Then why can't I be bothered to celebrate, and take no interest in any other religions festivals and occasions? It doesn't seem right to me, but I still see Christmas as something I should 'do'.

I'm actually the most miserable bastard ever.

Then let me assuage your guilt young man.

Feel nothing for those churchy folk that might attempt to guilt trip you over Christmas or Easter, as they actually stole those very celebrations from the pagans many years previously. The Pagan festival of Yule was a celebration of the winter equinox (i.e. now) after which the days get longer. The christians came along, nicked it, cobbled together their own version of events, and in order to dominate other religions have thrust it upon us ever since.

Easter was originally the pagan new year. A time of renewal, the celebration of the rebirth in nature when trees again blossomed, animals mated, and humans could grow food. Then by 'eck along came those sneaky christian chappies, and nicked that significance too, making up their own very far fetched story to fit the bill.

By merely being alive, and respecting other life you are indeed taking part in religion, and an older one than Christianity to boot. Yule, and the new beginning are of nature, and the worship of nature (paganism) is in all of us.

P.S. A Christmas tree is also a pagan device, when did you last see fir trees or snow in Bethlehem?

PPS. No - I'm not a pagan (or a Christian)

That's interesting. I learned German many years ago, and I always wondered what I must sound like to them. Some Germans commented on my good pronunciation, but I never did know if I sounded 'correct' to them, or had an accent like my teacher who herself was German.

Please see:

I've worked with Hindus and Sikhs for most of my working life and feel no guilt at downing tools (turning of the 'puter!) and celebrating whatever festival with food and mild party! I'd call myself a Humanist rather than atheist/religious/spiritual so good cheer from whatever quarter is welcome!

I'm not buying anybody any presents again this year i'm not just gonna buy 'STUFF' for the sake of it.... maybe my outlaws will eventually get the message I don't want any more useless stuff... I'd just like them to smile and genuinely wish everyone a Happy Christmas!

Well to all of you.... I'll buy you a double... but not a present.... and wish you all a Cool Yule!

Awkward conversation of the week:

Me: look at that tit in that BMW, he's never going to stop that car on the ice if he loses it.

Bosses son in law: Well you'd be suprised, they are remarkably capable with all the electronic traction and stability controls.

Me: Nah I don't buy that, it always seems to be BMW drivers too, I'm afraid I just don't believe that car can bend the laws of physics. Two ton of car on sheet ice. And I don't believe that their drivers can handle the sort of power they produce in these conditions.

Bosses son in law: I drive a BMW out in China.

Me: Oh shit, really? What do you do out there?

Bosses son in law: I'm a manager for BMW.

I will say I'm quite impressed with the traction control on my Fabia, it really helps in this snow, especially going up steep hills.

Hmmm... let's see Russ. A self confessed miserable bastard. Puts foot in own mouth with elan. Why... I do believe you have a future.

Me at a works do: "That Tommo's a rum f*cker...what the f*ck's he dancing with over there"
Other bloke: "Er...my wife actually"



Fair enough but the two are linked...



...is perhaps because of your lack of interest in hearing anything that might make you feel differently. Not necessarily religion, but perhaps in taking an interest in something that at the moment isn't on your radar?

Why you feel that you must celebrate is partly peer pressure, and partly due to conditioning. Since birth you have been conditioned to conform to certain things, most people don't even know that they have been. An Chinese or an Arab won't feel that they have to party at this time of year, because they have been conditioned differently.

When you walk down a corridor or a narrow pavement and meet someone coming the other way, which side do you 'instinctively' step to left or right? And Why? Is it instinctive as you believe? Most will automatically step to the left because of a conditioning they don't even know they had.

My brother spent 12 hours on the M25/M40 last Saturday, trying to get back to the Midlands in the snow. His eagerness to get back home was fuelled by the fact that he was due to trade in his "old" car (a 3 year old Golf GTI, ffs) for a shiny new car. The 12-hour journey was a parade of crashed vehicles... 80% of which were BMWs.

And what new car was my brother on route to pick up? A BMW, of course!! Ha-ha! I'd have loved to have seen his face as he drove past all those ditched Beemers!

BTW, my little 2cv has been in daily service all through this arctic weather. It hasn't missed a beat: it's been great fun bimbling along little roads that are otherwise too snowy for cars. I've been reminding my sibling of this with daily text messages.

Final score: Me 1 - Flash Git Brother 0.