had to:

http://visitshoremagazine.com/2/wp-content/themes/mimbo2.2/images/chineseturkey.jpg

[miss k bee]

Just got into the Christmas spirit. ....... vodka!

[miss k bee]

Just made a chocolate Baileys cheesecake

[Conan The Barbarian]

Since my family bailed on the holidays. Im at a party of my friend's family. Its whatever, but aint the same.

Also I stick out like a sore thumb and people seem to draw their attention towards me .

God bless alcohol.

[Jinsai]

I'm going to assume that a lot of people on this site have already heard this, but I just discovered it and it's hilarious

http://badgods.com/ls-content/audio/nineinchnoels.mp3

[miss k bee]

Crap news island in the Eastern Caribbean where my family live has had very bad weather today with flash flooding and damage to buildings and worse :( Phoned my mum and sister and they are ok thank god. Scary stuff freak weather.

[ImTheWiseJanitor]

The weather's crazy around here, too. I was in a car crash Saturday because the interstate froze over super fast. My car's totaled, but I'm fine, and my parents managed to get me home for Christmas after the roads got cleared off. I'm not even going to worry about getting a new car/insurance/work/anything until I go back to Lawrence and back to real life on Friday. Merry Christmas to all!

Also, what's with people getting super butthurt this year over people saying "Merry Christmas" a whole day before Christmas? Or a few days? What happened to just saying it around the holiday season and being happy that it's the holiday season? Whatever, I said it anyway, fuckers!

[thelastdisciple]

Happy, Merry [insert applicable here] to all of you fine folks. I hope it's a goodun.

[Halo Infinity]

Also, what's with people getting super butthurt this year over people saying "Merry Christmas" a whole day before Christmas? Or a few days? What happened to just saying it around the holiday season and being happy that it's the holiday season? Whatever, I said it anyway, fuckers!
I never thought I'd live to read or hear of that, considering how it also makes a whole lot of sense, especially if they're not going to actually spend time with you on Christmas day. :p

[Halo Infinity]

I'm going to assume that a lot of people on this site have already heard this, but I just discovered it and it's hilarious

http://badgods.com/ls-content/audio/nineinchnoels.mp3
I'm glad that you've enjoyed it, and I kind of feel bad for leaving your name out of it on my post of that parody in the first page of this thread, as I thought that you might've found it annoying. :)

http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/threads/2774-The-2013-Holiday-Season-Thread!?p=155385#post155385

[ibanez33]

First time spending Christmas completely alone and although I expected it to be awful I'm actually kind of relieved, I didn't have to deal with any gift-buying stress, didn't have to take time off work, and I don't have to make forced conversation with the relatives I barely know and I don't have to pretend not to be buddy-buddy with the relatives who sell me drugs. I can catch up with my immediate family as a make-up visit next month, no gifts involved, can do it any time at all instead of mid-week when work is busy so I don't have to take time off, don't have to bullshit for hours with people I barely know despite the fact that they're may parents brothers and sisters, and don't have to pretend it's been a year since I've last seen my cousins who I usually see every few weeks doing blow outside of shitty bars. Family!

[Fixer808]

BAM!
http://images.thomann.de/pics/prod/195976.jpg

[Fixer808]

There was a shootout tonight at my parents' place but nobody was seriously hurt. My dad had duct-taped Nerf guns underneath some of the chairs, so it got pretty John Woo for a few minutes...

[ImTheWiseJanitor]

We watched home movies today, and I finally saw, in all its glory, my very first movie - A 54-minute cut of my made-up Jurassic Park movie, which I put together when I was 9 with nothing but my toys and a video camera in the basement.

THE FEELS.

[Joy Prevention Hotline]

One of my father’s gifts was apparently lost in transit, but Amazon is sending a replacement. It’s not something he could actually play with until I install it for him, so not a big deal. I printed the picture off Amazon, rolled it up inside a piece of wrapping paper and tied a bow around it. :p

That aside, my gift wrapping was easier this year in general. Anything that wasn’t a rectangle went in a box. (Wisely, my mom didn’t even try to put wrapping paper around this one (http://www.pier1.com/Golden-Wooden-Giraffe/2712766,default,pd.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PLA&utm_campaign=google_pla&utm_content=2712766&s_cid=pla0000001&kpid=2712766), let alone the 3 lb bag of Peanut M&Ms.)

[miss k bee]

Today I feel

http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk6j8jAhnv1qixleeo1_400.gif

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljrz7rNUyH1qixleeo1_250.gif

[Fixer808]

http://media1.giphy.com/media/O6p0jrypjfctO/200_s.gif

[Lew]

http://media1.giphy.com/media/O6p0jrypjfctO/200_s.gif

lol! that sums up my boxing day...the spirit of stolichnya visited me for christmas and we got along a little too well...until it was over, and my brain had to remeet my body which had to try and catch my wandering soul...;p

[miss k bee]

Hate all this waste food same thing every year me and my Dad seem to have food for 5000 people!

[Digital Twilight]

Hate all this waste food same thing every year me and my Dad seem to have food for 5000 people!

It really grates on me to waste food but people buy so much for Christmas. I love blue stilton but we didn't really need to buy half a wheel of the thing.

No wonder everyone joins the gym for 2 weeks after Christmas.

[miss k bee]

lol! that sums up my boxing day...the spirit of stolichnya visited me for christmas and we got along a little too well...until it was over, and my brain had to remeet my body which had to try and catch my wandering soul...;p


Reminds me I got some Stoli in my wardrobe!

[october_midnight]

Justr getting back from Day 8 in a row of Holiday parties. HOLYY FCUK eyeah Maerry Christmas 013. and Happy New Year to everyone..

[redshoewearer]

I went to visit my daughter in Brooklyn and on Christmas, we along with her roommate went over to Chinatown in Manhattan and had awesome Chinese food, and then went to see the movie Nebraska. It was a big deal for me - I don't believe in anything but I realized I'm always kind of sad on the day - this year it was like seeing how the other half lives - it was a really awesome day. Plenty of people out doing the same thing, Chinese food and a movie, on Christmas. I felt much less alone than I do in this small town where the world comes to a grinding halt on Christmas. I'm doing exactly this same thing next year.

[Dra508]

I went to visit my daughter in Brooklyn and on Christmas, we along with her roommate went over to Chinatown in Manhattan and had awesome Chinese food, and then went to see the movie Nebraska. It was a big deal for me - I don't believe in anything but I realized I'm always kind of sad on the day - this year it was like seeing how the other half lives - it was a really awesome day. Plenty of people out doing the same thing, Chinese food and a movie, on Christmas. I felt much less alone than I do in this small town where the world comes to a grinding halt on Christmas. I'm doing exactly this same thing next year.

% of Jews and singles high in NYC.

I got a night in a Vermont B&B as a Christmas gift. So thoughtful.

[ImTheWiseJanitor]

Justr getting back from Day 8 in a row of Holiday parties. HOLYY FCUK eyeah Maerry Christmas 013. and Happy New Year to everyone..

I feel like this sums up what everyone should be feeling around this time of year. In the best way, of course!

[Pillfred]

A guy sits out a few holiday seasons and suddenly I'm a curmudgeon. Glad this business is almost over with. Next year i hope to be driving again and able to visit people over the holidays but I'm sure like every other year ill manage to space it out till it's too late. It is good to know others are having a fun time though.

[Joy Prevention Hotline]

This will be two years in a row being alone on New Year's Eve.

Note that for me, "celebrating New Year's" means falling asleep before midnight. Thanks to my medication I can't even have my once-a-year glass of champagne anymore. I've never been to a NY Eve party or wanted to be at one.

But if I was home, I wouldn't be the only one sleeping through it. :)

[miss k bee]

I am staying in this NYE, was going to meet friends for a meal but tired from working last night and working tomorrow night too. Been out on a few NYE's and it's not always that great. In London the best place to see NYE fireworks is the TV unless you want to start waiting from 5pm! Still have a ton of drink at home as well. Will prob catch up of watching The Walking Dead and have my own one woman party!

[Charmingly Miserable]

I'm gonna sit this NYE out. Just staying in and drink absinthe. For all those who are going out tonight, be safe!!!!

[rhet]

got home from staying with the inlaws in Manchester today and while the holidays were enjoyable enough I'm sooo glad to have my own bed/space/life back. since our anniversary is in a few days we're sitting out NYE as well to do something fun for that instead so its cider and video games for us tonight!

[Halo Infinity]

As New Year's Day approaches, I've been reminded to work on just letting things go as a new year's resolution. Life can already challenging and painful as it is, and it helps remind to let go and stop caring for hopefully all the right and safe reasons. I know I could've done this at any part of the year, but I'm thankful that like Christmas, New Year's Day reminds me of what to be grateful for, and what I can do to improve myself and my overall condition, even though I'm not the best of the best, with the best of everything by my side. I also have a tendency to forget as a typical human trait.

Pardon me as I always get a bit more emotional than usual on the holidays. This could've also fit in the Life in general: Does it suck or is it awesome? thread, but that's what I'm subjected to ponder about on the holidays. (And having a good memory on bad things really is like a curse.)

And well, have a Happy New Year ETS. ;)

[Microwave Jellyfish]

Going to be rather boring this(?) year. Best wishes and Happy New Year, guys!

[scotty79]

Sitting in with the future wife and kid who'll both no doubt be in bed by about half ten but I'd rather be here than anywhere else, happy new year to you all when it comes

[spiralout]

Nothing crazy for me this year. Gonna have a few friends over and dust off the old Rock Band 3.

[october_midnight]

As if I'm not exhausted enough from the past two weeks, heading out at about 8pm to head to our local EXP Bar for their 1959 BioShock themed masquerade ball. Can't wait to get up super early for work tomorrow again! FML.

[nin5in]

Happy New Year's Eve, guys!

[rhet]

As if I'm not exhausted enough from the past two weeks, heading out at about 8pm to head to our local EXP Bar for their 1959 BioShock themed masquerade ball. Can't wait to get up super early for work tomorrow again! FML.

oh man, if that was happening in my city I'd totally be going despite being exhausted.

[october_midnight]

Pretty pumped, can't lie haha...splicer mask on the ready. Let's see how long I can stand after a few drinks and having been up since 5:30am lol.

[ChasingTheGhost]

Should be in Mexico now with my best friend, but the plans got fucked. Going tonight solo. Happy New Year to you all.

[miss k bee]

Under an hour to go started on the Amarula Cream which is like Baileys

[miss k bee]

11 mins of fireworks in London with added taste sensor -fruit mist and orange bubbles

[miss k bee]

Happy New Year!!

[Charmingly Miserable]

Going to be rather boring this(?) year. Best wishes and Happy New Year, guys!
Boring is not a bad thing!!!

[Joy Prevention Hotline]

Fell asleep before 9:00 (I think that’s a new record), woke up hungover from white cranberry juice and M&Ms.

(No, not M&Ms in white cranberry juice. I’m not an animal.)

So, yay Happy New Year? :confused:

[halloween]

I'm gonna sit this NYE out. Just staying in and drink absinthe. For all those who are going out tonight, be safe!!!!
Hey, that's what I did! check the drunk tank :P

[miss k bee]

Well that's over and done now, decorations taken down. House looks drab and dreary now.