Enforced 'Celebrations'

We do them to varying degrees. Valentines? Bleurgh with a capital B as you can see. Mothers/Fathers days - yes for me - SWMBO doesn't bother. We both get from the kids (i.e. ourselves). Easter - we eat chocolate so yes well into that. Halloween - not bothered myself - the kids go out trick-or-treating in the 400 year old British tradition with the cousins. Fireworks - we like explosions so yes we go to the local display. Birthdays - go out for beers/host beers. Rarely/never buy cards for any of the above. Birthdays get a Facebook mention :) Immediate family members get a phone-rendition of Happy Birthday.

Xmas - with four kids this is the big one. We used to send out a photo that doubled as a card, and a letter. This got cut down a photo and year-end stats. Due to the soaring price of stamps we've now switched to emailing it out and donating the stamp-money to a local charity.

So we enjoy what we like and skip what we don't, and we give next to no money to Clintons et. al. anymore.
 
I like the way some women look on Halloween. Witches can be surprisingly attractive. :D
 
my birthday? :)

Second only to

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Over here in Ireland for a few years Guinness created a new day "Arthur's Day". What a load of crap. Brilliant advertising though.
 
If you're a teacher you also have to suffer through end of term speeches for colleagues who are leaving and an 'inspiring' message from the headteacher.

Everyone is wearing their best fake smile and silently thinking 'I wanna go home'.
 
Have to agree with the multi nationals trying to commercialise everything. Wife and I have agreed way back when we first met that if I wanted to show my love for her I can take her for a meal or buy her flowers any day of the year without paying double the price on Valentine's. Which I often do by the way.
 
Took the kids to an obligatory kids birthday yesterday, the first topic of conversation was did we do anything for Halloween.. Er no we didn't, a load of drivel, the only ones I celebrate with any real enthusiasm is my wedding anniversary and xmas comes second but even then it's far too commercial..
I've even taken my birthdate off Facebook..
Just not feeling the love for wishing people happy birthday in my forties, it's the same with weddings, there's a whole plethora of social formalities, hen/stag/dress shopping/night before celebrations etc.. Morons..
 
How balanced is your Valentines day?
Has it turned more into a Wife/Girlfriend expects to be treated, and it's all about them day?
 
Don't do valentines day.. We go out for meals together on a regular basis and when money allows we might buy each other a gift.. I feel no social pressure to conform at all, some of the wifes friends still buy each other birthday presents.. Why???!!
 
Don't do valentines day.. We go out for meals together on a regular basis and when money allows we might buy each other a gift.. I feel no social pressure to conform at all, some of the wifes friends still buy each other birthday presents.. Why???!!

Heck, my Adult close relations, and I mean, 40's, 50's, 60's still buy Christmas gifts for each other.
Must just be a family thing. What to get for the 57 year old cousin for a fiver.

I've had to pick recently and just "A tub of quality street" type of gift seems as good as anything as they can have it for themselves/family.

I'm making Sloe Whisky this year, so may have something more interesting as a gift for them ;)
 
I hate celebrating anything.
However I do remember liking these things as a child, so no matter how much of a grump I am I make sure my kids enjoy them.
Could have skipped halloween, but I sent the wife and kids out while I was replacing radiators and they came back with months worth of sweets and lots of cool stories to tell.

Remember your childhood memories? Well right now you are making your kids childhood memories so make them good ones!
 
My girls were Scooby Doo (3 yr old) and Daphne (6). They had a good time.

As for work... I'm glad that we don't really do anything other than Thanksgiving/Christmas here.
 
Halloween
Valentine's Day
Mothers Day
Fathers Day
Guy fawkes night
Uncle johns half brother day

Anyone else just get right royally peeved off with it & try to ignore it?

Yep, 3rd year this year, the wife and I are opting out of xmas. (well except the booze and food bit, we like that bit)
 
I'd prefer my children's childhood memories to come from something a little more tangible than a another over hyped day just because everyone else is doing it..
 
I'd prefer my children's childhood memories to come from something a little more tangible than a another over hyped day just because everyone else is doing it..
... maybe it's just me but I kind of see that as a little backwards.

Shouldn't your kids be given the choice to develop their own childhood memories? And shouldn't we, as parents, be providing them ample opportunity to make those memories?

From where I sit, I think you are providing them with childhood memories. Just maybe not the ones you are hoping.... "Man, when I grew up, we didn't get shit. Every other kid on the block had candy coming out of their ears and presents galore... instead I got some shopkins when we went to the store sometimes."

I'm not here to tell you how to parent so I'll let it go, but I remember as a kid that half the fun was with the overhyping of holidays. #OMFGHALLOWEENISCOMING!!!111!!11
 
It does frustrate me somewhat. My family go mad at Christmas. They spent thousands of pounds on food, drink and presents (literally). We (the children) are in our twenties and thirties with no children of our own. My brother and sister are catching on as well, buying my parents really expensive gifts. None of us are religious, if I suggest toning it down, I get told off for being miserable!


This year I’m spending Christmas with my girlfriend’s parents. They are strongly atheist and don’t celebrate “Christmas” per se, but they do celebrate the time off with food and drink, just not loads of presents etc. That will be interesting!
 
We're not religious and so don't technically celebrate Christmas as it 'should' be celebrated.
Instead we're guilty of spending too much money on our children.

However, as i've got older, for me the time has become more about relaxing and enjoying some nice food, with no pressure's of work schedules etc.

...if I suggest toning it down, I get told off for being miserable!

Crazy isn't it... my Mum was 'off' the other day when my wife told her we won't be doing 'special' xmas cards this year (by that i mean the Mum/Wife/Dad type cards that cost 15x more than a standard xmas card).
We'd be spending approx. £40 on 'special' cards + whatever on 'everyday' cards just for them to be thrown in the bin a few days later!? Pointless.
 
Remember your childhood memories? Well right now you are making your kids childhood memories so make them good ones!
"Remember that year Dad chucked us out of the house so he could swear at the radiators?" :thumbsup:
 
I'd prefer my children's childhood memories to come from something a little more tangible than a another over hyped day just because everyone else is doing it..
Well maybe I was one of the have nots when I grew up. But my memories of holidays with my dad are ingrained in my head. Nothing tangible about a holiday.

"Remember that year Dad chucked us out of the house so he could swear at the radiators?" :thumbsup:
That's the one ;)
But they did have cool stories about a moving bin bag that scared them, and a man with silly string that my son thought was the best thing ever.

It put a smile on my face seeing the smiles on their face and thats all that matters to me :thumbsup:
 
Well maybe I was one of the have nots when I grew up. But my memories of holidays with my dad are ingrained in my head. Nothing tangible about a holiday.


That's the one ;)
But they did have cool stories about a moving bin bag that scared them, and a man with silly string that my son thought was the best thing ever.

It put a smile on my face seeing the smiles on their face and thats all that matters to me :thumbsup:

Are we allowed to be miserable scrooges if we don't have children?! :lesson:
 
Yep, 3rd year this year, the wife and I are opting out of xmas. (well except the booze and food bit, we like that bit)

Looking to travel abroad and get out of it again too. Rather spend a grand abroad with my wife & son than that cheesy .... of Christmas day"
 
Looking to travel abroad and get out of it again too. Rather spend a grand abroad with my wife & son than that cheesy .... of Christmas day"

Did Egypt last year. They had a Xmas Camel on the beach ridden by an Arab with a fake beard throwing terrible Egyptian sweets at everybody. It was simultaneously both as bad and awesome as it sounds.
 

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